Chapter 4: Peace Building in Nepal and Data Analysis
4.4 Data Analysis
4.4.3 Connecting Freedom With Peace Building and Human Security
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professionals involved, making it more political with more extrinsic perspectives than intrinsic perspectives on issues, with a lack of deliberation and discussion of the themes, and addressing the task at the last minute.
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not able to deliver their promises on time, specifically, the writing of constitution, which was to be completed much earlier, but is still pending. The people of the nation do not feel free to act as per their will, since the constitution directing their mindset is not ready yet. These issues also build gaps between peace and financial freedom in the country. Kul Acharya identifies NRN-UK as another actor playing a role in delineating the connection between freedom and peace building. According to him, a major technical problem being faced by NRN currently is the issue of dual citizenship, which is being refused by the government of Nepal. On the other hand, NRN-UK insists that it would provide economic benefits to the country if it were accepted. Indra Gurung also notes that NRN plays a vital role in helping Nepalese living in other countries, especially financially, and thus it helps in connecting peace with their economic freedom. He also stated that dual citizenship must be allowed for Nepalese, since they should be allowed to visit their own country whenever they wish to.
Puspa Kamal Dahal notes that efforts are being made actively to free Nepalese from the feudal political system through a democratic system in which the workers, laborers, peasants, women, minority group, Madhesi, indigenous community, untouchable caste, Muslim,
backward community, and others would be politically and economically empowered. Such an economic system would be based on a mixed economic system, and the people would benefit from economic development and would feel economically free.
With respect to human security, Manmohan Bhattarai states that the judiciary system of Nepal is far more dependable than the executive and legislative parliament systems. While the executive system is corrupt, the legislative system is quite weak, due to repeatedly changing interim constitution drafts. According to him, the situation of Nepal is such that crime has been politicized by these failed systems. This situation needs to be corrected by the leaders to enhance freedom and peace. Further, human security was also threatened by big parties at the time of elections that used the infamous 3Gs of gold, guns and gundas to get
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people to vote for them. He also notes that the abolition of monarchy has been a good decision for human security, since Maoists unnecessarily indulged in violent practices which served no purpose for even themselves. Surendra Pandey claims, in this regard, that the incidents of threatened human security, like killing and kidnapping, are very much in control now. However, with regards to organized events, like banda and strikes, which pose threats to human security, they are being encouraged by the forces, including both political parties, as well as foreign NGO agencies. This is because the NGOs mostly tend to spend money more on creation of awareness than on infrastructure building and, therefore, such money is usually used to organize the rallies that threaten human security.
According to Jhalnath Khanal, the issue of human security must be re-addressed in a new light, with a focus on three things – National sovereignty, national integrity and national unity.
He further states that the people of Nepal are absolutely secure and law and order are in place in the country. Further, the government of Nepal is maintaining a continuous interaction with the stakeholders, so as to ensure that they are winners in the situation and there are no
conflicts to threaten human security. UPCN (Maoist) Leader Baburam Bhattarai states, in this regard, that the issue of education is being handled much better than earlier and the
government is trying to provide modern high class education to all classes and regions of the society. According to him, the issue of human security relates to good education, economic freedom and empowerment of backward sections of the society and the government is making efforts to ensure these aspects. Thus, these aspects of human security can ultimately lead to freedom for the people.
Ram Karki is of the opinion that, since Nepal shares its border with two giant emerging countries, a volatile environment in Nepal is likely to negatively impact its neighbours.Thus, Nepal needs to attain balanced diplomacy to be able to reap the benefits of its location, rather than face problems in human security.
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NRN-UK Kul Acharya states that the condition of Nepalese in UK is not very satisfactory, since they are the first-generation in the country and things may take some time to get on the right track. He points to disintegration caused by a particular community entering UK, students’ jobs lost due to change in government policies and problems for professionals like doctors and businessmen. However, he indicates that things are likely to get better with time.
Indra Gurung indicates that dual citizenship should be allowed for Nepalese living in other countries. He stated that NRN helps such Nepalese people settled abroad financially, thus providing them with economic security. The NRN asserts that it is the right of these people to be able to visit their country as and when desired.
Dolendra Khadka states that peoples go and live in foreign countries for security reasons.
He indicates towards poor infrastructural facilities in Nepal, due to which ambulances and police services cannot reach people in time and thus they turn to other advanced countries for their security and find freedom in these countries. Shreehari Subedi states that the people of Nepal are quite secure now, however, focus needs to be on basic things, like water supply, electricity, fuel and others like industries, employment and foreign investment.
PM K.P. Oli, in regards to security and peace, mentiones that the Nepali people are peace loving and that they are living in social harmony. They would not like any conflict in the future. Even though we had conflict, we have managed that. Now, anyone who tries to make conflict will not be successful. He rules out further conflict in Nepal. Moreover, on the federalism issue, he says,
Nepalese people never demand the federalism. Exactly Nepalese people have expressed the desire for rights of good governance, human rights, economic prosperity and
development. In this aspects, Nepal is very small such as in terms of geography, and it is different in terms of culture – cultural groups are here and the economic condition is not strong and the country is underdeveloped. In such situation, federalism is whether it
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suitable or not is experimental issue.507
Subash Chandra Nembang points out that the TRC will be able to address the issues of Maoist insurgency crime and human rights. He mentions that reconstruction of states will transform the power. It will empower the ethnic communities and backward people. Chandra Kant Gyawali says that the amnesty by TRC is not acceptable and it will not give rights of victims, so, in this regard, government should flow the Supreme Court verdicts. Moreover, on the issue of federalism he has a similar view with the author in that he mentions that
development based federalism is a must for the termination of all the discrepancies in society, to permit participation of all the creeds and casts for the development of the society and the nation and also to exploit the natural resources of a certain state. The interviewed people and politicians agree that the federalism issues came to Nepal suddenly. This is not necessary good, since Nepali political parties are under pressure and move suddenly to agreement on an issue.
From analysis of data, it can be said that when there is political hegemony or only limited authority in the procedure of implementation, freedom cannot be accessed at all. Hence, there should be freedom while going about any kind of tasks. When people have their freedom for judgment, finalizing and working towards it, the outcome will be non-biased. Peace building is almost not possible when there is lack of freedom and independence. When people realize these provisions, they will be able to appraise each issue and reach a reasonable conclusion.
Freedom doesn’t help to undermine any questions, rather, it reinforce one's power when the fact and figures are presented. When there is freedom, there is an optimum chance of human security to be monitored. Freedom is its own justification, since it is the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved and it means there is already a platform or space for being secure from threat. Hence, freedom gives all political and civil rights, such as right to life, social and
507 See Appendix 5, 376.
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cultural rights and social security and, of course, human security. It is strongly believed that, without freedom, no other factor will help in the peace building process and there will be no human security.