KATHMANDU, April 9: The ruling parties have proposed to the opposition party to pass the transitional justice related bill through fast track in parliament.

Ruling Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal proposed CPN-UML Chairman K P Oli to endorse the Bill for Amendment to the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act (2014) tabled in the parliament through the fast track process.

However, during a meeting convened by the Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) Devraj Ghimire on Saturday afternoon, the main opposition party Chairman Oli suggested sending the bill for detailed discussion in the parliamentary committee to be formed soon.  

This comes in the wake of the government presenting the Bill for Amendment to the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act (2014), widely referred to as the transitional justice bill, in parliament on March 19.

Various prominent international human rights organizations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists have already expressed serious concerns over the bill tabled in the parliament to bring amendment to Nepal’s transitional justice legislations. They have maintained that the bill does not fully meet the country’s domestic law or international legal obligations and will not provide justice to the victims if adopted in its current form.

Speaking to the media after the discussion of the three top leaders including the speaker, Maoist Center Chairman Dahal, who is also the prime minister, said that there was an agreement to sit again for discussion on Tuesday to conclude the issue.

“The Speaker called two friends. It was discussed that the bill related to TRC, Constitutional Council needs to be finalized quickly. We agree in principle to reach consensus. But there is a technical part," said Prime Minister Dahal. "The regulations have been passed. It has been said that friends who have worked in this field will sit down and finish all this by Tuesday morning.”

Prime Minister Dahal also said that he has asked Oli to finish it through the fast track. “We want to do it from a full house, from a fast track. The opposition party has asked to take it to the parliamentary committee. We are seeking to find the middle path to endorse it,” said Dahal.

 
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