London-based Human Rights Watch in its annual report for 2013 has accused the Nepal government of failing to fulfil key human rights commitments that the country has undertaken to address transition justice stemming from conflict era excesses.
“2012 was a sorry replay of Nepal’s past seven years of impunity and government unwillingness or inability to deliver on its commitments to human rights,” said Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch. “There appears to be collective amnesia among Nepal’s policymakers about the inequities and injustice that helped fuel the conflict in the first place.”
the 665-page World Report 2013 assesses the human rights situation in more than 90 countries. It says the Nepal government again ignored its human rights obligations built into the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Accord. Instead of seeking justice for serious abuses, the government has consistently promoted to senior positions officials and military officers linked to serious rights violations.
there was also lack of progress on the rights of women, children, and Tibetan refugees, gay and lesbian rights, and for people with disabilities, the report adds..
In March 2012, the government refused to extend the tenure of the Nepal office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The government also failed to respond to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)’s request to place a human rights officer in Kathmandu’s United Nations Development Programme office. The caretaker cabinet attempted to establish, through an executive ordinance, a Commission of Inquiry on Disappeared Persons, Truth, and Reconciliation with powers to grant amnesty for suspects implicated in war crimes, in violation of international laws. The ordinance remains stalled in the President’s office.
In September, the government promoted Kuber Singh Rana, a suspect in ongoing criminal investigations concerning enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings, from additional inspector general of police to inspector general. On Thursday Rana ordered a meeting of police officers not to pursue wartime cases. The cabinet has also approved the promotion of Col. Raju Basnet, accused in dozens of cases of enforced disappearance and torture, to the rank of brigadier general.
“The government is making a mockery of the suffering of the victims and their families by promoting rather than prosecuting those against whom there is evidence of serious abuses,” said Adams. “The leadership in Nepal appears to be in permanent disagreement – except in their failure to tackle difficult issues of justice. Nepal has a shameful record of broken promises on human rights and justice, and for any lasting peace process, politicians of all stripes must take decisive action against impunity and make justice a priority.”
New York-based Human Rights Watch in its annual report for 2013 has accused the Nepal government of failing to fulfil key human rights commitments that the country has undertaken to address transition justice stemming from conflict era excesses.
“2012 was a sorry replay of Nepal’s past seven years of impunity and government unwillingness or inability to deliver on its commitments to human rights,” said Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch. “There appears to be collective amnesia among Nepal’s policymakers about the inequities and injustice that helped fuel the conflict in the first place.”
The 665-page World Report 2013 assesses the human rights situation in more than 90 countries. It says the Nepal government again ignored its human rights obligations built into the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Accord. Instead of seeking justice for serious abuses, the government has consistently promoted officials and military officers linked to serious rights violations to senior positions.
There was also lack of progress on the rights of women, children, and Tibetan refugees, gay and lesbian rights, and for people with disabilities, the report adds.
In March 2012, the government refused to extend the tenure of the Nepal office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The government also failed to respond to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)’s request to place a human rights officer in Kathmandu’s United Nations Development Programme office. The caretaker cabinet attempted to establish, through an executive ordinance, a Commission of Inquiry on Disappeared Persons, Truth, and Reconciliation with powers to grant amnesty for suspects implicated in war crimes, in violation of international laws. The ordinance remains stalled in the president’s office.
In September, the government promoted Kuber Singh Rana, a suspect in ongoing criminal investigations concerning enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings, from additional inspector general of police to inspector general. On Thursday Rana ordered a meeting of police officers not to pursue wartime cases. The cabinet has also approved the promotion of Col Raju Basnet, accused in dozens of cases of enforced disappearance and torture, to the rank of brigadier general.
“The government is making a mockery of the suffering of the victims and their families by promoting rather than prosecuting those against whom there is evidence of serious abuses,” said Adams. “The leadership in Nepal appears to be in permanent disagreement – except in their failure to tackle difficult issues of justice. Nepal has a shameful record of broken promises on human rights and justice, and for any lasting peace process, politicians of all stripes must take decisive action against impunity and make justice a priority.”
