Conflict Victims National Network, a newly formed association of dissident conflict victims, has ruled out the possibility of participating in any form of mechanism that deals with the transitional justice process. Their denial comes at a time when the government is preparing to form a mechanism, led by Law Minister, to hold consultations with conflict victims and concerned stakeholders to find a long-term end the ongoing deadlock in the transitional justice process.

The network is comprised of the conflict victims who split from Conflict Victims Common Platform objecting to the latter’s idea of forming the mechanism.

Talking to the Post, the network leaders said they won’t accept any sort of mechanism. The network is for continuation of two transitional justice bodies after their restructuring.

Phanindra Luitel, general secretary of the network, said the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons should be allowed to work independently.

 “We want both the commissions to continue, but their officials should be changed. There’s no need of any other mechanism,” he told the Post.

The network believes that the preparation to form the mechanism is an attempt to pacify the Conflict Victims Common Platform.

Luitel said the network, however, is ready to sit for consultation that is conducted by the government.

The ministry which was supposed to write to two victims groups for their participation in the consultation on Sunday postponed its plan, citing technical reasons. Sources closely following the current development said the attempts to forge consensus among political parties on formation of the mechanism was the main reason behind the delay.

Ramesh Dhakal, secretary at Prime Minister’s Office and Truth and Reconciliation Commission, said the plan to send formal invitation was delayed owing to some technical reasons.

“The letters will be sent tomorrow (Monday). We will also have consultation with the representatives of the victims on the same day,” he told the Post.

The sources said that the rejection from the network to own the law minister-led mechanism could further increase the confusion towards resolving the ongoing complexities.

“While the platform is for the formation of mechanism, network opposes it. Finding a meeting point amid this complexity is not easy,” said a source privy to ongoing development.  “This means the process could further derail.”

For now the government, political parties and even the conflict victims are convinced there is no alternative to extend the terms of the two transitional justice bodies as two weeks time is too short to have any further development. The term of the TRC and CIEDP expires on February 9.