They said that though political parties and successive governments have expressed commitments to give justice to victims and book the perpetrators, they have failed to live up their words.
“It is sad to note that not a single person [human rights violator] has been booked for legal action,” said Gauri Pradhan, a member of the National Human Rights Commission, speaking at a premier screening of a human rights-related film at the British Embassy.
The documentary made by journalist Sushil Mainali for the embassy has recorded the plight of some human rights victims. The documentary also covers the visit of nine top Kathmandu-based diplomats to the district last December.
The diplomats had visited the district, which arguably saw the highest number disappearance cases during the conflict time, to draw the government´s attention to lack of action on report on the disappearance prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nepal (OHCHR-N).
“… Hearing the voice of these victims in Bardiya reminds us that ordinary people continue to be affected by the conflict,” said Charge d´ Affaires at the British Embassy Alan Attryde.
Urging the government to take concrete steps to end impunity in order to strengthen Nepal´s peace process, he further said “Actions speak louder than words and now is surely the time for the Army, Police, Armed Police and the Maoists to face up to those human rights abuses.”
Mandira Sharma, executive director of Advocacy Forum, said that the peace that would be completed without addressing the conflict-related rights violations would not be sustainable. “It is now time to ask why not a single human rights violator has not yet been booked,” she said.
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