KATHMANDU, MAR 22 -
Amid demands from rights group for the arrest of former Maoist lawmaker Balkrishna Dhungel , convicted of murder by the Supreme Court in 2010, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said on Thursday that Dhungel is "innocent" dismissing protests against him as mere "street drama."
Issuing a press statement on Thursday, the Maoist Chairman said that an "anti-peace" campaign had been launched in the name of "human rights." Human rights activists have been taking to the streets demanding Dhungel's imprisonment.
In the statement, Dahal said that falsities have been spread and cases fabricated to defame and frame a young Maoist leader. This is the first time that Chairman Dahal has officially spoken in Dhungel's defence.
The SC on January 3, 2010 upheld the decision of the Okhaldhunga District Court and convicted Dhungel for the murder of one Ujjan Kumar Shrestha. After the police failed to arrest Dhungel and the Maoist-led government attempted to grant him amnesty, Shrestha's family filed a writ requesting a stay order on Dhungel's pardon. According to rights groups, Dhungel shot Shrestha dead due to family disputes.
Dhungel is considered close to party Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai. According to a leader, Dahal issued the statement following pressure from the Bhattarai faction. Reiterating the party position, Dahal further said that war-era cases should be settled by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The major political parties have only recently agreed to form a TRC to investigate conflict-era cases.
Referring to ongoing street protests, Dahal said that such activities are against efforts to establish sustainable peace in the country and urged people not to be disillusioned.
Posted on: 2013-03-22 01:00
http://www.ekantipur.com/2013/03/22/top-story/dahal-defends-murder-convict-dhungel/368824.html
Issuing a press statement on Thursday, the Maoist Chairman said that an "anti-peace" campaign had been launched in the name of "human rights." Human rights activists have been taking to the streets demanding Dhungel's imprisonment.
In the statement, Dahal said that falsities have been spread and cases fabricated to defame and frame a young Maoist leader. This is the first time that Chairman Dahal has officially spoken in Dhungel's defence.
The SC on January 3, 2010 upheld the decision of the Okhaldhunga District Court and convicted Dhungel for the murder of one Ujjan Kumar Shrestha. After the police failed to arrest Dhungel and the Maoist-led government attempted to grant him amnesty, Shrestha's family filed a writ requesting a stay order on Dhungel's pardon. According to rights groups, Dhungel shot Shrestha dead due to family disputes.
Dhungel is considered close to party Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai. According to a leader, Dahal issued the statement following pressure from the Bhattarai faction. Reiterating the party position, Dahal further said that war-era cases should be settled by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The major political parties have only recently agreed to form a TRC to investigate conflict-era cases.
Referring to ongoing street protests, Dahal said that such activities are against efforts to establish sustainable peace in the country and urged people not to be disillusioned.
Posted on: 2013-03-22 01:00
http://www.ekantipur.com/2013/03/22/top-story/dahal-defends-murder-convict-dhungel/368824.html
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