UN human rights office in Nepal deplores recent killings

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) has condemned the recent killings and other serious human rights violations following last month’s elections in the Asian country.

“OHCHR-Nepal is extremely concerned about recent killings and other serious human rights violations during the fragile period prior to the swearing-in of the Constituent Assembly,” the UN office says in a statement released yesterday.

The Constituent Assembly is due to hold its first session next week following last month’s countrywide elections.

OHCHR-Nepal calls on all concerned parties to cooperate fully with police investigations into alleged crimes, including the abduction and killing of businessman Ram Hari Shrestha, who was reportedly beaten to death by the Maoist army earlier this month. The office said it had been given assurances by the Maoist army that it would cooperate with all authorized investigations and human rights monitoring connected to the case.

The office adds that “law enforcement is the duty of the state,” and says that “respect for human rights is essential if impunity in Nepal is not to be perpetuated.”

Yesterday, the UN’s top envoy to Nepal, Ian Martin, said the country still faces “very considerable challenges” on the way to establishing stability and economic development, despite the success of the elections.