Post Report
KATHMANDU, April 7:Leftist leaders and Human Right activists Sunday urged the government to withdraw the state of emergency raising concerns about the interpretation of the term ‘morale of the security personnel” stated in the emergency management order issued last week.
While responding positively to leftist leaders, spokesman of the ruling Nepali Congress Arjun Nara Singh K.C., said that the situation prevailing in the country is not martial law but a state of emergency declared by a civilian government as a result of circumstances. Accepting that innocent people were also victimised during the state of emergency, KC said Congress wants to end the emergency sooner than later.
But leaders and activists claimed that the Terrorist and Destructive Activities (Control and Punishment) Act Ordinance passed by parliament was enough to contain the Maoists. Central Committee member of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist and Leninist) said that security personnel were even killing people protesting vehemently against the presence of Maoists in the local area.
The government was blamed for deftly using the phrase ” morale of the security personnel” in the emergency management Order passed by parliament last week. However, Adhikari said,” Who will interpret the term and how is it a Chief District Officer (CDO) passes an order than can prevent revealing evil deeds of the CDO?”
The leaders and activists were speaking at an interaction programme on Emergency and the Protection of Human Rights organised by the National People’s Front.
Speaking on the occasion, General Secretary of Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) Subodh Raj Pyakurel said altogether 3711 persons have been killed in the armed conflict till last April since Maoists unleashed their violent activities six years ago.
Chairman of Nepal Human Rights Organisation Sudip Pathak said they were working on concrete facts to find a solution to problems the nation is currently reeling through. He said they have reached the highest levels of power and the response is positive. Political parties are also working in a responsible manner, he further added.
Chairman of Nepal Workers and Peasant Party Narayan Man Bijukachhe termed the initiative of peace talks as diplomatic failure of the Nepali Congress. Pradeep Pokhrel of Amnesty International called for ending the state of impunity in the country today.
CPN-UML, the main opposition party in parliament, had voted ‘yea’ for the Ordinance in exchange for the issuance of the emergency management order by the government. The positive vote was made in confidence that the order would ease the state of emergency for the constitution abiding political parties providing the positive and negative impacts made during the emergency.