National The Telegraph - Weekly (Nepal)

N A T I O N A L

Gauri Pradhan

Conflict exists everywhere. Conflict is not necessarily negative all the time. Conflict has both opportunities and challenges. If conflicts are properly tackled, they may bring a situation that may be positive to all the stakeholders of the conflict. But before tackling the conflict, people should have a very good understanding of nature, types, problems, opportunities, challenges and threats of the conflict. Furthermore, there should be a proper analysis of the roots of the problem.

Nepal used to be divided into dozens of small states and principalities, which were ruled, by a number of kings and knights. In a way they were autonomous states but accountable to the big states like Kathmandu. King Prithivi Narayan Shah, who had begun the national reunification campaign after the victory over the Kathmandu Valley in 1768, is regarded as the "symbol of national unity". Almost 236 years have passed since then, however, the people in general now realize that the then so called ‘national reunification’ was not a real reintegration of people's aspiration, language, culture, identity and traditions. It was more like a hegemonistic intervention from one single language and culture of ruling class over the diversities. Despite a national slogan of "unity among the diversities", people's right to self determination and their culture, language and tradition was not respected by the state in a real sense. Instead, they were used only to praise and glorify the palace and ruling class. For years, people of Nepal praised, worshipped and admired the king and palace as if they are gods, a protector and a symbol of national unity. Hundreds of thousands of people in this country sacrificed their very lives for the cause of "country and crown" over the years, but they hardly could manage their hand to mouth problem. Despite sacrifice and hard labour, their situation remained unchanged. Their children hardly could enjoy their right to education and childhood. Their culture, language, tradition and their right to self-determination were denied or neglected. They were always sidelined by the state. Instead of reintegration of people's culture, language, ethnicity and tradition, state followed the imperialistic "divide and rule" method and concept. This approach helped the ruling class people to linger their time in the control over power, resources and people for sometimes. But it certainly did not support to popularize the feudal power among the people in general.

Feudalism and fatalism combined with neo-colonialism has been ruling over the people of Nepal since the beginning of the Sugauli Sandhi (Sugauli Treaty) with the then East India Company in 1816. After this agreement by collaborating with the imperialistic forces, the Nepali ruling class felt protected from the outside intervention and started a dictatorial rule without any fear. Each new generation of Nepali society tried to liberate themselves from the yoke of feudalism and imperialism. They waged both peaceful as well as armed struggle against the despotic rule of the country over and over again for a democratic, free and just Nepal. But their dreams are shattered many times due to the repressive action of the state.

Majority of people in Nepal are either landless or living and working in a very difficult condition for their every day life. Major part of land of the country is owned or controlled by the landlords, feudals and rich businessmen. Over 80% of the Nepali people depend on labour intensive job. Most of them are working in an informal sector having no minimum wage and without social security. Their access to labour market is less influential and is controlled by the business tycoons with feudal background. Number of unemployed youth is increasing every day. Due to the increasing violence and insecurity in the country, the frustrated youth are looking for the overseas jobs.

The root of all the problems mentioned above is the existing socio-economic and cultural structure of the society that is exploitative and undemocratic in nature. Albeit so many struggles over the years there has been very little change occurred in its character. The underlying factors of the major contradiction of the society are as follows:

Unfair Socio-Economic and Cultural Relations

Lack of Ownership and Unfair Distribution of Natural Resources

Unfair and Non-people Oriented Development

Landlessness

Social Discrimination in the Form of Caste, Religion, Gender and Geography

Bad Governance

Corruption, Nepotism, Favourism

Undemocratic Practices

Lack of Transparency, Accountability and Social Responsibility

Stakeholders of Conflict

Basically, the nature of the major contradiction or conflict in our society is in between the state and masses. People in Nepal have been fighting for justice, peace, democracy, freedom, progress and prosperity for a long time. They were offered so many beautiful dreams many times by the state, but the dreams remain unfulfilled. If we look at the nature of the present conflict in Nepal, there are so many actors and stakeholders involved for different reasons. Contradiction between the CPN (Maoist) and the state is just a reflection of the total contradictions exist in Nepal. There are political parties as one of the major actors of the present contradiction. Besides, there are social movements such as Janajati, Dalit, Women, Children and Disable and Consumers Movements who are fighting for their inherent rights in their native land. In addition, there are a number of actors who are influencing the ongoing conflicts both in national and international levels. They are all very important components and without their consensus, the peaceful solution of the present conflict seems rather very difficult. Therefore, civil society organizations that are actively involved in the facilitation of peace dialogue and negotiation must consider these components and stakeholders for the meaningful solution of the present crisis.

Dialogue, Negotiation and Peace Process

Human rights community and civil society groups have been playing a very commendable role in Nepal in the peace movement and dialogue between the conflicting parties, particularly between the state and the CPN (Maoist). They have been continuously organizing peace campaigns in different levels in order to influence the conflicting parties for peace talks and negotiation. The last two peace talks were initiated by the human rights community and civil society of the country. Though not successful, the last two peace talks between the state and CPN (Maoist) has given us many useful lessons. Therefore, the civil society organizations could contribute further in peace dialogue for the best interest of people and nation.

Many different initiatives are going on in order to bring the state and the CPN (Maoist) together for the third round of talks. Including UN, a number of international organizations have been working to initiate a new round of dialogue between the state and the CPN (Maoist). They are ready to follow both track two and track three approach as per need. Human rights organizations and civil societies in Nepal are also helping those initiatives so that a genuine and meaningful peace prevails in the country. But it does not mean that they want to minimize their own role in the peace building process in Nepal. They are exploring all possibilities and alternatives to start a fresh dialogue and ceasefire, so that people of Nepal can feel relieved and bring positive changes for the country's sustainable development.

Human Rights, Humanitarian Service and Peace Building

Violation of human rights in different forms is rampant in the ongoing armed conflict. Regardless of numerous appeals and pressure from the human rights community and civil societies, a series of human rights violation is being occurred from both state and non-state party of the armed conflict. Disappearance and abduction of people have become the most common incidences in the every day life of the country. Almost every day, dozens of people are appealing to the human rights organizations to help defend the lives of their family members and relatives. There is an increasing report of extra judicial and cold blood killings, severe torture, inhuman treatment, abduction and disappearance in the daily newspapers. Due to such fear, thousands of people are forced to leave their birth place in search of a safer place. In the year of 2003 and the first half of 2004, children's right to education was massively violated due to the conflict situation. Schools are frequently targeted and children sometimes are forced to serve as child labourers, child militia, messengers, cooks, and members of cultural troupe in the interest of war. It is said that there are at least 100,000 internally displaced people (idps) in Nepal and almost 25% of them are children below 18 years of age. This trend has ultimately contributed the increasing pattern of trafficking in children for different unsocial purposes.

The ongoing conflict has also badly erupted education system and other humanitarian services like health, nutrition, drinking water and other humanitarian need of the people. In a number of remote mountainous areas where there is food shortage, people could not receive food supply and medicines from the government and other humanitarian support programs due to the security problems. Many people in Humla, Mugu and Kalikot districts, especially children are facing hunger, starvation and famine. Despite the problem of security, a number of humanitarian and human rights organizations are continuing working very hard in order to deliver humanitarian services for people in need .

(Courtesy FES)