Kathmandu, April 17

Differences regarding the ‘induction of three ex-combatants’ into a subcommittee formed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to make policies for the representation of victims in oversight mechanisms to be formed in districts continue to divide the TRC.

Madhavi Bhatta, a member of TRC, said she continued to oppose the ‘induction of three ex-combatants’ when the sub-committee formed under Manchala Jha presented its report today.

Bhatta said other members did not object to the ‘induction of three ex-combatants’ into the subcommittee but she opposed it as it would be against the principle of natural justice.

“These ex-combatants may themselves be victims but since they were combatants they could also be perpetrators of rights violation and therefore they should not be in the subcommittee that could formulate policies,” Bhatta added.

TRC Chair Surya Kiran Gurung, however, said she told Bhatta that if she thought that a particular member of the sub-committee was an ex-combatant and a perpetrator of rights violation, she would have to prove it.

“Unless we have proof of somebody being a perpetrator, we cannot reject their representation in such a body,” Gurung said.

Bhatta objected to the induction of subcommittee members Nisha Neupane, Bhaktaraj Thapa and invitee member Ramesh Shrestha, saying she received reports that they were ex-combatants.