17 January, 2020
Amnesty International Nepal and Muktinath Adhikari Memorial Foundation jointly organised an interaction programme on 17 January to mark the 18th anniversary of the killing of Muktinath Adhikari.
Adhikari, a school teacher from Lamjung, was the coordinator of Group 79 of Amnesty Nepal, when he was brutally killed by rebel forces in 2002 for refusing to pay donations to the Maoists and for not removing Sanskrit from the school curriculum as per their demands.
“We organise this program every year in order to keep Muktinath’s memory alive and to keep alive the voices of conflict victims who have been fighting for justice,” said Ram Chandra Adhikari, a member of the Foundation.
The interaction program centered on the current stalemate of transitional justice process which has been lingering on for 14 years. Conflict victims expressed their disappointment at the State’s apathy towards their calls for justice and the failure of appointed leaders to show any real commitment towards addressing conflict-era cases of human rights violations.
“Every time we try to raise the issue about justice for conflict victims, we are accused of being influenced by external factors,” said Suman Adhikari, the son of Muktinath Adhikari, at the program. “The blood and tears of the victims have no effect on this country’s leaders.”
Adhikari also questioned the government’s reluctance to amend the Enforced Disappearance Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Act- 2014, one of the key demands of victims and human rights activists, as per the 2015 landmark ruling of the Supreme Court which ordered the government to revise the Act.
“While this government has been very active in proposing legislations on many other issues, it has been dragging its feet when it comes to amending the transitional justice act,” said Adhikari.
Former Chief Justice Kedar Nath Upadhyay, who graced the event as Chief Guest, also stressed the need to amend the Act in order to truly ensure justice for victims and to hold to account all those guilty of human rights violations.
“It took four years to form the Commissions, but they weren’t able to do their work,” said Upadhyay. “The Act has to be amended in order to move forward the transition justice process.”
Upadhyay also spoke about the possibility of conflict-era criminals being persecuted in international courts.
“If they don’t give their testimonies here then they will have to be answerable in international arena. There’s a reason why the Nazis of World War II are still being caught. Their crimes were against human rights and the same applies to conflict-era crimes.”
Devi Sunar, the mother of Maina Sunar who was disappeared by the Army, said that the government’s tactics at exhausting the victims, hasn’t worked.
“They may think that we are tired, but we are not,” said Sunar. “If the government continues to stay apathetic towards our cause then we won’t hesitate from going to international courts.”
Amnesty Nepal Chair, Bikram Dhukucchu, expressed the organisation’s commitment towards fighting for justice for conflict victims.
“We assure you that we will always stand beside you in your fight for justice,” said Dhukucchu.