In order to gather local and nation consensus against amnesty for serious human rights violations committed during the decade-long conflict, Advocacy Forum (AF), Conflict Victim Society for Justice (CVSJ) Baglung and Solidarity Group for Justice Western Regional Office, Pokhara jointly organized multifarious programs like photographs and book exhibition relating to the conflict and conflict victims, documentary on human rights issues, signature collection, memorandum submission. The programs started on 26 March 2012 and lasted up to 3 April 2012 in the premises of Dhaulagiri Multiple campus. It was observed on the occasion of Baglung Festival held every year at Chaitra Dashain.
During the programs photographs of those killed, disappeared, disabled or made victims of human rights violations, books and reports published by AF were exhibited and documentary on human rights theme was shown, signatures of those coming to observe the Festival were collected as a campaign against impunity and amnesty, and a memorandum against amnesty was submitted before Rt. Honorable President Dr. Rambaran Yadav.
The program marked the victims’ unceasing efforts for justice and a crusade against all kinds of amnesties and pardons for the conflict-era crimes. Hundreds of thousands of people observed the program, updated on the issues and listened to the plights of victims. Nearly fifty-five thousand signatures on blank cloth reading “We Want Justice; Not Amnesty” were collected and subsequently submitted to the Speaker of the Legislative Parliament. Similarly, the exhibition adequately informed people about the severity of the conflict in Dahulagiri zone. Overall, the program achieved a milestone to sensitize ordinary people with regards to the issue of the victims long deprived of justice and exerted pressure on the government to guarantee human rights and transitional justice.
