First FIR filed!

Glad today that the filing by our partners(and associates from ICJ) of the FIR regarding the Bardia National killings was accepted and actually filed. Needless to say, also glad that PBI were asked to accompany them to file and gave the human right defenders a larger space to operate, which is part of why we are here in Nepal in the first place. This might not sound like much(nor may it lead to much even though it potentially could now that an investigation technically is underway)but the army is to be investigated and this in itself is a small victory. No, it is actually more than a small victory taking into account the relationship formed during the conflict between the army and police and the formation of the armed police force, a separate combat unit of sorts. The concept of unified command came into effect during the conflict which, needless to say created many bonds between two otherwise separate units in the Nepali society.

The women killed in the National Park was all over the news for a couple of days, and even though the case is being investigated by three parties(the Nepali army, the Nepali government and OHCHR which already published a report)there are many rumors going around. The facts are that the army still say that the women were poachers, or that they at least mistook them for being poachers inside the park. What happend to the victims, the lowcast Dalit women is still unclear but at least there might be some hope at the horizon.