KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 13
All Nepal National Free Student Union, a student wing of the main opposition CPN- UML, staged demonstrations at various places in Kathmandu against the government's ordinance proposing to amend Section 116 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows the government to withdraw criminal cases filed against people who were involved in political agitations in the past, but subsequently entered into agreements with governments to join peaceful political practice and renounce violence.
The government's ordinance, which has been sent to President Bidhya Devi Bhandari for authentication has received widespread criticism, including from inside the main ruling Nepali Congress as well.
Dozens of student leaders staged demonstrations outside Trichandra College and Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus shouting slogans and displaying placards saying that the ordinance is ill-intended and is against the constitution.
Civil society members argue that the ordinance is aimed at granting amnesty to Resham Chaudhary, who has been convicted in the Kailali carnage case and is doing his time in Dillibazar prison.
ANNFSU's Secretariat member Sanjeev Dhital said the government's move was unethical and unconstitutional.
"It seems that the government has brought the ordinance to offer amnesty to Chaudhari, but this will create a grave situation as there are dozens of criminals who are doing time for murder and other heinous crimes. These convicts will also be freed with the help of political parties."
Dhital also said that this would pave the path for freeing convicts who have been doing time for heinous crime during the 10-year-long armed conflict. The new ordinance will also pave the path for offering amnesty to the cadres of Netra Bikram Chand-led Nepal Communist Party who are languishing in jails for criminal activities.
Student leaders are also infuriated by the ordinance introduced by the government.
"This is a caretaker government and people have already voted to form a new government. It is clear that the ruling NC wants to change the rule for its ease," said Nain Mahar, ANNFSU ex-chair.
A version of this article appears in the print on December 14, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
