No amnesty for serious war crimes

A government-appointed panel has urged that no amnesty be offered to former Maoist rebels or security forces who committed serious abuses during Nepal's civil war, one of its members said Friday. More than 16,000 people died in the decade-long conflict between Maoist guerrillas and the state, which ended in 2006. At least 1,300 went missing, according to UN figures. The government established the panel to work on legislation to set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, aimed at healing the wounds from the long civil war. "We have recommended that there should be no amnesty for those responsible for serious crimes," said Dinesh Tripathi, an advocate and member of the panel, according to AFP.