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DPKO Must Repatriate Major Basnet
BY KTM Metro Reporter in Kathmandu
On Monday, November 30, 2009, Asian Human Rights Commission in a press release has stated that the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) in New York must repatriate Major Niranjan Basnet to Nepal to stand trial for illegally arresting, torturing, raping and murdering Maina Sunuwar, a 15-year-old girl in February 2004. The Maina Sunuwar murder case is a landmark case in the history of Nepal.
Major Niranjan Basnet is an officer of the Nepal Army against whom there is a pending-arrest warrant in Nepal; the Kavre District Court has issued the warrant on February 10, 2008; the officer absconded from the court's jurisdiction and since September 2009 he has serving in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Chad according to the press release.
Major Niranjan Basnet, Colonel Bobby Khatri, Captain Sunil Prasad Adhikari and Captain Amit Pun are accused of having illegally arrested, tortured, raped and murdered Maina Sunuwar, a 15-year-old girl in February 2004.
The press release has stated that the DPKO cannot escape from its responsibility for appointing Basnet to an important UN mission, and cannot wash its hands off by merely blaming the government of Nepal for nominating a suspected criminal and asking the government to recall the officer.
The press release has stated that the DPKO has the responsibility to immediately withdraw the suspected officer from active duty in Chad, has the duty to verify with the government, whether an arrest warrant is pending against Basnet, and on receipt of confirmation, to keep Basnet in detention and to guarantee that Basnet is handed over to the authorities in Nepal without delay, and also has the responsibility to prevent Basnet absconding from Chad pending his repatriation to Nepal.
