3 October 2011. Victim’s family has demanded not to grant amnesty to Balkrishna Dhungel, Maoist assembly member from Okhaldhunga who has been sentenced to life imprisonment and confiscation of property in the charge of a murder.
After catching wind of government’s preparation to recommend to the president for amnesty, victim’s family called a press conference and demanded the government to stop the process of granting amnesty to perpetrators. The victim’s family is angry about the government’s preparation of granting amnesty to a convicted murderer who on 24 June 1998 killed Ujjan Kumar Shrestha at Khahare Dovan, Tarkerabari VDC-7, Okhaldhunga. Ujjan’s Sister Sabitri Shrestha called for a press conference in Kathmandu and expressed her shock in government’s step. She even warned that she would go to international court for justice if Dhungel is provided with an amnesty. She warned that Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Home Minister Bijaya Gachchhedar should bear the responsibilities for any consequences subsequent to Dhungel’s amnesty.
During the press conference, Suman Adhikari, president of Orphans’ Society, expressed solidarity to the demand of Shrestha Family.
On 3 January 2010, Supreme Court upheld the decision of District Court, Okhaldhunga which sentenced Dhungel to life imprisonment and confiscation of property after convicting him for the murder of Ujjan Kumar. However, the decision was not implemented and after that on 14th June Ujjan Kumar’s sister Sabitri, with legal assistance from Advocacy Forum, filed a writ at the Supreme Court requesting a stay order on not providing immunity to Dhungel through amnesty. On 21st June, the Supreme Court clarified that the law did not bar the incarceration of Dhungel in any way.
The government is trying to grant amnesty rather than imprisoning a convicted who has been indicted with grave violation of human rights. The recent meeting of council of ministers has theoretically agreed to recommend to the president to grant amnesty on Dhungel’s case. Dhungel is an assembly member from electoral region no. 2 from Okhaldhunga district.
