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The rights defenders have expressed strong objection to the published shortlist to fill positions in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Disappearances Commission.

The names have been proposed by the Recommendation Committee headed by retired Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra.

Nepal’s human rights community has repeatedly and publicly demanded that the Recommendation Committee propose individuals who are knowledgeable on transitional justice, who do not have a controversial record, and who will be trusted by the community of conflict victims.

Eventually, a problematic list was published, and practically every conflict victim organization in the country joined in a statement on December 6, 2024 rejecting the names recommended for chairpersons of the two commissions.

“It has become clear to us that neither commission will have credibility if led by the individuals on the present shortlist, and even more so two individuals who are said to be favored by the political leadership,” reads a statement signed by Sushil Pyakurel, Mohna Ansari, Kanak Mani Dixit. The two commissions cannot expect cooperation from the human rights and conflict victim communities.

“Given the lack of credibility of the published shortlist, we demand that the Recommendation Committee embark on a fresh exercise to put forward a shortlist of the two transitional justice mechanisms,” the rights defenders said, adding, “We have always been of the opinion that Nepal’s polity has the will and capacity to bring the transitional justice process to a just and proper conclusion, but the failure to establish a credible transitional justice commission is bound to attract international interest and involvement.”

Krishna Niraula, 51, from Limchungbung Rural Municipality-2, Udayapur, once embraced the armed people’s war led by the then CPN-Maoist, believing that revolution could only succeed through a combination of the pen, pencil, and gun. Now, he has renounced politics and embarked on an agricultural revolution.

Niraula joined the Maoists on 6 March 1997, during the 10-year people’s war, where he initially played the Madal (a traditional drum). Today, he cultivates oranges and lemons on his 13-aana land, finding fulfillment in farming.

“When the Maoists embraced the parliamentary system, I felt the revolution was no longer possible, and the achievements could not be sustained. I returned home in tears and took up agriculture,” he shares. Niraula now manages 500 orange trees and 150 lemon plants, generating a substantial income.

For the past four years, he has earned approximately Rs 600,000 annually, and he estimates earning over Rs 1m in this year’s orange season alone. Despite some marketing challenges, oranges sell for Rs 90 to 100 per kilogram locally and Rs 150 in commercial hubs like Gaighat, Murkuchi, and Katari.

Inspired by his efforts, 80 other families in Tamlicha have joined in orange and lemon farming. Niraula predicts that this season alone, more than 10 vehicles filled with oranges from Tamlicha will be sent to commercial centers, bringing over Rs 50m in revenue to the village.

Oranges bloom in late February and are ready for harvest within 8-9 months. While the rural municipality and the Prime Minister’s Agriculture Modernization Project provide some support, such as an irrigation water storage system for 80 liters, large-scale assistance remains absent.

Niraula’s orange farming has transformed his family’s life. “With the income, I’ve funded my children’s education and healthcare. My eldest daughter, who holds a master’s degree, is married to a Korean national. My younger daughter is pursuing an ISC degree, and my son is preparing to study IT after completing Class 12 in science,” he says.

Recalling his days in politics, Niraula admits that he returned home in despair after the revolution he envisioned fell short. “I believed building the country would also build my home. But when I returned, I found my house destroyed, my parents aged, my wife unwell, and my children like orphans. I spent months crying,” he recalls, standing in front of his dilapidated house.

Reflecting on the political system, he laments, “What was the purpose of the people’s war when the children of ordinary poor families can’t even contest elections? The current government and electoral system are deeply flawed.” He adds that without a fully proportional system, the revolution remains incomplete.

Niraula’s political journey began with the UML, inspired by Manmohan Adhikari’s nine-month tenure. Later, disillusioned with the parliamentary system, he joined the people’s war. During the conflict, he served as the district president of the Jana Sanskriti Manch, led the Jana Sanskriti family, and chaired the Tamlicha People’s Government from 1998 to 2000, addressing feudalism and corruption.

He also led the All Nepal Revolutionary Farmers’ Organization as district secretary and president for two terms, advocating for an agricultural revolution. Although he holds a position on the Koshi Province Committee, he remains inactive. “I now want to live as a free citizen,” he says.

Disenchanted with politics, especially after the Maoists endorsed the controversial MCC agreement, Niraula declares that all three major parties in Nepal are alike. “There is no point in supporting the Maoists anymore,” he asserts.

Determined to chart a new path, Niraula has registered an agricultural and animal husbandry firm, using his ancestral 15–20 ropani of land to drive an agricultural revolution. Born to Ambar Bahadur and Ambikadevi Khatri, he has first hand experience of clashes in Ramechhap’s Lapchane, Bhojpur’s Hatuwagadhi, Siraha’s Bandipur, Choharwa, and Udaipur’s Gaighat Karamagachi during the people’s war.

Now, Niraula channels his energy into farming, turning his disillusionment with politics into hope for a self-reliant future.

Humla district has received snowfall for the first time this year.

The snowfall started last night after changes in weather conditions.

As of this morning, snow measuring three inches has piled up in the district headquarters, Simikot, while a foot of snow is covering Limi and other areas located in the higher parts of north Namkha Rural Municipality, said Log Bohara, who works at Limi health post.

The farmers here are euphoric even with late snowfall in the district this year. The local residents believe that the weather will improve after the snowfall.

The farmers of the district are happy, hoping the snowfall will also augur well to the cultivation of wheat, barley and lice.

The snowfall has affected normal life in district headquarters Simikot and surrounding hills.

Normal life has been affected in Chala, Limi, Hilsa and Yari areas of north Namkha.

The temperature has already dropped to minus in Humla.

Currently there is a partial influence of westerly wind across the country. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly regions while the rest of the country will have fair weather with partial changes.

It will be generally to fully cloudy in the hilly regions of the rest of the provinces, including Sudurpaschim and Karnali Provinces and partly to generally cloudy in the rest of the country this afternoon.

Light to moderate rain is likely to occur at a few places of Sudurpaschim, Karnali and Lumbini Provinces, at one or two places of Gandaki and Bagmati Provinces and at one or two places of hilly region of Koshi Province.

Light to moderate snowfall is likely to occur at many places of the high hilly and mountainous regions of Sudurpaschim and Karnali Provinces and at a few places of the high hilly and mountainous regions of Gandaki, Bagmati and Koshi Provinces. 

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly regions of Karnali, Sudurpaschim, Gandaki, Bagmati and Koshi Provinces tonight.

Light rain is likely to occur at a few places of the hilly region of the country including Karnali Province.

Light snowfall is likely to occur at a few places of the high hilly and mountainous regions of Sudurpaschim, Karnali and Gandaki Provinces and at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous regions of Bagmati and Koshi Provinces.