Miscellaneous
TRC chief Gurung warns of quitting
Rues limited resources, state apathy for streamlining laws to conclude transitional justice process on timeDewan Rai
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission chief has said he will not cling to the post if the government continues to ignore the TRC’s call for streamlining legal provisions to conclude the transitional justice process.
Speaking at a programme organised by the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons to mark the International Day of
the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, Surya Kiran Gurung on Tuesday said his commission would be unable to do anything in favour of the victims without the legal provisions, which are inconsistent with the transitional justice principles and practices.
“I want to make it clear that I am not holding this post for a job,” said Gurung. “If the amendments are not made as required within the remaining mandate of the commission, I may have to reconsider this position.”
The transitional justice bodies, formed 18 months ago to look into the conflict-era cases, have just completed registering complaints from the conflict victims. The commissions have got two-year mandates, with possible extension by one year. They have around 60,000 complaints to investigate, prepare reports and recommend action against perpetrators.
If the government delays law amendment, “we will not be able to deliver justice and reparations as demanded by the conflict victims,” he said. “The added year will slip away just by pleading for streamlining the legal provisions.”
In December last year, the TRC forwarded to the government an eight-point amendment to the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act as per the Supreme Court verdicts issued at different times.
The court had already asked the government to amend the Act citing inconsistencies with transitional justice norms and practices.
The commission has asked the government to categorise which of the nine incidents of serious human rights violation mentioned in the Act are ‘serious crime’ and ‘crime of serious nature’. Of them, looting, seizure, breaking or arson of private and public property and eviction from house and land or displacement by any other means also fall under this category.
“I was assured of full cooperation from the government, which turned out to be mere rhetoric,” said Gurung, warning that the TRC would not be able to work with the limited resources provided to it.
Peace Minister Sita Devi Yadav, who listened to Gurung, assured of doing “everything in my power”.
“I can feel the ordeal you have gone through all these years,” said Minister Yadav, whose husband was shot dead in 2000 by then-rebel Maoists. “I have started looking into the files related to the task of the commissions.”