KATHMANDU: Various human rights organisations today demanded that the government revoke its decision to promote Major General Toran Jung Bahadur Singh to the post of Lieutenant General of the Nepali Army.

They have also warned of launching both nationwide and international campaign if the government fails to pay heed to their demand.

The government last Thursday had promoted Singh to the NA’s second-in-command despite vehement objection from the national and international human rights organisations. They have been demanding action against him charging that he has been embroiled in serious violation of human rights, including the disappearance of 49 detainees from the NA’s Bhairabnath Battalion, which was under his command during the Maoist insurgency.

Organising a press conference here today, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, president, Campaign for Human Rights and Social Transformation Nepal, on behalf of 36 different human rights bodies and activists, said the government has not only violated the court’s order but also made fun out of national and international communities which had been demanding action against him.

Reading out the joint statement, he charged that such action of the government would adversely affect the ongoing peace process, transitional justice and the process of drafting the new statute. He also said that it would fuel impunity and lawlessness.

“It’s a shameful act that the government took the decision at a time when the OHCHR has already submitted its report and national and international communities, including National Human Rights Commission, have been demanding action against those involved in the forceful disappearance,” the statement reads.

The rights bodies vowed to exert pressure from

national as well ass international level on the

government to withdraw its decision.

In the beginning of their campaign, according to Shrestha, they will hand over memorandum to Prime Minister and Defence Minister, and urge the human rights committee under the legislature parliament to remain active over the issue.

The human rights activists, including Dr Gopal Krishna Shiwakoti, Sushil Pyakurel, Prof Kapil Shrestha, Dr Netra Prasad Timilsina, Subodh Pyakurel, Dr Arjun Karki, Mandira Sharma, among others, have denounced the government decision.