Report of the Workshop on Democracy and Peace Building in Nepal

Organised by Nepal Society for Peace Building (NESOP)

4 March 2007, Lalitpur

Besides its various activities, Nepal Society for Peace Building (NESOP), a newly registered network of the systemic peace communicators, in partnership with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES-Nepal) organized a workshop on 'Democracy and Peace Building in Nepal' a burning issue in the present changed political context on 4th March 2007 at Hotel Himalayan Kupondole Lalitpur.

More than 50 persons ranging from civil society members, conflict experts and politicians to media persons actively participated in the program and openly discussed over the topic. NESOP president Prabal Raj Pokhrel presented a working paper on 'Conflict Dynamics to Peace Building in Nepal: A Systemic Communication Approach' while general secretary Surya Kanta Gyawali and conflict expert Dr. Chuda Bahadur Shrestha jointly presented papers on 'Discourse on Constituent Assembly in Nepal.'

FES Head Dev Raj Dahal presented a paper on 'Handouts of Democracy'.

Chaired by former minister and CPN-UML leader Bhim Rawal, the program focused on several issues related to peace building, conflict transformation, conflict management, and tried to indicate the shortcomings of the ongoing peace process of Nepal by evaluating the political development and implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement held between the Nepal government and the Maoists.

Views and Comments of the participants

Bhim Rawal, Former Minister and UML Leader, Chief Guest of the Workshop:It was the time of addressing the issues of minorities on the basis of their integrated demands, rather than going individual cases. If we go into individual cases, we may be diverted from our target of holding constituent assembly elections, which is the only means to include all issues of minorities and formulate overall policy of New Nepal. If the issues are diverted towards dismantling social, ethnic and tribal harmony, the nation may suffer that of the situation in Ethiopia.

We should not be entangled in the transition for a long period, so the state and the government should function well considering the sprit of the People's Movement.

All feudalistic structure should be dismantled on the very process of making New Nepal. Economic development should be carried out simultaneously with the agenda of peace because without economic prosperity people would not be satisfied. We should have farsighted vision to lead the nation, as the society needs to go through a certain process of transformation. He stressed for the effective implementation of the agreements signed amongst the Maoists, government and the seven political parties to garner confidence from the people ensuring them there is a free and fair environment to hold constituent assembly elections.

It cannot be ruled out that another conflict might come while addressing one kind of conflict. So, we should be ready to address the issues of Madhesi, dalits, indigenous, women and other minorities. He appreciated massive discussion that has been taken place across the country the country on the peace building process.

Dev Raj Dahal, Head of the FES Nepal: The state is trying to manage the conflict, but it has become a process that has been transforming the conflict. As the contextual learning is necessary, the civic education should be taken simultaneously with the very peace building process. "Peace is not neutral, rather it is political one."

The maintenance of revolutionary political circumstances in Nepal now is creating a new negotiating environment for the competing claims, symbols, myths and identifications of various social classes and marginalized political parties. Excluded citizens are looking or a space for inclusion, in a sense of developing belonging to the political system. Inclusion of the 'other' is the essence of reducing new sources of conflict spreading now in the realms of culture, territoriality, society and mores of social learning of ground realities.

So, it requires systemic approach that links all actors-actual caste, ethnicity religion, region etc rather than its instrumentalization, in search of the stability of the wholeness. No political system can survive unless all actors, even a small minority, feel a real stake in it.

Dr. Bishnu Raj Uprety:People do not have proper information about constituent assembly process and the political parties' claim of holding constituent assembly election by mid-June, at any cost, was not reasonable. What kind of danger will be surfaced, if the CA postpones five months later?

So far as the arms deposition and management of the Maoist combatants is concerned, Dr. Uprety proposed a practical approach that the government and political parties should adopt the policy that the arms which are not registered will be declared illegal and seized by the state. So, the arms registration of the Maoists is not big issue in the ongoing peace process.

Ganga Bahadur Thapa: It was compulsory and coincidence that the beginning of Maoists insurgency and Girija Prasad Koirala to become the Prime Minister of the nation. Rather than during conflict, the post conflict situation regards double consistency. Referendum system may not applicable in all situations. The major issue is 'voters' registration' for constituent assembly election.

Dhurbahari Adhikary, Journalist:The working paper of Pokhrel should analyze the post conflict situation rather than focusing on during conflict situation. The mechanism of 425 seats allocated for constituent assembly should be cleared to the public and how the people can be benefited from this provision.

Dr. Meena Baidhya Malla, Central Department of Political Science: Although we were informed about several issues of peace building and conflict transformation by participating in the workshop, the papers lack gender perspectives and women roles in peace building.

As many as 20 million people are being compelled to flee form their home during the conflict around the world, among them some 80 per cent were women and elderly people who are badly affected by the conflict. A total of 35 per cent women in Nepal are the victim of depression, as the mass migrant has created physical as well as mental trauma among them. Generally, men fight war and women are victimized by the consequences generated by the war. Women are excluded from the decision making process. Women can build culture of peace, as they adopt non-violent means.

Dipesh Sitaula, from National Development Network:The purpose of the workshop should be clear. The organizers should think on how to reach the academic thoughts towards the root where the conflict is surfaced and people are victimized. Sitaual shares his experience because he works in the fields. He further suggests that the problems raised in the working papers should have practical measures and approaches, so that the root cause of conflict could be addressed. The papers lack the advocacy of voters' education.

Bharat Pokhrel: The data and facts of underground economy should be incorporated in the working papers.

Hikmat Bahadur Karki: Nepalese media houses have not played responsible role, as they have raised issues with biased notion. The state is found more responsible to implement the agreements signed between the Maoists and the government. We can extend the time schedule for constituent assembly election, so that the constituent assembly would not suffer the fate of the Interim Constitution-2063 BS, which needed amendment within a day of enforcement.

Krishna Belbase: It should be clear that whether we are in the stage of peace building or conflict transformation. Before initiating peace building there need a confidence building process. The paper of Suryakanta Paudel should omit the contradictory definition of the Constituent Assembly.

Bhesh Raj Adhikary: The government should declare the elements of obstructing the constituent assembly elections, as the constituent assembly could be a milestone for solving the present conflict.

Naresh Rimal: The working papers should indicate the resolution rather than suggesting this and that in the micro-level. The concept of positivism should be adopted. He hinted social collapse.

Som Pudasaini: The state should proceed ahead for institutionalization of people's sovereignty, as the sovereignty is the central concern of democracy. The role of media and judiciary should be incorporated in Dahal's paper. He focused on productivity, justice in distribution, social harmony and social security. The causes of conflict are: ideology, internal problems and issues as 95 per cent of conflicts are generated due to the internal problems. Socio-economic situation and parties of conflict are other factors in creating conflict.

Sometimes we can avoid conflict; suppress the conflict and some time it takes the situation of victory and loss. Adopting violence has become the major challenges of Nepal, because the trend of pressurizing through violent means is increasing in the recent days. Model of Switzerland can be adopted for governance system.

Conclusion and recommendations

• The findings of the discussion should be disseminated at the local level.
  
• Instead of presenting problems, the experts should come up with solutions.
  
• The discussion should be organized regularly to lead the issues towards a logical end.
  
• Management of post conflict situation should be focused on the working papers.
  
• Conflicting forces should be serious for the implementation of agreements during the period of transition to peace.

Report Prepared by Liladhar Upadhyaya