A report, Torture Still Continues, published by the Advocacy Forum Nepal (AFN) to mark the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (June 26) states that all forms of torture and human rights abuses are still rampant in the country even after the end of the armed conflict. The AFN, an NGO, claims to have registered 1,313 new cases of torture and rights abuses against both the Army and the Maoists since the April Uprising. While 17 cases of torture, four rape cases and six cases of illegal detention of civilians by the military have been registered with the AFN since April 2006, it has registered 67 cases of torture, one rape incident and 96 cases of abduction against the Maoist side.

This is a surprising revelation, especially because the power of the military to illegally detain civilians is supposed to have been curtailed to a large extent. It is sad that even in the changed political context innocent civilians are targeted and victimised by both the security forces and the Maoists, who are now a part of the interim government. Part 3 of the Interim Constitution (IC) that deals with fundamental rights specifically states, “No person who is detained during investigation, or for trial or for any other reason shall be subjected to physical or mental torture, nor shall be given any cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.” As it is the duty of the state to protect the fundamental rights of its citizens and to punish the guilty and ensure that torture victims get due compensation, one wonders what is stopping the government from acting with firmness.