Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU1109
2009-12-04 11:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: INDICTED OFFICER DEPLOYED ON UNPKO; WILL BE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001109
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: INDICTED OFFICER DEPLOYED ON UNPKO; WILL BE
RECALLED
REF: KATHMANDU 887
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001109
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: INDICTED OFFICER DEPLOYED ON UNPKO; WILL BE
RECALLED
REF: KATHMANDU 887
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
1. (U) The Nepal Army recently deployed Major Niranjan Basnet
to the UN peacekeeping mission in Chad, a decision that is
drawing fire from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights (OHCHR) and human rights groups. Basnet is one
of the four accused in the high-profile Maina Sunuwar case,
in which 15-year Sunuwar was allegedly tortured and executed
by army officers. Basnet is the only one of the four accused
still serving in the Nepal Army. A Nepali court ordered
Basnet's arrest in 2008, and on September 13, 2009, the Kavre
District Court ordered Basnet suspended (reftel).
2. (C) OHCHR-Nepal head Richard Bennett told EmbOff December
3 that the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations plans to
recall Basnet, but must follow proper procedures, which may
take some time. Charge also spoke with Chief of the Army
Staff Chhatra Man Singh Gurung by phone on December 1, and
urged Gurung to recall Basnet immediately from Chad. Gurung
said that an Army court marshal had found Basnet innocent,
and thus Basnet should not be "punished." If the UN wanted
to recall Basnet, they could do so, Gurung said. (Note:
Charge also reiterated U.S. opposition to the promotion of
General Toran Singh, who is also accused of human rights
violations, to the second-in-command of the Nepal Army. End
Note.)
3. (C) COMMENT: The Nepal Army continues to be its own worst
enemy on human rights issues. Even though it has
significantly improved its record since 2005, the Army does
not appear to be serious about holding anyone accountable for
conflict-era human rights abuses. (The Maoists are no
better.) We do not know whether the deployment of Basnet was
an intentional snub to the human rights community, an avenue
utilized to avoid civilian court action, or merely a chance
deployment of a unit that included Basnet, but in any case,
it was politically stupid. Post will continue to press the
Army -- and Maoists -- on human rights. END COMMENT.
BERRY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: INDICTED OFFICER DEPLOYED ON UNPKO; WILL BE
RECALLED
REF: KATHMANDU 887
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
1. (U) The Nepal Army recently deployed Major Niranjan Basnet
to the UN peacekeeping mission in Chad, a decision that is
drawing fire from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights (OHCHR) and human rights groups. Basnet is one
of the four accused in the high-profile Maina Sunuwar case,
in which 15-year Sunuwar was allegedly tortured and executed
by army officers. Basnet is the only one of the four accused
still serving in the Nepal Army. A Nepali court ordered
Basnet's arrest in 2008, and on September 13, 2009, the Kavre
District Court ordered Basnet suspended (reftel).
2. (C) OHCHR-Nepal head Richard Bennett told EmbOff December
3 that the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations plans to
recall Basnet, but must follow proper procedures, which may
take some time. Charge also spoke with Chief of the Army
Staff Chhatra Man Singh Gurung by phone on December 1, and
urged Gurung to recall Basnet immediately from Chad. Gurung
said that an Army court marshal had found Basnet innocent,
and thus Basnet should not be "punished." If the UN wanted
to recall Basnet, they could do so, Gurung said. (Note:
Charge also reiterated U.S. opposition to the promotion of
General Toran Singh, who is also accused of human rights
violations, to the second-in-command of the Nepal Army. End
Note.)
3. (C) COMMENT: The Nepal Army continues to be its own worst
enemy on human rights issues. Even though it has
significantly improved its record since 2005, the Army does
not appear to be serious about holding anyone accountable for
conflict-era human rights abuses. (The Maoists are no
better.) We do not know whether the deployment of Basnet was
an intentional snub to the human rights community, an avenue
utilized to avoid civilian court action, or merely a chance
deployment of a unit that included Basnet, but in any case,
it was politically stupid. Post will continue to press the
Army -- and Maoists -- on human rights. END COMMENT.
BERRY