Issuing a letter, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurists and Advocacy Forum, made the appeal to the prime minister.
"The letter was issued in reaction to the four-point agreement between the UCPN (Maoist) and the United Democratic Madhesi Front," read the statement issued jointly by the four organizations. The agreement calls for the withdrawal of criminal cases committed during the country´s armed conflict.[break]
Mandira Sharma, director of Advocacy Forum, said the proposal to withdraw criminal cases against people accused of human rights abuses and grant them amnesty would deprive the victims who suffered at their hands of fundamental rights, including the right to an effective remedy. "This agreement would threaten the principles of constitutional supremacy, judicial independence, and the rule of law," she said.
"We understand the need to forge consensus among the political parties to bring the peace process and constitution writing process to a satisfactory conclusion," the statement quoted Sam Zarifi, the Asia director at Amnesty International as saying. "However, this should not be done at the expense of justice and safeguarding the rights of Nepal´s people."
The four organizations called upon the prime minister to issue a clear and unambiguous statement that the government will not seek to end investigations prematurely, withdraw charges or grant amnesties in the cases that involves serious human rights violations.
They also called upon the government to set up an independent legal and institutional framework to ensure that the criminal justice system and transitional justice institutions, such as the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission, can work effectively to end impunity.
"To be consistent with Nepal´s international obligations, any withdrawals or other actions affecting the rights of victims must be made as part of an independent and impartial process conducted in accordance with the rules set down by the Supreme Court," the statement quoted Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
PM pledges to stop impunity
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has denied that any agreement to acquit the culprits has been reached.
The state-news agency, RSS, reported that Dr Bhattarai, at a meeting with the human rights activists at the UCPN (Maoist) central office on Friday morning, said, "Decision was made to acquit only those implicated by the state on fake charges during the People´s War, and Madhes, Tharuhat and other movements."
Bhattarai also said that the bills on Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Disappearance Commission will be given final touches soon. He pledged action against human rights violators and an end to impunity.
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