Nepal's peace process in danger: Amnesty

KATHMANDU: Amnesty International has warned Nepal's peace process is in danger of collapse and urged the government and former Maoist rebels to act on their pledges to deliver justice and security.   

A peace deal late last year saw the Maoists abandon their decade-long revolt and join mainstream parties in an interim government. But the ex-rebels stormed out of the government in September, demanding the immediate abolition of the monarchy and changes to the voting system, throwing the peace process into doubt.   

"The 'peace' which Nepal has so far achieved is temporary, incomplete and extremely precarious," the London-based rights group late on Tuesday. "Amnesty International believes without delivering on the promises of justice, security and inclusion... there is a real danger of Nepal's recent tragic history repeating itself," the group said in a statement. The Maoist revolt claimed 13,000 lives.   

Rights groups say both the Maoists and government security services committed serious human rights abuses during the conflict, including disappearances, rape and torture. Nepal started the process of setting up a South Africa-style truth commission earlier this year to tackle rights abuses during the bloody civil war, but it has still not got off the ground.   

"The Nepalese are hungry for justice," Amnesty said. Elections to a constituent assembly that would shape the impoverished nation's political future have been postponed twice.