In pursuant to the clause 5.2.5 of Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) between Government of Nepal and then Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) on 21 November 2006, the high level Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has been set up to investigate on the cases of human rights violations and crimes against humanity, and to create enabling environment for social reconciliation. It has been believed that if the commission had completed its terms of reference, it would have accomplished the objectives of CPA, and the conflict victims would have felt justice accordingly. For the fulfillment of such purpose, it has been necessary to take further steps with the coordination and cooperation of human rights related national and international organizations thereby developing confidence building measures with victims in persons, their families and community as a whole. Hence, we want to put forward the message that the commission is conscious in gaining confidence through mutual cooperation of above mentioned stakeholders sooner for work environment, and then, the justice process to conflict victims will be furthered better in accessible ways as per the intent of CPA.

The Commission has adopted the policy to fulfill the responsibilities by continual discussions and deliberations with victims and other stakeholders in providing justice and reparations to victims of grave violations of human rights following the fundamental norms of CPA. For this, after studying the past work of the Commission, we are about to complete upcoming one year Plan of Action (PoA) and Schedule of Implementation (SoI) on the basis of the existing legal frames. The newly appointed Commissioners’ wish is to create the enabling environment for social reconciliation and to make avail of justice and reparations to Conflict trodden persons and their families soon. The sui juris desire of the Commission is to conclude longing of justice to conflict victims without any biased and prejudices, and to build the conditions upon which victims’ family may feel justice and sustainable peace may prevail in the country.

After the appointment of all Commissioners including me, we have met and interacted with conflict victims and other stakeholders around the visit of branch offices of Commission. Through this, we got an opportunity to come closer to know the agony of sufferers, their aspirations and necessity. Considering the reverberations in the meet and interactions, the Commission will strive hard for prompt justice to conflict victims. However, it has been high time to put due attention by all concerned stakeholders who are aspirants of transitional justice and sustainable peace, and to heed for justifiable, needful, and time suitable law formation. Only then the commission can fulfill its responsibility effectively taking them as base. The commission hopes that the state will not have any reservations regarding amendments of Acts to let the justice, reparations and reconciliation process gets wider acceptable.

Finally, the commission calls on the major stakeholders; conflict victims in person, and family, human rights related national and international organizations and special personalities, journalists, civil society, Federation/Organization of Professionals, Nepal Bar Association, political parties and Government of Nepal, and humbly request all for cooperation and coordination in providing justice to conflict victims and maintaining sustainable peace following the spirit of CPA and principles of transitional justice.

Ganesh Dutta Bhatta
Chairperson
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Nepal, Kathmandu
Email: ganeshbhatta477@gmail.com