High level probe commission recommends action against King; others

The High-Level Commission formed to probe the atrocities to suppress April movement of the country has recommended the parliament to take steps to take action against the King as it said the King was primarily responsible for the killings and suppression.
In a report submitted to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, the commission led by former Supreme Court Justice Krishna Jung Rayamajhi, has suggested that all former ministers of the royal government be prosecuted on the charge of human rights violations, some be prosecuted on corruption charge and some be prosecuted on both counts.
It has also suggested promulgation of a new law as no law empowers their prosecution under charge of violation of human rights.
According to reports, some of those ministers the commission wants prosecuted on corruption as well as rights abuse charges are Kamal Thapa, Shrish Sumsher Rana and Tanka Dhakal. They were found guilty of misusing state treasury. It found Thapa, Rana and Dhakal had misused Rs 1.75 million, Rs 10 million and Rs 4 million, respectively.
It has asked the government to prosecute former Chief of Army Staff Pyar Jung Thapa on corruption charge for misusing Rs 2 million. It has recommended prosecution of all members of the cabinet, including the king who chaired it, for human rights violations.
The commission has recommended departmental action against the current chief of army staff Rookmangud Katawal and the chief of armed police force Basudev Oli. It told the government to warn them of demotion if they repeat their offfences.
The commission recommended the government to sack SSP of the armed police force Madhav Thapa, former chief secretary Lokman Singh Karki, former chief district officer of Kathmandu Sushil Ghimire and suspended Inspector General of Armed Police Force Shahabir Thapa and the then Inspector General of Nepal Police Shyam Bhakta Thapa.
It recommended the government to prosecute Durja Kumar Rai and 15 police personnel on charge of murder.
It has asked the government to use its discretion whether to sack or take departmental action against AIGs of Nepal Police Rajendra Bahadur Singh, police officials Roop Sagar Moktan and Krishna Basnet and Major General of Nepal Army Kiran Sumsher Thapa.
Stating that the Regional and Zonal administrators were also found guilty of corruption and rights abuse, it has sought their prosecution on corruption and human rights abuse charges.
It has recommended departmental action against Niranjan Baral, Madhav Regmi, Shambhu Koirala, Dilli Siwakoti and Narendra Sharma who were district development officers under the royal regime. Currently they are in government service.
The commission also recommend the government to use its discretion either to stop promotion or salary hike for police official Ravi Raj Thapa, government secretaries Bal Krishna Prasain, Kumar Paudel and sitting Defence Secretary Bishnu Dutta Uprety.
It suggests prosecution of the governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Bijaya Nath Bhattarai, and executive director of the Nepal Tourism Board, Tek Bahadur Dangi, on corruption charge. Bhattarai was found guilty of misusing the state treasury to serve the interests of the then regime and of laundering foreign exchange.
A press release issued by the commission said it has recommended action against 202 persons. It had, however, interrogated 296 persons.
25 people were killed and hundreds other injured during the Jana Andolan (People's Movement) II. Two members of the commission however submitted separate report to Prime Minister Koirala expressing reservation over the report submitted by the majority.