The Prosecutor
The International Criminal Court
The Hague, the Netherlands.
Re: Request for Investigation
Dear Mr. Karim A. A. Khan KC
The Prosecutor, ICC.
A serious internal conflict took place in Nepal during 1996 and 2006 between the Government of Nepal (GoN) and the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN Maoist). The actual data is still missing, though it is widely acknowledged that during the conflict more than 17,000 people were killed and thousands are missing. During the period gross violation of human rights was committed, including torture, killing, rape and enlisting of child soldiers. Among other gross violation of human rights, the Maoist also committed the enlisting and use of child soldiers during the conflict. I the applicant, Lenin Bista was one of the child soldiers.
Since long time, I am raising this issue both at the domestic and international forums. I have filed a case against the Maoist leaders Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) and Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai, who led the Maoist insurgency and after 2006 came into power. Both of them ruled the country as the Prime Minister of Nepal. The case (Case Number 080-WF-0045) is pending before the Supreme Court of Nepal and the decision is expected soon. I am also one of the petitioners of the Writ. Our demands are:
Enlisting of the child soldiers during the conflict violates international law amounting to grave violation of human rights and crime. Therefore, the Maoist leaders should be brought within the legal process for prosecuting and penalizing in accordance with the law.
The child soldiers should be treated with dignity and provided with reasonable reparation.
This issue is not merely a domestic issue but invites the international community to engage in taking the needed legal recourse. In this regard, I would like to request the Prosecutor under Article 15 of the ICC to seek the needed information from the international organizations, including from the United Nations, UN Security Council, the Government of Nepal, non-governmental organizations and other relevant agencies to proceed for obtaining information, testimony and investigation.
I would appreciate the role of the Prosecutor in this regard.
With best regards,
Lenin Bista
Former Child Soldiers
Nepal
Dated: 04 June 2026