Representatives from various organisations submitted a letter to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Sunday, urging the government to ensure credibility and transparency in the process of appointing officials of the two transitional justice commissions.

During a meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, the delegation—led by conflict victim Devi Khadka—expressed concern that the recommendation committee had failed to consult victims or build a trustworthy environment.

According to the prime minister’s secretariat, they demanded that the commission chairs and members be nominated based on merit and impartiality, not political affiliation.

The government has formed a recommendation committee to select officials for the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as per the relevant law. A shortlist of candidates has already been published.

The two commissions have been inactive since July 2022 after the erstwhile government decided to extend their terms without retaining their chairmen and members.

In response, Prime Minister Oli said he had always supported peace since the conflict period and asked the victims not to doubt the commissioners or the process to be appointed by his government.

He acknowledged delays caused by political disagreements but stressed that serious crimes like rape would not go unpunished and that victims would receive justice and reparations.

“I have no intention to mislead or delay justice for victims. My focus is to bring transitional justice to a conclusion,” Oli said. “Even though we were not directly involved in the conflict, my party, the CPN-UML, also suffered. Many of our leaders were inhumanely killed for supporting peace. All sides—including the then government and Maoists—are victims in some way. The perpetrators are within those groups, too.”

Stating that the whole nation suffered during the conflict, he said now is the time to end this cycle of violence.

Oli urged all stakeholders to remain patient and work together for a fair and meaningful outcome.

The prime minister’s human rights and transitional justice advisor Agni Kharel was also present at the meeting.