Armed Conflict and Peace Process in Nepal
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Armed Conflict and Peace Process in Nepal The Maoist insurgency, past negotiations, and opportunities for conflict transformation Armed Conflict and Peace Process in Nepal The Maoist insurgency, past negotiations, and opportunities for conflict transformation BISHNU RAJ UPRETI, PhD ADROIT PUBLISHERS Published by ADROIT PUBLISHERS 4675/21, Ganpati Bhawan, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110 002 Phones : 011-23266030 Distributors AKHIL BOOK DISTRIBUTORS e-mail: [email protected] [email protected] All rights reserved © Author, 2006 No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be mailed to: Copyrights & Permissions Department ADROIT PUBLISHERS ISBN : 81-87392-??-? Laser Typeset by Arpit Printographers E-mail : [email protected] Printed in India on behalf of M/s Adroit Publishers by Arpit Printographers Ph. : 09350809192, 011-22825424 Dedicated to: People struggling to turn the Nepalese crisis into opportunities for a democratic, prosperous and inclusive nation The Maoist armed conflict that started in February 1996 has not only created grave insecurity and violence in the country but also challenged the centuries-old feudal socio-cultural and political system and forced to look for fundamental transformation of Nepalese society. Hence Nepal is at a crossroads. At this juncture, Nepal faces an unprecedented crisis, chaos and confrontation. In the course of the 10 years Bishnu Raj Upreti holds a PhD in conflict of the armed conflict, several efforts have management (2001) from Wageningen been made to negotiate as well as to escalate University, the Netherlands. He is engaged conflict. The state has taken different in conflict analysis and peace-building approaches to foil insurgency, such as related research. During his 25 years of integrated security and development, Killo professional involvement, he has engaged in Sera II, Cordon, Search and Destroy, creation teaching and research at University of of a special armed police force, mobilisation London and University of Surrey in the UK of military, imposition of state of emergency, as well as teaching at Kathmandu University fixing bounty of heads of Maoist leaders, and South Asian Institute of Technology of formation of unified command, creation of Purbanchal University. He worked in village defence committees. However, these international organizations such as UNDP, approaches and strategies were not able to SDC, IDRC, IUCN, SNV, UMN, IA, DANIDA, control the armed conflict. Some efforts have DFID, ADB, MS, WFP and CARE also been made to reach negotiated International Nepal in the capacity of settlement of the conflict such as ceasefire professional staff and consultant. He has and peace talks, creation of peace secretariat, also spent some years in government service etc. Nevertheless, they were not able to as an assistant agricultural economist produce desired results. While examining selected from the Public Service Commission. the present Nepalese crisis, the important He has six books to his credit on conflict questions are: How and why did the Maoist management and many articles in insurgency emerge? Why did the past two different national and international journals, negotiations fail? What are the initiatives magazines and edited books. He is actively taken so far by political parties, civil society, engaged in conflict transformation and peace and media in resolving this crisis and what research as a researcher in South Asia. are the opportunities for conflict Currently, he is Regional Coordinator, South transformation? Attempts have been made to Asia Coordination Office of Swiss National answer these questions in this book. Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR)- The political landscape of the nation North-South, based in Kathmandu. has further changed form the unrealistic ambitions of the king to autocratically rule the country ignoring all democratic norms and values, keeping main political parties away, creating fear from the use of state security apparatus, controlling media, ignoring human rights and imposing restrictions. Such activities of the king have divided the political power of the country into progressive forces and feudalistic forces. This situation may enter into a severe confrontation between progressive forces who want to change Nepal as an inclusive, modern democratic nation and regressive forces who want to obstruct state restructuring process and progressive change. This book sheds lights on these issues and attempts to answer the question as to why and how the king opted for the 1st February coup. Finally, this book outlines possible future scenarios in Nepalese politics vis-à-vis armed conflict. Preface Nepal is a confusing state at the crossroad, which can either take a path of more peaceful, democratic modern Nepal or to a path of failed state with anarchy and chaos. Which path to opt mainly depends upon the king, the Maoists and the political parties? They have only two choices. If they opt for anarchy, history will besieged them, and regret, humiliation and worthlessness will be in their share. Nepalese rulers and elite never learnt lessons from mistakes they made in the past and the mistake the world made in its modern history. They never feel time and context is far stronger than their feudal thinking and unrealistic ambitions. Despite its rich natural resources, honest and hardworking people, exotic tourist destination, huge hydro-power potential, geo- strategically important position, Nepalese rulers never attempt to capitalise these advantages and exploit for the benefit of people. Instead, they barely engage in power struggle, grabbing nation’s resources and exploitation of people. Consequently, this country is facing this unprecedented crisis manifested in the form of the armed insurgency and the post 1st February autocracy. Suspicion, mistrust, allegations, shifting blames and counter blames are becoming common social characteristics of Nepalese ruling elites. The current crisis is the precise outcome of their failure. They abuse civil institutions, captured state resources, constrained social formation for their vested interests, suppress ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious diversities, which became breeding grounds for the armed conflict and political crisis. International relations were focused to fulfil vested interests of rulers, which further exacerbated instability and isolation. However, Nepal cannot remain the same. It may enter into a horrible 8 Armed Conflict and Peace Process in Nepal confrontation between progressive forces who want to change Nepal as an inclusive, modern democratic nation and regressive forces who want to obstruct state restructuring process and progressive change. At the end, progressive force will prevail and this country will emerge as modern democratic country. Nevertheless, cost of confrontational transformation will be unbearably high. Therefore, the best option would be a ‘negotiated settlement’ with an agreement with a radical state reform, addressing all structural causes of conflict and crisis. While examining the present Nepalese crisis, the important questions are how and why the Maoist insurgency was emerged? Why the past two negotiations were failed? Why and how the king opted for 1st February coup? What are the initiatives taken so far by political parties, civil society, and media in resolving this crisis and what are the opportunities for conflict transformation? Attempts have been made to answer these questions in this book. My conclusion is that the time for ‘ripeness for resolution’ of the current crisis is approaching, which either would be more confrontational or compromise. It gives me pleasure to introduce my perspective, thinking, and opinions in the form of book entitled ‘Armed Conflict and Peace Process in Nepal: The Maoist Insurgency, Past Negotiations and Opportunities for Conflict transformation’. The contents of this book are the reflections of my engagement in research, studies and teaching in conflict related subjects for more than nine years. My engagement in generating, processing and disseminating knowledge is guided by the principle of ‘honourable living of Nepalese people with human dignity’ which involves fairness, empathy and integrity that is very much lacking in present Nepal. Bishnu Raj Upreti, PhD Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward No -35 Koteshwor P.O. Box 12709, Kathmandu, Nepal Acknowledgement Many people have contributed to bring this book in this form and I must sincerely apologise for not being able to mention their name in this volume. However, I express my sincere thanks to all of them. I should thank Mr. Dev Raj Dahal, Mr. Laxman Aryal, Mr. Padma Ratna Tuladhar, Mr. Daman Nath Dhungana, Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal, Mr. Keshav Badal, Mr. Jhala Nath Khanal, Mr. Arjun Narsingh KC, Mr. Daman Dhoj Chand, Dr. Minendra Rijal, Mr. Gauri Pradhan, Mr. Anand Aditya Mr. Shankar Pokharel, Dr. Sundar Mani Dixit, Mr. Sambhu Thapa, Mr. Gopal Thapaliya, Prof. Krishna Khanal, Prof. Dhruba Kumar, Mrs. Sobha Gautam, Mr. Himalaya Samser Rana, Mr. Sailendra Kumar Upadhaya, Mrs. Rita Thapa, Mr. Janak Raj Joshi, Mr. Vidya Dhar Mallik, Mr. Arjun Kumar Mainali, Dr. Prem Singh Basnyet, Dr. Rabi Aryal, Mr. Likhat Pandey, Mr. Saroj Upreti, Mr. John Howel, Mr. Shankar Upreti, mr. Dan Huntington,