2003-01-14 - press release - NHRC२०५९-०९-३० - प्रेस विज्ञप्ति - रामाअआ

Archive ref no: NCA-18769 अभिलेखालय सि. नं.: NCA-18769

Date: 2003-01-14
Briefing Session on Capacity Development Project
A briefing session was held today on January 14, 2003, in the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), involving various donor agencies assisting the Commission in areas related to the protection and promotion of human rights in the country.

Rt. Honorable Nayan Bahadur Khatri, Chairman of NHRC delivered a welcome address on the occasion. Dr. Henning Karcher, Resident Representative of UNDP remarked on the activities of the Commission and the Capacity Development Project of NHRC, which has bon August 27, 2003. At the same time, the news of the abduction of Mahendra Yadav, leader of the Nepali Congress and former State Minister of Home Affairs, from his home in Khutta Pripadi, and the abduction of ANNFSU Central Committee President Rajendra Rai on Friday from his home in Jhyaupokhari in Bhojpur, has come to the notice of the Commission. These are only a few examples of the abductions carried out by the CPN (Maoist).

The NHRC has time and again in the past called upon the CPN (Maoist) leadership to present itself as a political party and adhere to internationally accepted standards, in particular to the Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention, which is the minimum standard that the opposition has to adhere to in times of conflict. The Commission would also like to bring to the attention of the CPN (Maoist) the expression of commitment to human rights principles adopted by the United Nations by the erstwhile representatives of the CPN (Maoist) negotiation committee led by Dr. Baburam Bhattarai while visiting the Commission on April 21, 2003.

The CPN (Maoist) should come to terms with the fact that political systems cannot be transformed by means of assassinations, looting and abductions. Instead, such activities only contribute to acts of terrorism. It should also note that there are already mechanisms at the global level that can not only result in international action against such activities but call for the protection of human rights as well.

The National Human Rights Commission therefore requests the CPN (Maoist) to bring a halt to its destructive activities such as assassinations, abductions and the destruction of physical infrastructure; honorably release the abducted individuals, and seek ways to bring about a political resolution to the political problem in the country.

Kedar Prasad Poudyal
Acting Secretary