COCAP volunteer core group organized a discussion program on "Truth and Reconciliation Commission Bill and Amnesty" on December 24, 2011 at COCAP hall. A total of 26 participants including board member, volunteer and staff participated in the program. Birdendra Thapaliya, advocate and human rights activist was invited as a resource person. The program intended to enhance the knowledge of participants in transitional justice, TRC BILL and AMNESTY and help develop COCAP's movement regarding the issue.
Mr. Thapaliya outlined in detail about transitional justice before entering into the TRC BILL and AMNESTY.  According to him, there is difference between transitional period and transitional justice. Transitional period indicates the time between two systems. In the context of Nepal, Constitutional monarchy is abolished but federal republic has not been established. Likewise, transitional justice is the governmental mechanism which addresses the issues of human rights violation and atrocities, war crimes, genocide that ensue in the period of armed conflict. In Nepal, the cases extrajudicial killings, rape, abduction, enforce disappearance, torture and so on occurred during the twelve years' armed conflict fall under the transitional justice system. TJ mainly covers four sectors such as truth seeking, prosecution, reparation and institutional reform.
According to Mr. Thapaliya, truth seeking is very essential to know about the incident and identify perpetrator and victims. It also helps for prosecution to perpetrator at the serious human rights violations and gives the reparation to the victims. Reparation covers five major components: restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantee of non repetition. He told that the serious human rights violator should be prosecuted. Otherwise impunity can be institutionalized and justice can't be convenient.
He mentioned about the TRC BILL and amnesty that it has been tabled on the parliament after many rounds of consultations with stakeholders as per the provision of CPA and Interim Constitution.  He argued that the bill has incorporated provision of prosecution for the serious human rights violators, reconciliation and amnesty which was relatively good for the victim centered justice. He also claimed that the government is trying to pass the TRC bill avoiding the provision of prosecution and focusing only on reconciliation with amnesty.
At last he requested the youths of COCAP to play role against amnesty for the serious human rights violators. Some volunteers raised questions regarding the topic. The program was facilitated by Naren Khatiwada volunteer representative at COCAP Executive Committee.

Tags : National Volunteers