The debate on the risk of attacks
and violence against religious minorities continues in Nepal.
The lack
of security especially concerns Catholics and Protestants, previously a
target for attacks by Hindu extremists.
During the
presentation of credentials of ambassadors, the President of Nepal said
he was ready to defend minorities against possible attacks and violence
by radical groups.
The meeting was also attended by Msgr. Pennacchio who
recently expressed his concern about the rights of Christians in Nepal.
Rajendra Dahal, spokesperson of the President Ram Baran Yadav,
admits that in recent months there has been an increase in the
activities of Hindu extremist groups.
However, he ensures that "the
President is attentive to the rights of Catholics and Christians, and
has given special directives to the security forces to protect the
community from possible attacks."
Madhav Prasad Ghimire, Secretary of the Council of Ministers,
also spoke of the need to protect minority rights. He stressed that
security is a right for all citizens.
"Christians and Catholics - he
says - must be respected as well as other religious minorities. In a
secular state respect for religious freedom should prevail. "
The internal conflict between the government and Maoist
communists has so far delayed the appointment of a Minister of the
Interior and the police have been left without funds for investigations
and operations against criminal and terrorist groups.
Recently the police foiled a series of attacks by the Nepal
Defence Army (NDA), an extremist Hindu group, against Christian churches
and public buildings.
The mastermind was Ram Prasad Mainali former
leader of the NDA, arrested in 2009 and responsible for several attacks,
including one against the Cathedral of the Assumption of Lalitpur
(Kathmandu).
From prison he managed the entire criminal network and
extorted money from businessmen and Christian politicians with the
threat of bloody attacks against churches and public buildings.
To date
the investigations are at a standstill and according to local sources
there are other group members who are preparing for future attacks.