INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, March 9
As the two newly-formed transitional justice commissions begin their work, victims of the decade-long Maoist insurgency
have said they will not cooperate with the commissions unless the Transitional Justice Act is amended.
The commissions —Truth and
Reconciliation Commission and Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons — got full shape after their new chairpersons
and members took oath of office and secrecy on January 23.
The TRC is led by Chairperson Ganesh Datta Bhatta, while its members include
Prachanda Raj Pradhan, Govinda Gautam, Mana Dahal and Bishnu Pokhrel
Similarly, the Yuvaraj Subedi-led CIEDP has Bishwa Prakash Bhandari, Gangadhar Adhikari, Sunil Ranjan Singh and Sarita Thapa Magar.
Both the
commissions have begun their work by holding consultations with stakeholders, including conflict victims.
TRC has so far visited the
commission provincial offices in Biratnagar, Janakpur, Hetauda, Butwal, Birendranagar and Godawari and collected feedback from stakeholders
The commission plans to visit Pokhara soon.
&The visits are mainly preparatory visits that will help us prepare a work plan and ascertain
things that we can do before the amendment to the Transitional Justice Act,& said TRC member Mana Dahal
&As far as the amendment is concerned, the government has said it will be done sooner than later
We are positive about it.&
Similarly, the CIEDP has also expedited consultations with stakeholders
It organised a regional consultation event in Janakpur on March 5, with participation of conflict victims, political parties, civil society
members, and provincial government representatives
The CIEDP now will visit Rolpa on March 12, according to CIEDP member Sunil Ranjan Singh.
&Besides, we are also holding discussions with law
and home ministers on Act amendment and reparations issues,& said Singh
&As far as investigations are concerned, we&ve picked up from where the previous commission had left.&
However, conflict victims say they
will continue their non-cooperation unless the act is amended
They have so far not entertained the commissions& invite for discussion on the issues
The victims also said that they had not institutionally taken part in any of the interactions organised by the TRC and CIEDP so far.
&The
commissions are inviting individuals
We&ve not taken part institutionally,& said Conflict Victims Common Platform Chair Bhagiram Chaudhary
&We are firm on our opinion that the commissions cannot deliver results unless the act is amended
Since the commissions have been formed through political intervention, they cannot deliver.&
The post Victims to cooperate with TRC, CIEDP
only after act amendment appeared first on The Himalayan Times.
