Two decades after peace accord, families of the disappeared still seek truth and justice

KATHMANDU: Twenty years after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) that formally ended Nepal’s decade-long armed conflict, families of those subjected to enforced disappearance say they are still waiting for truth, accountability and justice.

Bipin Bhandari, who was arrested and forcibly disappeared by security personnel on June 17, 2002, stakeholders stressed that addressing the plight of the disappeared and their families must remain a top priority for the State.

They underscored the need for greater coordination among concerned bodies to resolve conflict-era cases and ensure justice for victims.

Bhandari, then a 21-year-old student leader affiliated with the former rebel CPN (Maoist), was allegedly detained and disappeared along with Dil Bahadur Rai, Ramhari Rupakheti, Krishna Bahadur Basnet and Devraj Paudel. Their whereabouts remain unknown.

According to stakeholders, the fate of around 1,300 people allegedly subjected to enforced disappearance during the conflict has yet to be determined.

Speaking at the event, Bipin’s father and constitutional law expert Ekraj Bhandari accused the State and successive governments of ignoring the pain, concerns and demands of the families of the disappeared.

Deepak Chalaune of the Nepal Communist Party (Bahumat) said the CPA had raised hopes for political and social transformation, but many of those expectations remain unfulfilled. He argued that the contributions and sacrifices of those involved in the armed conflict have not been adequately recognised.

Similarly, Maila Lama of the CPN (Maoist) urged the government to continue efforts to locate those who remain missing, while senior Nepal Communist Party leader Pampha Bhusal stressed the need for political dialogue and greater unity among leftist forces to address unresolved conflict-era issues.

Secretary of the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons, Dhruba Kumar Chauhan, said effective coordination among all stakeholders is essential to uncover the truth and ensure justice for the victims and their families.