Kosh Raj Koirala – Asian Tribune Correspondent in Nepal
Kathmandu, 03 May, (Asiantribune.com): Global human rights watchdog, the Amnesty International, (AI) has launched a year-long national campaign for justice, truth and reparations in Nepal.
The campaign is launched keeping in view of the fact that none of those responsible for horrific crimes, whether committed by the state or by members of the former rebel party Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) during the conflict period, have so far been brought to justice, the UK-based right body said in a statement posted on its website on Friday.
The AI said it documented killing, enforced disappearance and torture of thousands of civilians during the decade-long conflict and "these crimes and other human rights violations were committed by the army, the police and Maoist forces". "…victims continue to wait for justice and redress," added the statement.
During the campaign period, the AI will issue a series of global actions to demand that the government of Nepal takes meaningful steps to ensure justice, truth and reparations for the victims.
While expressing fury over the government plan to give amnesty to about 350 Maoist cadres booked under serious crimes recently, the AI alleged that the new government formed under the Maoist-leadership has been slow to implement its election commitments on these issues. "Furthermore, there are concerns that the measures it plans to take – which include providing amnesties to perpetrators - will reinforce rather than end impunity in Nepal," the statement further said.
AI has called on the government to establish an independent and effective disappearances commission to find out what happened to more than 1000 victims of enforced disappeared, to identify those responsible and to provide reparations to the victims (if they are found to be alive) and their families.
It has also urged the government to ensure justice, truth and reparations in three high profile cases, including the torture and killing of 15-year-old Maina Sunar by the armed forces in 2004, while calling on Nepal to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other cruel inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.
- Asian Tribune -
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