3 March 2024, Kathmandu: Advocacy Forum-Nepal (AF), Koshi Province Office, organized an interaction programme with conflict victims on transitional justice (TJ) on March 2, 2024.
The program aimed to inform conflict victims about the progress in the TJ process and activities carried out at the central level. Additionally, victims at the local level expressed their concerns and problems during the programme.
AF’s Director, Bikash Basnet, gave a presentation on the bill to amend the Investigation of Disappeared Persons, Truth and Reconciliation Act, currently under deliberation in the parliament.
Speaking at the program, family member of an enforced disappearance victim, Ratna Ghimire, expressed that the governmement has formed TJ commissions but is not serious about providing justice to victims. “My son has been disappeared for a long time, and the government has not made his whereabouts public,” he lamented.
Rupesh Sah, Chairman of the Society of the Disappeared Family, stated that victims have contributed to the change in the country’s political system, but the government has failed to honour their contribution. He mentioned that political tug of war in the appointment of commissioners in the TJ commissions has caused a stalemate. He also remarked that the incumbent government seems serious about concluding the TJ process.
Conflict victim Yamkanta Baral highlighted that memorial parks for conflict victims have been destroyed by the local government, which is an insult to the victims. Disappeared Victim Family Member Dilli Rijal echoed Baral’s sentiment, stating that memorial structures for conflict victims need to be constructed in agreement with the local governments to ensure their sustainability.
Torture victim Rita Giri emphasized that the local government and provincial government need to coordinate to provide relief measures for conflict victims. Altogether, 40 people, including AF’s Koshi Province Coordinator Rukmina Dahal and paralegal Kishori Karki, participated in the programme.
