KATHMANDU: Even after the intervention of the parliamentary committee on international relation and human rights, commissioners who have been boycotting the National Human Rights Commission's meetings are yet to give up. They have now set a condition for the smooth functioning of the rights body.

Talking to The Himalayan Times today, Dr KB Rokaya, said, "We will definitely attend the meetings if our demands are discussed and recorded formally." Dr Rokaya and Dr Leela Pathak have been boycotting the meetings citing 'corruption' and 'irregularities' in the constitutional rights body since the last six months.

After they boycotted the meetings, the NHRC is being looked after by Chairman Kedar Nath Upadhyaya and commissioners Ram Nagina Singh and Gauri Pradhan. "They have been running the rights body as per their own interests and not effectively working in the rights protection sector," Dr Rokaya accused.

Putting forth their 11-point charter of demands against corruption while purchasing vehicles and failing to implement the NHRC decisions, the duo has been boycotting the meetings.

"We have no intention to disturb the smooth functioning of the rights body. As such we are waiting for a formal letter from the parliamentary committee and positive response from other commissioners on our demand," he added.

The duo has also felt that they have been deprived of their right to information. "We have been regularly demanding information on decisions made by the Commission but in vain," he added. They have also not received information on NHRC's correspondence with the parliamentary committee on their demands. They complained that they have also not received any information on the USD 2 million contracts signed between the NHRC and the UNDP on strengthening the capacity of the rights body and another one with OHCHR-Nepal.

Gauri Pradhan, Commissioner and Spokesperson, NHRC, however, said the issue raised by the duo was not a serious one. He also said the commissioner duo did not even inform the others of their demands formally.

"If they want discussions, it is a good beginning, but such a demand should have to be presented officially before the Chairman," he said. Pradhan added that if they seek any information from the commission, the

commission would simply comply.