“This decision contradicts Nepal´s commitments, as expressed during the Universal Periodic Review process, towards accountability for serious human rights violations and abuses committed during the conflict, and reinforces the culture of impunity in Nepal,” said OHCHR-N in a statement.[break]
Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal appointed Sapkota despite a pending charge of his involvement in abduction and murder of one Arjun Lama in Kavre district in 2005. Police had filed a first information report against Sapkota and others, in the District Court, Kavre, following a Supreme Court order in March 2008. The court order is yet to be implemented.
“My office has consistently maintained that all allegations of human rights and humanitarian laws violations by all parties should be promptly and thoroughly investigated,” said Jyoti Sanghera, the head of the UN rights body in Nepal. “Lack of accountability in cases of alleged human rights violations not only sends a message that there are no consequences for the perpetrators of such violations, but further adds to the suffering of the victims and their families who have been awaiting justice for many years.”
Lama´s murder case is one of the emblematic human rights issues of conflict time raised by national and international human rights community.
The prime minister appointed Sapkota in his cabinet though national and international human rights community had urged Khanal and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal not to appoint any individual accused of human rights violations, in public offices.
“I had sent a text message to the prime minister soon after he was appointed prime minister [in February] cautioning him not to make a mistake by appointing individuals accused of grave human rights violation,” said Subodh Raj Pyakurel, chairperson of Informal Sector Service Center, a human rights NGO.
But the prime minister´s press advisor Surya Thapa held Maoists responsible for Sapkota´s appointment.
“The party that recommended his name is responsible. The prime minister has no role in this regard,” said Thapa, when asked why the prime minister appointed Sapkota despite his questionable human rights record.
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