Peace, Democracy and Solidarity

By TARANATH RANABHAT

Peace and harmony are essential for the overall development of a nation. As representatives of the people, our role is crucial in promoting peace and harmony within the country, in the region and in the world. I believe, peace can flourish only through the concerted efforts and the co-operation of the nation-states in the region. The past AAPP (Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace) declarations rightly emphasized on peace through regional co-operation. Sustainable peace in Asia is as much desirable as in other parts of the world. However, lasting peace and harmony in the region have been greatly undermined and threatened by terrorism, armed conflicts, totalitarian political thoughts, religious extremism, and ideological egoism. Addressing these challenges in an effective manner also calls for greater regional co-operation and the strong unity and resolution of the member states of AAPP.

I am quite disheartened to note that many of us are still debating about the way we should go in terms of the political system. I believe that democracy is a prerequisite for the well-being of any nation in this new millennium. Parliament and other popularly elected bodies are indispensable for the democratic exercise. In this context, I would also like to recall the 2nd World Conference of Speakers of the Parliaments that made clear, in no unequivocal terms, that the parliament is the central institution of democracy. Therefore, we must seek the overall development of the nation through a vibrant parliamentary democracy and other elected institutions at the grass root level and ensure that they are accommodative and inclusive. Nation building process can hardly be justified without the parliamentary and democratic exercises. The parliamentary democracy makes the government accountable to the people. Needless to say, accountability is the cardinal principle of representative democracy.

Nepal has popularly recognized a unique political system of multiparty democracy with constitutional monarchy. The people are sovereign power and the monarchy is a symbol of national unity and pride. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal has guaranteed parliamentary system of government where the choice of people is expressed through periodic elections. Unfortunately, the parliamentary practices have remained derailed for the past few years due to deep differences among the legitimate political forces, that means – constitutional monarchy and mainstream political parties - on one hand and the arm insurgency unleashed by an extremist left-wing group on the other.

I believe that it is only through mutual understanding and reconciliation among diverse thoughts and ideologies that peace, harmony and democracy can get a boost. Peace, harmony and democracy cannot be the agenda of a single nation. It is the common agenda of the entire world community. Setting the common interests and goals at global and regional parliamentary forums like this can cement the common bond and promote mutual solidarity. Since its inception in 1999, AAPP has become a strong and mature platform of the parliamentarians in the Asia-Pacific region to express their solidarity and the unity for peace, democratisation of politics, advancement of economy and promotion of social co-existence. The unity and joint voice of the people’s representatives in this region emerging from regional to global solidarity would certainly be very helpful to fight against the challenges faced by democracy.

I strongly believe that our collective effort for the lasting peace can be achieved through the unity of peoples and government within the country, through the solidarity of nation-states in the region, and by the joint efforts of member countries in the world. Before this, we should find out the root causes of instability and conflicts. I think, poverty, lack of education and information, discrimination on the basis of caste and religion and rampant corruption and bad governance are the basic causes of instability which we must address with the highest urgency. I also affirm that the challenges of democracy such as terrorism, armed conflicts, totalitarian political ideologies, religious extremism, racial stigma and social discrimination can only be dealt through economic and governance reforms. Therefore, I would like to sincerely call upon the distinguished delegates to adopt a common regional declaration that can become a milestone in the promotion of peace and democracy through more co-operation, more interactions, first, at the peoples’ level and then at the government level. I am confident that this will lead us to the path of solidarity to achieve the goal of peace, harmony and democratic polity not only in Asia but in the whole world as well.

(Excerpts of the statement by Speaker Taranath Ranabhat at the 6th General Assembly of the AAPP, Pattaya City, Thailand on November 19)