Nepal Bar Association Expresses Discontent Over Human Rights Commission Report

Kathmandu. The Nepal Bar Association has expressed objection to a research report recently made public by the National Human Rights Commission.

The Bar has raised questions on the report and recommendations submitted by the committee formed under the convenership of commission member Lily Thapa regarding the incidents of Bhadra 23 and 24.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by Secretary-General Senior Advocate Kedar Prasad Koirala, it has been preliminarily concluded that the commission's report is not detailed but 'selective'.

The Bar has demanded the commission provide an official copy of the report and has stated that it has assigned its 'Human Rights and Public Interest Committee' for its detailed study. The Bar has clarified that further views will be made public after the committee's study.

In particular, the Bar has expressed dissatisfaction with the recommendation to make laws with 'retrospective effect' targeting past actions. 'Punishing for past actions by making laws retrospectively ends natural justice and the rule of law,' the statement reads, 'Such an act is also contrary to Nepal's constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966.'

The Bar has stated that it is surprising that recommendations are being made by a constitutional body in a manner that is unconstitutional. A warning has also been given that if civil and administrative activities are criminalized, retaliatory and arbitrary rule will begin in the country.

Stating that reports brought for directed and cheap popularity instead of being factual will not help in building an advanced society, the Bar has appealed to all concerned bodies to constructively criticize such actions and convey a positive message.