KATHMANDU: Conflict-affected individuals have staged a sit-in at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, demanding the resignation of its officials responsible for transitional justice.
Although 19 years have passed since the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the victims claim they have not received justice and accuse the commission of being turned into a hub for political favoritism. The protest was held on Friday at the commission’s office.
The demonstrators have demanded the immediate dissolution of the commission, controlled by political parties and party-appointed leadership, calling it a violation of legal procedures for the third time.
Ram Bhandari, a member of the families of disappeared persons, said that officials boycotted by the victim communities must resign immediately. He stressed the need to initiate a credible and transparent process in consultation with the conflict-affected communities.
Similarly, Suman Adhikari, former chairperson of the Conflict Victims Joint Forum, said the current commission officials have ignored the demands of victims. He added that officials appointed through party quotas are incapable of addressing the needs of the conflict-affected communities.
The protestors argued that the continuation of a commission that lacks the trust of victims only shatters their hopes and wastes time. They have demanded a complete restructuring of the commission.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the government and the then CPN-Maoist was signed on November 21, 2006.
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