Nepal peace

News in Brief

It appears that the Nepali Congress government elected last November is committed to sweeping crimes of the 10-year civil war era under the carpet. Nepali and international human rights bodies have criticised the government’s refusal to amend the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Act passed on 4 May – despite a ruling from the Nepali supreme court that this is necessary.

The office of the high commissioner for human rights (OHCHR), a UN agency, issued an eight-point condemnation of the TRC Act on 1 July.

OHCHR criticised the powers of the truth and reconciliation commission, and the commission on enforced disappearance, saying: ‘The power of the Commissions to recommend amnesties for gross violations of international human rights law or serious violations of international humanitarian law is inconsistent with Nepal’s international legal obligations and the UN’s policy against amnesties.’

Serious concern has also been expressed in a joint press statement by five UN human rights special rapporteurs.

The Asian human rights commission observed on 11 July: ‘In other words, the UN has flatly rejected the flawed Act.’

Topics: Nepal