Int'l community seeks justice for Nepal's conflict victims

The international community in Nepal has asked former prime minster Prachanda's Maoist party to show firm commitment and sincerity in delivering "transitional justice" to the victims of the civil war.
The appeal comes days after Prachanda's CPN (Maoist Center) rolled back its decision to quit the Deuba government.
The Kathmandu-based foreign diplomats of nearly a dozen countries, including the US, the UK and the EU, during a meeting urged top leaders of the CPN (Maoist Center) to show some flexibility so that the long cry of the conflict victims for transitional justice is met.
The foreign envoys said they were worried about the lack of progress in dispensation of justice to the victims, which include both former Maoist guerrillas and security forces, of the civil war that ended in 2006, a Maoist leader said.

"We have had a discussion about the issue with ambassadors of different countries. Although the Constitution drafting and implementation process moved smoothly, there has been no progress on transitional justice issues," said senior Maoist leader and minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara.
The envoys asked the Maoists how they would ensure "credible settlement" of matters related to transitional justice. The Maoist leaders apparently have no clarity on the matter, Mahara said.

The issue has come up at a time when the 'Truth and Reconciliation Commission' and the 'Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappearance' have failed to provide the justice to the victims. Their extended terms are expiring within the next 3-4 months.

The envoys, however, appreciated Prachanda's role in facilitating the army's integration process and promulgation of a new Constitution despite many differences over its contents.
Prachanda's Maoist Centre is a key coalition partner of the ruling Deuba government and it has been facing criticism for staying in the government despite forging an alliance with the main opposition.
CPN (Maoist Centre) on October 3 announced an alliance with the country's largest communist bloc CPN-UML, ahead of the general and provincial elections scheduled for November 26 and December 7.
The elections are seen as the final step in the Himalayan nation's post-war transition to a federal democracy.

The Maoists have dominated Nepal's politics for more than 20 years after waging a decade-long insurgency against government forces that claimed more than 16,000 lives.
The civil war ended in Nepal in 2006 and Prachanda became the country's first post-war prime minister.
The 240-year-old Hindu monarchy was abolished two years later. General elections next month is being seen as the final step in the country's post-war transition to a federal democracy.