Truth and Reconciliation Commission Chairman Surya Kiran Gurung has pledged to take legal action against those guilty of serious human rights violations in insurgency-era cases.

“The commission will recommend legal action against those guilty of crimes of serious nature based on proof. Reconciliation will also be given due priority,” Gurung said at an interaction in Pokhara on Thursday.

Promising that the TRC would work fairly without hurting the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and the political parties, Gurung urged the government to help the TRC in investigating the cases from the decade-long Maoist insurgency.

Stating that the country would plunge into a serious crisis if the TRC failed to accomplish its mission, Gurung complained that the transitional justice body formed to look into war-era cases faced serious troubles due to the lack of resources. He said the government had ignored its demand for Rs600 million.

“The United Nations and other organisations may look into the cases of human rights violation if the TRC fails. The government and the parties should be serious about this,” said the TRC chief, adding that the conflict-era cases would be decided as wanted by the victims.

“The government should provide necessary budget and law amendments,” said Gurung. The commission’s tenure expires in February but there is a provision for its extension.

Gurung stressed that persons responsible for decision-making should be accountable as there were shortcomings on both sides during the conflict.

According to Gurung, the transitional justice body has received 58,052 complaints so far from 74 districts except Manang.