Keeping the record straight amid Nepali consitutional crisis

I wish to reaffirm that the foreign policy of Nepal is guided by the principles of the United Nations Charter, the ideals of non-alignment, peaceful coexistence, international law and practices, and the importance of global peace.

We have been a long-standing partner of the United Nations in its peacekeeping missions worldwide. Our commitment toward world peace is unabated. We believe in the sovereign equality of all states. We wish to cultivate friendship and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and understanding.

We are fully aware of the rapid economic growth observed in neighbouring countries in recent decades. We believe that it has opened up new avenues of cooperation among us. We aspire to be a dynamic economic link between the two largest and fastest growing economies of Asia in our neighbourhood. As a landlocked and least developed country, we have certain inherent structural challenges. We would like to turn those challenges into new opportunities for long-awaited prosperity for the people of Nepal.

Immediately after the formation of the government, our attention was drawn to the conclusion of the peace process, which had been taken by other political parties as a hurdle for constitution writing. It was our firm belief that integration into the Nepal Army and rehabilitation of the Maoist Army combatants had nothing to do with the contentious issues of constitution writing but the senior leaders of the major political parties persistently argued that the management of the Maoist Army is a precondition for even initiating dialogue on the outstanding constitutional issues.

You have amply witnessed how our drive in the peace process, characterised by several bold and accommodating steps on the part of the government led by the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), had achieved breakthrough in the rehabilitation and integration of Maoist combatants. As the chief executive, my sole attempt has always been to forge political consensus on major issues, and I am happy that our genuine effort bore fruit in this crucial matter. The process of the management of the Maoist Army combatants, in terms of both integrating some of them into the Nepal Army and voluntary retirement of the rest progressed at a faster pace than speculated by the opposition parties. I thank all partners who have been forthcoming to contribute in this process.

It is a matter of great dismay for us that when the Maoist Army and weapons were handed over to the Nepal Army for integration, the same political forces started creating hurdles in making the constitution. Despite the utmost and honest effort and maximum flexibility shown from our side, some political forces remained adamant about not accommodating the issues and aspirations of Janajatis, Madhesis, Dalits, the oppressed class and people from backward regions. A constitution without addressing the issues and concerns of the Dalits, Janajatis, Madhesis and people of oppressed classes was simply not possible. Major contentious issues remained unresolved till the last day of the extended tenure of the Constituent Assembly.

The talks finally collapsed on the vexed issue of identity-based federalism, which the traditional parliamentary parties were not prepared to accept. The ruling coalition partners were even ready to go for a formal democratic process in the Constituent Assembly, but the political parties outside the government did not allow such a formal process to resolve the outstanding issues. Further, we were unable to extend the Constituent Assembly due to the stricture issued by the Supreme Court of Nepal.

It is in this context that the government decided to go for the election of a new Constituent Assembly on November 22 this year, as the tenure of the Constituent Assembly automatically expired on May 27. Those believing in democracy cannot oppose the process of seeking a people’s mandate through elections. However, we believe that political consensus among the major parties is essential for holding an election by the given date. The government is ready to shoulder the responsibility of creating a conducive environment for the national consensus on all major issues.

Peace and democracy are not sustainable without economic development and prosperity. While talking of the economic agenda, the recently established Board of Investment is one of the initiatives taken by the present government to augment investment and to provide a one-window service to domestic and foreign investors. The declaration of “Investment year 2012-2013”, the “Visit Lumbini Year 2012” and the identification of projects of National Pride are among the few initiatives that the government has undertaken to promote rapid economic growth. The present government is also planning to convene an economic summit in the near future.

Apparently, what helps in the process is neither oversimplifying nor overdramatising the complex situation we are passing through. When we look at the overall peace process now, we understand that we have performed a miraculous feat. This is not the time to remain complacent, however. There remain numerous unfinished tasks, like the writing of the new constitution through the new Constituent Assembly, which we must achieve at any cost.

 

Extract from Nepalese Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s briefing for heads of diplomatic missions this week, explaining the Nepalese government position on the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly.