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Rights violations on the rise in Nepal: Amnesty

Hundreds of people ‘disappeared’ after being arrested by the security forces in Nepal last year, Amnesty International (AI)—a leading international rights group—said in its latest report.

According to the London-based rights watchdog, AI recorded 418 cases of ‘disappearances’ between August 2003 and 2004. Around one third of the ‘disappeared’ were eventually released or located in secret detention, the report said.

The Amnesty report has come amid a UN group saying late last year that Nepal had the highest number of new cases of people reported as ‘disappeared’ after they were taken into custody by security forces.

According to the Amnesty report released in Kathmandu on Wednesday, there was a continuous rise in human rights abuses both by the state and the Maoists throughout last year. While the security forces were responsible for an unprecedented number of “disappearances,” unlawful killings and continuing arbitrary arrest and torture, the Maoists were involved in unlawful killings, abducting civilians and committing torture, the report said.

The AI said there was a growing culture of impunity and disregard for rule of law among security forces, who systematically obstructed the courts and the works of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The Amnesty said the Maoists deliberately killed civilians, including local government officials, members of political parties and those who refused to accede to extortion demands or were considered informants. It also said the Maoists abducted thousands of civilians including students and teachers forcing them to take part in their "political education."

The report further said Nepal was among the countries who openly eroded human rights and international humanitarian law in the name of fighting terrorism.

Many civilians were displaced by the fighting in Nepal and women and children were particularly “severely affected,” the Amnesty said.

Nepali authorities as well as rebels are yet to comment on the latest Amnesty report. But talking to reporters last week, the Royal Nepalese Army officials had said security forces were aware of their duty to protect human rights of the citizens.

Major Anup Jung Thapa of the Human Rights Cell of the RNA said out of 106 appeals sent by the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances, the RNA had replied in more than 90 percent cases. He admitted that there was lapse in recording and reporting of cases but said it was not the case of actual physical elimination.

The RNA officials said they had the policy of zero tolerance for human rights violations and that action against 120 security personnel had been taken for their involvement in rights violations. nepalnews.com by May 26 05