Rights bodies slam Nepal deal to grant amnesty for civil war crimes

International human rights organizations have targeted Nepal government for inking a deal which aims at granting amnesty to those accused of committing serious abuses during the country’s civil war.

Published on: May 13, 2016, 16:43:25 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Human rights organizations have slammed Nepal government for inking a deal which aims to grant amnesty to those accused of committing serious abuses during the country’s civil war.

Ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) and Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal (in picture) reached a pact to withdraw all civil war cases . (AFP File)

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and International Commission of Jurists issued a statement on Friday, accusing the government of bargaining away justice for victims in order to save itself.

Following a threat to topple the government, ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) and Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) reached a nine-point agreement earlier this month.

It agreed to withdraw all civil war cases and grant amnesty to perpetrators of crimes like murders and rapes.

”The political deal by the ruling parties is a callous attempt to disregard Nepal’s international treaty obligations by violating victims’ right to an effective remedy,” said Brad Adams, Asia director of HRW.

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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