Kathmandu, October 7
The Parliamentary Hearing Committee is considering forming a separate team to investigate some of the complaints filed against Nepal’s 13 proposed ambassadors, after committee members concluded that certain allegations may require a deeper fact-checking process.
Committee Chair Bodh Narayan Shrestha said some of the complaints could not be addressed through a routine review and might require the committee to conduct a more detailed investigation.
“Some complaints may require us to look into how serious they actually are, rather than simply taking them at face value. We may have to form a committee or a small team to investigate them,” Shrestha said during Tuesday’s meeting.
Shrestha did not disclose which nominees were the subject of the complaints that may require further investigation.
The committee received seven complaints against the 13 ambassadorial nominees. Two complaints challenge the nominations as a whole, alleging that the government did not follow the prescribed ambassador appointment guidelines. The remaining five complaints concern individual nominees and raise issues related to their conduct, qualifications and personal or professional backgrounds.
The complaints were distributed among committee members on Tuesday for detailed study.
Among the individual complaints, Japan’s proposed ambassador Jigyan Kumar Thapa faces three complaints. One alleges that he gave up his Nepali citizenship and obtained permanent residency abroad, while another questions his eligibility for the ambassadorial position. A third complaint raises questions about his property, business interests, investments, bank loans and professional liabilities in Japan.
Saudi Arabia nominee Giribahadur Sunar faces two complaints, including allegations concerning violence against women and involvement in economic and criminal activities. The allegations remain claims contained in the complaints and have yet to be established by the committee.
A committee member said the allegations should be determined before the committee decides whether to endorse or reject the nominations.
“If we approve or reject someone without determining what the complaints are about, it would send the wrong message,” the member said.
The committee has scheduled hearings on the complaints and the nominees for October 12, 13 and 14.
The Cabinet had recommended ambassadors to 13 countries on September 18. The 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.
