Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh and US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.

Photo Source paradesh.com
By Kamala Sarup

Multi-party democracy, constitutional monarchy and peace are the best solutions for Nepal’s present crisis.

Nearly ten years into a violent insurgency, now it’s time to invite the Maoists for peace talks so that we all could live peacefully. The government-Maoist peace process must be conducted within the framework of multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy. A negotiation essentially means certain give and take but it should be conducted to empower Nepalis, not to make them weaker.

We should not forget the lack of focus on development especially in remote rural areas is sustaining Maoist insurgency. Only peaceful governance can play an important role in mobilizing people for setting local development priorities, planning, coordinating and ensuring effective implementation of development activities in line with popular aspirations.

Nepal is passing through a crisis. Only peace can bring forth an egalitarian society (which the Maoist say they are fighting for), empower citizens and help integrate internally displaced people into the mainstream. Nepal is a proud country and the problems cannot be big if there is a political will to solve them. Civil society must continue to pressure the parties in the conflict to stop fighting and start negotiations.

Says Arul Aram, chief sub-editor with ‘The Hindu’, a leading Indian newspaper and editorial advisor of Peace Media, “The Maoists have links with similar groups in India, including the People’s War Group in Andhra Pradesh and the Maoist Communist Centre in Bihar bordering Nepal. The Maoists plan a compact revolutionary zone stretching from northern Andhra Pradesh through central and eastern India to Nepal.

This will not only offer a mutual moral support but also help them procure and distribute weapons illegally. Insurgency in Nepal can have its impact in Indian states such as Bihar, West Bengal and Jammu and
Kashmir as well, particularly if more weapons are delivered by foreign powers to militants clandestinely.”

The Maoists’ struggle may even spill over to Bhutan. The cross-border linkage of the Maoists poses a great threat, now that they have become a major force in Nepal. But India’s military power can ensure that the
spillover of the Nepalese insurgency is under check within its territory, he added.

Achieving a peaceful Nepal are mutually interdependent and inseparable goals. The most urgent concern in Nepal is the right to life of common people. So long as the Maoist war continues Nepalese people will have to live in fear, in the fear of an impending attack on any village. The insurgency has affected our entire life. War and poverty have prevented us from having access to our basic needs of life like health and education.

Political parties, government and human rights organizations must work together so we can begin to bring about changes at all levels. We must move from the culture of violence to a culture of peace. It is but obvious that all Nepalis desire peace and seek justice.

Policy makers and program planners who are serious about a commitment to improving the situation of peace in the country must begin efforts to understand peace issues in Nepal. The government, political parties and Maoists should think critically and creatively about political and societal alternatives for dealing with conflict
situations. They should develop working relationships. Any party involved in violent conflicts should take special measures to protect civilians.

By building social, national and local capacities for peace, we should be able to contribute to peace-building processes. The effects of the on-going violent conflict in Nepal have been enormous both in terms of economic loss and human suffering.

In looking at a situation of long-term conflict and war, we should recognize that there are many levels of activity as well as many factors and functions necessary for peace building. There are other serious conflicts in Nepal in which thousands have died, and thousands more can die if they are not resolved.

In our context, development strategies can contribute to the reduction of violence in a number of ways. These include poverty reduction and the reduction of economic disparities between rich and poor; respect for the dignity and rights of other groups, civil society development, enhancing respect for human rights, participatory processes to identify community needs and promoting community development. Of course, peace will provide the space in which Nepal can diversify its economy and attract foreign investment.

Government needs to develop its capacity to reintegrate people displaced by the conflict into their societies and make provisions for food, water and other life-saving resources available to them.

Negotiating with Maoists for peace is a more reasonable way. On the other hand, decentralization, open economy and competition, transparency in all areas of government practice is the most effective instrument discourage violence and promote peace.

And, the crux of the matter is that the overall environment of peace and development could be ensured by sticking to the rule of law and honouring the constitution of the country, not violating it under any pretext.