KATHMANDU, SEP 26 -
The conflict victims, who suffered at the hands of the then Maoist
rebels, have questioned the legitimacy of the ongoing transitional
justice process, from which they feel excluded.
On the first day of consultations with the Recommendation Committee, a
panel entrusted to nominate chairpersons and commissioners for the
proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on the
Inquiry into Enforced Disappearances, the victims said they were not
obliged to support the nominations either.
“We want a transitional justice mechan
ism as early as possible but not
in this manner,” said Suman Adhikari, president of the Conflict Affected
Orphans’ Society. “The Committee was formed ignoring the court order
which asked the government to consult with victims even while
formulating its working procedure.”
The speakers at the consultations organised by the Committee on
Wednesday criticised the panel for unilaterally taking the process
forward. The participants said since the Committee cannot be legitimate
as it is without a representative from the National Human Rights
Commission.
Besides, two writ petitions against the transitional justice law as well as the committee are filed at the Supreme Court.
“The government wants us to endorse all its deeds, even if we don’t
agree with them,” said Gyanendra Raj Aran, chairperson of National
Society for Conflict Victims. Aran has challenged the Committee’s call
for applications for the posts in the commissioners, at the SC.
On August 5, he filed a writ petition at the apex court seeking an
interim stay order to halt the Committee’s work. “The Committee ignored
the petition and proceeded with its process. This is against the
practice of halting work until the subjudice case is determined,” said
Aran.
The participants also questioned the government’s decision to consult
separately with victims of state and rebel violence. The committee is
yet to consult with victims who suffered at the hands of security
personnel.
“We set separate discussions to avoid any possible misunderstanding
between the two groups,” said Pradip Pokharel, a Committee member. He
said the Committee could fix a joint session if the victims wanted.
A discussion with the victims of state violence is scheduled for
Friday, and with human rights lawyers for Sunday. According to Pokharel,
the Committee will meet with civil society
members after Dashain. It also plans to conduct four regional sessions before recommending names for the commissions.
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