Kathmandu, February 17:

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal today reiterated its call to launch further efforts to end impunity in Nepal.

Marking the fourth death anniversary of Maina Sunuwar, a 15-year girl who was tortured and killed in custody of Nepal Army in 2004, Richard Bennett, the OHCHR Nepal representative, said the government has the responsibility to protect all human rights defenders who put themselves at risk while protecting the human rights of others.

He said this while referring to the case of Devi Sunuwar, Maina’s mother, who informed his office that she is still feeling vulnerable after a chargesheet has been filed at the Kavre District Court and the summoning of four alleged perpetrators charged with killing her daughter. The four are Nepal Army officials Bobby Khatri, Niraj Basnet, Amit Pun and Sunil Adhikari.

French ambassador to Nepal, Gilles-Henry Garault, on the office of local president of EU and on behalf of head of mission of non-EU states including Canada, Norway and the US, said Maina’s death is a reminder of continuity of culture of impunity in Nepal, which undermines lasting peace.

“The prevailing culture of impunity serves only those who wish to disrupt the peace process and make it difficult to hold Constituent Assembly elections,” he said. “There is no better way for the Nepal Army to demonstrate that it is committed to improving its human rights record than by co-operating fully with the investigations,” he said.

He also urged the government to ensure that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is

established only after extensive and inclusive consultation.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour in her message to the programme said: “Lack of accountability in the Maina’s case and other cases is helping to perpetuate a culture of impunity in Nepal and there is a danger this could become a barrier to achieving lasting peace.”