Thanks to the ‘jana andolan’ and subsequent political changes in the country, the new government of Nepal will no more have to defend its poor human rights track record, rather it will have an opportunity to tell the international community that the country is gradually moving in the direction of peace and stability with full respect to human rights and rule of law.
This is the first ministerial meeting of the Human Rights Council, which was earlier called the Human Rights Committee.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, K P Oli, who left the country on Monday to visit the European Commission and Geneva will apprise the international community about recent political changes in the country at the first session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland scheduled from June 19-21.
Talking to reporters in Kathmandu prior to his departure, DPM Oli said he will reiterate the government’s commitment to protect human rights and international humanitarian law in the country in a changed context.
When asked about the recent report on human rights violations disclosed by the UN OHCHR, Oli said, “The government is committed to take legal action against those responsible for violating rights in the past.
The meeting is taking place at a time when the government and the Maoists are engaged in peace talks to work out a negotiated settlement of the decade-old conflict that has claimed over 13,000 lives and displaced tens of thousands of others.
In their 12-point understanding the seven party alliance and the Maoists agreed to keep the weapons of both the sides under the supervision of the UN or any other credible international agency.
Talking to Nepalnews, general secretary of the Forum for Protection of Human Rights (FOPHUR), Gopal Siwkoti “Chintan” said that the issues of weapons management, ceasefire monitoring and rights situation in Nepal are likely to be raised during the HRC meeting next week.
He said that though the atrocities against pro-democracy activists and killings due to insurgency has declined in recent days, the situation of human rights is far from satisfactory. “Until the government takes action against those violating human rights the rights situation can not improve,” said Chintan.
Chintan alleged that the ‘reluctance’ on part of the government to take action against security officials found responsible for rights violations, make public whereabouts of disappeared people and the tendency to take action against some former ministers to gain cheap popularity shows that the present government is not serious towards protection and promotion of human rights.
Chintan demanded that the government and the CPN (Maoist) should formally request and reach into an agreement with the UN OHCHR about the modalities for monitoring the truce. “As the tenure of the UN OHCHR in Nepal is only for two years, provisions should be made to expand its tenure. The UN body has an important role during the peace process,” he added.
Experts say UN is the best and credible medium for monitoring ceasefire and supervise the arms of the government and the Maoist rebels during the election of the constituent assembly.
The 61st session of the UN-OHCHR last year had imposed Agenda item 19 against Nepal. Amid growing international concern about deteriorating rights situation in Nepal, the then royal government was forced to allow the OHCHR to set up its mission in the country with the mandate to monitor rights violation carried out from both the sides.
Resident coordinator of the UN system in Nepal Matthew Kahane (File Photo)
Addressing a programme in the capital on Sunday, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations system in Nepal, Matthew Kahane, said, “UN is ready to respond (to assist in Nepal’s peace process) if and when asked.” Kahane’s statement came after India reportedly acknowledged involvement of the UN in Nepal’s peace process. Kahane, however, said the UN had not received any formal request from the side of the Nepal government so far.
Narrating his own experiences from conflicts in Tajikistan and Sri Lanka, Kahane said that peace process was not an easy job and that it could not be imposed from outside. “They can only come from people who are fighting each other…We can’t come and help…we can only come when asked for,” he asked.
Similarly, responding to queries by Nepalnews, spokesman of the UN OHCHR office in Nepal, Kieran Dwyer, said agenda item 19 was simply a technical assistance on human rights and that it was not “slapped” on Nepal.
On the role of UN-OHCHR in Nepal Dwyer said, “OHCHR has not yet been asked to play a role with regard to the Constituent Assembly. Our current mandate includes providing advice to the Government on international human rights standards. At this stage, the UN awaits clarification of what roles it is being asked to play by the parties.”