KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala has emphasized that issues of transitional justice should not be subjected to political dealings between the political parties.
Addressing the Fourth National Conference of Human Rights Defenders held in Kathmandu on Tuesday, he expressed his stance that judicial matters related to the conflict era should not become entangled in political disputes.
He highlighted the need to formulate laws related to transitional justice by closely following the directions given by the Supreme Court and the National Human Rights Commission.
Dr. Koirala clarified that legislation related to transitional justice should not ignore or bypass the concerns of the victims.
Even if political issues are passed by the parliament, he stressed that it should not tarnish the international image of the country in terms of transitional justice for the victims.
He stated, “Democracy has come for us (the leaders), but not for the people. It’s high time to make people feel the democracy is for them.”
Looking at human rights from a legal perspective, he urged the need for the rule of law in both democracy and human rights.
If the rule of law and human rights are not present in democracy, then it may not truly be democracy, leader Koirala added.
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