Major Parties Agree to Form New Search Committee for Truth and Reconciliation Commission
24th Mar 2025
The top leaders of Nepal’s three major political parties have agreed to establish a new search committee to recommend candidates for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappearances.
The decision was made during a meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar on Monday. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.
According to Agni Kharel, a member of the CPN-UML Standing Committee and an expert advisor to the Prime Minister, the leaders reached a consensus to expedite the formation of a search committee for the appointment of office bearers of the TRC and the Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappearances.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Kharel stated, “The discussion primarily focused on completing the remaining tasks of the peace process, including the formation of the truth and disappearance commissions. Although a previous search committee had submitted a report, further deliberations were needed to move the process forward.”
The new agreement aligns with Section 3(3) of the Investigation and Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Enforced Disappearances Act, 2071, which mandates consultation among major parties to form recommendation and search committees for the appointment of the chairpersons and members of both commissions.
In addition to the top leaders, the meeting included Deputy General Secretaries Shakti Basnet and Khimlal Devkota from the CPN (Maoist Center), along with expert advisor Agni Kharel and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.
This move is expected to revive the stalled transitional justice process and address the long-standing concerns of victims of the armed conflict, ensuring a more comprehensive approach to truth-seeking and reconciliation.
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