Human Rights Were Trampled During March 28 Protest: House Committee

A parliamentary committee has concluded that serious incidents of human rights violations occurred during the March 28 protest of pro-monarchist forces in Tinkune, and urged the government to take legal action against those responsible by conducting a thorough investigation.  

The Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights under the House of Representatives (HoR) prepared the report after questioning key government officials, including Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi, Inspector General of Nepal Police Deepak Thapa, and Chief of Armed Police Force (APF) Raju Aryal. 

According to the committee, the protest led to violent incidents, including the death of Avenues TV photojournalist Suresh Rajak and Sabin Maharjan of Kirtipur. 

Many others suffered injuries, and there was significant damage to public and private property as protesters set vehicles, businesses, the office of the CPN (Unified Socialist) party and the factory of Herbs Production and Processing Company Limited at Jadibuti on fire. 

Incidents of looting and vandalism also took place in places like BhatBhateni Supermarket in Koteshwor, it noted stating that these acts were in violation of the Constitution of Nepal and international human rights laws, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948. 

Article 25 of Nepal’s Constitution protects the right to property, which was also violated during the incident. Expressing deep concern, the committee has urged the government to investigate the incident thoroughly and take legal action against the guilty. It also recommended that the Tinkune area no longer be used for protests, as it lies close to key and sensitive sites like the Tribhuvan International Airport and Nepal Oil Corporation.