London: Claiming that human rights abuses have reached unprecedented levels in
Nepal, the Amnesty International on December 19 said nearly half of the 4,366 people
killed in the conflict in the Himalayan kingdom were either rebels killed in
encounters or civilians targeted for their support to the Maoists.
A new report published by Amnesty International "Nepal, a deepening human rights
crisis" highlighted that at least 66 people are reported to have "disappeared" in
the last year after being taken into custody by the security forces.
The total number of "disappearances" reported to the organisation in the context of
the "people's war" was over 200. This makes Nepal the country with the third highest
number of "disappearances" reported worldwide in the last four years, the global
human rights watchdog said.
"Human rights abuses have reached unprecedented levels since the army was called out
and the security forces given new powers," it said.
"It is clear that the authorities in Nepal lack the willingness to remedy the
situation and tackle the endemic impunity in the country. There is an urgent need
for international assistance to provide increased human rights protection and create
a law enforcement system capable of addressing reports of human rights violations
with greater transparency and accountability," Amnesty International said.
In the report, which will be submitted to members of the United Nations (UN)
Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in 2003, Amnesty International called for the
establishment of an office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal to
include international human rights monitors and to assist the Nepalese government in
strengthening systems for the investigation and indictment of perpetrators of human
rights violations.
It said Maoist forces have also been responsible for a number of human rights
violations including the killing of an estimated 800 civilians considered 'enemies
of the revolution', hostage taking for ransom, torturing of people taken captive and
the deliberate killing of members of the security forces after they were taken
captive.
The Maoists have also been responsible for recruiting children into their army, the
report claimed.
Most arrests and initial period of detention took place outside any legal framework,
especially when suspects were held in army custody, the report said.
The army denies holding detainees beyond the legally permitted period of 24 hours
specified in the Army Act.
However, there is overwhelming evidence of people being held for long periods
incommunicado in army barracks, the report said.
PTI
