Kathmandu: Stakeholders have underlined the need for appointing clean and capable persons to the transitional justice mechanism in order to ensure credibility in the process of transitional justice.
At a program organized jointly by the Constitutional and Legal Journalists’ Forum and the Amnesty International Nepal Chapter on ‘Credibility in the Process of Transitional Justice’ here on Friday, the speakers argued that fair and independent persons could help pave the way for delivering justice to the conflict victims.
Noted human rights activist Charan Prasai said, “It is the last opportunity for us to proceed with transitional justice in a convincing way. The recommendation committee has a big role, so it is not a luxury to go against the Comprehensive Peace Accord.”
He further commented that if the officials to be appointed to the transitional justice mechanism—Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on Inquiry on Enforced Disappeared Persons—were not qualified, it would be a sheer disgrace to all Nepalis.
Member of the National Human Rights Commission, Surya Dhungel, said, “It is essential to recommend competent and independent persons for the transitional justice mechanism. It is a wrong trend to seek the leadership’s nod in the selection process.”
He suggested the recommendation committee pay heed to the plight of those waiting desperately for justice and avoid political interference in this regard.
Similarly, former minister and senior advocate Govind Bandi said the recommendation committee is not a place for holding a job, but a position to recommend qualified persons as office bearers of the commissions. He, however, expressed hope for the appointment of qualified persons to the commissions.
Human rights activist Mandira Sharma opined that constant vigilance was imperative to ensure that incompetent persons were not recommended for the transitional justice mechanism. “The conflict victims are waiting for justice, truth, and reparation. This must be taken into account,” she underlined.
Advocate Raju Prasad Chapagain presented a working paper on ‘Credibility in the Process of Transitional Justice,’ where he warned that if the victims’ plight was ignored, it would be hurtful.
“Even the court has recognized and supported the victims’ cries, which has further become a matter of concern at the international level,” he said, adding, “Transitional justice became a ‘power card’ over time while victims were waiting for justice. It is time not only to cater justice to the victims but also to give direction to the country,” he reminded.
Lecturer at Nepal Law Campus, Rukmani Maharjan, also opined for the recommendation of competent persons to the transitional justice mechanism.
Representatives from conflict victims’ organizations—Ram Bhandari, Sirjana Shrestha, and Sushila Chaudhari—viewed that it was imperative to make the recommendation process credible. The recommended persons should be acceptable to all.
Director at Amnesty International Nepal Chapter, Nirajan Thapaliya, informed that the program was organized to help the concerned body recommend appropriate persons for the two commissions.
It has been almost 18 years since the Comprehensive Peace Accord, but transitional justice has yet to be catered.
It was shared that the recommendation committee had received a total of 156 applications for the officials at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on Inquiry on Enforced Disappeared Persons.
Comment