KATHMANDU: Chairperson of the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP), Leela Devi Gadtaula, has reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring justice for the families of those who went missing during Nepal’s armed conflict.
Speaking during an interaction with families of enforced disappearance victims, Gadtaula stated, “We are committed to investigating the disappeared in a way that satisfies the victimized families and leads to justice. If it is confirmed that someone was disappeared during the conflict, we will identify how, why, and who was responsible — and then recommend reparations accordingly.”
She informed that a preliminary draft of the commission’s procedural regulations has been prepared under the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act, 2014.
Gadtaula emphasized that the draft will only be finalized after in-depth consultations with the victims’ families to ensure broad consensus.
“Transitional justice must be victim-centric and victim-friendly. The commission will work in line with the spirit of transitional justice. Therefore, input from victims is mandatory for finalizing the regulations,” she added.
The commission has also prepared a work plan based on a review of its activities to date. Gadtaula said that, according to the Act, complaints related to enforced disappearances can be filed within three months of the appointment of the new committee — a window that ends on 5, August 21.
“We have already published a public notice to that effect. We plan to proceed with a fair and just approach once complaints are received within the given timeframe,” she explained.
Chair Gadtaula also noted that the third amendment to the Act, passed last year, is designed to bring Nepal’s transitional justice process to a conclusion.
Meanwhile, Hemkumari Gharti Magar, Chairperson of the Conflict Victims Security Personnel Association, urged the commission to ensure that its actions truly deliver justice to the victim families.
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