Committee fails to recommend office-bearers in transitional justice commissions

Kathmandu, Dec 17: A committee, formed for the recommendation of the chairpersons and members in the Commission of Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), has not been able to pick office-bearers. 

The term of the committee – that was mandated to recommend the office-bearers within December 16 has ended with no success in picking the office-bearers. 

Advocate and transitional justice expert Raju Prasad Chapagain commented that although the recommendation committee had the option of removing obstacles, it could not use the opportunity. "The recommendation committee did not understand the gravity of transitional justice. We should have selected a competent person who could work," he said, adding that the committee has become irresponsible to remove obstacles by using legal space. 

Chapagain hinted for a possibility of consensus on the chairmanship by recommending the members. 

Chairperson of Conflict Victims Common Platform Nepal, Suman Adhikari said it was unfortunate for the committee being unable to carry out adequate exercise by getting along its responsibilities and authority. "The office-bearers of the committee could not understand their rights. They had to rise above their self-interest in realizing the responsibility, but that didn't happen. This has made the atmosphere more confusing. This action has disappointed the conflict-affected people who are awaiting justice". 

It may be noted that the government had formed a recommendation committee headed by former Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra on last October 18. 

The committee comprises National Human Rights Commission' member Manoj Dawadi, former Ambassador to the US Arjun Bahadur Karki, founding Chairperson of the Federation of Indigenous Peoples Women Stella Tamang and former Attorney General Kham Bahadur Khati as members. 

The committee was given a two-month term. The committee could not make the recommendation to the Commission due to differences among the office-bearers of the recommendation committee. 

In a statement issued on Monday, the committee said, "In the context, there was no consensus among the office-bearers of the recommendation committee on some issues. It was not deemed appropriate to take the decision on the matter of far-reaching effects on majority basis". 

"The Government of Nepal and the Council of Ministers have been requested to resume the appointment process by making the search for suitable persons more comprehensive and effective in order to make the process of appointment of chairpersons and members more reliable and acceptable", the statement noted. 

Human rights activist Charan Prasai said that the task should be taken as an opportunity to select qualified officials. "The recommendation committee should have fulfilled its responsibilities. Now the process should be forwarded in such a way that the responsibility is given to the people who understand transitional justice. The committee had shortlisted eight of the 156 candidates who had applied for the post of chairperson and 32 for the members. (RSS)