Narayangarh/Nawalparasi, July 31, 2007 More than 1,000 PLA fighters have deserted the fourth division in Nawalparasi’s Jhyaltungdanda in the past six months. One of the deserters, platoon commander Kusum, told mediapersons here today: “As many as 1,000 PLA soldiers have fled from the division in Nawalparasi and three brigades.” He alleged that the exodus was spurred by the inhuman behaviour and discrimination by fellow PLA personnel. Kusum, who was the head of the information branch at the division, said inhuman behaviour, lack of medicines and treatment at the camp and non-payment of Rs 3,000 provided by the government was making it hard for the PLA personnel stationed in the camps. Of the 5,062 PLA soldiers verified by the UN at the division and brigades, only 4,000 were left at the camp, claimed Kusum. He added that most of those who have fled were women carrying injuries or those who had just delivered babies. Kusum, who was issued ID No 0066 by the UN during the verification process, said five PLA personnel, including himself, deserted the camp recently. He said four others were nabbed but he managed to flee. He alleged that those who voiced concern over inhuman treatment and discrimination at the the camp were tortured by the senior PLA personnel. “I myself was a victim of torture,” he claimed. Kusum, who hails from Mehemudhe in Kalikot district, had joined the Maoists in June 2002. Wide berth for rights violators to fill public posts Kathmandu, July 31, 2007 A draft bill of the National Human Rights Commission, prepared recently, has a provision to bar human rights violators from holding public posts. Clause 26 (2) of the bill, jointly drafted by the Prime Minister’s Office, the NHRC and the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, states that anyone convicted of human rights violations would not be appointed to the public posts. As per Clause 26, a person convicted of rights violations would face up to one year in jail or a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh or both. The draft bill, prepared to replace the NHRC Act-1997, has a new provision to compensate the victims by the perpetrators. The proposed bill alsomakes it mandatory for the government authorities to implement the recommendations of the NHRC in rights violation cases. According to Clause 9, the NHRC will make public the names of those officials who do not implement the NHRC recommendations or create hurdles in implementing them. The rights body will maintain a record of those who do not implement the NHRC decisions and recommendations. The NHRC can also recommend the Office of the Attorney General to prosecute anyone accused of rights abuse.