43 KILLED DURING CEASEFIRE: NHRC REPORT
The report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has stated that at least 43 people have been killed at the hands of both the state and the Maoists since the announcement of ceasefire in April.
A report published by the Commission on Wednesday says that 11 were killed by the government's security forces and 15 by the Maoists since April 26 when the truce was declared.
According to the report, resistance groups killed five people and villagers or unidentified groups killed 7 while five people died in accidental explosions during the period. Addressing a press conference, NHRC acting secretary Dhruva Nepal said several cases of physical torture in police custody, mistreatment and threatening to transport workers by the security personnel were recorded in this period. Similarly, Maoist tortured civilians in Kailali, Nepalgunj, Bhaktapur, Dolakha, Rupandehi and Kaski districts. Besides this, the Maoist tortured two people in Sindhupalchok and Nuwakot districts after the signing of the peace accord on November 21.
The commission said the Maoists continued to force civilians to appear before the 'people's courts', and carried on with extortion and confiscation of properties and they refused to return the properties confiscated during the insurgency. Likewise, the Maoists set up posts to collect tax, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Village Development Committees (VDC) and District Development Committees (DDC), took control over government offices and schools to set up camps for the combatants. They also did not stop abduction of civilians during the ceasefire period.
The commission further stated that publication of 'blacklists' and blackening the faces of people accused of supporting the royal regime with soot, by the members of the seven parties were other cases of human rights abuses.
The commission received 1,158 complaints in the last six months, which also include complaints about incidents that occurred during the insurgency period. However, there were no reports of involuntary disappearance during the ceasefire period.
The commission had repeatedly asked both the state and the Maoists to implement the recommendations made by it. Nepal said both the state and the Maoists ignored such recommendations. He further said the delay in appointment of commissioners at the NHRC has hampered the works of rights watchdog, especially in making recommendation.
UN TAM MEETS WITH WOMEN
The United Nations Technical Assessment Mission (TAM) members met with representatives of women organizations, Dalits and indigenous communities to discuss planning for the future UN peace support mission in Nepal , according to a press release issued by TAM spokesperson Kieran Dwyer.
The TAM, which is currently in Nepal to make preliminary assessment regarding technical and logistical needs of the UN monitors who will arrive here soon, held meetings with civil society representatives in Kathmandu .
In the meeting “women representatives highlighted a number of issues, including the need for women to be represented in decision-making bodies involved in the peace process at all levels of society; the issues of cantonment management and the needs of women combatants in the People’s Liberation Army; the prevalence of violence against women in the post conflict environment, especially in rural areas, and the need for women to have better protection by the criminal justice system; and the particular problems of exclusion faced by women from communities such as Dalit and indigenous
communities.”
Likewise, the TAM members also discussed about the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which sets out the principles for women’s participation and representation in peace building activities, as well as requirements for developing measures to address the needs of women and girls in all aspects of reintegration, rehabilitation and post conflict reconstruction.
Members of the TAM also met with civil society representatives from a range of communities, including representatives from Dalit organizations and other discriminated against caste groups, Madhesis and indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and sexual and gender minorities.
“Civil society representatives highlighted the need for an election process, and a wider peace process, where Nepalis of all backgrounds are able to participate equally,” the press release adds. ”The UN TAM informed civil society representatives of the three areas which the UN has been asked to assist the peace process, namely the monitoring of arms and armies, electoral assistance and human rights monitoring.”
