26 July 2010. In the presence of CA members, representatives of different political parties, victims and stakeholders from Kapilvastu District, Advocacy Forum (AF) and Accountability Watch Committee-Kapilvastu (AWC), a loose forum of human rights defenders in Kapilvastu District, have jointly submitted a memorandum today to Prime Minister’s Office demanding immediate action against the perpetrators of Kapilvastu Massacre and adequate redress to victims.
Accepting the memo on behalf of the PM, Minister for the Office of the PM Ghanashyam Bhusal has asked for a day’s time to address the issues raised in the memo.
A widespread violence ignited around Kapilvastu district after the killing of a local leader Mohit Khan on 17 September, 2007 had left 13 people dead, 560 (hotels, houses and hotels) torched, vandalized and looted, and around 324 vehicles damaged.
A probe committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs had recommended prosecution of the perpetrators and compensation amounting to 15 million rupees to the victims.
After much dillydallying and only after filing a complaint to National Information Commission under AF initiatives, the government finally made public the final report of the probe committee on 18 April, 2011.
AF has been providing legal assistance to victims of Kapilvastu riots.
