KATHMANDU: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for justice and protection of the lives of reservists on a hunger strike to death in Mahendranagar, Madanchowk, Kanchanpur.
Joint Secretary Dr. Tikaram Pokharel, in a press release today, urged that the lives of the Struggle Committee chairmen, Jaya Bahadur Rokaya and Rana Bahadur Bam, be protected.
“The Commission urges all three levels of government to hold talks on their demands promptly and save the lives of the hunger strikers through consensus, taking their health conditions into account,” the statement said.
“Additionally, the Commission urges the hunger strikers to temporarily suspend their strike to negotiate, discuss, and pursue legal avenues regarding their demands and rights.”
Rokaya and Bam have been on a hunger strike to death since 22nd Shrawan 2082, demanding compensation for reserve victims, housing for residents of Dhaka and Tarapur and other areas, recognition of reserve victims as conflict victims, and free health and education, among other demands.
The Commission has also received a memorandum regarding the strike. Its Sudurpaschim Province Office in Dhangadhi has been monitoring the relay hunger strike taking place in Mahendranagar, as well as in Bani and Laljhadi camps in Kanchanpur.
The Commission emphasized that the hunger strikers are senior citizens and that their health is deteriorating rapidly as the strike continues.
Comment