February 13: Human rights activists and civil society leaders have expressed strong objection to the government’s decision to announce a public holiday today on the occasion of the People’s War Day.

Issuing a statement on Sunday, Human Rights and Peace Society came down heavily on the federal and state governments for announcing public holiday on February 13.

“Human Rights and Peace Society expresses its disagreement and strong objection to the announcement made by the Council of Ministers as well state governments of Bagmati Province and Karnali Province to give public holiday on the occasion of People’s War Day on Monday,” reads the statement.

This controversial decision is against the principle of democracy and non-violence, argued the human rights watchdog.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Sunday took a decision to this effect.    
Prime Minister's media expert Manahari Timilsina told RSS that the government took the decision to give a public holiday on February 13 in recognition of the contributions made by the Peoples War in Nepal’s political transformation.    

The People’s War waged by the Maoist party from February 13, 1996 had ended after signing the Comprehensive Peace Accord on November 21, 2006.    

It may be noted that the incumbent Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was the leader of the then Maoist rebels who waged the People’s War that killed more than 17000 people across the country. The victims of the conflict are still awaiting for justice while those who committed atrocities are walking freely without any fear of prosecution.