Nepal conflict victims concerned over appointments in transitional justice bodies

The victims of the decade-long Maoist conflict in Nepal have expressed "serious concern" over the intervention of political parties in the selection of office bearers to the two transitional justice mechanisms in the country.

The Nepal government formed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappeared Persons as part of its peace process.

More than 17,000 people, including security personnel, were killed during the Maoist insurgency which ended in 2006.

Chairperson of Conflict Victims Common Platform (CVCP) Bhagiram Chaudhary, in a press statement, said his organisation was concerned about the country's transitional justice process.

He alleged a "shameless deal" had been reached between the ruling Nepal Communist Party and the main opposition Nepali Congress to appoint the chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Thursday.

Former attorney general Raman Kumar Shrestha was appointed as the chief of the commission.

A lawyer who had close links with the then CPN-Maoist Centre and was imprisoned for accusations during the conflict has been chosen for the top post, the CVCP said referring to Shrestha.

Shrestha was the common candidate of both the ruling NCP and main Opposition Nepali Congress for the chairperson position.

The CVCP said Shrestha played a role contrary to the basic principles of transitional justice when serving as the attorney general.

Citing media reports, the CVCP said political parties were going to appoint members to the two commissions who had earlier been removed for their incompetence.

If the media reports are true then we will give a call to boycott both commissions, withdraw applications sent by the victims and approach the United Nations and other international justice mechanisms, the CVCP said.

The CVCP demanded that all commission members resign with immediate effect. It also appealed to the National Human Rights Commission to recall its representative from the recommendation committee.

"We do not find any sense of responsibility and concern among the members of the committee and they have made transitional justice process more complex," it added.The victims of the decade-long Maoist conflict in Nepal have expressed "serious concern" over the intervention of political parties in the selection of office bearers for the two transitional justice mechanisms in the country.

The Nepal government formed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappeared Persons as part of its peace process.

More than 17,000 people, including security personnel, were killed during the Maoist insurgency which ended in 2006.

Chairperson of Conflict Victims Common Platform (CVCP) Bhagiram Chaudhary, in a press statement, said his organisation was concerned about the country's transitional justice process.

He alleged a "shameless deal" had been reached between the ruling Nepal Communist Party and the main opposition Nepali Congress to appoint the chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Thursday.

Former attorney general Raman Kumar Shrestha was appointed as the chief of the commission.

A lawyer who had close links with the then CPN-Maoist Centre and was imprisoned for accusations during the conflict has been chosen for the top post, the CVCP said referring to Shrestha.

Shrestha was the common candidate of both the ruling NCP and main Opposition Nepali Congress for the chairperson position.

The CVCP said Shrestha played a role contrary to the basic principles of transitional justice when serving as the attorney general.

Citing media reports, the CVCP said political parties were going to appoint members to the two commissions who had earlier been removed for their incompetence.

If the media reports are true then we will give a call to boycott both commissions, withdraw applications sent by the victims and approach the United Nations and other international justice mechanisms, the CVCP said.

The CVCP demanded that all commission members resign with immediate effect. It also appealed to the National Human Rights Commission to recall its representative from the recommendation committee.

"We do not find any sense of responsibility and concern among the members of the committee and they have made transitional justice process more complex," it added.