As part of final efforts to resolve the Maoist insurgency-era disappearance cases, the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) is launching an additional probe into 2,000 cases including those related to the infamous Bhairavnath Battalion, reports Republica on February 19. “Five separate committees headed by commissioners are now studying the 2,000 cases while separate probes will reach out to the families of the disappeared in the remaining 506 cases which were filed from 11 different districts. They are heading to Rolpa and Khara in Rukum soon. The commission will revisit files prepared after the detailed investigations process and expedite further investigations,” said Nirajan Ghimire, an investigation officer at the commission adding that the commissioners have already started on this work.
Meanwhile, the attempt of the CIEDP to engage with the conflict victims has faced a setback as they are not ready to cooperate with the transitional justice commissions until an amendment to Enforced Disappeared Enquiry and Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act, 2014, reports Kathmandu Post on February 19. “We have started a non-cooperation movement against the commissions until the proper laws are in place,” said Gopal Shah, chairperson of the Conflict Victims National Network (CVNN).