Submit your Article

Top leaders of three major parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN (Maoist Center)—have pledged to endorse the amendment bill related to the Transitional Justice Act through the current session of the House of Representatives. Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal made this commitment while receiving a report prepared by a cross-party panel formed to address the contentious issues in the bill, particularly those related to serious human rights violations.

“I consider this a success achieved after the formation of the new government under Prime Minister Oli,” said Dahal after receiving the report. He added, “Now the bill, which is in the parliamentary committee, should be forwarded to the full House and endorsed through this session of Parliament.” A cross-party task force comprising Ramesh Lekhak from NC, Mahesh Bartaula from UML, and Janardhan Sharma from Maoist Center worked hard to forge consensus on the contentious issues of the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act. According to Lekhak, who now heads the Ministry of Home Affairs, issues of reconciliation, reparation, and prosecution were addressed while considering the concerns of the victims.

Prime Minister Oli said that consensus was achieved considering the Supreme Court’s 2015 verdict, meeting international standards, and addressing the concerns of the victims. He added that the government would expedite tasks related to appointments in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP), two transitional justice mechanisms formed in 2015. Oli also said that there are no longer any ambiguities or confusions regarding the transitional justice laws. The international community has yet to react to the agreement reached among the three major leaders.

NC President Deuba remarked that Nepal would set an example in the international arena if the transitional justice process is amicably settled. He said that if the task force’s resolutions are endorsed by Parliament and war-era human rights cases are settled, it would send a positive message to the world. The TRC and CIEDP, formed in 2015 to address transitional justice mechanisms, have struggled due to the absence of laws in line with the Supreme Court’s 2015 verdict and international standards.

Over the past 10 years, the two commissions have made some progress. The TRC has registered 63,718 complaints, including 314 related to rape and sexual violence. Similarly, the CIEDP has recorded 3,000 complaints. Both commissions have completed preliminary investigations on some cases. However, in recent years, they have been without heads and members, rendering them virtually defunct. Their tenures are being renewed to prevent complete collapse.

Disputes among parties primarily revolve around how to address serious human rights violations committed during the insurgency era. The international community insists that there should be no amnesty for serious human rights violations. Although the three parties claim to have resolved the disputed issues, it remains to be seen how Parliament, the international community, and most importantly, the conflict victims will respond.

Ambassador of the European Union to Nepal Veronique Lorenzo paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at latter's office in Singha Durbar today.

On the occasion, PM Oli appreciated the European Union's cooperation with Nepal in its economic and social development, and informed Ambassador Lorenzo that the topic related to transitional justice, the remaining work of the peace process, is to be finalized on the basis of political agreement.

He stated that the bill designed to amend the Commission on Investigation of Disappeared Persons, Truth and Reconciliation Act-2071 BS is in the process of moving ahead, keeping the spirit of the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), the Supreme Court's order, the international practices and the survivors' issues at the center.

Recalling that the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and the European Union entering the 50th year, Prime Minister Oli said that the support of development partners was anticipated as Nepal prepares to graduate to the developing country status by 2026 and to a middle-income country by 2030.

He reiterated that Nepal works actively towards poverty alleviation and economic development while remaining fully committed to guaranteeing democracy and human rights.

Ambassador Lorenzo wished that the government's priorities and objectives reach success. She also wished Prime Minister Oli for a successful term in office.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said an agreement on the bill regarding transitional justice is a milestone for Nepal's peace process.

Receiving a report of the agreement reached at the task force for finalizing the transitional justice in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Accord at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers today, the Prime Minister said with the availability of the document, there shall be no confusions to provide a legal ground to conclude the remaining tasks of the peace process.

He expressed his commitment that the transitional justice-related bill will be unanimously endorsed by the ongoing session of the Parliament.

"We experienced a painful past. The nation went through a conflict. The country suffered significant damage. However, there have been positive changes, but again we are warranted to conclude the peace process. With incorporating all the dimensions of conflict-era violence into the peace process, there is no need to leave behind their vestiges," the Prime Minister said.

According to him, this agreement considers the verdicts from the respected Supreme Court, international norms and values and the survivors-friendly approach. This has proven to be a milestone in the peace process. The bill aims to prevent such conflict from reoccurring.  Once the bill is passed by parliament, we will proceed ahead with forming commissions on the basis of mutual consultation and the consensus he added.

"Although there were various practices in the past, at the time when democracy was established, there was no need for violence and lawlessness," PM Oli clarified.

He said that the incumbent government upheld the value that democracy should be considered a way of life and thus he made it clear that he would move forward for the protection and implementation of the federal democratic republic system.

Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba lauded that the task force had set a unique example to the world that Nepalis would resolve their disputes on their own. He extended best wishes for the implementation of the consensus forged by the task force.

Similarly, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal dubbed the task force's report as the ''good work'' post the formation of a new government.

He wished that the report be finalized through the legitimate process of the parliament thereby sending the message of peace, stability and development among the Nepali people.

The political task force, formed in connection with the bill to amend the Commission on Investigation of Disappeared Persons, Truth and Reconciliation Act-2071 BS, handed over their report to the top leaders of major three political parties today.

The report was presented to Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar.

The task force consisted of Minister for Home Affairs and NC leader Ramesh Lekhak, CPN-UML's Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula and CPN (Maoist Center)'s Janardan Sharma.

The report is the gist of the several discussions held by the task force on the major concerns and agendas of the Bill related to transitional justice. The bill is under consideration in the parliamentary committee for Law, Justice and Human Rights.

Consensus has been forged in a victim-friendly approach on the matters concerning reconciliation, compensation to those mutilated and punishment for the perpetrator during armed conflict, Minister Lekhak said.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is arriving in Nepal next week.

This is the first high-level visit from India after the formation of the CPN-UML-Nepali Congress coalition government.

According to a source at the Foreign Ministry, Foreign Secretary Misri is scheduled to come to Nepal next week.

During his stay in Nepal, he will pay courtesy calls on President Ram Chandra Paudel, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba.

Foreign Secretary Misri is also scheduled to meet his Nepali counterpart Sewa Lamsal and high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The government officials of Nepal and India have not said anything about Misri’s Nepal visit.

He was appointed as the Foreign Secretary of India on June 28.