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Nov 20

Mid Baneshwor, Kathmandu

Newspaper readership might be declining, but in Kathmandu’s tea shops, the headlines are still the spark for lively gossip. I’ve been noticing this ever since I started writing this column. That’s why tea shop owners make sure there’s at least one fresh newspaper on hand every morning—it’s as essential as the tea itself.

The other day, I stepped into a small tea shop in Mid-Baneshwor. It was quiet, just two people sipping tea. When one of them left, I worried the shop might be too empty to gather a decent story. But the man sitting next to me saved the day. He grabbed a copy of Naya Patrika and blurted out: “This is what happens in Nepal all the time. It’s unfair!”

The headline he was reacting to reported political meddling in the investigation of cooperative fraud. Apparently, only opposition leaders were being targeted, while ruling party leaders were conveniently off the hook. He was especially riled up about the arrest of Rabi Lamichhane, the chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, calling it a politically motivated move.

Soon, another patron chimed in, steering the conversation toward corruption during the Panchayat era. He claimed the final years of the regime were riddled with shady deals, especially as the country transitioned to a multi-party democracy in 1990. According to him, revenue offices became cash cows for politicians, with prime ministers cutting deals to place senior officials there in exchange for a slice of the earnings.

Just then, three regulars strolled in, greeting the owner as they made themselves comfortable. The focus shifted to Durga Prasai’s recent arrest. Opinions were flying in all directions. Some defended the government’s move, while others speculated it was an attempt to suppress a rally Prasai had planned. One man brought up Prasai’s claims about Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli having stakes in a Cambodian telecom company. While some dismissed it as nonsense, others argued that Oli’s past visits to Cambodia and the involvement of Nepali businesspeople made it worth investigating.

At this point, someone brought up how easy it is to fake documents and media nowadays. “Deepfakes,” I interjected. That word caught their attention, and I explained what I knew about the technology. Then I slipped back into listening mode as the debate continued.

The conversation took a personal turn when an older man joined us and ordered tea without sugar. He shared how diabetes had been a constant battle for him over the past decade. “It’s tough being alone,” he said. His wife had passed away five years ago, and his children were settled abroad in Canada and Australia. His son was in town for Dashain, mainly to get some dental work done because healthcare is so expensive overseas.

This opened the floodgates to a discussion on medical tourism. One man remarked how even wealthy Nepalis return home for affordable treatment. The conversation turned to lifestyle changes, with some advocating dietary adjustments over exercise. The tea shop owner joined in, admitting he also had diabetes but relied solely on medication.

Talk of health gave way to real estate woes. The older man mentioned trying to sell land in the far-western region but lamented the sluggish market. “Nobody’s buying unless it’s for building a house,” he said. A man from Kavre added that the recent floods and landslides had made things worse. Showing photos on his phone, he pointed out how risky it was to invest in flood-prone areas now. For once, everyone agreed.

The tea shop owner eventually joined the chat, venting about the government declaring a public holiday to mourn a former speaker’s death—after office hours had already started. “What’s the point?” he grumbled. The topic fizzled out quickly, though, with most patrons uninterested.

Finally, the discussion turned to politics, as it always does. The ruling CPN-UML’s decision to hold street protests on November 22 came under fire. “Why is a ruling party blocking roads?” one man asked. Another accused the UML of giving Durga Prasai too much attention. As they debated the party’s stance on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), my time ran out. I had to leave for a meeting, but the conversation was still going strong when I stepped out.

Once again, the tea shop had delivered—a microcosm of Kathmandu’s concerns, debates, and daily life, all over a cup of tea.

On 21 Nov 2006, Nepal’s Seven Party Alliance and the Maoist party signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), officially bringing an end to a decade-long violent insurgency that claimed over 17,000 lives. Over the past 18 years, significant achievements have been made, such as the drafting of a new constitution and the integration of Maoist combatants into the political mainstream. However, the issues of addressing war-era human rights violations and providing adequate relief to victims remain unresolved.

The passage of the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Third Amendment) Act in August 2024 has brought a sense of optimism among cross-party leaders, who believe it aligns with a 2014 verdict by Nepal’s Supreme Court and responds to concerns raised by the international community. While foreign governments, including China, have expressed their support for the new law, victims are still skeptical about whether it will lead to meaningful prosecutions for serious human rights violations and whether the reparations process will be sufficient to address their grievances.

The government is now in the process of appointing new members to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP), both of which have been without leadership for years. A total of 156 individuals have applied for positions within these bodies, but there are concerns about whether the commissions can perform effectively, given their troubled history.

In the past, both commissions were undermined by political interference, lack of resources, infighting among members representing different political parties, and non-cooperation from the bureaucracy. When the commissions were first appointed in 2015, they made little progress, and despite some advances in the investigations following a second set of appointments in 2019, there was no substantial breakthrough. Since 2022, both bodies have been nearly defunct, with the TRC receiving 63,718 complaints from victims, and the CIEDP receiving around 3,200 complaints related to disappearances, yet no significant action has been taken.

Although the recent amendment to the law introduces some progressive changes, it still contains vague provisions regarding the definition of human rights violations, the punishment for such violations, and the timelines for investigating them. This has made the process of investigation and prosecution more complicated. While victims were consulted during the drafting of the bill, they were not involved in the creation of regulations, guidelines, or procedures for its implementation. Suman Adhikari, a vocal representative of victims, points out that this lack of consultation in the final stages of the process is a significant oversight.

CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who was a signatory of the CPA, has praised the agreement as a foundational document for Nepal’s federal democratic republic and inclusive democracy. He emphasized that the country is now in the process of concluding the remaining tasks of the peace process. However, completing the transitional justice process is far more complicated than political leaders may suggest. Its success depends on a number of factors that must be addressed by the government, political parties, the bureaucracy, and international actors.

One of the key issues is the process of appointing commission members. In the past, appointments were made based on political affiliations rather than merit, resulting in members who lacked the necessary expertise and spent much of their time learning on the job. To avoid repeating this mistake, future appointments must prioritize merit and technical competence, rather than political loyalty.

Another significant challenge is ensuring that the commissions have the resources and staff necessary to carry out their work. In the past, bureaucratic non-cooperation and frequent staff transfers hampered the functioning of these bodies. The new leadership must ensure that qualified personnel are appointed to these commissions and that logistical and financial resources are available to support their work. Additionally, the government must ensure that the commissions operate independently, without undue political interference. Past experience has shown that senior political leaders have often tried to influence investigations into cases involving their own party members.

Effective coordination between the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the transitional justice bodies is also essential for the process to succeed. The NHRC has repeatedly emphasized that commissions must operate in accordance with international standards and be responsive to the needs of victims. The NHRC’s recent statement expressing concern about the current process indicates that there are still issues to be addressed, particularly in terms of coordination and transparency. The government must ensure that the commission is able to function independently and in line with international best practices, without political interference.

Financial support for the commissions is another major hurdle. In the past, a lack of funding and cooperation from the international community hindered the progress of transitional justice mechanisms. The government must work closely with international partners to secure the financial resources necessary for both the commissions’ operations and the reparations process. However, this issue has not yet been adequately addressed, and if left unresolved, it could prevent the commissions from fulfilling their mandate.

Ultimately, the success of the transitional justice process depends on the commitment of political parties to allow the commissions to function independently and impartially. The government must ensure that the commissions are adequately resourced, staffed with qualified professionals, and free from political interference. If these conditions are met, Nepal may finally be able to deliver justice to the victims of the conflict and complete the peace process that began with the signing of the CPA.

President Ram Chandra Paudel conferred the rank of Honorary General of the Nepal Army on visiting Indian Army Chief Gen. Upendra Dwivedi with during a special ceremony at the Rastrapati Bhawan on Thursday.

Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Defense Minister Man Bir Rai among others were present on the occasion.

The Indian Army Chief arrived in Kathmandu at the cordial invitation of Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Ashok Raj Sigdel on Wednesday.

There is a tradition of Nepal and India conferring the rank of Honorary General on each other's Army Chief since 1950.

Earlier this afternoon, CoAS Sigdel and Indian Army Chief Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, who is on a five-day visit to Nepal, held bilateral talks at the Army Headquarters, Bhadrakali.

This is General Dwivedi's first official visit to Nepal after his appointment as the Chief of the Indian Army on June 30.

He is scheduled to call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Defence Minister Manbir Rai tomorrow.

Chief of the Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel and Indian Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, who is on a visit to Nepal, held bilateral talks at the Army Headquarters, Bhadrakali today.

The official meeting between the two Army Chiefs was focused on mutual partnership and interests between the militaries of the two countries.

During the talks, brief information about Nepali Army's duties and responsibilities, and the work performance was presented, NA Spokesperson Gaurav Kumar KC informed.

Before that, Indian Army Chief Dwivedi received the guard of honor presented by the Nepali Army, according to the Directorate of NA Public Relations and Information.

On the occasion, the Indian army chief planted a tree in the Jangi Adda (Headquarters complex).  The Indian army chief laid a wreath at the Memorial to the Brave Soldier located at the Army Pavilion in local Tundikhel.

President Ram Chandra Paudel is scheduled to confer on Army Chief Dwivedi the rank of Honorary General (Maharathi) of the Nepali Army today.

There is a tradition of Nepal and India conferring the rank of Honorary General on each other's Army Chief since 1950.

This is General Dwivedi's first official visit to Nepal after his appointment as the Chief of the Indian Army on June 30.

He is scheduled to call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Defence Minister Manbir Rai tomorrow.