The Kathmandu based international community including USA, Australia, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK have expressed concern over the disappeared people in Nepal, marking the International Day of Disappeared.
"On the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared, we remember the 1300 or more people who disappeared during Nepal’s bloody ten year conflict. To this day their whereabouts and their fate remain unknown and their loved ones continue to seek truth and justice." they said in a press statement.
It is estimated that around 1300 people disappeared during the decade long civil war in Nepal from 1996 to 2006.
The community has urged the Nepalese government to not include broad amnesties for serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
They also demanded to set up two commissions to find out the truth and facts about what happened during the 10-year long armed conflict and to provide justice to its victims.
On the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared, we remember the 1300 or more people who disappeared during Nepal’s bloody ten year conflict, said a statement, to this day their whereabouts and their fate remain unknown and their loved ones continue to seek truth and justice.
"The establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and a Commission of Inquiry on Disappearances as foreseen in the Comprehensive Peace Accord will help establish the facts about what happened during the 10-year long armed conflict and seek to provide justice to its victims."
For Nepal’s peace process to move forward, it is important that the two Commissions are established soon and with legislation that not only meets international standards but also complies with the Supreme Court’s June 2007 ruling, read the statement.
We therefore urge the Government of Nepal to ensure that any commission meets international standards and does not include broad amnesties for serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, the statement said adding, "..we encourage the Government of Nepal to take into account the views of the National Human Rights Commission and victims groups when finalising the bills."
Meanwhile, to mark the day, hundreds of kin of the disappeared and human rights activists marched in Kathmandu on Thursday demanding fair justice to the victims' family.
