'Recommend clean, capable persons for transitional justice mechanism'

Kathmandu, Dec 6: The stakeholders have underlined the need for appointing clean and capable persons at transitional justice mechanism in order to ensure credibility in the process of transitional justice. 

At a programme organized jointly by the Constitutional and Legal Journalists' Forum and the Amnesty International Nepal Chapter on 'credibility in process of transitional justice' here Friday, the speakers viewed fair and independent persons could help pave way for catering justice to the conflict victims.

Noted human rights activist Charan Prasai said, "It is the last opportunity for us to proceed with the transitional justice in a convincing way. The recommendation committee has a big role, so it is not in a luxury to go against Comprehensive Peace Accord."

He further commented that if the officials to be appointed in the transitional justice mechanism- Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on Inquiry of Enforced Disappeared Persons were not qualified, it would be sheer disgrace to all Nepalis.

Member of the National Human Rights Commission, Surya Dhungel, said, "It is essential to recommend competent and independent persons in the transitional justice mechanism. It is wrong trend to seek leadership's nod in the selection process." 

He suggested the recommendation committee that it paid heed to the plight of those waiting desperately for justice and avoiding political interference to this regard.    

Similarly, former minister and senior advocate Govind Bandi said the recommendation committee is not a place for holding job, but a position to recommend qualified persons as the office bearers of the commissions. He however said he was hopeful of the appointment of qualified persons in the commissions.

Human rights activist Mandira Sharma opined that constant watch was imperative so that incompetent persons would not be recommended in the transitional justice mechanism. "The conflict victims are waiting for justice, truth and reparation. It must be taken into account," she underlined. 

Advocate Raju Prasad Chapagain presented a working paper on 'credibility in the process of transitional justice', where he warned that if the victims' plights were ignored, it would be hurtful.

"Even the court has recognized and supported the victims' cries which has further become a matter of concern at the international level," he said, adding, "Transitional justice became a 'power card' over times while victims were waiting for justice. It is time not only for catering justice to the victims but also for giving direction to the country, he reminded.

Lecturer at Nepal Law Campus, Rukmani Maharjan, also opined for recommendation of competent persons in the transitional justice mechanism.

Representatives from conflict victims' organization- Ram Bhandari, Sirjana Shrestha and Sushila Chaudhari- viewed it was imperative to make the recommendation process credible. The recommended persons should be acceptable to all.

Director at Amnesty International Nepal Chapter, Nirajan Thapaliya, informed that the programme was organized to help the concerned body recommend appropriate persons in the two commissions.

It has been almost 18 years since the Comprehensive Peace Accord, but the transitional justice is yet to be catered. 

It was shared that the recommendation committee had received a total of 156 applications for the officials at Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission in Inquiry of Enforced Disappeared Commission.   (RSS)