Re: Press Release: Visiting Nepal Army Chief urged to handover Major Niranjan Basnet to police

On Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 3:59 PM, ACHR REVIEW <achr_review@achrweb.org> wrote:

                     Asian Centre for Human Rights
        (ACHR has Special Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC)
__________________________________________________________________________
             C-3/441-C, Janakpuri, New Delhi-110058, India
                  Phone: +91-11-25620583, 25503624
       Email: suhaschakma@achrweb.org: Website: www.achrweb.org

                                                    17 December 2009


                        Press Release
                        --------------

Visiting Nepal Army Chief urged to handover Major Niranjan Basnet to police

New Delhi: The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR), a Delhi based rights
group, today urged visiting Nepal Army Chief General Chhatra Man Singh
Gurung to handover Major Niranjan Basnet to police in Nepal for trial
before the Court.

In early December Major Niranjan Basnet was expelled from a UN mission for
his involvement in the torture and subsequent killing of a 15 year old,
Maina Sunawar, during the conflict. He was sent home. Before Basnet
arrived, on 12th December, the Nepal Prime Minister communicated to the
Defence Minister that Basnet should face the charges made in the Court
arrest warrant. In defiance of the court, the law and the Prime Minister,
the NA took Major Basnet from the airport to Army HQ. On 13th December the
Nepal Police requested that Basnet be handed over. The NA has not yet
handed over Mr Basnet to the police.

"The outcome as to whether Major Basnet will be handed over to the police
for trial before the Court will decide whether a civilian democratic
government and the rule of law will determine Nepal's future or it will be
a nation dominated by the interests of the Military - redolent of
Pakistan's military." – stated Mr Suhas Chakma, Director of Asian Centre
for Human Rights.

ACHR alleged that India's decision to resume arms supply to the NA,
suspended after the Royal takeover in 2005, directly undermines Nepal's
peace process and further fuels the current political tension. On 7th
December 2009, India announced the decision to resume supply of arms.
During the ongoing visit of Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General
Chhattraman Gurung, India's Defence Ministry, among others, announced the
decision to supply 50 Ajeya T-72 armoured tanks.

"The Indian unconditional support has enabled the Nepal Army to be the
arbiter of the Peace Process in Nepal with virtual veto power against the
integration of the Peoples Liberation Army and democratization of the NA –
both central to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The recent events
including the failure to hand over Major Basnet show that government of
Nepal is incapable of acting independently from a military opposed to the
peace process." – further stated Mr Chakma.

The Asian Centre for Human Rights urged India to reconsider its
unconditional support to the Nepal Army.

"Otherwise, Nepal would soon become a redolent of Pakistan with contempt
for Indian model of democratic control of the security forces" - warned
the Asian Centre for Human Rights.[Ends]
________________________________________________________________________
[Should you require any further information, please contact Mr Suhas
Chakma at 09810893440]

--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/