Nepal and London two-fer

Col Kumar Lama, NA

This story about the British torture prosecution of Nepal Army Colonel Kumar Lama at the Old Bailey mentions in passing a recent decision of the Nepal Supreme Court. A little research reveals that last month that court invalidated a provision that would have granted amnesty for serious human rights violations during the country's lengthy civil war. A court spokesman said: "The court has struck down the amnesty provision from the law and said the consent of the victims is necessary for any reconciliation." Such provisions are often controversial in transitional justice settings such as the one currently being worked out for Colombia.