Nepal army official found guilty of MP's murder
Saturday, December 02, 2006
http://www.indiaenews.com/nepal/20061202/30920.htm
Nepal's army, under heavy criticism for gross rights violations under King Gyanendra, had its image tarnished further with a probe finding a senior officer guilty of masterminding the abduction and killing of a parliamentarian.
Hem Narayan Yadav, from the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist, the country's second largest political grouping, had a strong base of supporters in the southeastern Siraha district. He was abducted in February 2004.
A day later, his body was found buried near a river, draped in a flag of the Maoist party. However, the Maoists denied involvement in the killing.
The probe report, tabled in parliament Friday, said Col. Babu Krishna Karki of the Indradhoj battalion was the mastermind behind the murder and asked the government to suspend him, arrest him and slap him with a murder charge.
Following the murder, Amnesty International had voiced suspicions about the involvement of the army, pointing out that the abduction occurred close to an army barracks.
After a new government came to power this year, a committee of MPs was formed to look into the murder.
According to the investigators, Karki had roped in a man in Siraha, Jaya Prasad Upadhyay, to spy on Yadav and keep the army informed about his movements.
On the fateful day, after the spy informed the army that the legislator was going to attend a party meeting and would pass close to the barracks, Karki and his accomplices swung into action.
The MPs have also asked the government to arrest Upadhyay and punish him.
A number of investigations found several army personnel, including the former and present army chief, guilty of human rights abuse. However, none of them were ever tried in a civilian court.
The army says it conducts its own court martial, which takes place behind closed doors, and the sentences, according to rights groups, are ridiculously low, fostering a culture of impunity.
Though after the fall of the royal regime the army said it was ready to serve the country and the new government and has been keeping a low profile, it is uncertain whether soldiers found guilty of abuses have been brought to task.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
http://www.indiaenews.com/nepal/20061202/30920.htm
Nepal's army, under heavy criticism for gross rights violations under King Gyanendra, had its image tarnished further with a probe finding a senior officer guilty of masterminding the abduction and killing of a parliamentarian.
Hem Narayan Yadav, from the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist, the country's second largest political grouping, had a strong base of supporters in the southeastern Siraha district. He was abducted in February 2004.
A day later, his body was found buried near a river, draped in a flag of the Maoist party. However, the Maoists denied involvement in the killing.
The probe report, tabled in parliament Friday, said Col. Babu Krishna Karki of the Indradhoj battalion was the mastermind behind the murder and asked the government to suspend him, arrest him and slap him with a murder charge.
Following the murder, Amnesty International had voiced suspicions about the involvement of the army, pointing out that the abduction occurred close to an army barracks.
After a new government came to power this year, a committee of MPs was formed to look into the murder.
According to the investigators, Karki had roped in a man in Siraha, Jaya Prasad Upadhyay, to spy on Yadav and keep the army informed about his movements.
On the fateful day, after the spy informed the army that the legislator was going to attend a party meeting and would pass close to the barracks, Karki and his accomplices swung into action.
The MPs have also asked the government to arrest Upadhyay and punish him.
A number of investigations found several army personnel, including the former and present army chief, guilty of human rights abuse. However, none of them were ever tried in a civilian court.
The army says it conducts its own court martial, which takes place behind closed doors, and the sentences, according to rights groups, are ridiculously low, fostering a culture of impunity.
Though after the fall of the royal regime the army said it was ready to serve the country and the new government and has been keeping a low profile, it is uncertain whether soldiers found guilty of abuses have been brought to task.
posted by Journey at 8:00 AM
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