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OHCHR flays court verdict violators
KATHMANDU, JUL 21 -
The Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-N) and the National Dalit Commission (NDC) have raised serious concerns over the local government authorities’ reluctance to implement the court verdicts on two discrimination related cases.
Despite repeated calls by human rights organisations and the NDC, the court decisions have not been implemented, said a joint a statement issued by OHCHR-Nepal and NDC on Wednesday.
According to the release, the first verdict relates to a two-year imprisonment and Rs. 25,000 fine issued by Baitadi District Court in January 2009 to the chief culprit of the case in which twelve Dalits were assaulted and robbed after they refused to follow discriminatory rituals.
The second decision, according to the OHCHR, was issued by the same court in March 2010 in relation to an assault of the father of a Dalit groom during a wedding ceremony for practicing “rituals reserved for high-caste communities”.
“The OHCHR acknowledges the proper filing of FIR by the police on allegations of caste-based discrimination and untouchability.
However, this mission has brought to light a range of obstacles that continue to prevent Dalit communities from enjoying their fundamental human rights,” said Jyoti Sanghera, deputy representative of OHCHR-Nepal.
“I call on the government to undertake all necessary steps to address these challenges and to execute the court orders as soon as possible.”
The two rights bodies have said that senior security officials of the Mahakali Zone and Baitadi district have assured them to enforce the verdicts.
NDC Chairperson Bijul Kumar Bishwokarma said, “It is the responsibility of the local authorities to ensure law and order and effectively implement court orders.”
“I call on the government authorities to arrest the perpetrators immediately as per the court verdicts,” he said.
Posted on: 2010-07-22 08:32
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