TI condemns unjustified arrest and detainment of Devendra Raj Panday

Statement by David Nussbaum, Chief Executive, Transparency International

Berlin, Germany, 23 January 2006

Transparency International (TI) condemns in the strongest terms the unjustified arrest and detainment of Devendra Raj Panday, a member of TI’s Advisory Council and a former president of Transparency International-Nepal.

Dr Panday has been a forceful advocate against corruption for more than a decade. His arrest violates the fundamental right to free speech that underlies all just and democratic societies. The international movement of Transparency International calls on the government of Nepal to respect the right of freedom of speech and to release Dr Panday immediately.

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Transparency International is the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption.

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