NHRN
Kathmandu, April 20: The government has tabled Bill on Offences and Punishment of Disappearances 2066 at the legislative parliament, Tuesday. Peace minister Rakam Chemjong tabled the bill on behalf of the government at Tuesday's sitting of the House.
The bill has been introduced for the formation and regularisation of a commission on enforced disappearances that is expected to investigate cases of disappearances during the conflict and provide for prosecution of perpetrators and reparations for victims.
The bill proposes to form a quasi-judicial body, Commission of Enquiry on Disappearances, which will have the authority to probe on the whereabouts of the disappeared, interrogate the accused and recommend compensation to the kin of the victims. The five member commission led by a person meeting eligibility to become a Supreme Court Judge will include of a distinguished jurist, a human rights activist, a woman representative and a sociologist or psychologist, as per the provisions in the Bill.
The officials of the commission will be appointed by the President at the recommendation of the Speaker of the legislative parliament and the chairperson of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The commission on disappeared is a much talked about issue. The government had tried to form the commission by promulgating an ordinance earlier this year, but withdrew after protest from all quarters.
International and national human rights organisations have been advocating for the formation of such commission since a long time. However, they have expressed dissatisfaction over the provisions included in the proposed bill saying it is not in line with International human rights standards.