In a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam on Monday, OHCHR-Nepal chief Richard Bennett told Gautam that OHCHR was "extremely concerned" that even six months after five persons were charged in relation to the disappearance and killing of Shrestha in Chitwan district only one individual has been arrested. [break]
A statement, issued by the OHCHR-Nepal following the meeting, said some of the others charged are believed to be inside the cantonment of the Maoist Army in Shaktikhor, Chitwan. Maoists had allegedly abducted Shrestha on April 27 and he succumbed to his injuries caused by torture allegedly by Maoists inside the cantonment site later.
"Two letters sent by Chitwan District Police to the Maoist Army’s 3rd Division requesting an interview with 3rd Division Commander Kali Bahadur Kham (‘Bibidh’) have not been answered," the statement said. "Also, while the leadership of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) has expressed its commitment to take stern action against those responsible, it appears local leaders have yet to extend cooperation to Chitwan Police to enable them to carry out their investigation and arrest those charged."
During the meeting with the home minister, Bennett recommended that the report of the probe commission that was submitted to the government on July 16 be made public and available for police and prosecutors to complete their investigations.
Bennett also expressed concern about the non-implementation of recommendations made to the government by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
During the meeting Home Minister Gautam said he has undertaken steps to act on the requests of the NHRC.
“My office notes that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has repeatedly expressed his Government’s commitment to end impunity and respect all human rights, most recently on Human Rights Day, 10 December," said Bennett. "Holding accountable those who tortured and killed Ram Hari Shrestha would send a welcome signal that the Government intends to deliver on that commitment.”
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