KATHMANDU: Conflict victims have urged Prime Minister Balendra Shah to take concrete steps to bring the transitional justice process to a logical conclusion through an open letter.
The letter, sent by 40 organizations representing conflict-affected communities, calls for restoring credibility in the transitional justice process and ensuring it reaches a meaningful outcome.
It emphasizes the need to guarantee victims’ rights to truth, justice and reparation, expressing hope that the government, backed by a near two-thirds majority, will address this historic responsibility with seriousness.
“On behalf of the conflict victims’ community, we extend our congratulations to you for assuming the role of executive head of the country with a strong mandate in Parliament,” the letter states. “We firmly believe that the government under your leadership has the capacity, willpower and moral ground to steer the transitional justice process in the right direction.”
The letter notes that the government’s national commitment draft and its 100-point governance agenda have not adequately incorporated the transitional justice process.
It outlines six key demands, including incorporating transitional justice as a major agenda in the national commitment document, resolving legal questions surrounding the current commissions through amendments, ensuring the exit of existing commissioners, and adopting a transparent, competitive and victim-friendly process for new appointments.
Suman Adhikari, founding chair of the Conflict Victims Sajha Chautari, urged the government to prioritize the issue and take credible steps to ensure the long-delayed rights to truth, justice and reparation are fulfilled.
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