TRC, CIEDP yet to get office space, logistics

KATHMANDU, March 11: The government formed two transitional justice mechanisms a month ago but one of these is still unclear even about its name in English.

The commission to investigate disappearances, popularly known as Commission for Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, had asked the Ministry of Law on February 19 to suggest an appropriate name for it in English.

"The ministry has suggested three names: Inquiry Commission on Enforced Disappearances, Inquiry Commission on Involuntary Disappearances, and Inquiry Commission on Involuntarily Disappeared Persons. However, the commission prefers to call itself Commission for Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP). "We'll finalize this soon," said Lokendra Mallick, chairman of the commission.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and CIEDP are yet to get their own office premises and other logistical support from the government although it has already been a month since officials were appointed to both the commissions. The government had formed the two commissions on February 10.

"We have been running our office in a room at the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction. All the commissioners have to work from a single table," said Mallick.

However, Chairman Mallick informed that the commissioners are busy drafting necessary regulations for the functioning of the two commissions as well as preparing their work procedures.

"The government has been saying that an office building and staff will be provided us soon. The commission could ask people to register their complaints only after at least four months," said Mallick.

The TRC is also in the same plight to date but the government has at least assured it that an office building at Babarmahal would be made available by mid-April.

"We are informed that a section of the building in which the Peace Fund is currently housed would be provided to us," said Surya Kiran Gurung, chairman of the TRC.

Gurung said the commission has been carrying out preparatory work in full swing despite the lack of a proper office and logistics.

According to him, the commission would soon be forming a committee to raise public awareness about the commission's functionings. Likewise, three other committees would study the structure of the commission, the procedures for taking up complaints, and how to make the commission victim-friendly.

"There is a huge confusion among people that the commission has already started taking up complaints. We'll first raise awareness about its functionings and then only start our main function of taking up complaints and investigating them," said Gurung.

"By the time we shift to the new office and other logistics are in place, the preparatory phase should be complete," he added.