When the families of those killed in Nepal’s violent September protests that led to the government’s downfall demanded justice, the pain was all too familiar for Sunamati Chaudhari.
Her husband, an English teacher, was taken by security forces 22 years ago during the peak of a decade-long civil war. He never returned.
Chaudhari, now 62, has been relentlessly seeking answers about her husband’s disappearance since then.
“We exhausted every option to find my husband. We went to court, sought help from numerous organizations, and even reached out to Geneva,” she shared with AFP, referencing her efforts to seek assistance from the United Nations. “But nothing happened.”
She is among thousands of relatives waiting for closure since a 2006 peace agreement ended a conflict that claimed over 16,000 lives and left 1,400 missing.
Atrocities were committed by both Maoist rebels and state forces.
“I dreamed of him every night,” Chaudhari said.
Justice has been slow to arrive in the Himalayan nation.
Nepal’s authorities have faced longstanding criticism for their inadequate investigations into wartime abuses.
Two transitional justice commissions set up in 2015 have not resolved a single case, despite receiving over 65,000 complaints related to rape, murder, and enforced disappearances.
– ‘Culture of Impunity’ –
Nepal is currently struggling with new political turmoil.
Youth-led protests against a social media ban, worsening economic conditions, and corruption erupted across the nation in September, resulting in at least 76 deaths amid a violent crackdown.
Parliament, courts, and civil service buildings were set ablaze, leading to the government’s collapse.
Former chief justice Sushila Karki, 73, was appointed as interim prime minister to guide Nepal until the elections in March 2026.
For many families still haunted by the civil war, the political upheaval has brought a delicate blend of hope and anxiety.
Preeti Tharu, 22, whose father was abducted by rebels before her birth, fears history may repeat itself.
“The previous government only made empty promises,” she said. “And I fear that with this changing situation, the state’s priorities might shift.”
Gita Rasaili, leader of the Conflict Victim Women National Network, expressed hope that they could find common ground with the new generation demanding government action.
“We feared our cause was lost, because there are now new victims’ families and new martyrs,” she told AFP.
“But we are all united against a culture of impunity.”
– ‘Volatile’ –
In August, before the protests, families gathered to commemorate the International Day of the Disappeared at a new memorial park in western Nepal’s Bardiya district.
Families of some of the 258 missing individuals from the district planted trees and lit candles.
Park coordinator Niranjan Kumar Chaudhari, whose father was taken by the army, noted that the current interim government includes some of the few politicians who have acted in support of their cause.
“The current prime minister and home minister both advocate for victims of war crimes,” Chaudhari said.
“But the political climate remains volatile.”
Under Karki’s leadership as chief justice, a court in 2017 sentenced three soldiers to 20 years in prison for murdering a teenage girl.
At the time, it was only the second conviction for war crimes.
The Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons affirms that its work will continue regardless of the political climate.
“We have received 2,610 complaints so far,” said commission chief Lila Devi Gadtaula, aiming to complete investigations within four years, though progress is hindered by limited forensic resources.
But for families like Chaudhari’s, time has already run out.
In July, she and her two sons performed her husband’s death rites.
“It’s already too late,” she said. “Many prime ministers have come and gone, but none addressed our issue.”
