Implementation Must

The government has unveiled the much awaited Rayamajhi Commission Reportin the legislative Parliament the other day which is a welcome step on its own. The commission headed by former justice Krishna Jung Rayamajhi was formed in the aftermath of the Jana Andolan-11 to inquire into the atrocities and killings carried out to suppress ruthlessly the popular movement under the purview of adherents of the Royal regime. Needless to describe, many people had been killed, several hundred amputated and thousands involuntarily disappeared during Jana Andolon II as people had revolted against the much maligned autocratic Royal regime to restore civil rights and freedom in the country. The commission probed, interrogated and collected adequate testimonials and evidences which could be adduced to incriminate those responsible for using disproportionate force to suppress the people taking to the streets peacefully for restituting democratic rights and liberty . The report has rightly indicted 201 people from different agencies of the state administration including the executive organ of the government, police and civil administration, military and paramilitary apparatuses. The monumental 1184 page report has blamed the higher authorities for being involved in hatching design and conspiracy to suppress the people?s movement and abetting the use of force to quell and tame the surge of mass to oust the dictatorial regime. The report has categorized the accused into four types and recommended different forms of actions commensurate to the gravity of the offences and crimes committed to flout human rights and jeopardize the democratic aspiration of the people. The report has suggested the enactment of necessary laws since the prevailing legal framework is not sufficient to book the culprits to justice. Though the government, in its bid to implement the recommendations of the report with a view to strengthen the process for enforcement and reparation of the rights of the people, had formed a ministerial level committee some months ago, no concrete steps were taken to do the same. The presentation of the report in the legislative Parliament this Friday would definitely lead to the initiation of the genuine and concrete steps towards its implementation . The government should work towards enacting necessary laws so that those who are involved in the commission of the crimes are brought to justice. The onus of building positive human rights culture lies with the government.

Source: The Rising Nepal, August 6, 2007