Rights panel condemn Maoists atrocities

December 17, 2004
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A fact finding human rights mission, that returned from Baglung after the spot-investigation of the Maoists’ November 29 attack on People’s Front Nepal (PFN) members in Baglung, has condemned Maoists for violating basic human rights.

Submitting its report to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the nine-member fact-finding mission- Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Coordination Committee (HRTMCC)- accused the rebels of attacking PFN members for refusing to shelter them.

The HRTMCC which comprised Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), CVICT and HimRights visited Damak, Kushmisera, Sarkuwa and Binamare VDCs of Baglung district where Maoists had attacked PFN members two weeks ago.

On November 29, hundreds of Maoist rebels had brutally tortured PFN cadres and civilians including a six-month pregnant using hand drills.

The team found that the Maoists had abducted Lal Bahadur Chhantyal of Damak VDC and Bharat Poudel of Sarkuwa VDC on November 29. Similarly, the rebels abducted Kumar Thapa of Kushmisera VDC on November 30. Their whereabouts are unknown. The report moreover has appealed the Maoists to end their inhumane activities and release the abductees immediately in line with the Geneva Convention.

Soon after the Maoists attack on PFN cadres, the PFN leaders vowed to fight against Maoists until they change their ‘fascist’ policy of eliminating other political forces and attacked them in various places in Baglung and Dailekh.

Earlier on July 20, the Maoists had attacked the PFN cadre Bhim Bahadur Sherpa, the outgoing chairman of Rankhani VDC who was the first to avoid shelter to the rebels in his house following the party’s decision, the report said.

The human rights mission appealed to the government to create an environment for peace talks and urged it to help the victims for their treatment and rehabilitation.

Moreover, the mission has urged the conflicting factions -the Maoists and the PFN – to reach a consensus and end their competition over political control. The incidents were the result of political differences between the Maoists and the PFN and their intention to have political control, according to the report.

Subodh Pyakurel, chairman of Informal Sector Service Centre- a member of the mission- presented the report to the NHRC chairman Nain Bahadur Khatri in the capital on Thursday.