KATHMANDU, March 14: Accountability Watch Committee (AWC) has urged the government to make the transitional justice law amendment process credible.

Issuing a press statement on Tuesday, the AWC expressed serious concern over the government’s move to re-register the Third Amendment Bill of the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act, 2071 BS in the parliament without necessary amendments.

The AWC has maintained that there are several serious issues except regarding the statutory limitation (extended from 6 months to 1 year) and appeal (can appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision of the Special Court) in the controversial Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act, 2014.

In the past, various stakeholders including the victim community expressed their serious concerns in the bill and demanded extensive amendments in the bill in terms of definition, jurisdiction of the court, prosecution, amnesty, appointment of officials in the transitional justice bodies. “The AWC condemns the government’s move to re-register the amendment bill without fulfilling the demands of victims and stakeholders,” states a press statement undersigned by AWC Coordinator Charan Prasain.

The AWC has demanded the government to prepare a roadmap to bring the transitional justice processes to a logical conclusion by amending the TRC Act through discussions and dialogues with various stakeholders.

“The AWC calls upon political parties, elected parliamentarians, civil society and the international community to be sensitive and responsible towards the transitional justice process, which has been going on for the past 16 years and has reached to the complicated stage, to play a constructive role for its logical end,” it adds.

 
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