NHRC recommends government to resolve problem in Tarai at earliest

Kathmandu / November 1: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recommended the government to quickly resolve the ongoing problem in Tarai by holding dialogue in a responsible manner, and giving the civilians a sense of its determination to respect and protect human rights.

At a programme held to make public a report prepared after monitoring of the human rights scenario in Tarai in course of the agitation held before and continuing after the promulgation of the new constitution, the Commission said it had made such a recommendation to the government.

NHRC took stock of the human rights scenario in Ilam, Dhankuta, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Khotang, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Chitwan, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Nawalparasi, Rupendehi, Kapilvastu, Baglung, Dang, Banke, Surkhet, Jumla, Kalikot, Bardiya and Kailali districts, said Commission Spokesperson Mohana Ansari.

“We appeal to the government and the agitating side to not allow or undertake any activities in name of maintaining peace and security, and agitation that would violate civilians’ rights creating a serious humanitarian crisis,” Ansari said.

Ansari further said the indefinite strike and the obstruction of export and import of freight at Nepal-India border caused inflation, promoted black market trading and acute shortage of daily essential commodities impacting directly consumers’ human rights. “The situation has mostly affected the labourer class living on daily earnings, so we have recommended both the sides to undertake and allow insurance of the right to run industries, factories and continue professions, trade and employment,” the NHRC Spokesperson said.

The NHRC has also called on both the sides to help create an environment allowing educational institutes to operate citing the rights of the children were being curtailed.

A total of 49 persons including an 18-month old infant have died during the agitation in course of promulgation of the new constitution while around 729 were injured. In course of the agitation, 28 human rights activists were directly affected.

NHRC Chairman Anup Raj Sharma and member Govinda Sharma Poudel stressed the need on part of both the sides to develop a culture of respecting human rights. RSS