In this update:

• PBI-Nepal to Accompany Advocacy Forum
• Funding Developments
• PBI-Nepal Internal News

PBI-Nepal to Accompany Advocacy Forum

PBI-Nepal is proud to announce we have accepted an accompaniment request from Advocacy Forum.

Advocacy Forum undertakes its work through the documentation and filing of legal cases based upon human rights violations, with a specific focus on extra-judicial killings, torture, rape, and disappearances.

At this crucial chapter, Advocacy Forum is concerned that the lack of credible mechanisms to ensure justice during the transition to peace will institutionalize injustice, and perpetuate violence.

Due to the extremely sensitive nature of its work, and in light of the current political context in Nepal, Advocacy Forum is concerned it may face serious security threats to its staff as it investigates cases of past impunity.

To that effect, Advocacy Forum has requested PBI-Nepal to provide protective presence to some of its more sensitive legal cases. These accompaniments will take place in Kathmandu and throughout the country.

PBI-Nepal Project hopes to continue to build our team capacity on the ground to undertake other requests with Advocacy Forum, as well as other organizations working on transitional justice, impunity and with marginalized groups.

The Situation in Nepal

After the democracy movement led by the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and a coalition of professional, student, and civil society organizations achieved the reinstatement of the parliament in April 2006, a ceasefire agreement between the Government and the Maoist-inspired insurgency (CPN-Maoist and its People's Liberation Army [PLA]) came into effect.

Shortly after, the Government and the Maoists began working on a mutually accepted political framework for peace negotiations, namely a draft interim constitution and an interim government with the mandate to hold elections for a representative constitutional assembly, as well as a referendum on the fate of the monarchy.

For the first time in the ten-year-old conflict, there were high hopes that Nepal would finally come to terms with its own history and develop a strong and coherent process towards peace.

Five months after the reinstatement of parliament and the ceasefire agreement, hopes have begun to fade.

The Nepal Army (former Royal Nepal Army) continues to deny knowledge of the fate of the missing at the hands of army personnel. OHCHR terms the issue of unresolved disappearances as 'one of the most serious human rights challenges in Nepal.' Meanwhile the CPN-Maoist and the PLA refuse to disband �people�s courts� and have continued a campaign of targeted killings, extortion, population displacement, and abduction.

Moreover, an increase in common crime throughout the country is a strong indicator that illegal-armed actors possibly associated to the warring parties are emerging.

In this fragile transition, the more outspoken local human rights organizations continue to carry out their work for the defense and protection of human rights.

Funding Developments

The German Foreign Ministry (through PBI-Germany) has increased their contribution in 2006 from 45,000 Euros to 95,000 Euros.

The Tinsley Foundation (through PBI-UK) has contributed 600 pounds sterling for 2006.

We are grateful for the ongoing efforts of various country groups who continue to pursue funding options for PBI-Nepal's work.

PBI-Nepal Internal News

Our field team size has grown recently. We welcome Daniela Ponce (Chile), Debra Stanislawski (USA), Kalle Bergkvist (Sweden), Jan Tomesek (Austria) and Frauke Ricking (Germany) to the team.

Athena Nakata, USA has joined the Project Committee. Athena served with PBI-Nepal until August. She was involved with accompaniments during the period of protesting in Kathmandu, and was part of a field trip to the Far Western district.

We would like to thank...

PBI-Portugal for their fantastic logistical support for our recent field volunteer training.

PBI-Netherlands and PBI-Germany for their participation in advocacy and lobbying efforts recently.