NHRC team to visit mid- and far-western region

A National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) team is leaving for mid- and far-western region to monitor the situation of human rights in the region.

According to NHRC, Commission members Sudip Pathak and Dr. Ram Dayal Rakesh, accompanied by NHRC staff, are leaving for the region on Wednesday.

The team will also investigate into incidences of rights violation and abuses that have taken place in the region, the Commission said.

The team will organize a public hearing programme at Banbehada in Kailali district on Thursday. Half a dozen family members and relatives of security personnel, including women and a child, were killed brutally by an armed group at Banbehada a couple of months ago. While police blame the Maoists for the assault, Maoists refuted the allegations.

The team will also visit and organize interactions in Dhangadhi, Bardiya and Dang districts on the issue of protecting and promoting human rights.

Talking to Nepalnews Wednesday morning, NHRC member Sudip Pathak said they planned to visit beyond district headquarters in Rolpa and Rukum districts from July 26 and assess the rights situation there.

“During our visit, we will also interact with local chiefs of district administration, police and army and will request them to respect human rights and humanitarian laws, he added.

Meanwhile, British envoy to Nepal, Keith G. Bloomfield, visited the NHRC office on Tuesday.

During the visit, ambassador Bloomfield held discussions with the newly appointed office bearers of NHRC and opined that there was a need to strengthen national institution for the protection of human rights in the country. He said the Commission should play a more pro-active role in protecting and promoting human rights in the country and assured that the British government would continue its assistance to the NHRC in this regard, a statement issued by the Commission said. nepalnews.com by July 20 05