KATHMANDU: CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that his party does not support blanket amnesty for serious human rights violations committed during the conflict.
Speaking at the launch of Khim Lal Devkota’s book on transitional justice, Prachanda stessed that incidents involving grave violations must be investigated and the perpetrators held accountable.
He stated that managing arms and army integration were the most sensitive aspects of the peace process.
“There must be a process to uncover the truth. A certain section of Nepali society, particularly intellectuals who consider themselves part of the establishment, are unwilling to give credit to the Maoist Centre,” he said, adding that the party took major risks to carry out the disarmament and integration of Maoist combatants.
Prachanda claimed he knowingly risked a party split by agreeing to those steps. “Disarmament and army integration happened, and that’s when the party eventually split,” he noted.
He criticized the narrative branding the Maoist party as responsible for the deaths of 17,000 people during the conflict, saying such portrayals attempt to distort history. “I have never physically harmed anyone, but I led the people’s war,” Prachanda said.
Comment