Rights situation improved after political change: OHCHR
A report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has said that significant improvements in human rights situation were observed immediately after the establishment of new government in Nepal, but many challenges lie ahead in ending serious abuses, upholding and strengthening respect for human rights.
A report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights situation and the activities the UN rights agency in Nepal tabled at the fourth session of the Human Rights Council said there were many positive changes in Nepal in 2006 including an end to conflict-related violations and credible restoration of the rights to freedom of assembly and expression.
The report, which was based on information gathered by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal, examines the human rights situation in Nepal in the context of the peace process up to the beginning of January 2007.
Stating that there are various challenges ahead, the report said ending impunity for serious human rights violations, defeating deep-rooted discrimination and citizen's security ahead of the planned constituent assembly elections in June rank high among them.
The report further said lack of accountability for serious human rights violations in the past including killings and disappearances by the Nepali Army remain among OHCHR's main concerns. The report also expressed reservation over the Maoists' passivity to take action against their cadres involved in rights violations.
"OHCHR noted with special concern that although the leadership said that action was taken against those responsible for the 2005 attack on a public bus in Madi of Chitwan district, resulting in the death of at least 35 civilians and members of the security forces, some of those responsible were freed after serving sentences of apparently two to three months of corrective punishment," the report said.
The report further said that it is essential that state authorities investigate and, if necessary, prosecute cases of human rights violations by the Maoists as well as the security forces to end impunity.
"As pointed out by the High Commissioner during her visit, strengthening of the State law enforcement system and administration of justice will be crucial to convincing local population that State authorities are able to maintain law and order and to deliver justice as the elections approach," the report further said.
The report further said that creating a climate conducive to CA elections without threats or violence would be extremely difficult unless there is political will on the part of all the parties to strengthen rule of law and to respect the political rights of all.
The report further said that equality of Madhesis is emerging as a central issue in the peace process and demanded prompt and credible investigations into all killings and injuries that occurred during recent unrest in Terai.
Speaking at a programme organised to release the report, head of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal, Lena Sundh, said the OHCHR was disappointed at the lack of response to a number of reports and requests to the government and the Maoists and by their failures to implement many recommendations for ending abuses and strengthening human rights protection.
Sundh further said that if concerns of various sectors were not seriously addressed there was a great risk of deepening social divisions, increasing threats to the peace process and newly found progress in the enjoyment of human rights and leading ultimately to violence.
She also informed that the Home Ministry had sent a letter to her office regarding the investigation of the custodial death of Maina Sunuwar of Kavre in 2004 by the Nepali Army. nepalnews.com pb Feb 22 07
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