KATHMANDU, April 12: The major political parties are trying to agree on an amendment to the Transitional Justice (TJ) Act. 

On the initiative of Speaker Devraj Ghimire, a discussion was held between Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML  Chairman  KP Oli at his residence in Baluwatar on Tuesday.

A bill to amend the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act 2071 has been registered in parliament. The amendment was registered by 28 MPs addressing the voice of the victims. A consensus has not been reached on whether the bill should be discussed in the parliamentary committee or passed directly by the federal parliament. But Prime Minister Dahal insisted that even after going to the committee, people other than the top leaders of major parties cannot resolve this matter, so they should continue to find a common consensus.

In the discussion, Prime Minister Dahal said that the issue of transitional justice should not be politicized. According to sources, PM Dahal insisted that the bill should be carried forward on the basis of consensus.

“Transitional justice should be a matter of interest and concern for all of us,” he said, “It is not a matter of this side, that side or the opposition, there is no political prejudice in it.” 

Mentioning that political prejudice on the issue of transitional justice is not good for the country and democracy, he stated that there was a dispute over some words in the bill. He said that it is necessary to proceed with a common consensus that is acceptable to all.

NC President Deuba also said that there is no dispute about what Prime Minister Dahal has said. He opined that there is no alternative to resolving the issue of transitional justice through consensus.

CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli also said that it is possible to proceed with consensus, but since this matter should be decided in a way that gives justice to everyone with no one left out, attention should also be paid to the amendments made to the bill. He said that the bill would be meaningful only if the guilty could be prosecuted and the innocent would be given justice.

Prime Minister Dahal, NC President Deuba, main opposition UML Chairman Oli, Attorney General Dinmani Pokharel and former Attorney General Ramesh Badal, CPN-UML Chief Whip Padam Giri, Maoist Center Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey, NC lawmaker Ishwari Neupane and others participated in the meeting.

MP Ishwari Neupane, who participated in the meeting, said that the meeting with the top leaders was decided to be held on April 14 as there was no agreement. About 28 amendments have been made to the bill. Speaker Ghimire said that the committee cannot be formed until the name list from the political parties is provided to the parliamentary committee and said that there should be no delay in forming the committee.

He also discussed the matter of moving the process forward and discussion as there is a bill on disappearances in parliament, a bill to amend the Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Powers and Procedures) Act 2066, a bill to amend some laws on Prevention of Money Laundering and Promotion of Business Environment, 2079. But the meeting focused more on the issue of transitional justice.

 
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