Vigil demanding end of impunity
10 December, 2013
Marking the 65th International Human Rights Day, Amnesty International Nepal organised a sit-in vigil in Kathmandu, calling for an end to impunity in the country. Activists taking part in the vigil also demanded truth, reparation and justice in the cases of human rights abuses during armed conflict in Nepal.
Over 200 people from various walks of life participated in the event, holding placards with slogans calling for an end to impunity to ensure justice. Activists taking part in the vigil covered the area from Padmodaya Highschool, Putalisadak to Bagbazar.
Talk Program
As part of the international human rights day celebration, an interaction on ‘Freedom from Fear and Want: Ensure human rights and peace’ was held in Kathmandu. Chief guest of the program Krishna Pahadi said that newly elected Constituent Assembly (CA) should make a human rights-friendly constitution in the country.
CA members Gagan Thapa (Nepali Congress), Rameshwar Phuyal and Bidur Sapkota (Communist Party of Nepal Marxist- Leninist) and Dinanath Sharma (Leader of United Communist Party of Nepal Maoist) expressed their commitments to guarantee basic fundamental rights in the constitution that is being promulgated.
On the occasion, Krishna Kandel, advisor of AI Nepal, Lokesh Dhakal former advisor, Homkanta Chaulagain, chairperson of Human Rights and Peace Society, Yasoda Timsina, vice-chairperson of Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Surya Bahadur Adhikari, vice-chairperson of AI Nepal and Pratap Poudel, treasurer expressed their deep concerns about the existing impunity in the country and expectation from the newly elected CA regarding the issue.
At the beginning of the programme, Director of AI Nepal, Rameshwar Nepal, presented AI’s position on the issue. The programme was chaired by Chairperson of AI Nepal Shambhu Thakur.