The government has decided to keep a central register containing information of all detainees at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretariat.
The government’s move comes at a time when the government is facing criticism for high number of disappearances by the state.
Talking to Nepalnews Tuesday, secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretariat Diwakar Pant, who also looks after the human rights and legal section, said that the government decided to keep the central register to provide authentic information about detainees from one place.
“All information about detainees will be available from the register,” he added.
He refuted the claim that the latest move was an attempt to avert the possible sanction in the 62nd session of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva next month and added that they had initiated the process some eight months ago.
“We are ready to show documents, in which we have decided to keep the register, to those who charge that the move was only to avert the possible sanction in the Geneva meeting,” he stated.
He informed that they made the decision as per the recommendation of the task force of forceful or involuntary disappearances headed by Prof. Stephen J Toope. The task force had visited Nepal from December 6-14, 2004.
He further said that the register will have all records of detainees, adding, “With such a register, we will be able to maintain records of detainees and there will be no need to get information from various agencies.”
“If security agencies detain people without maintaining record in the register, the concerned parties will be liable for action,” he added.
He further said that the register will have record of those who were said to be disappeared by the state in the past.
According to rights activists, the government is yet to publicise whereabouts of more than 300 people arrested by the security forces.