Archive ref no: NCA-20882
The Accountability Watch Committee protests the statement of 21 March by Former Prime Minister and Chairman of the UCPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda',
22 March 2013, Kathmandu
Press Release
The Accountability Watch Committee protests the statement of 21 March by Former Prime Minister and Chairman of the UCPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', in which he seeks to protect Bal Krishna Dhungel, the party member of who walks free even though he has been declared guilty of murder by the Supreme Court and handed a life sentence.
In his statement, Chairman Dahal claims that the activities of rights activists and civil society campaigners demanding the arrest of Bal Krishna Dhungel are endangering the peace process.
We are surprised that the chief of a political party, one who has already served as head-of-government, would stoop so low as to designate the campaign for justice by victims and rights activists as nothing more than "street dancing". The entire statement, targetting activists who are striving to secure rule of law, will only serve to further institutionalise impunity in our society.
The Accountability Watch Committee, as well as the human rights community of Nepal as a whole, will not be intimidated by threats inherent in statements such as the one just made by Chairman Dahal. We will continue to raise our voice against the spread of impunity in our society.
Signed,
Sushil Pyakurel
Chair, Accountability Watch Committee