NHRC Recommends Action Against KP Oli, Lekhak, And Prithvi Gurung Over Human Rights Violations

Nepal’s National Human Rights Commission has concluded that former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and former Information and Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung were involved in human rights violations linked to the incidents of Bhadra 23 and 24. The decision was made based on the investigation report prepared by a committee led by commission member Lili Thapa.

Although the committee submitted its report on Chaitra 6, the commission officially decided on Tuesday to recommend action against them and submitted the recommendation to the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday.

The commission stated that the three leaders were identified as human rights violators in different sections of the investigation’s facts and analysis chapter. According to Article 249 subsection 2(g) of Nepal’s Constitution, the commission can recommend legal action against individuals or institutions involved in human rights violations.

However, since current laws do not clearly provide punishment for such violations, the commission has recommended that the government create a new law, even if it applies retrospectively, to allow legal action and punishment.

The commission has also suggested several legal provisions for future cases. These include punishment of up to six months in prison or fines up to Rs 3 lakh or both, hearing such cases in a special court, banning violators from contesting elections or receiving political appointments for at least five years, restricting administrative responsibilities for three years, and limiting foreign travel.

It also recommended automatic suspension from public office once a human rights violation case is filed. The report, which is around 1,000 pages long, also recommends action against security officials who were in leadership positions during the incidents.