PM Oli, Prachanda discuss issues of transitional justice

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, May 5: Prime Minister and Chairman of the CPN (UML) KP Sharma Oli, and Chairman of CPN (Maoist-Centre), Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, have discussed the contemporary political situation and transitional justice. 

In a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office at the Singha Durbar on Sunday, the two leaders talked about the concerns of the conflict-victims following the publication of the short-list of the office bearers including the chairmen and members in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons by the recommendation committee formed for the same. 

Following the meeting, Deputy General Secretary of the Maoist Centre, Barsha Man Pun, informed that Chair Prachanda, on behalf of the main opposition party, had raised concerns with Prime Minister Oli regarding the issues brought up by the victims and stakeholders, as well as the ongoing transitional justice process.

He mentioned that the matter was discussed in the context of the victims of the conflict also having talks with Prime Minister Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, and that the discussions were progressing positively. 

According to Pun, the conflict victims and stakeholders are also scheduled to hold talks with former Prime Minister Prachanda on Monday. “There has been ongoing discussion since the recommendation committee published the list. We found that the process to conclude transitional justice is moving ahead positively,” said Pun. 

Earlier on Sunday, representatives of various organisations of conflict victims submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Oli calling for making the process of recommending office-bearers of the two commissions related to transitional justice credible and transparent.

According to RSS, in a meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar, representatives, including conflict survivor Devi Khadka expressed concern over the recommendation committee carrying out its work without consulting them.

They demanded that a person who is unbiased and acceptable to the victims should be recommended as the chairperson and a person who can work impartially should be recommended as a member of the TJ commission.

The committee formed by the government to recommend the office-bearers of both the commissions in accordance with the Act related to the Investigation of Disappeared Persons and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has already published a short-list from among the applications received.     

On the occasion, Prime Minister Oli urged the organisations concerned not to distrust the incumbent government as he has been candidly putting forth his views in support of peace 

since the conflict.

Making it clear that the process has taken a long time due to political misunderstanding, he said that those who commit heinous crimes against humanity like rape will be brought to justice and punished, and justice will be provided to the victims.

"I have no intention to play with the victims' sentiments, cheat them and dillydally the process. My only focus is to conclude the transitional justice at the earliest. Although not directly involved in the conflict, our party CPN (UML) is also a victim party in a way. Our leaders have also been killed while fighting for peace," Prime Minister and UML Chair Oli said.     

Stating that we all were affected by the politics of violence while all sides, in fact, the whole country, suffered from the conflict, he said adding that their efforts are for stopping such cycle (of conflict and violence) once and for all.

The PM also urged all sides to work in unison and without panicking in this process to bring the right 

and reasonable outcome.

Prime Minister's Advisor on Human Rights and Transitional Justice Agni Kharel was also present at the meeting.