Norwegian lawyers help NBA in bid to protect human rights

Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, June 11:

Prominent Norwegian lawyers, who are currently on a visit to Nepal, said Nepali citizens themselves are capable of finding a way out of the present crises facing Nepal. The lawyers are here to extend help to the Nepal Bar Association (NBA) in its bid to protect human rights and the rule of law in the country. "The situation is bad, but Nepali citizens themselves are capable of resolving the crises," Knut-Johan Onarheim, member of the Norwegian Bar Association, said after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nepal Bar Association last night.

The Norwegian Bar has been extending its help to the NBA for the past 20 years. This time around the team from Norway is helping the NBA in launching a project for the coming year for which the former is donating Rs 10 million. Norwegian advocate Viduar Raugland said the people of Nepal are facing a major challenge in the form of deteriorating human rights situation. "The CPN-Maoists has to prove that it is a political party as most atrocities have taken place on their part," Raugland said. He also urged the Nepal Bar Association to launch effective strategies for the release of Nepali lawyers detained by the security forces.