Peace Process
PRIME Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand once again called upon
all political parties and Nepali people to get involved in the peace process from their
respective fields in order to transform the present cease-fire between the government and
Maoist rebels into a lasting peace in the country. Speaking at a function in Gorkha the
other day, Prime Minister Chand said that peace was the need of the hour and it was the
duty of all to extend helping hand to the government in peace building efforts by rising
above petty and partisan interests. Peace process has been initiated after more than seven
years of violence that has already claimed lives of more than 7000 people and destroyed
the national property worth billions of rupees. Economy was ruined and development
activities remained in virtual standstill. A sense of terror damaged Nepal's image of a
peaceful Shangri-la in the world. Peace was, thus, desired and demanded by all Nepalese
people and the international community, as nothing can be achieved by violence and
killing. Right from the beginning, the present government accorded a high priority to the
solution of the Maoist violence through peaceful negotiation and restoration of peace in
the country. His Majesty the King, at the time of constituting the Council of Ministers,
clearly entrusted the government with five main responsibilities including resolution of
the Maoist problem and restoring peace. The recent cease-fire is thus the result of
government's serious efforts and commitment to peace as well as the desire of the entire
Nepali people. The Maoist problem remained unsolved and it continued to grow in the past.
In the last seven years, all major parties went to power but they were unable to solve
this problem and restore peace. The same parties are now raising doubt over the intention
of peace process and their irresponsible statement and activities have now served as
roadblock to the peace process. The government is committed to involve all political
forces in the peace process, which Prime Minister Chand has repeatedly spoken of. The
Prime Minister has called two all-party meetings and continued consultations with all
political forces to discuss the code of conduct and modalities for the peace talks with
the Maoists. However, some parties did not participate in the all-party meeting thereby
staying away from fulfilling the great responsibility bestowed upon them by history. It is
the time for all political parties and members of the civil society to bury all political
differences and collectively work for the solution of Maoist problem and restoration of
peace, in which lies the national interest of the country.
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