KATHMANDU, Dec 8: A group of organizations representing victims of the armed conflict during the Maoist insurgency have urged the government to amend its selection process for officials of transitional justice (TJ) bodies – Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and Commission of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP).
In a statement issued by 28 representatives of 24 different organizations representing the victims of the Maoist conflict, they claimed that the current list of shortlisted candidates lacks individuals who are most suited for the position, taking the entire process in the wrong direction. The selection process for the top-level officials of the TRC and CIEDP has been ongoing for months now.
“The commission’s selection process, which is heading towards the wrong track, should be corrected immediately,” the statement read, “They are inviting a serious disaster by repeatedly appointing people who do not represent the conflict victims as the office bearers for the TJ bodies.”
This comes a day after the Recommendation Committee formed earlier by the government shortlisted 40 potential candidates for appointment in the TJ bodies.
Conflict victims demand halt to TJ bodies appointment process
Eight persons have been named for the chairs of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on Inquiry of Enforced Disappeared Persons while 32 are recommended for the potential appointment as members of the TJ bodies, according to the Search Committee member and spokesperson Khamba Bahadur Khati.
The candidates shortlisted for the posts of Chair in the two commissions are Dilliraj Acharya, Achyut Prasad Bhandari, Bijay Sijapati, Bishworaj Koirala, Sudip Pathak, Mahesh Thapa, Sher Bahadur KC and Kashiraj Dahal.
While slamming the government for not paying proper attention and seriousness to the issue of transitional justice, the conflict victims have warned the government against political appointment to the post of officials of the TJ bodies. “The selection process for the positions at the TJ bodies is being taken as an opportunity to place political allies at the governmental bodies,” the statement further read, adding, “It is the government’s responsibility to expedite the selection process which has been stalled by identifying individuals who are capable and have demonstrated expertise and capability in resolving such issue.”
The organizations demanded the government to expand the shortlist of potential candidates by adding individuals with high potential to lead the process of transitional justice. “We respect the individuals who have been shortlisted, but it seems that the selection process has intentionally left out the candidates most suited for the positions at the transitional bodies,” the statement read.
The victims have claimed that the government is heading towards the wrong path by inclining away from finding a solution to address the problems of transitional justice. They have called on all the political parties and officials from the National Human Rights Commision to actively participate in the selection process in order to ensure that it is not embroiled in self-centered politics of the ruling parties.
The government had formed the Recommendation Committee under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra on October 18. The committee was given two months' time to recommend the names of potential candidates for the appointment in the TJ bodies.
A total of 156 persons had applied at the Recommendation Committee, seeking appointment at the commissions. The term of the Recommendation Committee is expiring on December 17.
