The UN rights watchdog and top envoys in Nepal, including the US, the UK and European Union (EU), have flayed the government for failing to probe "forced disappearances" in the country during the decade-long Maoists'-led civil war, which ended in November 2006.
Nine envoys representing mainly Western countries urged the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government to deliver justice to the families of 170 people, who were victims of forced disappearances during the insurgency in Bardia district.
"Victims of forced disappearance in Bardia were arrested and held without due process of law, physically and psychologically tortured, and many — have been presumed — executed in clear contravention of Nepalese and international laws," the envoys said.
At least 170 people were victims of forced disappearance between 2001 to 2004, according to a report of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Conflict-Related Disappearances.
"Although the cases have been well documented by OHCHR and the National Human Rights Commission, and despite a ruling of the Nepal supreme court in 2007, no official investigation has taken place into these serious human rights violations," the envoys said after visiting Bardia district yesterday.
The envoys, represe nting the United States, EU, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland and Norway, and the Representative of OHCHR-Nepal made the statement after visiting the district on Wednesday, which marks the completion of one year after the publication of the report of the OHCHR on Conflict-Related Disappearances in Bardia district, the Kantipur online reported.
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