A/HRC/10/53 page 9 28. Although special commissions were established to investigate the most serious human rights violations and crimes committed in 2008, the reports of these commissions, submitted to Parliament or to the Home Ministry, were not made public and there were no visible consequences for the alleged perpetrators. 29. In October 2008, the Government recommended the withdrawal of 349 cases “of a political nature”, including cases against some senior CPN(M) members of the Cabinet. Charges withdrawn included murder and attempted murder, rape, robbery and arson, as well as violations of arms and ammunition laws. Seeking further information on the criteria for withdrawal of these cases, OHCHR Nepal stressed the importance of transparent, impartial proceedings to ensure that individuals responsible for gross violations and international crimes are not made subject of a de facto amnesty. 30. OHCHR Nepal received reports of frequent political interference in criminal justice processes, especially in Terai districts. Political pressure, including threats and intimidation, to release individuals linked to major political parties arrested on criminal charges, to which the police have frequently succumbed, encourage impunity for abuses and acts of violence. These pressures not only undermine police morale and credibility, but also further erode public confidence in the rule of law. 31. In countries emerging from armed conflict, such as Nepal, reforming public security institutions is an important step in the transition to lasting peace and democracy. In order to ensure this transformation, security forces personnel as well as former combatants of the Maoist army responsible for human rights violations or abuses should be excluded from State institutions. This would help to break the cycle of impunity and send a strong message about commitment to human rights. There is a significant need for a credible and effective vetting process in the context of army integration and restructuring of public security forces. 32. In addition to establishing internal vetting mechanisms, on which the Nepalese Army has reported some progress, OHCHR Nepal has repeatedly stressed that Nepalese security personnel against whom there are credible allegations of involvement in human rights and humanitarian law violations during the conflict, or in post-conflict human rights violations, must not be deployed to United Nations peace operations. C. Public security and rule of law Assessment of the security situation, including activities by armed groups 33. The commitment by the new Government to prioritizing improvement of public security was welcome, although progress has been slow thus far. Gaps in governance at both the central and local levels are compounded by a police force that was often ineffective, particularly against the activities of armed groups operating in the Terai. This has resulted in a growing sense of lawlessness and a security vacuum in many parts of the Terai and some hill districts. 34. This public security vacuum contributes to the proliferation of armed groups, some of whom are connected to the Madhesi political parties, leading in turn to increased criminal activities, with daily reports of abductions, killings, explosions of improvised explosive devices