The government will extend the term of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), and the Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons by one year. The government has registered an amendment bill on the act related to the two commissions at the National Assembly on Tuesday proposing to extend their term by a year. The term of the two commissions will expire on February 10.
The amendment bill also proposes extension of the current office-bearers of the commissions until the end of 2075 BS. The office-bearers can either be retained or removed after that. The amendment bill registered on Tuesday does not include provision of blanket amnesty to all perpetrators of conflict-era incidents of human rights violation.
The United Nations and the Western countries have already urged the Nepal government to engage in broad-based, meaningful consultation with conflict victims, civil society and wider stakeholders to move the transitional justice process forward.
Issuing a joint press statement on Thursday the UN's office, the delegation of European Union, and the embassies of Australia, Germany, Finland, France, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America in Nepal reminded the government of the Supreme Court ruling in 2015 that stated there can be no reconciliation in conflict-era incidents of human rights violation without the consent of the victims.
"Noting the looming expiration of the mandates of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons, as well as the upcoming fourth anniversary of the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that affirmed certain requirements for transitional justice processes, we encourage the government to clarify to the public its plans to take the transitional justice process forward in 2019," the statement read.
They stressed that any solution should have the needs of victims at its heart and pointed that the peace process will move forward on a strong foundation only after that. "We are united in the view that without broad public trust in the process, Nepal will not be able to bring closure to the wounds and grievances that persist from the conflict era, nor be able to complete the peace process," the statement read.
They reminded that supporting Nepal in establishing a credible transitional justice process and ensuring the stability and prosperity of Nepal remain priorities for the international community. "In particular, we support a Nepali-designed, Nepali-led process that is consistent with the 2007 and 2015 judgements of Nepal’s Supreme Court and the country’s obligations under international law," it pointed expressing commitment to work with the government and all other stakeholders to advance a transitional justice process that engenders broad public confidence.
