KATHMANDU, Feb 27: Nepal Communist Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Tuesday said that the government was sincere about concluding the remaining work of the peace process by punishing perpetrators of atrocities committed during the decade-long insurgency.

Dahal said that he was in regular consultation with Prime Minister KP Oli and main opposition leader Sher Bahadur Deuba to strike a broader political consensus to wrap up the work of truth and reconciliation.

“There will be reparations for those affected by the conflict, be it Maoists, army personnel, police or cadres of other political parties, and redress for the victims to conclude the work of truth and reconciliation,” Dahal said while addressing a function in Gorkha on Tuesday.

"There will be reparations for those affected by the conflict, be it Maoists, army personnel, police or cadres of other political parties, and redress for the victims to conclude the work of truth and reconciliation.”

Dahal's remarks come at a time when the victims, civil society and Western governments have been raising concerns over the protracted delays in carrying out the the work of truth and reconciliation. The government had recently extended the tenure of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons after they failed to complete the assigned work within the given deadline. This was the third extension of their term.

The unexplained delays have led many victims and members of international community to believe that the government might be trying to give a blanket amnesty for perpetrators of war crimes.

In an apparent bid to clear doubts, Dahal said those found guilty of serious human rights violation and crimes against humanity will not be spared. He, however, did not clarify whether crimes like mass rape would be treated as crime against humanity.

“As far as the crimes against humanity are concerned, there would be punishment for those found guilty in some emblematic cases,” Dahal said.

Dahal also expressed commitment to provide compensation to conflict victims and said that the international community was ready to assist for the same. “The Rs 1 million we provided earlier was relief. Now there will be compensation for victims,” said Dahal. He also pledged to provide jobs to at least one member of each of the victim family.

In a separate context, Dahal said that the government had fallen short in delivering on its poll promises.

“People were expecting to see more work from the two-thirds government and this has made them skeptical about the future. This government will fulfill other promises next year.”

 
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