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Govt treads on NHRC recommendation toes
KATHMANDU, MAY 27 -
After 10 years of human rights monitoring and more, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) finds itself largely ignored by the government in that none of its recommendations, especially those made on serious rights violations by state officials, has been implemented.
In 2009, out of 10,472 cases filed at the NHRC, 2,855 are said to have been dealt with successfully. However, this figure, which apparently paints a positive picture, does not include a single case of the government taking action against any official responsible for serious rights violation.
Major recommendations made by the NHRC — which were either turned down or not implemented by the government — include investigating into the disappearances of 991 persons, punishing, among others, criminals involved in the Kapilvastu massacre, killer of Ram Hari Shrestha, murderer of defender Daya Ram Pariyar, and journalists such as Uma Singh and Prakash Thakuri.
Contrary to what has been recommended, the government has withdrawn 349 cases of serious crime from courts of law despite repeated warnings from the rights watchdog.
“Political interference in several criminal cases has given rise to impunity. Cases involving politicians have not been investigated fairly,” said NHRC Chairman Kedar Nath Upadhyaya, speaking at the 10th Anniversary of the Commission.
The government has also turned a deaf ear to 62 First Investigation Reports (FIR) concerning serious crimes that occurred after the Comprehensive Peace Accord was signed in 2006.
Human Rights Watch and Advocacy Forum submitted the FIRs — with enough evidences — to the government in September 2008.
“All the governments formed after People’s Movement II have acted blind to human rights violations,” said chairman of NGO federation Dr. Netra Prashad Timalsina, addressing a function organised to mark the occasion.
As expected, at the function, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal reiterated the “commitment” of the government to bring violators to book.
“The government has tabled a bill in the parliament preceding the formation of a high-level commission to look into the status of people disappeared,” said PM Nepal.
“Similarly, a bill for setting up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission is pending in the House.”
Contrary to the commitment of the prime minister, the government, a couple of months ago, tabled a new bill at the parliament governing the country’s top human rights body, which strips the commission of its “independence and autonomy.”
Posted on: 2010-05-28 08:35
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