Maoist insurgency victims urge PM Shah for credible transitional justice

This report from the Kathmandu Post (Nepal) addresses the pressing issue of transitional justice for victims of the country's protracted armed conflict. A coalition of victim organizations has directly appealed to Prime Minister Balendra Shah, emphasizing the need for 'credible and concrete' steps.

The victims' groups are particularly concerned about the apparent lack of priority given to transitional justice within the current government's agenda. They note its absence from the government's commitment paper and 100-point program, as well as from the election manifesto of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, which is a key component of the ruling coalition. This perceived silence is described as 'disturbing and painful' for those who have been awaiting justice for nearly two decades.

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credible and concrete

The article details the long-standing frustrations, including uninvestigated human rights violations, lack of truth-telling, and inadequate reparations. The victims' organizations accuse successive governments of politicizing the transitional justice process, which has only deepened their despair and contributed to rising public discontent, including recent youth-led protests.

A significant point of contention is the repeated appointment of commissioners to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons through non-transparent, politically influenced processes. These appointments have yielded no meaningful results over 11 years, and the current commissioners have been rejected by victims, leading to a Supreme Court petition demanding merit-based appointments. Furthermore, the victims' group flags legal provisions that could institutionalize impunity, such as limited prosecution timelines and reduced penalties for serious violations, which they argue contravene constitutional and international standards. The call for immediate legal reforms, new independent commissions, and meaningful victim participation is a plea to prevent further unrest and ensure accountability.

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disturbing and painful