5 Questions The Telegraph - Weekly (Nepal)

5 Q U E S T I O N S

Nepal’s internal diplomacy could be explored to end conflict

Professor T. N. Jaiswal, Political Science Dept, T.U

TGQ1: Should Nepal go in for the United Nations mediation or try to resolve the conflict on its own?

Prof. Jaiswal: At first, the internal political conflict should be attempted to find the solution through internal arrangements as far as possible. Because our leaders are not yet failed to resolve the crisis. They are capable enough to solve it on the round table or triangular talks as the case may be, after having developed good understanding between the parties in dispute.

Nepal’s internal diplomacy must be explored. We have capable persons to resolve the issues. I am in favor of this process. If it fails only in that case the third party facilitation to solve the crisis is needed, whether it is the UN system or any one else, including South Asian Nations.

A sort of round table conference may settle the Maoist conflict

Prof. Dr. Ram Kumar Dahal, Political Science dept, T.U

TGQ2: What factors could have forced the Maoists to enter into the jungles? What is the realistic option for conflict resolution in Nepal?

Prof. Dahal: A number of factors have forced the Maoists to enter into the jungles. Their choice to use the violent means to get their end immediately encouraged them to do that.

A number of factors-socio-cultural inequality, administrative and political malpractices, corruption at political and administrative levels, bad governance have encouraged them to go against the established constitutional and legal order.

The failure of the constitutional parties to solve the existing problems faced by the nation and the refusal to accept the Maoists as the political force of Nepal further led them to do this.

As the country is gradually suffering, a realistic measure to resolve the conflict must be immediately drawn out in which the King, the Maoists, the parliamentary parties should be directly involved. All the parties must be given their written stand/commitments/limitations and bargaining process should continue until a practical program could be chalked out.

This type of round table conference may settle their problems.

Political, economic and social inequalities escalated the conflict

Dr. Dilli Ram Dahal, Research Scholar, CNAS, T.U

TGQ3: Have the prevalence of systemic inequalities too contributed to the escalation of the Maoist conflict in Nepal?

Dr. Dahal: Indeed, the historical root of inequalities is one basic factors in escalating the Maoist problems in Nepal.

Process of inequalities in Nepal reflect in so many ways: social exclusion; economic exclusion and political exclusion.

Social exclusion: Some groups, such as Dalits, are socially excluded throughout history in participating with the other so-called high caste groups in economy and day-to-day life.

Economic exclusion: Some groups, such as Brahmin, Chhetris, Newars and Thakalis, have access to more state resources than others, thus depriving a large segment of the population without resources.

Political exclusion: Only few groups participated in national parties throughout the history than others. They become the rulers and others became the ruled and subordinate to them.

Combination of all these factors led to the systematic inequalities of some groups of people in Nepal throughout the history.

Unfair distributions of income and wealth have escalated conflict

Mr. Fatta K.C, Senior Economist, T.U

TGQ4: Do you see "economic dimension" in the escalation of the Maoists insurgency? If it is so, what could have been those factors?

Mr. K.C: Yes! There are economic dimensions to it. Those are as follows:

Poverty.

Defects in distribution of income and wealth among general masses.

Limited opportunities to get employment.

Lack of good governance.

Widespread corruption by political leaders and the bureaucrats.

Defective economic policies initiated by the government in the name of liberalization and privatization.

That’s all.

Social and Political deprivation helped conflict flare up

Professor Krishna Pokharel, Public Administration Campus TU

TGQ5: What is the root cause of the Maoist conflict in Nepal?

Prof. Pokhrel: Poverty and exploitation of the rural people are the root causes of the emergence of Maoist insurgency in Nepal.

Social and Political deprivation helped it to flare up. Although, the advent of democracy couldnot address these issues, it gave Maoists an opportunity to propogate their ideology and organise the exploited people to make up arms. Rest is what the country is facing today.