KATHMANDU, Oct 18: The Accountability Watch Committee (AWC) has demanded the formation of a new selection committee to ensure the credibility of commisioners' appointments within the transitional justice commissions.
Issuing a press release on behalf of the AWC, Coordinator Raju Prasad Chapagain, emphasized the importance of avoiding past mistakes that compromised the selection process.
AWC urges govt to make transitional justice law amendment proce...
The statement urged the government to establish a new selection committee composed of independent individuals, advocating for an open, transparent, and consultative method that includes public hearings. This approach aims to involve all stakeholders, particularly victims, to ensure their ownership of the process.
Concerns were raised regarding the legitimacy of the previously formed selection committee, particularly following the passing of the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Bill (Third Amendment), 2081. Through the statement, the committee underscored the need for a reliable selection process, citing past failures that led to a crisis of legitimacy for the commission.
“The Watch Committee urges the government, political parties, and responsible leaders to learn from the previous crisis of legitimacy that rendered the commission ineffective,” the press release stated, “Serious legal errors that were either caused or left unaddressed by the Third Amendment must be corrected to ensure a sustainable and result-oriented transitional justice process.” According to the committee, necessary corrections include amendments to definitions, sentence reductions, and statutes of limitation through judicial review or legislative changes.
