Human rights chief welcomes amnesty block for serious crimes in NepalListen /
A decision by the Supreme Court of Nepal to block amnesties for serious human rights violations committed during the country's 10-year conflict has been welcomed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Navi Pillay says the decision "is a significant development for the thousands of victims of the conflict".
The Supreme Court's ruling came in response to proceedings initiated by human rights activists who objected to the provisions of an ordinance passed by the government in 2013.
The ordinance established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate human rights violations during the 1996-2006 conflict in which at least 13,000 people died and 1,300 others went missing.
The Supreme Court ruled that the provisions of the ordinance concerning amnesties contravene fundamental human rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Nepal, its justice system and international law.
Navi Pillay says it is "the first step towards ensuring that the Commission will not be used to avoid or delay criminal investigations and prosecutions of conflict-related cases".
Daniel Dickinson, United Nations.