A/HRC/13/73 Government made substantial, positive changes to the draft, which is expected to be sent to the Council of Ministers and then the Legislature-Parliament for approval. The Government is confident that the process of approving the draft bills on the establishment of a commission on inquiry on disappearances and a truth and reconciliation commission will be finalized soon. OHCHR, through the implementation of a United Nations Peace Building Fund project, has been providing assistance to the Ministry. 35. The Government continues to distribute interim financial relief to families of individuals who were killed or disappeared during the conflict. Though the distribution of relief has been uneven, victims groups have had some success in securing relief for their members and relief payments have had a positive impact on many conflict-affected families. According to the Government, to date more than 1.43 billion rupees have been provided as interim relief payment to victims and their families. There remains a need for the Government to develop a comprehensive reparations policy. 3. Public security and human rights 36. The Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force continue to make efforts to integrate human rights principles into their training and orientation programmes, including the dissemination of a Nepal Police standing order on human rights and Armed Police Force human rights handbook, developed with the support of OHCHR. 37. However, Nepal continues to experience serious challenges to law and order, particularly in the southern Tarai plains where armed groups engage in threats, extortion and abductions for ransom. In addition, the UCPN-M affiliated Young Communist League and other youth wings associated with political parties continue to engage in criminal activities, with little fear of being held accountable for their actions. In response to the deteriorating public security situation, the Government announced a new special security plan in July 2009 which includes an expansion of the Armed Police Force and an overall increase in police presence in troubled districts. The Government has indicated that violent criminal activity in some parts of the country has decreased since the Government began implementation of the plan. 38. In this context of poor public security and weak rule of law institutions, allegations of extra-judicial killings during “encounters” between police and members of armed groups continue to be reported. Though the Government is reluctant to acknowledge that extrajudicial killings may have been committed by members of the security forces, OHCHR has documented over 30 credible allegations of extra-judicial killings attributed to the police in 2008 and 2009. While some observers have linked recent killings to more aggressive policing under new Government security policies, there is to date no clear evidence that these are a direct consequence of the special security plan. In many of these cases, police refused to register complaints from victims’ families or conduct investigations. To date no one has been held criminally responsible for any of these alleged extra-judicial killings. OHCHR has urged the Government to set up a special investigative unit with sufficient independence to inquire into these grave allegations. 39. Political interference in the work of the police, prosecutors and judges remainsof concern. OHCHR has documented numerous cases in which political parties at the local and national levels have exerted pressure on the authorities to secure the release of criminal suspects with political connections or have otherwise obstructed criminal proceedings. The Government continues to withdraw criminal cases that it characterizes as “politically motivated”, including charges for serious crimes such as murder. Such recent actions follow the withdrawal of hundreds of criminal charges in 2008, which drew widespread criticism from civil society and the international community. OHCHR continues to work closely with partners in the criminal justice system and to call on political actors to respect the integrity of all criminal proceedings and strengthen the rule of law. 9