September 27, 2012
No Impunity to Criminals
Press Statement
Our serious attention has been drawn to the news published in media that the Government of Nepal has decided to withdraw cases against Udaya Narayan Adagdiya (Yadav) of Siraha, who is accused of murders and robbery of arms.
The cases against Adagdiya are under consideration in the court, including the murder for former parliamentarian Krishna Charan Shrestah, and abduction and murder of Road Department engineer Nabaraj Bishta and cases related to abuse of arms and ammunition are being withdrawn under the pretext of being political cases. The government has also committed contempt of court by disregarding suggestions of the District Court Siraha along with District Administration which was against the case withdrawal when consulted by the government.
The keenness demonstrated by PM Baburam Bhattarai and Home Minister Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar on withdrawing this case shows their attempt to institutionalize impunity in the country. The decision is also against the international human rights laws barring pardon in the cases of grave human rights violence including enforced disappearance, extra-judicial killing, rape and torture.
The repeated secret decisions withdrawing criminal cases giving them political veneer, ignoring the suggestions of concerned agency, has exposed this government’s undemocratic character. And, it has proved that the recent ordinance submitted to the President on TRC and Disappearance was not brought with honest intention.
The government’s ill intention is also proved by the fact that even after five years of implementation of Right to Information Act, the crucial government decisions remain hidden from public sphere.
We strongly urge the government not to take any decision which is illegal, is against the international commitment, and which promotes impunity and violates the norm of rule of law.
Bijay Raj Gautam
Executive Director