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| Kathmandu, Monday March 10, 2003 Falgun 26, 2059. |
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Cease-fire and emerging
challenges
By RITENDRA TAMANG
The citizens of Nepal have been drowned in
severely precarious situations by the impetuous actions of their own government and the
intrusive Maoists. After the protracted tragic events destroyed so many lives,
infrastructures, and resources, recent truce and peace talks between the Maoists and the
ruling government seem to have achieved a calm and peace in Nepal.
Such a political climate is a significant
upshot within the political context of Nepal. Though the implementation of a
ceasefire is an indispensable element of the peace process, one that may further expose
political options for settlement, alone it cannot suffice for the continued sustenance of
peace. The political leaders, Maoists, and citizens of Nepal must collaborate and create a
new culture of peace, coexistence, and harmony. To this end, the indissoluble
commitment of all pertinent leaders must continue toward making progress.
The prospect for peacemaking, though not an
effortless process, is impressive and encouraging. Currently neither the Maoists nor the
government has fully internalised the need to reaffirm their actions to signify a
dedication to the prevention of further violent ruptures. Such stands of reluctance and
rigidity from different political parties are more likely to make the existing ceasefire
fragile. Therefore, it is important to assess the ceasefire between the government and the
Maoists in relation to its sustainability and relevance.
The current ceasefire will accurately reflect
meaningful relevance when it actually results in providing access to freedom for those who
have been deprived of their basic human rights as citizens of a country. Meanwhile, the
current ceasefire has given impression to the citizens of Nepal that this peace process
will end the prolonged political violence and chaos in the country.
A declared "ceasefire" also
represents a willingness to live peacefully and democratically, and a desire to achieve
honor through one’s thought, political expression and leadership. Per se, it is the
only way to have a real sense of security and safety, as well as to end fears instigated
by the actions of various politically driven interests. Any further attempts to validate
political power through the use of violence to control ordinary citizens, which produces a
system of governance that does not care about the rights of the people, must be stopped.
The affirmation of the value of life and dignity for all citizens of Nepal is crucial for
sustainable peace. Thus, the government of Nepal must affirm the rights of every Nepali
citizen and provide opportunities to question the peace process.
The discussion of ceasefire, that is, a halt
to all political instabilities in Nepal, only makes sense in the context of a meaningful
political process based on democratic frameworks. This process should assure the Nepali
citizens that the government and pertinent political parties are truly concerned in
producing a viable political settlement that would give them legitimate rights to peace,
security, freedom, and economic prosperity. Such a scenario would make a ceasefire
relevant to the realities of the people of Nepal, and create a process vital to
development efforts.
However, prevailing circumstances and lack of
cooperation among various political parties may threaten the foundation for a stable
ceasefire. The government agencies, leaders of political parties, and Maoists need to
acknowledge their own past mistakes, failures, and crimes to engage in bringing about a
true peace. Without accountability for the most severe crimes against ordinary citizens,
there can be no lasting peace. With all due encouragement for the efforts of all, no
sustained progress would result as long as key leaders of all the political parties adopt
a realistic strategy for ending the violence and returning to a fruitful peace process.
The ceasefire initiatives have to reflect a genuine process of soul-searching on all sides
(ie, government, Maoists, political parties) regarding the root causes of the current
conflict and ways to deal with them.
Peace must be sustained by fostering a
continuous dialogue between the government and the Maoists, by including of all other
pertinent political parties, and accompanied by a continuous ceasefire, which would
promote national appeasement efforts with a view to fostering participation in the
democratic and political processes as essential aspects of achieving peace in Nepal. Both
the government and the Maoists must reaffirm their commitment to the ceasefire and adopt
measures against those who violate truce in order to sustain the political settlement
process. The efforts of political parties must go beyond alliance building between the
political forces that have conspired against the common interests to sustain their own
survival. They must create a political space to enable Nepali citizens to participate in
constructing peace, thus, creating a new sense of ownership that should sustain the
commitment towards the prosperity of the nation.
At the outset of the current ceasefire, an
infusion of internal support becomes critical in order to add momentum to the current
peace process in Nepal, help stop the wretched human suffering, and smooth the ripples of
grief that have spread throughout Nepal. Cessation of hostilities is a crucial element in
the process of building up an atmosphere of peace, goodwill, and the normalisation of
daily life. Such efforts can help spring Nepal from despair to hope, from obstinate
conflict to workable concord, and engage in finding resolutions. Again, firm commitments
of the stakeholders to be partners acting together in the interest of peace for the nation
is essential.
The government of Nepal must institute
reforms that address the legitimate quantum of the insurgents and protect human rights for
all citizens of Nepal. The government must also tackle key economic reforms, as the
efficacy and confidence of the government will be judged by how it influences the
livelihood of citizens. Reaching the vision of prosperity will require a strong and
sustained political will, commitment, and a concerted effort from the government and all
the political parties - a movement from within the ranks of those in power.
The government of Nepal and all the leaders of
various political parties, inclusive of Maoists, must come up with tangible plans of
progress and provide opportunities for citizens to participate in the peace process by
demonstrating a shared vision for Nepal, and by dealing with many disagreements within
various political interests that have been proved as hurdles in the efforts of negotiating
solutions. No stipulating conditions from any political interests that hinder the peace
process must appear. Rather, a creation of a congenial atmosphere for peace and normality
must be sought through democratic practices. It is critical that both the government and
Maoists continue to honour the current ceasefire, and that both the government and
insurgents stay the course, as they are dealing with difficult issues, making real
compromises, and remain committed to finding a permanent solution.
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