Speaking at a virtual discussion program jointly organized by the Accountability Monitoring Committee and Conflict Victims’ Saja Chautari in Kathmandu on December 12, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has said that amnesty cannot be granted for serious human rights violations during the conflict. Minister Gyawali said that the government is not compelled to forcibly reconcile the victims until they get justice.
“There can be no amnesty for serious human rights violations, such as those committed outside. The current government is not obliged to do anything to promote impunity. ‘
Minister Gyawali said, “The final task of the peace process is to bring about the transitional justice related to it.” There has been a delay in this. But the government cannot run away on the basis of delay.
He further added that the government was not in favor of “forget and forgive” or “forgive everyone”.
Minister Gyawali said the government wanted to conclude transitional justice on the basis of the spirit and letter of the peace agreement, Nepal’s commitment in international fora, the Supreme Court decision, the sentiments of the victims, and ground reality.
Stating that a draft law has been prepared for the amendment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission for Investigation of Disappeared Persons, he informed that preparations are being made to present it in the upcoming winter session.
Speaking on the occasion, Krishna Bhakta Pokharel, chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights, said that the agenda of transitional justice could not be resolved by inflicting more pain on the victims.
He added that the peace process would reach a logical conclusion only on the basis of international human rights standards, the UN Charter, and Nepal’s originality.
Similarly, Charan Prasai, coordinator of the Accountability Monitoring Committee, claimed that there is no possibility for the victims to get justice as the current law related to transitional justice provides amnesty to the perpetrators.
‘So far the commissions have done nothing but collect complaints. As the commission’s scope of work is narrow, victims are unlikely to receive justice. ‘
He said, “If justice is to be done to the victims, both these commissions must be abolished and the political divide must end.”
During the program, conflict victim Suman Adhikari complained that the suffering of the victims was never given priority.