Call for action over Nepal’s ‘human rights catastrophe’

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL appealed yesterday to the Nepali government and the international community to prevent a “human rights catastrophe” in the country where security forces are battling a Maoist revolt.

“The armed forces seem to be pursuing a strategy of disappearances, arbitrary arrests and extra-judicial executions as part of their counter-insurgency operations,” Javier Zunger, senior director of the London-based international human rights body, told reporters.

He urged the government and the international community to take urgent measures to prevent Nepal “from sliding towards a human rights catastrophe”.

Mr Zunger also accused Maoist rebels of kidnapping and killing civilians and of coercion in forcing students to join rebel ranks.

He was part of a two-member Amnesty team who visited parts of the impoverished kingdom, where there is a wide rebel presence.

More than 9,000 people --- rebels, security personnel and civilians - have died since 1996, when the Maoists launched their revolt to topple the monarchy and install a communist republic.

The government denies systematic human rights violations and says it investigates all complaints of abuses.

The Amnesty officials earlier met the chief of the Royal Army Human Rights Cell (RAHC) to discuss the detention of Maoist suspects.

“We explained to them the detention of the Nepali people for investigation,” RAHC Chief General BA Kumar Sharma told reporters.

“Those under detention will be set free once the investigation is complete.”

The two officials also met Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa to raise their concerns about alleged human rights violations.