The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday released its report into the 8 and 9 September, concluding that former Prime Minister KP Oli, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung violated human rights in cracking down on the rally.
Interestingly, the Commission also found grounds to investigate the role of governor Gauri Bahadur Karki of the previous judicial commission which had not looked at the 9 September arson attacks. It said the second day's mayhem was coordinated and organised.
The Karki Commission had only looked into the events of 8 September. The NHRC investigated both days and named 49 people, including top officials across Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force, as well as GenZ activists, celebrities, content creators and influencers for further investigation. It includes MPs lawmakers Sudan Gurung, Manish Jha, Toshima Karki, and Ashika Tamang.
Notably, the Nepali Army has escaped legal repercussions in the NHRC report, although it acknowledges the failure of the military to protect the legislative, judiciary and executive branches, government buildings, questioning its delayed mobilisation to contain the violence. The Karki Commission had recommended action against four top military officials for failing to maintain security.
Both reports have cleared Prime Minister Balendra Shah of involvement in the protests, but named interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki among those who provoked protestors through their public statements.
Notably, the NHRC report concluded RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane’s jailbreak as a criminal offence. The report considers the death of 10 people and the escape of more than 13,000 prisoners as a direct consequence of Lamichhane's jail escape.
The RSP government had made implementing the findings of the Karki Commission report its first order of business with the arrests of Oli, Lekhak, and other key figures for their involvement in the 8 September massacre. the two are out on bail.
Some GenZ activists doubt that the government will follow up on the findings of the reports. They have warned the government not to cherry pick whom to investigate.