KATHMANDU: Chairman of the Aam Janata Party, Prabhu Sah, has raised concerns about the implementation of the agreement that the government has signed with the victims of the Gaur Massacre.
“I would like to know the current status of the Gaur murder case,” Sah said while addressing the House of Representatives on Thursday.
On August 8, the government signed an agreement with the victims, expressing its commitment to investigate the complaints filed by the families of the victims and to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. Additionally, the government agreed to publish the names of the victims who were declared martyrs by the cabinet meeting held on December 24, 2008, in the Gazette.
However, the ruling coalition has reached a consensus to not execute the agreement. Upendra Yadav, the chairperson of the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) and a member of the ruling coalition, has been accused by the Gaur Massacre victims as the main perpetrator.
“Does the rule of law prevail in Nepal or not? If there is indeed a rule of law, why haven’t the Gaur victims received justice even after 17 years? Why have the culprits not been held accountable?” questioned Sah.
A total of 27 individuals, including 26 affiliated with the then CPN (Maoist), lost their lives in the violent clash that erupted when the Madheshi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) and CPN (Maoist) organized simultaneous rallies at the same location in Gaur on March 21, 2007.
“It wasn’t solely murder; it was a genocide. Automatic weapons were utilized to massacre people. Women were subjected to rape and murder,” Sah said, adding that the investigation and post-mortem reports substantiate these claims.
The government investigated the case by forming a high-level inquiry commission led by a sitting judge.
“Where is the commission’s report? What has happened to the complaints filed by the victims’ families? These questions must be addressed by the government,” Sah added.