KATHMANDU, May 19: Victims of Nepal's armed conflict have raised serious concerns about the selection process of officials for key transitional justice bodies. In a formal letter addressed to the Secretariat of the Recommendation Committee under the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, victims who applied for membership have demanded full disclosure of the procedures and criteria used in recommending candidates for the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The victims, deeply involved in the transitional justice process, claim they were excluded from the initial stages of selection despite their names being recommended from within the victim community. They allege the committee sidelined them on the grounds that they are affiliated with one side of the conflict due to their family backgrounds, raising concerns about impartiality and fairness.
In their letter, the victims have requested detailed information on various aspects of the selection process, including:
· The objective criteria and reasons used to recommend each candidate deemed suitable through competitive selection, with a copy of the final recommendation report submitted to the government.
· The basis for shortlisting 34 candidates eligible for chairperson or member positions.
Conflict victims demand correction in TJ bodies' officials sele...
· Grounds for excluding victim community representatives from the shortlist.
· Clarification on which shortlisted or recommended candidates qualify as victims or family members under the law.
· Whether an evaluation framework or scoring system was used to assess candidates.
· Details of any background checks conducted on candidates regarding their experience, reputation, and public acceptance.
· Written or oral views submitted by recommended candidates concerning transitional justice.
· Reasons why the committee did not consult with conflict victims during the process.
· Whether any conflict of interest review was performed before recommendations.
· Information on any complaints or objections raised during selection and how they were handled.
The victims' request is made under Article 27 of the Constitution of Nepal and the Right to Information Act, 2064 (2007). They have also agreed to pay any applicable fees for accessing the requested information.
This move highlights ongoing demands for transparency and accountability in the transitional justice process, which aims to address the legacy of Nepal's decade-long conflict and ensure justice for victims.
