FIVE Fundamentals of Nepali Peace Process, according to Ian Martin:
The first fundamental is the commitment to power-sharing and consensus. The second fundamental is the commitment of the Maoists to the transformation of their movement, to conform to democratic multi-party norms and to respect the rule of law. The third, the commitment to transformation in the security sector: to the “integration and rehabilitation” of former Maoist combatants, and to an action plan for “democratisation” of the Nepali Army. The fourth, the commitment to political, economic and social transformation, where the Comprehensive Peace Agreement set out a radical and ambitious agenda. The fifth and last fundamental is the commitment to address the needs of victims of the conflict, and to build the rule of law by ending impunity.
By Ian Martin
[Martin is former Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal for the United Nations Mission in Nepal]
In recent days there have been calls for the revision of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, accusations and counter-accusations that it is being broken by Maoist agitation or threats of mobilisation of the Army, and calling into question even of the 12-point Understanding which was the very foundation of the peace process. It is thus timely to ask whether the peace process is failing; if so, why; and what is required to save it.
I no longer speak for the UN on Nepal, and I want to make very clear that I am speaking only for myself. I do so solely as a friend of Nepal, and as someone who deeply wants to see Nepal go forward in peace, respect for human rights, and socio-economic progress for all its diverse peoples.
I want to try to address what I regard as the larger underlying issues of the peace process in Nepal, which I believe is the way to address the question of what needs to be done to get it back on track.
Five aspects of the peace agreements have been unchanging and are fundamental, and it is the extent to which they have been respected or not respected which I want to examine this evening. Keep reading →
Categories: Peace Process 2
Tagged: ian martin, Nepal, nepali peace process, nepali-politics, Peace Process, unmin
They want to establish ‘civilian supremacy’ in Nepal but they want to do that the cost of people’s right to live peacefully. The Maoists today began second phase of their agitation aimed at bringing down the current government by enforcing blockade in the Kathmandu valley. They have picketed at the entry-exit points in the Kathmandu valley. The pre-announced “blockade” began early morning with flag-waving Maoists gathering at Thankot and Sanga, reports Republica. As a result, vehicles coming to and fro the capital have been stranded at the entry points. There is heavy presence of police at Thankot and Sanga. Keep reading →
Categories: Maoist Politics
Tagged: Kathmandu, maoist, Nepal, nepali-politics
With the lapse of time, whether the history of ruling monarch will repeat in changed form? This fear hangs over the mind of common people, as the present Constitutional developments are not so encouraging.
By Suryabahadur Singh
The constitutional evolutionary phases were continuously witnessed throughout the development process in Nepal. The post second Jan-andolan,2062 (2005) period has provided ample opportunities for stabilizing and institutionalizing the institutional democracy, peace and constitutional reforms. The formation of Constituent Assembly has raised the common man’s hope of period getting a constitutional solution forever. The Nepalese masses have not forgotten that, the Constituent assembly was a mere declaration by the King Mahendra in 2007(1950) and the successive constitutions were formed by the related Constitution drafting committees. At that time, the constitutional experts were hand picked, the rigidity, abstract law, limited constitutional resources, least judicial developments and impact of ruling monarch were major hurdles in the way of making appropriate Nepali constitution. Along with this, soaring socio-economic problems has obstructed a lot for experimenting with past six constitutions having colors, flavor and impact of then existing time. Keep reading →
Categories: Nepali Constitution
Tagged: Constituent Assembly, constitution, nepali-politics
Finally, something significantly positive has come out from any Nepali Congress meeting in recent times. The grand old party of Nepal has decided to choose the democratic process in electing leadership over virtual presidential decree. With this the almost dictatorial hold of NC President Girija Prasad Koirala over the party has come to an end.
The party today (Wednesday) adopted a resolution to that effect (‘institutional leadership’) at the fourth and last day of Mahasamiti convention- it’s highest and policymaking body. The resolution that was endorsed by the full house of the meeting has curtailed the landslide nomination rights of the party president; make it more inclusive, elections on some major post including party central committee members and office bearers. Keep reading →
Categories: Nepali Congress
Tagged: congress, Nepali Congress
After the Underwater cabinet meet at the bottom of South Asia, a cabinet meet at Everest at the top of South Asia
Immediately after the news about Nepal’s plan to hold a cabinet meet on the base camp of Sagarmatha (the Mount Everest) flashed today by AFP, Nepalis from all over the world expressed their tongue-in-cheek reactions offline and online. Here’s a sampling of Tweets (the last by a non-Nepali).
“Wish they came up with new ideas. Only drama’s they do.”
“We might get lucky if they all perished.”
“The Maldivian effect in Politics & Ecology.” Keep reading →
Categories: Nepali Society
Tagged: cabinet, climate change, everest, Nepal
One of the biggest reasons for the failure of democracy in Nepal in the 90s is the lack of democracy in the then largest democratic party of Nepal: the Nepali Congress. Girija Prasad Koirala, the paramount leader of the party- then and now- is responsible for that. He, along with other leaders like KP Bhattarai and Ganesh Man Singh, tried to run the party as if it was their club. No wide consultation was done before taking any vital decisions by a party so mass-based in Nepali context. The President of the party is like a dictator. The President, for the past several years, is Koirala. Keep reading →
Categories: Nepali Congress
Tagged: democracy, Nepali Congress, nepali-politics
Maoists have hit the streets from today aiming to topple the current government. They should have gone to the Constituent Assembly instead.
Sticking to their old demand that the presidential action over the sacking of the then army chief by the then Maoist-led government some four months ago be corrected, the Maoists have started today their ‘decisive’ agitation to bring down the Madhav Nepal-led government. This is clearly unfortunate not because the shaky coalition is at the helm putting the largest party in the Constituent Assembly, the Maoist, out of the government but because the Maoists are not honest to their demand and they are not fighting for the civilian supremacy as they tirelessly and consistently claim. Keep reading →
Categories: Maoist Politics
Tagged: maoist, nepali-politics, agitation, anti-government movement
Instead of eradicating poverty, the current Indian establishment has, it seems, decided to eradicate the poor from society. (pic source)
By Dinesh Wagle
This article was first published in today’s Kathmandu Post. Here’s the PDF version of the page.
Things are happening so late in India. This I say from the Nepali perspective. The dominating Indian political discourses in the past several days have been increasingly sounding like the ones we used to have at the beginning of the current decade. The government here has decided to combat the spreading Maoist insurgency putting the prospects of talks on the backburner, and the deliberations have been all about that. These debates, mainly taking place in the most influential, city-centric and English language media, are heavily tilted towards the hawkish government stand. “These terrorists,” shouted one network editor the other evening, “must be neutralized. How can a government talk with killers?” Keep reading →
Categories: Eye on India
Tagged: indian maoists, naxal, naxlite movement, naxlites
The Constituent Assembly has faced repeated delays in drafting the new constitution. The delays have led to growing public speculation and concern that the May 2010 promulgation deadline will not be met.
Report of the UN Secretary-General on the request of Nepal for United Nations assistance in support of its peace process
I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 1879 (2009), by which the Council, following the request of the Government of Nepal and the recommendation of the Secretary-General, renewed the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) until 23 January 2010. UNMIN was established as a special political mission in 2007, with a mandate which included monitoring of the management of arms and armed personnel of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN-M) and the Nepal Army. Following its merger with the Communist Party of Nepal-Unity Centre (Masal) on 13 January 2009, CPN-M was renamed the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M). Keep reading →
Categories: Peace Process 2
Tagged: maoist, Nepal, nepali peace process, nepali-politics, unmin
October 18, 2009 · 1 Comment
By Neil Horning
On the way to Chorkate, Gorkha, about a 3 hour bus ride from the district headquarters, a conspicuous facility covered with red flags is noticeable by the roadside.
Nammuna Agricultural Center is run by the United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) as an agricultural cooperative, intended to teach agricultural skills and collective farming to locals and serve as a model for similar facilities nation wide. Dr. Baburam Bhattarai’s childhood village overlooks the center.
The cooperative raises buffalo and pigs, farms fish and grows rice and vegetables. According to members, Sarmila Bagle and Hari Khanal, 20-30 Maoist cadres work in the center, with locals (paid 100-400 Rupees or about $1.50 to $6.00 a day) comprising an additional half of the workforce. Gender balance rests at 50%. Cooking is done on a rotational basis involving both men and women, and decisions are made through semi-regular meetings of the members.
Agricultural cooperatives are the first step in a Maoist development strategy known as collectivization, in where the manpower from individual plots is pooled to increase efficiency of production. In China, first land titles were distributed to peasants as part of a land reform process. Next, peasants with individual plots were encouraged to voluntarily join agricultural cooperatives which were later combined into massive communes. The initial stages of this plan met with measured success, while the later stages during the great leap forward have been blamed for massive famines and are the subject of much controversy. Keep reading →
Categories: Maoist Politics
Tagged: maoist, nepali maoists, Nepali Society
