INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MISSION FOR PEACE IN NEPAL

2006 MAY 26 - JUNE 2 | KATMANDU and NEW DELHI

Communiqué

Preamble

We, members of the international delegation led by Peace for Life, a global solidarity network of peace advocates rooted in faith communities and social movements, conducted an International Solidarity Mission for Peace in Nepal from May 26-31, 2006 to investigate recent developments and gain an understanding of the Nepali people’s perspective on peace and democracy. The visit also sought to express solidarity with the Nepalese people and to lift up and celebrate their resistance against oppression, while striving to draw international public attention to the international power dynamics influencing and aggravating the still-volatile situation in Nepal. The Nepal mission included Peace for Life leaders from different parts of the world as well as representatives from the National Council of Churches of India and the Thailand-based Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism.

Prior to the peace mission, a period of brutal repression from the monarchy’s security forces ended after 19 days of street protests and general strikes across the country—led by the Seven Party Alliance and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) or CPN (M)—which forced King Gyanendra to surrender absolute power and reinstate the Parliament in late April. The upsurge in popular consciousness and protest, preceded by ten years of revolutionary people’s war in the countryside, paved the way for the end of monarchic privilege and the proclamation of Nepal as a secular state.

Our presence in Nepal was intended to stress the urgency for a solution to the pressing issues surfaced by a monarchy that had imposed autocratic rule on the people. We hoped to convey the message that the international community stands with those who are struggling to achieve peace with freedom and justice.

The findings of the mission are based on first-hand encounters and in-depth discussions with representatives of civil society and religious communities, people from conflict-affected rural areas, and political leaders who are active in the reconstruction of democratic processes in Nepal and committed to the pursuit of peace based on justice.

The world has watched the rapid evolution of political developments in Nepal with deep appreciation and respect. Despite cynical attempts to manipulate the political processes from outside Nepal’s borders, foreign powers—notably the USA, UK, and India—have failed to shape the outcome of the peoples’ protests against the undemocratic monarchy that had taken over the reins of power. Following many years of struggle against political tyranny, the people of Nepal have asserted their sovereignty over their nation.

Our Findings

The unity of the political forces within Nepal, specially the newly forged seven-party alliance with the CPN(M), which has waged armed struggle for the past ten years to bring an end to feudal oppression and which mobilised millions of peasants in the anti-monarchy protests, is an important and remarkable achievement. At the same time, there is an element of fragility about this unity and it is obvious that it must be carefully safeguarded and nurtured so that the gains made in the recent pro-democracy struggles are not lost or minimised by those forces who see democracy as a threat rather than an enhancement in the political evolution of Nepal.

All those we met called for the immediate convening of the Constituent Assembly based on the widest participation and democratic representation of all political parties and sectors of society. To most, the progression of peace and democracy must be simultaneous. Everyone stressed that the international community should accept the decisions of the people of Nepal unconditionally and provide their fullest support to nation-building in Nepal.

In this connection, there were apprehensions about how foreign powers and the international community would view the presence of the CPN (Maoist) in the democratic processes. It was obvious that both mainstream political parties and the CPN (M) were committed to multi-party democracy. Issues such as demobilisation of arms, which must take place under trusted and neutral parties acceptable to the parties involved in the conflict, are part of the recently devised Code of Conduct for the talks. Moreover, as the local people themselves noted, a just and lasting peace depends on the CPN (M) fully taking their place in the democratic structures.

The self-assured role of Nepal’s civil society is another significant dimension of the recent political processes. It draws within its fold the widest possible range and categories of people in Nepalese society—doctors, lawyers, academics, social thinkers, activists, religious leaders, women’s movements, trade unions, government employees, media and others. Their continued vigilance is vital to guarantee that Nepal makes forward strides in the search for political progression in line with the aspiration of the people. Their emergence as a dynamic force within the current political changes augurs well for the future of political preparedness and accountability.

A significant issue for religious minorities in Nepal has been the recent shift in status from the Hindu state to secular state, in which all religions are treated equally. Nepal has a proud history of religious co-existence. While it has not been witness to the kind of religious tensions and conflicts that have dogged its neighbours, religious minorities, e.g., Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and Bahais, have not been accorded equal protection under the law or full religious freedom.

The newly-established Inter-Religious Council (IRC) Nepal has taken this on as its primary concern, suggesting that it would have been better if this matter, like many other issues, was left to the constituent assembly to decide. Religious leaders are eager to demonstrate that their nation’s progress will depend on how the different faith communities can unite their common religious resources to strengthen their social relations.

Conclusions

As an interfaith movement that seeks global peace with justice, Peace for Life joins peace groups in Nepal, including the IRC Nepal, the National Council of Churches in Nepal and the Citizens Peace Commission in affirming the need for enabling and equipping religious communities and civil society groups to establish common ground for dialogue and cooperation for peace building in Nepal.

The people of Nepal have won the first round of their struggle to attain lasting peace. However, much more remains to be done to address the roots of the crisis. Building genuine peace with justice and freedom demands sustained vigilance by the people’s movement and continuous witness by the faith community and the international solidarity movement to ensure that the peace process is not hijacked by interests other than those of the Nepali people. Unfavourable economic conditions and massive poverty, exacerbated by foreign-power manipulation, continue to pose severe tests. But with vision and wisdom, the quick realisation of the dream of a united, just and prosperous Nepal can be realised.

Based on the above findings and conclusions, we, the Peace for Life-led mission

• Call on the interim government of Nepal to immediately begin the process of constituent assembly elections and ensure the full representation and participation of marginalised sectors—Dalits, women, indigenous nationalities and religious minorities – The process of charting Nepal’s future political course needs to be grounded on an agenda of inclusion and recognition of the various categories of people comprising the Nepali nation, especially the indigenous communities which make up the majority of the population.
• Call on the international community to support the peace process in Nepal and, in particular, to press for the removal of the CPN(M) from the US State Department’s “Watch List” of terrorist organisations – In early May, the newly installed cabinet removed the terrorist tag and Red Corner Notice from the Maoists and declared an indefinite ceasefire. Peace talks have begun between the CPN (M) and the new government, with the former affirming their commitment to the democratic process and to abide by the wishes of the people. The continued inclusion of the CPN (M) in the US terror list will not only obstruct any progress in the current peace process, but also pave the way for foreign meddling in the peace negotiations.
• Challenge foreign powers—especially the US, India and UK—not to meddle in the peace negotiations and in other aspects of Nepal’s internal affairs – The people of Nepal, which have achieved a level of political awareness and sophistication unseen at any other time in their history, are in the best position to chart their own political future and devise the kinds of institutions and structures that would meet the needs and aspirations of the various categories of people populating the nation.
• Demand that foreign governments stop all forms of foreign military aid to Nepal while following a policy of assistance without interference – Military aid has usually been used to suppress legitimate democratic protests and to kill and eliminate innocent people in the name of the “war against terror”. Nepal’s economy on the other hand is in dire need of assistance, but any aid towards this end must come without dictated conditions.
• Urge faith communities in countries that play a significant role in Nepal’s development to press their governments and politicians not to intervene in the internal affairs of Nepal and to let the Nepali people decide their own future – We especially direct this challenge to the Christian Church and the Muslim community in India, the Christians in the US, and the Buddhist community in Thailand; and likewise urge the Hindus in India not to disrupt the peace process in Nepal and the Nepali people’s right to decide their future.

Issued on May 31, 2006 in Kathmandu, Nepal by the members of the international delegation:

1. Carmencita Karagdag (Philippines) – Coordinator, Peace for Life
2. Kathryn Poethig (USA) – Associate Professor of Global Studies, California State University Monterey Bay
3. Gabriel Habib (USA/Lebanon) – Director of Religious & Cultural Relations, Middle East Fellowship
4. Irfan Engineer (India) – Director, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism
5. Ranjan Solomon (India) – Executive Director, Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism
6. Sagarika Chetty (India) – Executive Secretary, NCCI Women & Gender Justice, Children & Life Formation Program
7. Rev. Khongwir (India) – National Council of Churches in India

Reference:

Carmencita Karagdag

Head of the International Team in Nepal

Coordinator, Peace for Life

NCCP Building 2/F, 879 EDSA

West Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines

Email: cpkpeaceforlife.org

More on the International Solidarity Mission for Peace in Nepal:

• The visit of the international peace mission led by Peace for Life – report by Dr. K.B. Rokaya, 12 June 2006
• The Nepal Tragedy – background materials for the visiting team
• Concept paper
• Album – photos of the field visits and encounters in Katmandu, 26-31 May 2006