Lalitpur, Dec. 10 (RSS): Nepali Congress central member and former Deputy Prime Minister Ramchandra Poudel has said that protection and promotion of human rights is possible only under a fully democratic system.
NC central member Poudel, who was speaking at a discussion programme on “Human rights and peace in the context of development of democracy” organised by the National Human Rights Commission on the occasion of the 53rd Human Rights Day here today, stressed the need to end violence and ensure the stability and sustainability of democracy for the protection of human rights.
Stating that human rights can be translated into meaningful practice only when we are able to strike a balance between equality, freedom and dignity, and lead our society along a progressive path by fostering a truly human culture in every section of society, he stressed the need for the democratisation of individual behaviour and conduct and mutual relations.
As relief from poverty, exploitation, social discriminations and reckless attitude still sounds a far cry our development efforts should be directed towards that end, he said.
He accused the Maoists of the undermining social and economic situation and attempting to push the country towards authoritarianism by pressing for a Constituent Assembly and a republican state during peace talks. They wanted to lead the country along the path of violence and terror in the name of people’s rights, he said.
Deputy leader of the CPN-UML K.P. Sharma Oli spoke of the need to establish democracy as a way of life so as to protect all the social, economic, cultural and political rights of the people. Peace, stability, sustainability of democracy and social prosperity are a matter of common concern for all, he noted.
In the present context of almost all fundamental rights of the people remaining suspended following the declaration of a state of emergency, His Majesty’s Government should be very sensitive to the protection of human rights, he said adding, in a situation like this in which the government is equipped with unlimited powers, efforts should be directed towards ending the state of emergency as soon as possible so that killings from the state’s side are limited to the minimum.
The government should build a congenial environment for the Maoists who want to join the political mainstream, while on their part the Maoists should immediately submit their arms to the government and come to the negotiation table, Oli opined.
From the chair, chairman of the Human Rights Commission Nain Bahadur Khatri stressed the need for all to fulfil their duties honestly, maintain discipline and abide by the law of the land for the protection of human rights.
Prof. Lok Raj Baral said that no one has the right to violate human rights under any pretext.
Commission secretary Dr Shankar Prasad Shrestha, member Prof. Kapil Shrestha, Krishna Pahadi of Human Rights and Peace Society, Dr Krishna Bhattachan, Dr Shanta Thapaliya and others also expressed their views at the programme.
Similarly, speakers at a seminar on “The role of the state and civil society in the protection of human rights” organised here today on the occasion of the 53rd World Human Rights Day said that civil society should give proper attention to the violation of human rights in the socio-economic, religious and community sectors.
Inaugurating the seminar, chairman of the State Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives Hom Nath Dahal said the state was compelled to declare a state of emergency for guaranteeing of right to live peacefuly by controling violent activities.
President of the Nepal Human Rights Organisation Sudip Pathak said civil society should conduct a group campaign which is the foremost necessity for restoring human rights.
INSEC general secretary Subodh Pyakurel said it was a compulsion to declare a state of emergency for the safety of citizens and there will be no guaranteeing of human rights unless there is democracy.
President of the Human Rights and Peace Society Krishna Pahadi said the time has come for a litmus test for human rights activists in order to develop a proper culture for human rights.
At the function presided over by president of Amnesty International Nepal Krishna Kandel, vice chairman of Amnesty Nepal Raju Sarkar and director Anil Pant also shed light on various aspects of human rights.