Kathmandu, March 1, 2006

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal today said the personnel of Royal Nepalese Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police must be held accountable of their actions against human rights. “Members of Royal Nepalese Army, the Armed Police Force and the Nepal Police who commit human rights and humanitarian violations, including killings, torture and enforced disappearances, unlawful detention and excessive use of force, must be held accountable,” senior member of the OHCHR, David Johnson, said. He added civil courts have rarely exercised jurisdiction in such cases. Johnson, speaking a programme organised to observe Nepal Bar Association’s Golden Jubilee Convention, cited that the RNA has consistently relied on provision of the Army Act that murder and rape committed “during a military operation” are not subject to the jurisdiction of civilian courts. However, such a violation by their very nature should not be considered to have been committed while discharging military duties. “Using such statements and jurisprudence, lawyers should take steps to push the police, the government attorneys and the courts to investigate, prosecute and try members of the security forces who have committed rights violations, and thereby prevent impunity.”

Searching for parents, Nicolas meets soul mate

Kathmandu, March 1

Chudamani Neupane who came to Nepal as Nicolas Thibaut, a French national, over a year ago, to trace his biological parents is now all set to tie the knot with a Nepali girl who was raised in Nepal Child Organisation (Bal Mandir). He found his father last year, rather his “self-proclaimed” father found him by contacting him through the orphanage during his previous visit. This time around, he intends to marry Pramila who now works in Bal Mandir as a teacher. The Himalayan Times had published the story of his search for his biological father in December 2004. He met Pramila while he was on a voluntary mission at the orphanage then and fell in love with her. “I have come to marry her and hope to take her along with me as my wife to my home in Marseille, Southern France, as soon as possible,” he told HNS. Differences in their cultural and social upbringing have spiced up their relationship, according to him. “Opposites attract and I must say love is the common ground between us,” he said, expressing his desire to return to Nepal often. He is a tattoo artist in France. Nicolas’s foster parents, Monique and Jean Marc Theibaut, officially adopted him and his twin sister, Chudimaya, now known as Myriam, on November 19, 1979, after their biological mother, Sabitri, put them at Bal Mandir. Their father, Kamal Prasad, apparently disappeared on the day of their naming ceremony.