Ian Martin, head of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal speaking to journalists at a press conference at Chauni, after making public report of the OHCHR that will be presented in the forthcoming 62nd session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Thursday, Feb 16 06. nepalnews.com/rh
Ian Martin, head of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human…
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal has called upon the Nepali authorities to hold accountable what it called perpetrators of human rights violations within the security forces and exclude them from participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations.
This is the first time that a UN agency has asked the Nepal government to bar its security personnel who have been involved in rights violations from peacekeeping operations. Nepali rights groups as well as the Amnesty International had recently demanded that the UN prohibit recruiting Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) personnel in its peacekeeping operations in view of what they call gross human rights violations by RNA.
RNA brass refute such allegations and say the army is committed to uphold human rights of the people. They say over 100 soldiers and officers have already been punished in connection with incidences related to human rights violations.
Participation in the UN peacekeeping missions has been a matter of great repute and a source of substantial revenue for the RNA.
Making public report of the OHCHR– that will be presented in the forthcoming 62nd session of the Commission on Human Rights—in Kathmandu on Thursday, head of the OHCHR mission in Nepal Ian martin said (the UN) was concerned that aerial bombardments could not distinguish between military and civilian targets. He cited the example o a four year child killed in Makwanpur district during aerial bombardment by the security forces. “The number of such incidents known to us are not large but we urge them not to engage in bombardments that harm civilian lives,” he said.
The 62nd session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva is to be held from 13 March to 21 April this year.
The OHCHR has also called upon the CPN (Maoist) leadership to ensure that its cadres act in accordance with its commitment that it will observe humanitarian law and respect human rights. “Violations by CPN (Maoist) cannot excuse breaches by the State of its international legal obligations,” the report said.
The 25-page report said the recent clashes between the security forces and Maoist rebels in various districts including Syangja, Palpa, Makwanpur and Kavre occurred in highly populated areas, placing the civilian population in grave danger, and combatants made use of civilian buildings, including schools.
Children in particular have been placed at risk, including as combatants within the CPN (Maoist), by indiscriminate action by the security forces, including aerial bombardment, and by the placement or abandonment of explosive devices.
Martin further said OHCHR continues to be concerned about restrictions or attempted restrictions on fundamental rights including freedom of expression and freedom of association. He said the great majority of detainees who were arrested (between 20 January and 8 February this year) had been arbitrarily arrested for exercising their right to freedom of assembly or expressing their political opinion.
“Some have now been detained in unsatisfactory conditions for four weeks. In every case brought before the courts their detention is being found illegal, and the authorities should not be waiting fro court orders before releasing all those against whom there is no evidence of involvement in violence,” he added.
Referring to the firing by Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) personnel on political demonstrators early this month at Ghorahi in Dang in which UML activist Umesh Chandra Thapa was killed and half a dozen others were injured, Martin said OHCHR was investigating the circumstances, and had sought information from the Home Minister, the RNA and the police about official investigations. “We do not believe that investigations are being undertaken with the seriousness and independence that is required,” he said.
The OHCHR also condemned the murder of two election candidates, death and injury to others in attacks on candidates or their homes, and the murder of a taxi driver during the Maoist-declared ‘bandh. Martin also called upon the Maoists to release all the people, including three Surya Nepal executives, who have been taken hostages by a trade union affiliated to the CPN (Maoist).
“It is a tragedy for the people of Nepal that full-scale conflict has now resumed,” said Martin. He quoted his boss, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour as saying that those on either side of the conflict who commit violations must be held accountable. “This office would be closely monitoring the conduct of both parties,” he said.