Worsening rights situation worries AI

Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 2:

Amnesty International’s former chairman and present general secretary of the AI Irish section, Colm O Cuanachain, has expressed deep concern over spiralling human rights violations in the country.

The intensity of human rights violations in Nepal, according to him, is far more pronounced and intense than the Irish Republican Army’s (IRA) movement in Ireland.

Urging the authorities to lift the state of emergency in practice and not just in paper, he said, “We are deeply concerned over the increasing trend of disappearances, killings, and unlawful detention, including that of prominent human rights defender Krishna Pahadi.” Demanding the reinstatement of human rights and press freedom, he said freedom of the press is a core element to ensure that human rights are protected. He was speaking at a press meet organised by the AI Nepal here today. During his just-concluded week-long visit to Nepal, Cuanachain met human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and the Royal Nepalese Army officials.

Remarking on the lifting of emergency, he said, “Hardly any changes can be seen and there is no indication that the emergency has been lifted.” He added that the nine-year-old Maoist insurgency has unleashed more violence in Nepal than the 30-year-old IRA movement in Ireland. However, the pattern of violence and abuses is almost similar between Maoists and terrorists the world over. “Peace process rooted on human rights is necessary to address the ongoing problem.”

According to AI’s figures, the emergency has claimed at least 250 individuals a month and. Over 3000 people have been illegally detained during the last three months. He urged the international community, particularly countries such as the UK and the USA, to stop arms supply to the army and the police to curb killings and violence. The Maoists, according to him, also have access to light weapons.

The concerned governments can play a role in stopping the channels of arms supply to Nepal by regulating the arms treaty and licences of arms companies.

He urged the NHRC to play a strong and independent role. Cuanachain is expected to submit the report on Nepal’s condition to the AI headquarters in England and plan the next course of campaign and strategy in the country. “All AI members are concerned and curious to know about Nepal’s situation and my job is to inform them about it.”