Consensus on TRC Bill should be sought on the foundation of 12-point agreement: Law minsiter

KATHMANDU: Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, Dhanraj Gurung, has said that consensus should be reached on the Bill for the Amendment of the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act on the foundation of the 12-point agreement that political parties signed in 2005.

Speaking at a press meet in Butwal on Wednesday, Gurung said the responsibility of taking the transitional justice process to a conclusion rests on three of the seven political parties – Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and the then CPN (Maoist) – that signed the 12-point agreement. “Since the transitional justice process has been in limbo for the past 17 years, I have requested senior leaders of the three parties to take the process to a logical conclusion,” Gurung added.

He added that major political parties were in a discussion to approve the Bill in the upcoming session of the parliament. “Consensus is eluding parties only on a few issues,” he added.

Gurung also said that important bills related to civil servants, education and police adjustment will be approved in the winter session of the parliament, which is also called the Bills session.