The issues of conflict victims mentioned in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement have yet to be addressed. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons, formed by the Government of Nepal to conclude the peace process, are currently inactive. As the commissions remain entangled in repeated formation and reformation, efforts in favor of conflict victims have failed to move forward. On October 18, 2024, the Council of Ministers decided to form a recommendation committee under the leadership of former Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra for both commissions. The committee, which was given a two-month mandate, included Khamba Bahadur Khati, Dr. Arjun Kumar Karki, and Stella Tamang as members, while the National Human Rights Commission had nominated its member Manoj Duwadi to the committee.
After the two transitional justice commissions remained without officials in 2022, the recommendation committee led by Om Prakash Mishra issued a public notice on November 8, 2024, calling for applications. Although the initial deadline was set for seven days, it was later extended by five days, making the final deadline November 19. During this period, the committee received applications and recommendations from 156 individuals. Among them, a shortlist of 40 candidates was published on November 27, 2024. The presentations of those shortlisted were completed by December 14, 2024. However, the recommendation committee, despite holding continuous meetings thereafter, failed to conclude and was eventually dissolved.
The Cabinet meeting held on March 24, 2025, formed a recommendation committee under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Om Prakash Mishra, to recommend the chairpersons and members for both commissions. The committee includes Lilly Thapa from the National Human Rights Commission, former Attorney General Khamba Bahadur Khati, former ambassador Dr. Arjun Kumar Karki, and Stella Tamang as members.
In this context, the conversation held by INSEC District Representative Natibabu Dhital with conflict victims of Sindhupalchok is presented here.
Sharada Chauhan
Chautara Sangachowkgadhi Municipality–6, Sindhupalchowk
We conflict victims have not received justice to this day. Various commissions were formed at different times in the name of providing justice to conflict victims, but they failed to deliver. The commissions formed so far did not understand our problems. It felt as though they simply held government jobs and did nothing. We, the victims, are left to carry our pain forever, while the government continues to exploit our name, and the commissions just collect salaries and remain inactive. How can we expect justice under such circumstances? If justice is truly to be served to conflict victims, a powerful commission must be established in such a way that has the authority to identify those responsible and initiate legal proceedings.
Ram Bahadur Giri
Chautara Sangachowkgadhi Municipality–12, Sindhupalchowk
Conflict victims are still seeking justice. We know the individuals who killed our family members, yet we still see them walking freely on the road in front of our homes. The government is to blame for allowing this situation to persist. Although the government established a commission to uncover the truth, it failed to provide the commission with the necessary authority to take action. No matter which government has been in power, we have not received justice. If the government truly intends to provide justice to conflict victims, it must create a powerful, high-level commission with the authority to hold the perpetrators accountable and ensure justice.
Saraswati Khadka
Tripurasundari Municipality–1, Sindhupalchowk
Commissions were established to work for conflict victims and provide them justice. However, the commissions formed so far have failed to deliver justice to the victims. The government gave us some financial aid, yet there’s still no justice. The suffering of the conflict victims must be ended and the process of permanent conflict transformation. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons must be empowered to carry out their duties effectively.
Bhim Bahadur Shrestha
Chautara Sangachowkgadhi Municipality-8, Sindhupalchowk
We have raised our voices for justice over the past years, but we have not received any. We have tried to hold the government accountable by organizing multiple protests, delegations, and relay hunger strikes, but as we still haven’t received justice, our hopes have almost faded. However, as long as we live, there is still some hope. If this government intends to provide justice to the victims of the armed conflict, it must grant full authority and responsibility to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to ensure the process is carried out effectively.