Kathmandu: Amid mounting pressure on the Maoist-led coalition to end the culture of impunity in Nepal, an umbrella group of journalists has expressed concern over the government`s move to grant amnesty to those accused of crimes during the decade-long insurgency in the country.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was "alarmed by planned amnesty for (those involved in) criminal cases linked to the insurgency". In a statement it expressed concern that people convicted of killing journalists might also be freed.

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The New York-based free press watchdog has written to Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai over the issue, saying the move to withdraw the "politically motivated cases" filed against party leaders might end up pardoning those already convicted.

"It will have disturbing ramification for the prosecution of any crime committed in the past 15 years. It would codify the existing climate of impunity for killers of journalists and others, both before and after the insurgency," said Joel Simon, executive director of CPJ.
Earlier, international and local rights watchdogs have flayed a reported deal between Nepal`s ruling alliance and the Terai-based Madhesi front to withdraw cases and grant amnesty to people indicted of crimes during and after the civil war in the country.

CPJ expressed concern over recent remarks by Attorney General Mukti Pradhan, who defended the agreement between the UCPN-Maoist and the United Democratic Madhesi Front.
"We believe that a blanket withdrawal of criminal cases would be abusing and not adhering to the peace accord," CPJ said, adding "The opposition politicians, civil society groups and journalists in Nepal also say that the proposal undermines peace process".

"It would also encourage a continuance of attacks, threats and harassment that journalists face in Nepal today, by implying that your government places no value on defending press freedom," it added, reminding Bhattarai that he had promised not to make any compromise on press freedom. "This planned amnesty would be a compromise," it said.

Earlier, Amnesty International Nepal, Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurists and Advocacy Forum had appealed to Bhattarai to honour the commitments made by both the government and the Maoist party to hold perpetrators of rights abuses accountable before the law.

However, the prime minister has denied that any agreement to acquit the culprits has been reached.

"Decision was made to acquit only those implicated by the state on fake charges during the People`s War, and Madhes, Tharuhat and other movements," Bhattarai said during a meeting with the human rights activists earlier this month.
PTI