Lies going global

Govinda Bandi’s representation at the Human Rights Council signals Nepal’s failure on transitional justice.

Nepal this week completed its annual pilgrimage to Geneva, reiterating its stale commitment to provide justice to the victims of the insurgency-era crimes after amending the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act. That the global human rights community has learnt to take the Nepali state's commitment to justice in insurgency-era atrocities with a pinch of salt is well-known. To top it all, the government this time got a commoner to lead the Nepali delegation as Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s adviser. Bandi was perhaps unaware of his rise in status before the prime minister decided to use him to replace the then Foreign Minister Bimala Rai Paudyal as the head of the Nepali delegation.