Chief of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Nepal, Ian Martin has said that there is a reported reduction in killings after the September 3 unilateral ceasefire called by the Maoists, but expressed concern over some killings and other abuses during the period.
Speaking at a press conference organized to inform about the report of the OHCHR to the UN General Assembly on human rights situation and other activities of the OHCHR-Nepal in Kathmandu today, he informed that the commission will investigate the incidents of the rights violations by the government and the Maoists during the period of unilateral ceasefire as well.
He informed that the report reflects the monitoring and activities of OHCHR-Nepal until the end of August 2005.
The report first described human rights and humanitarian law violations committed by the state authorities and the Maoists in the context of the armed conflict, then raised concerns involving respect for democratic rights and lastly addressed the longer standing human rights issues.
The report stated that OHCHR-Nepal received reports of violations by state authorities in the conduct of the armed conflict as well as violations of democratic rights, including extra judicial executions, the killings of civilians and the failure to protect civilians, disappearances, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture threats and violations of the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of association.
The OHCHR-Nepal also expressed grave concern about re-arrests of detained persons whose release had been ordered by the Supreme Court or other Courts.
“OHCHR-Nepal received information confirming violations of international law by CPN (Maoist) including summary execution, the killings of civilians, abductions, torture, extortion, forced recruitment, the bombing of civilians buildings and the recruitment of children, as well as serious economic and related disruption suffered by the general population resulting from bandhs (forced closures),” the report said.
According to the report, OHCHR-Nepal is investigating reports of human rights violations committed by ‘vigilante’ groups that receive direct or indirect support from the security forces.
The report added that OHCHR-Nepal is concerned about the situation of children affected by the armed conflict, violence against women, human rights situation of Dalits and members of indigenous nationalities, human rights defenders, journalists, leaders of political parties and internally displaced persons (IDP’s).
Martin also said that the amendments to the existing legislation by the media ordinance, adopted on October 9 infringe international standards related to freedom of expression.
“The amendments impose restrictions on FM radio stations without adequate justification and establish criminal sanctions for defamation; both measures can only serve to limit the exercise of freedom of expression,” he added.
“We have continued to take up cases of threats to journalists, whether made by the CPN (Maoist) or by the state authorities,” he said.
Martin did not comment on the issue of municipal polls slated for February 8 next year but said that the OHCHR-Nepal will monitor the rights situation during the time of elections as well.
The government of Nepal and the OHCHR signed an agreement to set up a monitoring operation ‘to help establish accountability for human rights abuses and prevent further violations’ in the country on April 10 at a time when the country is passing through severe rights violations due to the flaring conflict of the country.
More than 12 thousand people have been killed and thousands other injured due to the Maoist insurgency that erupted on February 1996.