KATHMANDU, April 28: As the recommendation committee for appointing officials to the long-vacant Transitional Justice (TJ) commissions resumes its work, civil society organizations and advocacy groups are closely monitoring the selection process. They emphasize the necessity of a transparent, credible, and independent procedure to appoint officials who are capable of handling the serious responsibilities of transitional justice.
In a joint statement, organizations including Amnesty International-Nepal, Advocacy Forum-Nepal, Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC), Justice and Rights Institute Nepal (JuRI-Nepal), and Legal Aid and Consultancy Center Nepal (LACC) reiterated their firm stance that any compromise on the integrity of the selection process would result in failure to address the critical issues of truth, justice, and reparation for victims of past injustices.
The statement stresses that a transparent process is essential, one that ensures officials are not only competent but also free from political influence. The failure to do so in the past has led to widespread public frustration, as previous appointments to the transitional justice commissions were marred by political influence and vested interests.
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"We cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes," said a representative of Amnesty International-Nepal. "The upcoming appointments must inspire hope and trust, not only among victim communities but also within civil society, national stakeholders, and the international community, who have long awaited justice."
The organizations have called on the recommendation committee to implement thorough background checks and public hearings for all applicants to ensure only the most qualified individuals are appointed to the commissions. They further urged the political leaders of the major parties-Prime Minister and Chairperson of CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli; Chairperson of Nepali Congress, Sher Bahadur Deuba; and Chairperson of CPN (Maoist Centre), Pushpa Kamal Dahal-to honor the commitments they made at the transitional justice conference held by civil society and victims' groups in Kathmandu.
The statement emphasizes that the leaders must act as facilitators for the process and prevent any undue influence or pressure in the selection and appointment of officials. Civil society groups also called for vigilance from the public, urging citizens, the media, and victim communities to actively monitor the selection process and ensure that only candidates who have demonstrated a genuine commitment to transitional justice are appointed.
"The legitimacy of the transitional justice commission hinges on the appointment of competent, non-partisan individuals," said a representative from JuRI-Nepal. "We appeal for active civic engagement to prevent unsuitable or controversial candidates from being appointed, as this would undermine the credibility of the commissions and impede their ability to fulfill their mandate."
In conclusion, the organizations expressed their commitment to holding the selection process accountable and pledged to continue their efforts to ensure that the critical task of transitional justice in Nepal is carried out with integrity and in the best interest of the victims.
