Impunity we can no longer stand

We demand an independent inquiry by a high level commission (of National Human Rights Commission, if possible) of the following three incidents – Surkhet, Dang, and Rautahat. NHRC had cited these incidents a few days after the elections but neither the government nor any other body has followed up. The Nepali media has once again acted the same way as in the past – preferring not to speak boldly about these sensitive issues, for various reasons including threat to local journalists and allegiance to political powers that be. In all three incidents, circumstantial evidence point to the involvement of strong political powers and the local administration.

Punishing those guilty after an independent inquiry would be a fitting tribute to the aspirations of the Nepali people, for their desire to break from the past and forge a new Nepal. So far, it is yet to materialize. Here are the three incidents:

Murder of Surkhet’s UML candidate – The police now say that the bodyguard provided by the police for Rishi Prasad Sharma accidently fired two shots that killed him. They refused to interview or listen to UML cadres citing political biasness would not produce valid eye witness account. Locals in Surkhet are also demanding a new inquiry into the killing. The NC is also demanding an independent inquiry and has started protesting, to clean its name. Former Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka and bigwigs in the police could be involved.

Murder of 8 YCL cadres in Dang – Again, the media has decided to ignore any follow up on the incident. If anyone has more information on any updates, please post. As with the previous case, Khum Bahadur Khadka and the APF are alleged to be involved.

Rautahat bomb explosion on the eve of elections – Surprisingly ignored by the media, this is one incident where it appears that a lot of evidence suggesting direct involvement of Aftab Aalam, central committee member of the NC, and SPs of both the APF and Nepal Police, as well as the CDO.

A report prepared by a team of human rights activist lead by INSEC, solid evidence was procured showing that the bombing actually took place. As a reminder, on the eve of the elections, an explosion is rumored to have happened in Rajpur Farhadwa VDC, the village of Aftab Aalam. Aalam is the nephew of Late Sheikh Idris, an influential NC leader, with connections to Indian criminal gangs. It is rumored that upto 15 people, including Indian nationals, could have been killed. The police still deny that any explosion has occurred there. The HR team visited the rumored site and found that the roof had been recently reconstructed with new roof tiling and bamboo. The empty room was stuffed with new rice husk, and when the team wanted to remove the husk, they were attacked by the locals. The allegations are that following the powerful explosion, those close of Aalam were taken to India for treatment and some individuals that he could not trust were first sedated by a doctor who is Aalam’s relative and then taken to a brick factory, where they were burnt alive. These include two Nepali victims whose families have now come out in the open. The police, in front of the human rights team, told the families that they should have accepted the 2 lakhs that was offered to them as compensation, while still insisting that the police had visited the site 5 minutes after they heard the rumors of an explosion and found no signs of the explosion. It has become extremely clear that both SPs are closely involved. The locals have restricted movement of journalists and HR activists in the village. Aalam is basically a feudal landlord who has a strong grip over his village and an extensive relationship with Indian criminal groups.

We also condemn Nepali media’s role in promoting this culture of impunity, rather than playing the role of a strong watchdog – as it claims to be. The media could have covered the Rautahat report by the HR team with prominence. They did not – it was a small blurb in Nepal Samacharpatra only. We hope that the recent changes in the leadership of FNJ will make it more responsible, though honestly, I do not have high expectations.