View Points

The Enforced Disappearances Enquiry Commission and Truth and Reconciliation Commission established in 2014 and again in 2019 to conclude Nepal’s peace process, have remained inactive for a long time. After their term expired, the government dissolved the commissions over a year ago. The commissions, established twice to investigate the situation of conflict victims, conduct truth-finding, and recommend justice and reparations for the victims, have failed to complete their designated tasks. While former officials of the commissions have stated that the lack of necessary laws hindered their work, the Transitional Justice Second Amendment Act, 2022, has only recently been introduced. After being passed by both houses of Parliament and certified by the President, the government is now preparing to form a new commission. Conflict victims, who have complained that past commissions were not victim-friendly, are now expressing their expectations for the new commission.
In this regard, INSEC District Representative Jayanarayan Pun gathered the opinions of conflict victims from Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, and Dang in Lumbini Province, which are presented here.
Hira Chaudhary
Dangisaran Rural Municipality-3, Dang
The new commission must work in favor of conflict victims. Our understanding is that those who do not comprehend the issues faced by conflict victims cannot view the problem with the seriousness it deserves. The leaders of the previous commissions may have been competent in other ways, but they could not understand the pain of the conflict victims. The commission merely collected complaints, and many years have passed without any substantial progress. Even those complaints remain unresolved. It still appears that some victims have been left out. We believe that a commission with leadership capable of addressing the real issues of conflict victims should have been formed, one that listens to their grievances and works toward their resolution. The tendency of appointing political affiliates to the commission should end. Otherwise, the commission will serve the government’s interests rather than the victims’. If such issues persist, it will harm the peace process. We, the victims, should not continue to live with pain and suffering for decades. Therefore, a powerful commission should be formed that can complete its designated tasks on time. If the commission remains dependent on external influences as before, it will fail. The truth about the events must be known, and those who committed heinous crimes must be held accountable. The commission should ensure justice for the victims and provide reparations based on their needs, making it essential for the commission to be powerful and effective.
Dahankumari Tharu
Siyari Rural Municipality-6, Rupandehi

I have heard that a new commission is being formed again. But commissions have been established before as well. So much time has passed, yet the commission failed to uncover the truth. They did no meaningful work. They only collected complaints and stored them. When we needed significant support, when we were in trouble, if we had received reparations at that time, it would have been much easier. The repeated collection of complaints and storing of them led to the death of the victims’ hopes of receiving justice. These very commissions are responsible for extinguishing those hopes. We wondered, “Will anything happen? Will they help us find our missing loved ones?” Even knowing the status of the missing people would have brought peace to our hearts. It has been more than 18 years, and victims have received neither justice nor any information about the whereabouts of the missing individuals, nor have they been provided reparations. The interim relief only made it easier to get a couple of meals for a few days, but the state has failed to deliver justice. We expect the new commission to listen to our concerns, understand our problems, and quickly uncover the status of our missing relatives. We want a commission that works, not just talks. So many years have passed. How much longer must we wait? Our hopes have nearly vanished. Many families of the missing, like ours, live in uncertainty, neither alive nor dead. If we are told they are alive, it has been years with no news; if we are told they are dead, we don’t know for sure. We need a commission that can determine whether our loved ones are alive or not and do so quickly.
Tika Pun Magar
Shivaraj Municipality-1, Kapilvastu

The previous commissions were not victim-friendly. We demand that both of the new commissions must be conflict-victim friendly. This is because the failure of past commissions to address the issues of the victims proves that a commission that does not understand their problems cannot solve this issue. For years, the commissions formed under the name of conflict victims have failed to understand the victims’ issues. Instead of addressing the victims’ concerns, these commissions have listened to the views of those in positions of appointment, leading to a prolonged peace process. If the new commission follows the same path of just collecting complaints and sitting idle, it will only extend the timeline for concluding the peace process in Nepal. Therefore, our demand is for a commission that can deliver justice to the victims and work with a clear plan and goal to bring the peace process to a swift conclusion. We have insisted that the participation of victims must be mandatory in the newly formed commission. This is because we believe that only those who have experienced the actual problems can truly work toward finding a deep and meaningful solution. In the previous commissions, there was no representation of the victims or in other mechanisms. Therefore, I believe that victims should be represented in the commission to quickly address truth, justice, and reparations. We had raised many issues and provided recommendations to the commissions earlier, but they did not address them. We do not want such commissions or leadership again.

Budhani Chaudhary
Ghorahi Sub Metropolitan city-17, Dang

We have been left unheard until now. The government will form the commission again by appointing its people, as has always been the case. Who will listen to our concerns? We have dealt with our problems on our own and come this far, without anyone addressing our concerns. We are managing our families, facing both happiness and sorrow. If they had understood our pain, the issue could have been resolved long ago. They have stopped listening to us. The people in higher positions don’t listen, and even the local authorities at the municipality and ward levels ignore us. Being the closest to the citizens, if they don’t listen, how will the commission? There is no one for us. They only care for their people and help only their own. We are also conflict victims. Our people were killed in the fields while harvesting rice. The government killed those who worked hard to sustain their lives, labeling them as Maoists. We expect the government to help us by supporting our children’s education and providing opportunities to work. The government should provide relief by understanding our suffering, without discrimination, and no favoritism or unfair treatment.