No blanket amnesty

The Himalayan Times

18 April 2014

No blanket amnesty

It was indeed not encouraging to read the news “UN warns against amnesties for civil war crimes” (THT, April 16, Page 1) when the government is preparing to table the bill in the Parliament without not seriously considering the Supreme Court’s January 2013 verdict and not following the international standard norms for criminalizing serious human rights violations. Granting blanket amnesty to the gross human rights violators in the name of reconciliations is totally against the spirit of core principles of international law and weakens the foundation for a genuine and lasting peace and encouraging impunity in the country.

It was not expected that the coalition government of two major parties would draft such a weak bill favouring the perpetrators rather than punishing the genuine culprits under the standard prosecution process. How come such a strong and democratically elected government could undermine the rule of law when they consider themselves as the champion of democracy? It is sad to see the concern of the UN High Commission for Human Rights about the government’s bill on transitional justice before tabling it on the House.

According to international law, amnesties are not permitted for serious human rights violations under any circumstances. What is the reason for the government not considering this while drafting the bills? What has compelled the government to ignore the plight of human rights activists and victims of decade long people’s war and to provide blanket amnesty to the serious human rights violators? It is yet to be seen whether the government will respect the UN High Commissioner’s suggestion to draft the bills consistent with the international law and Supreme Court’s decisions.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj, Kathmnadu

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