US, UK and India aggravating Nepal situation: Amnesty
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Amnesty International today revealed how irresponsible military aid and arms supplies to Nepal from countries including the United States, India and the United Kingdom, have facilitated the killing, torture and abduction or "disappearance" of thousands of civilians.
The organisation called on these governments and others -- including Belgium and South Africa which have recently supplied military assistance and France, which supplies crucial components for helicopters assembled and delivered by India -- not to resume military assistance or arms supplies destined for Nepal until the security forces can demonstrate that they will uphold human rights. A new report from the organization outlines the case for the suspension of all transfers of arms and related logistical and security supplies to Nepal that can be used to commit grave human rights violations. The report, Nepal: Military assistance contributing to grave human rights violations, focuses particular attention on military aid, arms transfers and training provided to Nepal's armed forces by governments during the 9-year armed conflict between Nepalese security forces and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). It also examines the supply of arms from private companies and the role governments play in providing export licenses for such sales. Despite overwhelming evidence that such military assistance has been used for the killing and abduction of civilians by both sides in the conflict, it has only recently been suspended and in some cases still continues. More... |
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