Delay in amending laws affects TJ adjudication

Published On: June 7, 2017 05:25 PM NPT By: Republica  | @RepublicaNepal


KATHMANDU, June 7: The chairpersons of the two transitional justice mechanisms – the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) – have said that the adjudication of post-conflict justice has been delayed as the related Acts of the two bodies await amendment from parliament. 

Speaking in the meeting of the Social Justice and Human Rights Committee under the Legislature-Parliament today to discuss on the progress report and the action plan of these two transitional justice bodies, they stated that they were facing difficulties to carry out their works due to the delay in amending the Act and lack of means and resources. 

On the occasion, Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Surya Kiran Gurung said although it was difficult to carry out work due to the lack of Act and resources, the Commission has started works by setting up its offices in all the seven provinces. 

He said the Commission has so far received 58 thousand complaints and it has come to their notice that there are still more who missed the deadline for registering the complaints.

The TRC is thinking of issuing notice on June 15 requesting for applications from the women conflict survivors to do so, he added. 

The TRC chairperson stated that regarding the cases requiring reconciliation, they lack a Reconciliation Act to act in these cases while they were awaiting the Parliament to make amendment to the Commission's Act as regards extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearance, rape and torture which fall under the category of cases of serious human rights violation. 

CIEDP chairman Lokendra Mallik said his commission has received 3093 complaints and decided to investigate into 102 cases. He added that they would expedite their work after the related laws are amended. 

Committee members Gyanu Gaire, Geeta Chhetri, Kaishal Shah, Ram Maya Bogati and Basundhara Rokaya among others demanded that the government should immediately forward the process for amending the Act and ensure prompt justice to the conflict survivors. 

Committee president Sushil Kumar Shrestha directed the two commissions to inform the committee on the reasons why they were facing difficulty in carrying out their responsibilities. He added that the committee will draw the attention of the bodies concerned regarding that. RSS


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