Chapter 2: Literature Review
3.11 Conclusion
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stakeholders of Nepalese peace process are willing to go ahead to complete the path of conflict resolution. The government is giving priority to draft a constitution, which can institutionalize the political changes of violent conflict and the people’s movement of 2006.
The process of writing the constitution was competed on September 20, 2015. However, since the promulgation of the constitution, India initiated a blockade and the Madeshi movement was started, so that still there will be more unrest ahead.
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of declaring the republican setup of the country in 2008 and had already settled the issues of federalism, supremacy of the Nepali people, and Nepal as an independent, indivisible, sovereign, secular, inclusive and fully democratic State (Article 4),436 but it failed to institutionalize those achievements in a new constitution. Now, the new CA is committed to working to achieve these political goals.
As a political movement, strike is becoming a permanent phenomenon in Nepal, and the root cause of the conflict is the social and economic inequality among the people that remained unsolved by the political changes of 1951 and 1990. The unsystematic social and economic structure was the by-product of armed conflict, yet the political parties showed no interest in solving such major issues, further fueling armed rebellion. The common populace of urban areas, backward regions, women, minority groups, Madeshi, Dalits, and indigenous communities were marginalized, and the state never heard their voices or demands. The CPN (Maoist) politically addressed the demands of these marginalized and minority groups and got the political support of these neglected communities.
The Maoists, therefore, tried to unite the Nepali people ideologically and politically and convinced them that the party would launch a program to address the demands of the
common people. Though some people argue that this conflict has a connection with India or the then-royal palace, it was definitely a part of the ideological conflict between the CPN (Maoist) and the government of Nepal. The CPN (Maoist) had initiated a people’s war in the true sense to establish their own political system under the guidelines of their own party
436 The CA forms interim Constitution in order to institutionalize the achievements of the revolution and movements prior 1951 to till 2007. The Constitution, which was promulgated on 2007.
Article 4: State of Nepal: (1) Nepal is an independent, indivisible, sovereign, secular, inclusive and federal, democratic republican state. (2) The territory of Nepal shall comprise of: (a) The territory existing at the commencement of this constitution; and (b) Such other territory as may be acquired after the commencement of this Constitution.
See; The Interim Constitution of Nepal -2007.
http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/46badd3b2.pdf. Accessed on December 20, 2012
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doctrine. The essence of the conflict was to attain political liberty through a revolutionary movement.
The clashes between the Maoist insurgents and the Nepali army took the lives of innocent civilians. This war proved provocative to the insurgents, and they took the insurgency to new heights. Furthermore, upon analyzing the origins of the conflict and its solution, prospective conflict resolution tactics, such as traditional and indigenous conflict approaches, can be proposed. Nepali people have the tradition of solving their problems by themselves. Unity, harmony and sense of brotherhood are the common values in society. Time to time they have fought to institutionalize the political change in the political superstructure. Now it is a time to follow the principles of people's participation in every sector of people's lives, since some Nepali indigenous community tend to empower women, and work to fulfill the socio-cultural and civic needs of normal people.
Efficient and effective management of conflicts is fundamental to the development of any society. The traditional way of conflict resolution techniques like competing or forcing may provide a quick resolution to a conflict, increase self-esteem and draw respect when firm resistance or actions were a response to an aggression or hostility. Nonetheless, it may affect the relationship with the opponent, who in the long run, cannot take advantage of the strong sides of the other side’s position. Taking this approach may require a lot of energy and be exhausting to some individuals.
As in many traditional societies, elders were respected for their tremendous functions and balanced, fair and critical decisions in the society. They are of such a prestigious status that their deeds and decisions are not easily and simply refutable. Elders play an important role in the society to properly administer and harmonize the people and that is also a conflict
resolution tactic. In Nepal traditional conflict resolution approaches are localized, caste and ethnicity-specific and shaped and guided by traditional norms, values, customs and religions.
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For example, Magar –samaj (Magar Community) and Thakali Samaj (Thakali Community),(Jimmual/Mukhiya) and Raja system in upper Mustang are common arrangements of local conflict resolution. As a traditional approach, it explains strategic intentions that could be organized around the assertiveness and cooperativeness, which jointly produce conflict management styles like avoidance, accommodation, competition, compromise and collaboration.
The prospective indigenous conflict approaches to conflict resolution are grass-root approaches to solve conflicts by the society. The most important elements involved in this mechanism include the tradition of forgiveness and compromises, because of the symbolic authority to enforce decisions, and transfer of resources as compensation. Indigenous conflict resolution typically incorporates consensus-building based on open discussions to exchange information and clarify issues. Conflicting parties are more likely to accept guidance from these mediators than from other sources because an elder’s decision does not entail any loss of face and is backed by social pressure. The end result is, ideally, a sense of unity,
shared involvement and responsibility, and dialogue among groups. Accommodation is high on cooperativeness and low on assertiveness, which is appropriate for situations where you need to show reasonableness, keeps the peace, or maintains perspective. If we overuse the accommodating mode, we can find ourselves being taken advantage of, having our
influence limited, and feeling resentful because we are always the one making concessions to resolve conflict.
These approaches are useful in minimizing further conflicts that can occur in the future.
Through a conceptual analysis, I have come to the conclusion that a rights-based approach that really empowers the people will be more suitable and sustainable for reconciliation in a post-conflict nation like Nepal.
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Chapter 4: Peace Building in Nepal and Data Analysis