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Nepal: UN human rights official voices concern about promotion of army officer
UN NEWS SERVICE
December 25, 2009: A top United Nations official in Nepal today expressed serious reservations over the controversial promotion of a military General with ties to breaches of human rights to be second-in-command in Nepal's army.
The Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) noted widespread opposition to Major General Toran Jung Bahadur Singh taking the step up to Lieutenant General.
OHCHR issued a report in 2006 on its investigation into torture, arbitrary detention and disappearances carried out at Maharajgunj Barracks, which was under the control of a battalion led by Maj.-Gen. Singh in 2003-04 during the conflict between Government forces and Maoists.
The report concluded that Maj.-Gen. Singh “knew or ought to have known about these actions,” and recommended the suspension from official duties of those potentially connected to the human rights abuses, either directly or indirectly through command, pending the investigation.
“Those implicated in human rights violations committed by members of the 10th Brigade in 2003 and in 2004, when General Singh was in command, should not be promoted pending completion of a full, transparent and impartial investigation,” said Representative of OHCHR-Nepal Richard Bennett.
“This would enhance, not diminish, the prestige of the Nepal Army at home and abroad,” added Mr. Bennett.
UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN NEPAL
Press release, 24 December 2009
Promotion of General Toran J.B.Singh concerns OHCHR
24 December, Kathmandu
OHCHR-Nepal Representative Richard Bennett today expressed concern about the promotion of Major General Toran Bahadur Singh to Lieutenant General and second-in-command of the Nepal Army despite widespread opposition. “OHCHR’s position since 2006 has been consistent – those implicated in credible allegations of human rights violations committed by members of the 10th Brigade in 2003 and in 2004, when General Singh was in command, should not be promoted pending completion of a full, transparent and impartial investigation. This would enhance, not diminish, the prestige of the Nepal Army at home and abroad”, said Richard Bennett.
For please visit OHCHR-Nepal website: http://nepal.ohchr.org
