A Voice For the Voiceless

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The Advocacy Project seeks to help community-based advocates produce, disseminate and use information, and so become more effective advocates for human rights and social justice

US Veto Undermines UN Support for Human Rights Monitoring by Civil Society in Nepal, April 27, 2004

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AdvocacyNet
News Bulletin 17, April 27, 2004
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The US and Indian governments are reported to have vetoed a United Nations resolution calling on the UN to strengthen human rights monitoring in Nepal, at a time when the country is undergoing one of its worst periods of civil unrest.

Over the past three weeks, hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators have been detained and mistreated by the Nepalese security forces. Some protesters are reported to have disappeared.

The Collective Campaign for Peace (COCAP), a partner of The Advocacy Project, has organized a network of 80 human rights volunteers to monitor the protests and issue daily updates, which are available on the COCAP website.

The US and Indian move came at the recent session of the 53-government UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva. There are fears that it will weaken UN support for civil society in Nepal.

Last month the government of Nepal issued a 'human rights commitment paper' which agreed to human rights monitoring by the Nepalese National Human Commission, a body of 6 independent experts that was established on May 20, 2000. The paper also appealed for funding from donors, including the UN.

According to diplomatic sources in Geneva, the Swiss government responded to the paper by circulating a resolution at the UN Commission expressing concern at the mounting violence. It also called on the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to help the Nepalese National Commission with human rights monitoring.

This was opposed by the US and the Indian government, which has provided sanctuary for Maoist rebels from Nepal. While resolutions are negotiated behind the scenes, sources in Geneva say that the US has argued that the government of Nepal must be supported at all costs in its struggle against Maoist rebels, if Nepal is not to turn into a haven for international terrorists.

Instead of a resolution, Nepal was the subject of a statement by the Commission President calling for the UN to provide human rights 'technical services' to the Nepal National Commission.

This has alarmed human rights activists in Nepal, because it ignores the fact that the current government violence is being directed at pro-democracy supporters. COCAP's own press releases report that scores of journalists, teachers, and lawyers have been among those arrested. They include Girija Prasad Koirala, president of the Nepali Congress who was arrested on April 15, and Shambu Thapa, president of the Nepal Bar Association, arrested on April 9.

Equally worrying, COCAP's own monitors have come under increasing pressure and intimidation. Five COCAP monitors were badly beaten on April 4 as they attempted to help 150 injured demonstrators to hospital.

There are grave doubts about whether UN 'technical support' for the Nepalese National Commission will do much to curb the violence, or improve monitoring. The Commission has not even been able to mount an investigation into the January 13 beating of Mr. Prasain himself, which appeared to have been carried out by security forces. (See AP news bulletin 13, January 21, 2004).

In the meantime the burden of monitoring will remain with civil society. A strong UN resolution, putting the government on notice, would presumably have helped.

• For more information direct from COCAP call 977-1- 4265143 / 4260498 or email them
• For COCAP's press releases visit COCAP's website
• View a 14-minute documentary by COCAP on the riots. One of the cameramen, Ajay, was injured during the making of the film.
• Read a critical analysis of the Nepalese human rights commission
• For more information about COCAP visit their partner page.