2 July 2012. A report by International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) unveiled on 28 June in Kathmandu has revealed that different inquiry commissions have proven ineffective. Advocacy Forum (AF) and ICJ jointly released the report entitled “Commissions of Inquiry in Nepal: Denying Remedies, Entrenching Impunity” amidst a special ceremony.
Mandira Sharma, Chairperson, AF stated that impunity is on the rise because commissions have become meaningless. Everyone should warn the stakeholders for making the soon-to-be-formed TRC and DC effective, she added.
Sam Zarifi, Asia Regional Director of ICJ called everyone to unify for bringing an end to impunity. He expressed happiness in discussing about conflict and pertaining issues with human rights activists, civil society and state representatives.
Dr. Trilochan Uprety, Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office and Office of the Council of Ministers admitted the shortcoming of the state in not making the commission reports public. But he also had it that it would be detrimental for peace and security of the state if every report was published.
Deputy Attorney General Premraj Pathak; author of the report Elaine Chan; reviewer of the report Dipendra Jha; and senior legal consultant to ICJ Gobinda Bandi all pointed out to the failures of inquiry commissions which according to them assist the state in burying the incidents into oblivion. They demanded the state to look for different alternative to these cosmetic commissions. In the same program, victims of Kapilvastu Massacre drew attention of Secretary Dr. Uprety to the fact that they had not received compensation even after the publication of the report.
