PM Dahal sends anti human right lobbyist as head of the country delegation to Geneva

Kathmandu: The ongoing tussle between the CPN (Maoists Centre) and the CPN-UML, two constituents in the government, has cost foreign affairs minister Bimala Rai Paudyal’s trip to the human right conference in Geneva at the last minute.

Prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) hurriedly designated Gobinda Bandi, a former law minister and a lobbyist for general amnesty in the conflict era human right violations, as his advisor on peace and human rights, and sent him to Geneva as the leader of the delegation, PM office sources told Deshsanchar.

Minister Rai Paudyal had held a press conference yesterday about her itinerary defying Prachanda ‘s suggestion to call off her visit in the wake of tussle between the UML and Maoist Party.

A source close to Prachanda quoted him as asking the minister not to go there as ‘any unpleasant decision may have to be taken’, indicating possible dismissal of UML ministers if conflict grew further between the two sides.

Bandi, as law minister, had been planning to have general amnesty granted to all human right violators, especially in the interest of the Maoists.