Nepal PM attacked over amnesty deal

Four prominent human rights bodies have voiced opposition to a deal between Maoists and Madhesi parties in Nepal to grant amnesty to those accused of human rights abuses during the country's civil war.

Updated on: Sep 3, 2011, 24:27:39 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Four prominent human rights bodies have voiced opposition to a deal between Maoists and Madhesi parties in Nepal to grant amnesty to those accused of human rights abuses during the country's civil war.

The deal earned Maoists crucial support from the Terai-based parties and helped party vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai get elected as the country's 35th prime minister on August 28.

The four-point deal for power between Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and United Democratic Madhesi Forum, a five party conglomeration, has been opposed by other political parties as well.

In an open letter sent to Bhattarai on Friday, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Advocacy Forum and International Commission of Jurists urged the new PM to cancel the pact.

"We are dismayed that the agreement calls for the withdrawal of criminal cases…and declares a general amnesty which could include serious crimes and human rights abuses," said the letter. They said that the general amnesty would violate fundamental rights of victims of rights abuses and threaten principles of constitutional supremacy, judicial independence and rule of law.

The letter stated that the agreement between UCPN (M) and UDMF, if applied, would contravene Nepal's obligations under international law and violate the country's Supreme Court's directives.

Nearly 13,000 people died, thousands others were injured and over 1300 disappeared during Nepal's 10-year civil war that ended in 2006.

But no action has yet been taken against the perpetrators of those crims. A Truth and Reconciliation Commission proposed as per the peace deal is yet to be constituted.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.