Impunity and political bickering holds the people at ransom, says AHRC's latest report on Nepal.
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"A climate of political violence and threats, notably against journalists, as well as political manipulation of the course of justice, are creating a climate in which it is difficult to envision much-needed political progress." [See page 2 of the report]
"Furthermore, the freedoms of the press and of expression are being curtailed, including through the killing of journalists by armed groups. Between February and July 2010, at least three senior media figures were killed without the perpetrators being brought to justice: Jamim Shah, the chairman of the Nepalese television station and satellite network Space Time Network; Arun Singhaniya, chairperson of the Janakpur Today Media Group; and Devi Prasdd Dhital, the owner of Radio Tulsipur FM. All of them were shot dead by unidentified gunmen. In total, at least "28 incidents ranging from intimidation to murder affecting journalists, editors and media entrepreneurs" were reported between February and July 2010 according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal. These attacks and the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators has created a climate of fear and forced journalists to use self-censorship." [see page 6 of report]
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The Hong Kong-based the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), has issued a report on Nepal Tuesday, December 9, 2010, on the occasion of Human Rights Day 2010, highlighting defects are evident in the area of the judiciary as extraordinary delays often affect the possibility of fair trail. The 33-page report is entitled 'Nepal: State of Human Rights in 2010'. The following is the summary of report:
The Constituent Assembly of Nepal is not able to move any step forward despite the passing of two years and seven months since it first resolved to draft a new constitution for the country. The deadline fixed for the Constituent Assembly expired on 28 May 2010. Deepening bickering and appalling irresponsibility among the political parties in the country is solely responsible for this impasse. The people of Nepal have become increasingly desperate and can find no solution to this shameful and stagnated political deadlock. The people's faith in finding a solution to most of their legitimate grievances arising out of past and continuing human rights violations has rapidly eroded along with their dream of having a functioning democratic republic for which they have sacrificed lives and freedoms in the past.
Despite repeated promises, human rights violations committed before 2008 are yet to be investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted. Reports made by government commissions are yet to be made public and it is feared that none of these reports will result in any credible actions in the near future. On the contrary, despite the country resolving to become a federal democratic republic, human rights violations committed by the state security agencies, the police and other politically affiliated units continue even today.
The country neither has adequate number of formal and functioning justice institutions nor are there any serious discussions to constitute them. Even today, the day-to-day functioning of the police, prosecution and the judiciary and other essential service-providing institutions do not exist in Nepal beyond Kathmandu.
The civil war and long periods of neglect has resulted in pushing an alarmingly high number of the population to the verge of extinction. Kathmandu today has reduced to a capital city that portrays the appalling living conditions in Nepal. The city hardly has the infrastructure to function, including basic facilities like water and electricity to meet the requirement of the city's population.
Today, Nepal has an alarmingly high number of persons living in acute poverty. Their appalling living conditions and the daily brutal struggle for existence only have started surfacing now, since earlier these remote places within Nepal were inaccessible due to the conflict. The newly possible access to remote areas also has helped unearthing gross human rights violations, including the possibility of hidden mass graves within rural Nepal. There are no guarantees however that there would be any investigation into these crimes against humanity in the near future. This condition is increasingly discouraging the people to come out with true stories of past human rights violations, an essential requirement for healing the deep wounds the civil war has caused to thousands of people in the country.
The AHRC expects that in the coming year, the government will take adequate steps to ensure that the unacceptable status quo is changed. However, this not only requires the resolve of the ordinary people of Nepal, but also of its neighbours and above all that of the international community that still entertains concern for the people of Nepal.
> Full text of the report 'Nepal: The State of Human Rights in 2010'
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"A climate of political violence and threats, notably against journalists, as well as political manipulation of the course of justice, are creating a climate in which it is difficult to envision much-needed political progress." [See page 2 of the report]
"Furthermore, the freedoms of the press and of expression are being curtailed, including through the killing of journalists by armed groups. Between February and July 2010, at least three senior media figures were killed without the perpetrators being brought to justice: Jamim Shah, the chairman of the Nepalese television station and satellite network Space Time Network; Arun Singhaniya, chairperson of the Janakpur Today Media Group; and Devi Prasdd Dhital, the owner of Radio Tulsipur FM. All of them were shot dead by unidentified gunmen. In total, at least "28 incidents ranging from intimidation to murder affecting journalists, editors and media entrepreneurs" were reported between February and July 2010 according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal. These attacks and the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators has created a climate of fear and forced journalists to use self-censorship." [see page 6 of report]
-------------------------------------------------
The Hong Kong-based the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), has issued a report on Nepal Tuesday, December 9, 2010, on the occasion of Human Rights Day 2010, highlighting defects are evident in the area of the judiciary as extraordinary delays often affect the possibility of fair trail. The 33-page report is entitled 'Nepal: State of Human Rights in 2010'. The following is the summary of report:
The Constituent Assembly of Nepal is not able to move any step forward despite the passing of two years and seven months since it first resolved to draft a new constitution for the country. The deadline fixed for the Constituent Assembly expired on 28 May 2010. Deepening bickering and appalling irresponsibility among the political parties in the country is solely responsible for this impasse. The people of Nepal have become increasingly desperate and can find no solution to this shameful and stagnated political deadlock. The people's faith in finding a solution to most of their legitimate grievances arising out of past and continuing human rights violations has rapidly eroded along with their dream of having a functioning democratic republic for which they have sacrificed lives and freedoms in the past.
Despite repeated promises, human rights violations committed before 2008 are yet to be investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted. Reports made by government commissions are yet to be made public and it is feared that none of these reports will result in any credible actions in the near future. On the contrary, despite the country resolving to become a federal democratic republic, human rights violations committed by the state security agencies, the police and other politically affiliated units continue even today.
The country neither has adequate number of formal and functioning justice institutions nor are there any serious discussions to constitute them. Even today, the day-to-day functioning of the police, prosecution and the judiciary and other essential service-providing institutions do not exist in Nepal beyond Kathmandu.
The civil war and long periods of neglect has resulted in pushing an alarmingly high number of the population to the verge of extinction. Kathmandu today has reduced to a capital city that portrays the appalling living conditions in Nepal. The city hardly has the infrastructure to function, including basic facilities like water and electricity to meet the requirement of the city's population.
Today, Nepal has an alarmingly high number of persons living in acute poverty. Their appalling living conditions and the daily brutal struggle for existence only have started surfacing now, since earlier these remote places within Nepal were inaccessible due to the conflict. The newly possible access to remote areas also has helped unearthing gross human rights violations, including the possibility of hidden mass graves within rural Nepal. There are no guarantees however that there would be any investigation into these crimes against humanity in the near future. This condition is increasingly discouraging the people to come out with true stories of past human rights violations, an essential requirement for healing the deep wounds the civil war has caused to thousands of people in the country.
The AHRC expects that in the coming year, the government will take adequate steps to ensure that the unacceptable status quo is changed. However, this not only requires the resolve of the ordinary people of Nepal, but also of its neighbours and above all that of the international community that still entertains concern for the people of Nepal.
> Full text of the report 'Nepal: The State of Human Rights in 2010'
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