Kathmandu, September 1 :

A human rights activist today expressed deep concern over the Bill on military related Acts currently tabled in Parliament.

“The Bill is against the movement for democracy and human rights principles and it does not attempt to make the Nepali Army responsible when it comes to human rights issues,” Sushil Pyakurel, a former member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), told a press meet organised in the capital by SAFMA. “We will raise the issue with the international community and send a letter to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan soon,” he added.

Human rights activists also voiced concern over the possible appointment of Rukmangat Katwal as the chief of Nepal Army.

They expressed fears that the appointment could take the country back to the times of the Royal takeover.

“If Katwal is made the chief of the army, there will come a day when we will have to bid adieu to democracy,” said Dr Gopal K Siwakoti, president of INHURED International. Such a situation may invite “high handedness” among the security forces,” he said, spelling out the need to be extremely cautious.