Inhuman Face of Human Rights Advocacy and NEPAL:  (opinion)

Pravin Kumar Karna

It is good to see reports of Human Rights Bodies on ongoing Human Rights Violations in Nepal. But after all reports and so much of international hue and cry Nepal government and Nepalese political parties seem determined to go with its agenda to protect culprits of Human Right violation.

My question is very simple : What is the ground effect of Human rights bodies? 

We have seen genocide against Tamil people in Sri Lanka by government forces. None of the Human Right violators in Sri Lanka has been brought to justice yet. Some country may have bargained their agenda with Sri Lanka government in the name of Human rights violation against Tamils in Sri Lanka.

USA is one of the biggest voice raiser against human Right violations but even in USA when a black boy gets shot by police without warning just on grounds of suspicion of carrying weapon, Blacks have to stage big protest to get legal action initiated against such culprit security personnel.

We have seen China’s growth story despite Tiananmen Square massacre and Tibet oppression.

At the same time we see bombing on Iraq sanctions on Iran, Myanmar, North Korea etc.

So what exactly Human Right Means?

Human Rights Issues have become political tool to influence international agenda by some of the rich countries.

In Poor countries, Opposition Political leaders are always good advocate for Human rights violations but when they come in government they contradict their own statement on human rights. Human rights protection ultimately exists in debates only. Security forces are keen to breach human rights in the name of providing security to nation; they are in a position to convince government personals that security cannot be provided without violation of Human Rights.

Most of the times, investigation of crime by security enforcing agencies starts with crime itself. Detainees are not allowed legal aid, denied basic rights of detainee as well as torture under detention is very common.

Those advocating strongly for Human right protection also keep silent on various Human right violations. This silence mainly emerges when security forces breach HR against alleged criminals or on some national security issues. This silence is equally dangerous; rather I shall call it “criminal silence”.

While Aung San Suu Kyi struggled against military rule for democracy in Myanmar, we see Yugur Muslims struggling for freedom in her regime.

Recently Nepal was criticised strongly in annual UPR Geneva on Human rights violation. India being its neighbour criticized Nepal for oppression/Killing of Madheshi Tharu Janjati. India went ahead with complaint against Nepal on Human Right Issues.

On one hand while India was complaining against Nepal on human right issues at various international forums on the other hand back at home  India detained around 20 Madheshi Nepali Protesters for showing black flag to Nepal Prime minister K P Sharma Oli on his visit to New Delhi. Madheshi protesters were not only detained but were also denied basic prisoners right. They were prohibited from informing their family/home about their detention. No legal aid was provided and further more they were forced to sign documents without reading it. Even after so much of efforts when they were released New Delhi refused to provide any document. They are still not aware of charges been levelled against them and why they were released after aprox 48 hours.

This is inhuman reality of Human Rights; Human Rights issue are being raised only for political bargain. No country intends to follow it in true spirit. Human Right Bodies are either selective in their approach or they are not effective.

Human right advocacy has no effect and has no meaning on ground. Human right bodies do criticize act of government but there is no remedy available if government fails to listen to them.

Nepal has history of Human right Violation

Nepal is at a stage, where mere criticism will not work anymore. More needs to be done on Human right front from world lobby. Mere advocacy will not help under current situation in Nepal. Much more stringent actions is required to save human right and to punish culprits of human rights violations. Otherwise advocacy of Human rights will only remain as printed jokes on paper.

We have seen series of Human Right Violations during King regime, Emergency era, Maoist conflict era, which is still continuing. While in Monarchy time, Monarch had absolute power and so had security personnel. Human Rights situation started improving after democracy was declared and it was that time when country started moving on the  path of development. When Maoist insurgency started country went in to deep era of conflict claiming more than 17000 people. Conflict era evidenced series of human rights violation by Maoist cadres and security forces.  None of the culprits have been brought to justice till date. Worst is still to come, Those who fought against each other during conflict era (Erstwhile Maoist and People in government) have joined their hands together to block investigation on Human right violation. Current regime of Nepal government is lead of the violators of human right in past and they are continuing the same in present.

Nepal has not kept any security official under investigation for killing Madheshi/Tharu/Janjati in recent protest against newly promulgated constitution of Nepal despite reports by national and international agencies like Human Right Watch/ Nepal Human Right commission/ Aisan Human right Commission, Amnesty International and many more. At the same time, Nepal government is harassing Madheshi/Tharu/Janjati people in name of investigation.

Furthermore, Prime minister of Nepal Mr. K P Sharma Oli went ahead with summoning Nepal Human right commission commissioner Mrs. Mohna Ansari and reprimanded her for her report on Human right violation.

We need to work and change this inhuman face of human right where human right issues have only become matter of bargain for international agenda by strong and influential countries. Its high time for Human Right Agencies to introspect deep in order to improve their effectiveness.

Remember Human Rights Violation can not be internal issue of any country. Nepal kept silent while Tamil People were being killed by Sri Lanka government, Now Nepal is facing brutal killing of its Madheshi/ Tharu/Janjati by its own government. If Humanity worldwide keeps silence on present Nepal situation, who knows whose turn may be next.

Human Right violation anywhere in world must be Opposed with strongest possible way.

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