United Nations Human Rights Office in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) remains very concerned about the deaths of three females, including a 12 year-old child, in the Bardiya National Park on 10 March 2010 and considers that it is essential that the relevant authorities complete proper investigations with the full
cooperation of the Nepalese Army and National park authorities. Two weeks after Nepal Army and National Park officials were involved in an incident where lethal force was used against alleged poachers in Bardiya National Park the relevant state authorities have been unable to complete their investigations in accordance with the law and their mandates. The Nepal Army Act, as amended in 2007, provides the Nepal Police with jurisdiction to investigate incidents of
alleged unlawful killings by Nepal Army officials. This follows on from other incidents where civilian authorities have not been able to properly
investigate cases concerning the Nepal Army as per the law. For more than a year and a half the Parsa District Police Office have unsuccessfully attempted to interview army personnel involved in the shooting of Mahendra Masrangi Magar in August 2008. Similarly, in the case of Rajkumar Darai, who was killed by army personnel in Chitwan in November 2009 after reportedly throwing stones at an army patrol, none of the army personnel have yet been interviewed by the police. In each incident the army has carried out its own investigations, but this cannot substitute for the official investigations of civilian authorities. OHCHR urges the Nepal Army to fully cooperate with the police investigation, as
per the Nepal Army Act and international law. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is also investigating this recent case, in accordance
with its constitutional mandate, and OHCHR urges the Nepal Army and the Park Authorities to fully cooperate with the NHRC’s investigation, including by facilitating interviews with all personnel who
participated in the patrol on 10 March, so that it is able to properly assess whether excessive force was
used by the security forces and whether or not the killings were lawful.
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Publisher:
UNOHCHR
,
(2010
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Type / Script:
Press Release
in English
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Keywords:
DEATH, HUMAN RIGHTS, RIGHT TO LIFE, INJURIES, WILDLIFE, ACCOUNTABILITY PROVISION, THREAT TO LIFE, CIVIL RIGHT, POLITICAL RIGHT, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION, INVESTIGATIONS, LAW AND ORDER, LETHAL FORCE, POACHERS
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Thematic Group:
UNOHCHR
:
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
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Thesaurus:
14.02.02
- Human Rights
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Reference Link:
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