Kathmandu, June 6
Naya Shakti Nepal has called the KP Sharma Oli government to settle Maoist insurgency-era cases through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It has also called for the release of Arun Sah, Saptari district coordinator and central council member of NSN, who was arrested in connection with war-era cases.
In a press release issued on Monday, Khim Lal Devkota, NSN spokesperson, claimed: Making arrests and filing cases on the bases of conflict-era incidents will not take the peace process to a logical conclusion.
The press release states: The state has pledged to withdraw conflict-era cases on the bases of past agreements, prevailing laws and political understanding. It has promised to investigate conflict-era incidents, make the truth public and create an environment for reconciliation. Sah’s arrest is against the promise that the state has made. This is unacceptable.
It concluded: Moves like arrest of people on the basis of conflict-era cases and initiation of legal action against them will neither take the peace process to a logical conclusion nor will they help establish sustainable peace in society.
NSN has Baburam Bhattarai, former vice-president of then UCPN-Maoist, as its coordinator. Several other Maoist splinters have also called for resolution of conflict-era cases through the TRC, while victims and the human rights fraternity have stood against granting blanket amnesty in such cases.
What do you think of Naya Shakti’s stance on conflict-era cases? Feel free to comment.
