Nepal president, Maoist govt debate wartime amnesty

The uneasy relationship between Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav and the ruling Maoist-led coalition is being tested again over proposed amnesty for crimes during the civil war.

Updated on: Sep 3, 2012, 02:45:38 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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The uneasy relationship between Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav and the ruling Maoist-led coalition is being tested again over proposed amnesty for crimes during the civil war.

The Baburam Bhattarai government recently sent four ordinances to Yadav including one on setting up a commission of inquiry on disappeared persons, truth and reconciliation.

But there’s fear that by merging the two commissions — one related to disappearances and other on truth and reconciliation — the government is planning to give blanket

amnesty to human rights violators.

Once established, the commission would have absolute discretion to recommend amnesties for serious human rights violations committed during the 1996-2006 civil war.

Rights groups both within Nepal and outside are now urging Yadav to reject this particular ordinance which was forwarded without consulting stake-holders and the national human rights commission.

Last month the president had refused to endorse two poll-related ordinances forwarded by the government. It ended the government’s hopes of holding fresh elections soon.

“Far from delivering justice, truth and reparation after years of grievances, the proposed commission would allow for amnesty for crimes under international law,” said Sam Zarifi, Asia director of International Commission of Jurists.

Besides ICJ, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and TRIAL (Swiss Association against Impunity) have written a joint letter to Yadav requesting him to reject the ordinance.

Nearly 16,000 people were killed by Maoists and government forces during the civil war and 1,400 disappeared. The conflict witnessed extra-judicial executions and sexual crimes, including rape.

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

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