KATHMANDU, Dec 16: The recommendation committee, tasked with selecting officials for the two transitional justice commissions, is preparing to submit their names to the government as the two-month term given by the committee to select officials for Commission for Investigation of Enforced Disappearances and the Truth and Reconciliation Act nears its end.
The committee is set to select five officials, including the chairperson, for both the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission for Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP). The names are expected to be submitted by Monday.
A member of the committee stated that they are working to reach a unanimous decision. However, the process has been complicated by the need for political consensus from the leaders of the three major parties.
The two commissions have been without officials since July 2022. After interviewing 39 candidates, the committee called for applications from various organizations and individuals. Initially, 156 people were named, and the committee selected some from that list. Following the announcement of the 39 candidates, families of conflict victims, civil society, and human rights activists urged the committee to avoid selecting individuals who would repeat past mistakes.
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“All interviews have been completed, and we are trying to reach a unanimous conclusion,” said a committee member. The selected candidates were asked to present their work plans to the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs.
The committee's list includes former administrators, judges, senior advocates, former ambassadors, and human rights activists. Among the candidates for chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission are Kashiraj Dahal, Sudip Pathak and Sher Bahadur KC.
For the chairperson of both commissions, the committee is considering former High Court judges Achyut Prasad Bhandari and Dilliraj Acharya, along with other candidates like Mahesh Thapa, Bijaya Singh Sijapati, and Bishwaraj Koirala. The committee faces the challenge of selecting two chairpersons from these eight.
Victims and civil society groups have raised concerns that the recommended individuals lack sufficient knowledge of transitional justice.
According to the law, the chairperson and members of the commissions must have at least a bachelor's degree, not be affiliated with any political party, possess high moral character, and have experience in human rights, peace, law, conflict management, or sociology.
In addition to the chairperson, four other office bearers, including one woman, will be recommended for each commission. The law requires the committee to submit the names of the officials by December 17.
On October 18, the government had given the recommendation committee two months to make the selections, with former Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra coordinating the process. The committee also includes former Attorney General Khamma Bahadur Khati, former Ambassador Dr Arjun Kumar Karki, Stella Tamang, and National Human Rights Commission member Manoj Duwadi.
