Nepal’s Parliamentary Hearing Committee is thinking about creating a special team to look into complaints against some of the 13 proposed ambassadors.
This decision comes after committee members expressed concerns that certain allegations need deeper fact-checking.
Committee chair Bodh Narayan Shrestha mentioned that some complaints can’t be handled in a standard review and may need a dedicated team to verify the facts before the nominees are approved or denied.
The committee has received seven complaints regarding the ambassadorial nominees.
Two complaints challenge the nominations as a whole, claiming the government did not follow proper guidelines for ambassador appointments.
The remaining five complaints are about individual nominees, questioning their conduct, qualifications, and personal or professional backgrounds.
The complaints have been shared with committee members for thorough review, along with the nominees’ work plans.
Complaints Against Japan and Saudi Arabia Nominees
- Among the individual complaints, Jigyan Kumar Thapa, proposed as Nepal’s ambassador to Japan, faces three allegations.
- One questions whether he renounced his Nepali citizenship for permanent residency abroad.
- Another challenges his eligibility for the ambassador role, while the third raises concerns about his property, business interests, investments, bank loans, and other financial responsibilities in Japan.
- Giribahadur Sunar, the nominee for Saudi Arabia, faces two complaints related to accusations of violence against women and alleged involvement in economic and criminal activities.
- It is important to note that the allegations in the complaints have not been validated by the committee or a court.
Committee Plans Ambassador Hearings
The Parliamentary Hearing Committee has set hearings for the proposed ambassadors on October 12, 13, and 14.
Nominees facing general complaints or suggestions will be heard first, while more complex complaints may undergo closer scrutiny.
A separate team or subcommittee may be created to investigate allegations that require in-depth examination.
The government recommended ambassadors for 13 countries on September 18. Nominees include Nischal Nath Pandey for India, Kalyan Raj Sharma for China, Chiran Jung Thapa for the United States, former Army chief Gaurav Shumsher Rana for the United Kingdom, Jigyan Kumar Thapa for Japan, and Giribahadur Sunar for Saudi Arabia, among others.
The committee will assess the complaints, qualifications, and proposed work plans before deciding whether to endorse the ambassadorial nominations.
The potential formation of a special investigation team aims to ensure that serious allegations are thoroughly examined before the committee makes its final recommendations.