ABSTRACT

Conflict Resolution Research and Practices in Nepal
Nishchal N. Pandey

 

Ten years of civil war, state of emergency and the merciless killing of more than 13 thousand innocents proved that Nepal is weak structurally, conceptually and institutionally for any kind of conflict resolution methods or practices. This pedagogical blindness and a general lack of understanding on conflict resolution research proved costly to the Nepali state as it relied heavily on military solution to the Maoist conflict. Only after 2006 that the Nepali political parties negotiated with the Maoists, agreed on the core demand of the election to a Constituent Assembly and the rebels also decided to lock up their weapons together with that of the Nepal Army in UN monitored cantonment sites. However, despite of initial euphoria, the Nepali peace process has now hit roadblocks of a different kind. A simmering discontent among people of the terai long infested by exclusion and lack of opportunity has from the last two years exploded into a full-fledged conflict along ethnic, racial and linguistic lines. Newer potential fault-lines have emerged in the otherwise harmonious religious character of the nation after the reinstated parliament abruptly got away with Hinduism and declared the country ‘secular’ without properly considering the implications of such a rushed and hasty declaration. The consequence is that for the first time that there have been riots and blasts on the issue of religion. Nepal must not only analyze why continued conflict resolution attempts have failed in the terai and other areas of the country wherein different ethnic groups are demanding a plethora of demands but also evaluate the frailty on the part of the government structures on social motivation, press handling, mobilizing academics and intellectuals for peace-building despite of such a heavy price paid during the period of the Maoist insurgency.

Rather than adopting a problem-solving behavioral approach to the many challenges that the state faces such as federalism, issue of integration of the Maoist guerrillas into the state security forces and the promulgation of a new, inclusive, democratic Constitution within the stipulated deadline of May 2010, the main actors seem to be still adhering to the contentious often belligerent attitude with rival political parties which has led to frustration among the common man at a remarkable short period of time. More research, free and frank discussion, deliberation on various concepts, models and processes of conflict resolution is required at the level of political parties and the civil society if the country is to make headway towards peace, development and prosperity after a brutal decade of death and destruction.

 

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