KATHMANDU, June 3: With growing dissatisfaction among victims of the armed conflict, Nepal’s two transitional justice commissions have officially resumed work. As conflict victims are the top priority, the commissions’ officials have assured that their work will move forward with the victims’ involvement.
The commissions were formed with the objective of investigating human rights violations that occurred during the armed conflict in Nepal from 1996 to 2006, to reveal the truth, provide reparations to victims, and establish justice. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) were established in 2014.
However, two chairpersons and their respective officials in two terms failed to achieve the commissions’ stated goals. The two commissions, which had been vacant since July 2022, received new appointments two weeks ago. Despite this, representatives of conflict victim associations and organizations have expressed dissatisfaction over the newly appointed officials formed after the legal amendment in September 2024.
Secretary of the TRC, Parashar Dhungana, stated that the commission will work with conflict victims as a priority. He informed that a draft of the regulation has been prepared to implement the provisions of the law. “We are now preparing an action plan. We have drafted the regulation as per the amended law and will forward it to the Ministry,” he said. Dhungana noted that since the law was amended significantly, it was necessary to prepare new regulations. As per legal provisions, the draft regulation must be forwarded through the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to the Council of Ministers for approval.
All seven constitutional commissions remain ineffective
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which became controversial from the beginning, has now called for new complaints within a three-month period. According to Secretary Dhungana, after the reformation of the commission, a three-month timeframe has been provided to collect two types of complaints that were previously left out. According to him, the collection of complaints is progressing based on the commission’s decision.
As Spokesperson, Dhungana also stated that since the appointment of officials, the commission has been publishing notices to invite complaints from those who were left out, and such notices are being disseminated across local levels nationwide. He further mentioned that about 20–25 conflict victims representing various organizations have expressed their congratulations on the formation of the commissions.
On the other hand, representatives from conflict victims’ associations and organizations have remarked that those who have been continuously advocating and demanding justice from the state for decades now feel betrayed. Victim community representatives such as Suman Adhikari, Ram Bhandari, Sushila Chaudhary, Rupesh Shah, and others have already drawn the attention of President Ram Chandra Paudel, claiming that the conflict victim community has been subjected to betrayal, insult, and injustice.
In a memorandum submitted to the President, the victim community mentioned that discussions are already underway on withdrawing complaints. “In such a situation, as a last resort, the conflict victim community is seriously considering forming a citizens’ commission, conducting truth-seeking, making perpetrators’ names public, and identifying those who have been exploiting victims for their own interests,” the letter states.
They have urged President Paudel to prevent further disappointment for the victim community, which has repeatedly been deceived due to political bargaining over their suffering. They have also demanded an immediate revision of the current commission process, and the implementation of a credible, transparent, and victim-centered transitional justice process. In addition, they have appealed for the restructuring of the commissions in a manner that earns the trust of the victim community—ensuring the rights to truth, justice, and reparation, ending impunity, and not forcing victims into forming an alternative citizens’ commission.
Victims of serious sexual violence have also pointed out that in the past, due to the lack of safety, confidentiality, and protection of dignity, they did not feel secure enough to file complaints. In response, Secretary Dhungana said that the commission is sensitive to the concerns and apprehensions expressed regarding the format of the information and complaint forms.
Over 63,000 complaints had been registered with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission previously. Additional complaints are expected to be registered during the current call for submissions. Provisions have been made to allow victims to file complaints through the District Government Attorney’s Offices.
