KATHMANDU, Oct 5: Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa in a written reply to the Supreme Court on Thursday has defended the government move to bar former Maoist child soldier Lenin Bista from visiting Thailand on August 24.

The home minister said the government barred Bista from flying to Thailand because the latter was going to attend an international conference on sensitive issues related to the armed conflict and post-conflict scenario and had not obtained necessary prior permission from the government. The minister also said his ministry was investigating into complaints filed by 15 UNMIN-disqualified Maoist combatants who have demanded action against Bista.

In the reply, the minister has also cited Rule 3.1 (3) of the Immigration Procedures, which allow the Ministry of Home Affairs to prevent anyone involved in suspicious activities from leaving the country.

Bista had moved the Supreme Court against the government move on August 31. He was supposed to attend a five-day conference titled “Youth in Conflict Areas: Healing and Peace Building through Social Engagement” in Thailand. Bista was stopped soon after he completed immigration formalities at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

In his writ petition he claimed that his right to equality and the freedom of expression and association were violated by the government and asked the court to nullify the government order that barred him from flying abroad. Acting on the writ petition, the Supreme Court had ordered the home minister to furnish clarifications.

 
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