30 August, 2019
Amnesty Nepal joined 19 other civil society and conflict victim’s organisations to host a candle light vigil at Maitighar Mandala on 30 August. The vigil marked the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances (IDD) and witnessed participation of a wide array of individuals including members of various civil society organisations, families of victims of enforced disappearances and human rights defenders.
Ram Kumar Bhandari on behalf of conflict victims put forth a few words that summed up many of the thoughts of those present at the vigil. Bhandari raised issues concerning continuing impunity of state officials even after having signed the comprehensive peace accord more than a decade earlier. “The state continues to protect the perpetrators and turn a blind eye to the gross human rights violations committed during the conflict era; along side lack of efforts to locate victims of enforced disappearance,” said Bhandari.
Tika Ram Kharel, family member of a victim of enforced disappearance said, “Almost 13 years have passed trying to locate our sons and daughters. Even now we have received no justice from the State. We will not be silenced until we receive justice, until perpetrators are held accountable and crimes of torture and rape are not overlooked by the justice system.” Kharel also mentioned that repeated requests of families of victims to the State officials to publicise information of those who have been forcefully made to disappear including his son have been constantly ignored.
On behalf of civil society organisations activist Charan Prasai raised pertinent issues regarding the working pattern of the current government and its apathy towards families of victims of enforced disappearances. Among other things, Prasai focused on the public’s lack of trust on the current government as they continuously choose to remain indifferent towards perpetrators of grave human rights violations leading to high level of impunity and delay of justice to victims and families of victims of enforced disappearance. Further, Prasai also touched upon issues concerning the Truth and Reconciliations commission (TRC).
“The transitional justice commissions must be in line with international standards, verdict of the Supreme Court of Nepal and formed only after the TRC Act has been amended”, said Prasai.
The candle light vigil was arranged in the numbers “1350+” in memory of those who have been forcefully disappeared. A poem was recited by Swastika Malli, daughter of one of the victims of enforced disappearance, highlighting the plight of children whose parents were made to disappear during the conflict. The candles were lighted by over 70 participants present at the vigil to show solidarity and demand speedy justice from the State.