Prisoners and Amnesty

23 April 2007: The convicted prisoners are demanding that they be amnestied and released by the government in the context of new political situation. They are raising their demands after seeing that the Maoists were released after the Jan Andolan, April Revolution. On 22 April, 2007, I had the opportunity to take part in a live radio talk program organized by the FM 102.4 radio on the issue of 'Amnesty to Convicted Prisoners'. My observation was that both parties, the prisoners and the government, should consider that the releases of the Maoists were based upon the political negotiation and agreements between the government and warring party—the Maoists. The Maoists were considered as 'a class of individuals irrespective of individual situation'. This was the result of the political settlement. This does not apply to the other prisoners convicted on charges of social crimes. Hence their demands do not hold grounds. However, both—amnesty and pardon—promote impunity. Therefore, there is demand for punishing the war criminals in Nepal.