Govt claims it’s working to address woes of conflict victims

KATHMANDU, JANUARY 13

The government has reiterated its commitment to resolve issues related to transitional justice in accordance with the spirit of the Comprehensive Peace Accord, rulings of the Supreme Court, relevant international commitments, concerns of the conflict victims, and ground realities.

According to the Universal Periodic Review Report (3rd Cycle) of Nepal submitted to the UN Human Rights Council recently, two independent commissions — the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons — have been investigating allegations of human rights violations during the conflict era (1996-2006) pursuant to the Enforced Disappearances Inquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act, 2014.

“The Government of Nepal has provided interim relief to the victims of conflict. The TRC and CIEDP are in place. The TRC has collected a total of 63,718 complaints and carried out preliminary probes, verified the registered complaints for authenticity and consolidated cases for further detailed investigation,” the report published on the website of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers said.

Similarly, the CIEDP received a total of 3,223 complaints, out of which it verified 2,514 after preliminary examination. The CIEDP has been carrying out detailed investigation of 2,097 cases in 65 districts. “The government has appointed new members of both the commissions on the recommendation of an independent and inclusive committee constituted under the TRC Act. Out of five members in each commission, the TRC has two woman members and the CIEDP has one woman member. The commissions have begun functioning,” read the report.

With a view to amending the TRC Act in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling of 26 February 2015, and concerns of victims, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs is preparing an amendment bill in consultation with conflict victims and other stakeholders. According to the report, the MoLJPA conducted consultation meetings in all seven provinces and at the federal level with victims and stakeholders regarding the content to be covered in the amendment bill.

Meanwhile, the victims have been desperately waiting for truth, justice and reparations since the signing of the CPA in 2006. As reported in Nepal Conflict Report-2012 released by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the armed conflict caused the death of about 16,729 persons, displacement of about 78,689 and disappearance of about 1,327 people.

During conflict, the country had witnessed incidents of serious violation of human rights such as killing, incapacitation, torture and inhuman and degrading behaviour, assault, enforced disappearance, sexual abuse, abduction, intimidation, enforced displacement, confiscation of properties and damage, and use of children in armed conflict as child soldiers, among others.

 

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