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Rights situation better after loktantrik govt: USThursday - 08th March 2007 |
| A report has showed that improvement has been seen in the human rights situation in Nepal after the formation of the government of political parties with the success of the April People's Movement, last year. According to the annual report publicised last night by the US State Department's, Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Wing, the US has expressed worries over the continued abductions, extortions, and violent activities by the Maoists even after the ceasefire and signing of the peace accord. The report while evaluating the human rights situation of 2006, states that the independent media was active and expressed a wide variety of views. Hundreds of independent vernaculars and English-language newspapers were available, representing various political points of view. The report said that Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post (Nepali and English language versions of the same paper) reported independently. Gorkhapatra, the government-owned pioneer Nepali-language daily, and The Rising Nepal, the third largest English-language daily, both reflected government policy. Janadesh, the Maoist-published newspaper, remained a source of Maoist propaganda, the report said. It said the members of the security forces and the Maoist insurgents committed numerous grave human rights abuses during the year. Arbitrary and unlawful use of lethal force, including torture, as well as disappearances, occurred frequently. Police arrested numerous journalists before and during the popular uprising, many for protesting in favour of press freedom in restricted areas. Police released most journalists within 24 hours of their arrest. In most districts, the Maoists set up "people's courts." In July, Maoist Supremo Prachanda claimed he had ordered Maoists people's courts to stop functioning in urban areas, although such courts continued to function across the country. These courts had no due process, and handled both criminal and civil cases. According to international observers, after Prachanda's July declaration, Maoists extended the people's courts into villages where they had not previously been present. For example, on September 24, Maoists established a people's court in a temple in Chandranigapur and stopped people from coming to the temple to worship. According to OHCHR, the people's courts did not provide minimum guarantees of due process and fair trial. The November 21 peace agreement called for an end to people's courts across the country, but the Maoists continued to operate these courts in most districts, including in the capital. Maoists used landmines in and alongside roads to attack police, military, and government vehicles, injuring numerous civilians before the April cease-fire. The November 21 peace agreement called for all landmines to be identified within 30 days and removed within 60 days. At year's end, there was no indication that this process was underway, it said. The report also includes serious incidents of torture and human rights violations in the country including small incidents to that in the Bhairavnath Battalion during and after the success of the Jana Andolan. copied by: www.a1excursion.com |
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