Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has promised to extend all kinds of support to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to conclude the ongoing transitional justice process.

In his first meeting with office bearers of the commission attended by the Attorney General and Law Minister on Monday, PM Dahal also reiterated his readiness to amend the laws in line with the Supreme Court verdict as well as international laws and practices on transitional

justice process. Besides, he also proclaimed the perpetrators of serious crimes of rights violations would be prosecuted.

Dahal’s assurance has, however, failed to impress the commissioners who told the Post that they want his

words to be translated into action first.

The government, to which Dahal’s party was a major coalition partner, put on hold the commission’s amendment proposal for the past eight months. In fact, the government had taken nine months to pass the commission’s regulation, due to which the commission came into full operation only a year after the commission was formed.

“Prime Minister promised us on what we have been demanding for long time,” said TRC Chairperson Surya Kiran Gurung, “He was positive towards our demand of resources and legal reforms and we hope he will keep his promises.”

To expedite the transitional justice process, experts say, the first task of the government should be to amend the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act as ordered by the Supreme Court. The court has struck down almost a dozen provisions of the existing act, saying they were inconsistent with transitional justice norms and practices. The TRC has spelled out eight amendments to the act as per the court verdicts issued at different times, including clarity in provisions related to ‘serious crime’, ‘serious human rights violation’ and ‘other crimes of serious nature’.

The government has not even register the draft amendment prepared by the TRC eight months ago. Besides, the government has not criminalised the act of disappearance and torture. As the government delayed in preparing the draft bill, the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Commission had drafted the bill by itself and forwarded it to the government on February. Both the amendment proposal as well as the draft bill are gathering dust in the Peace Ministry.

The government still has time to amend the laws. However, the commissions are in acute shortage of staff to look into complaints it received. The commissions have received over 60,000 complaints, for which they have six months’ time to investigate and prepare a report with recommendations for action against perpetrators. The commissions have just started screening the complaints with only around 100 staff. They are yet to begin recording testimonies and conducting public hearings.

The TRC has estimated it will require around 2,500 new staff and a budget of Rs 500 million to complete its task within the stipulated time.

The TRC estimates it will require 2,500 new staff and Rs500m to complete its task within the stipulated time