End social exclusion to restore peace: Experts

Participants in a program have said that restoration of peace in the country is not possible unless the problem of social exclusion, including of indigenous nationalities, is resolved.

Speaking at a book launching program organized in the capital on Monday, various experts and speakers said lack of consultation and participation of indigenous peoples combined with poverty, unemployment and the emergence of culture of conflict continue to fuel the Maoist insurgency, adding, “The government should bring some concrete policy for the upliftment of indigenous nationalities and to restore peace in the country.”

Speaking at the program, Leyla Tegmo Reddy, Director, International Labour Organization (ILO) Sub Regional Office said indigenous peoples’ rights are also human rights and the denial of these rights has resulted in poverty, instability and at worst, conflict.

“In order to realize the rights of these peoples, there is an urgent need to increase consultation and participation of indigenous nationalities, and other excluded groups, in decision making processes at all levels,” she added.

She further said, “Removing existing discrimination and the subsequent rationalization of policies and laws for such groups in Nepal based on the principles of equality, democracy and human rights, will, in the long term, help to build a solid foundation for the establishment of lasting peace.”

Member of National Planning Commission Dr Champak Pokhrel said that the government is ready to resolve all the problems related to indigenous nationalities and added that all should initiate efforts in this regard as the government’s lone effort is not sufficient.

Stating that the government started devolution program in 14 districts and had also increased scholarships to backward communities to reduce poverty to meet the targets of millennium development goals and poverty reduction strategy paper, Pokhrel urged all NGOs’ to focus their programmes to reduce social discrimination of the country.

Leader of indigenous nationalities, Dr Harka Gurung, said that donors are more aware about the problem of indigenous nationalities than the government and urged the government to bring policies to reduce poverty of indigenous people to restore lasting peace in the country.

Two books were launched during the program. The first book, ‘Convention 169 and peace building in Nepal’, is based on papers presented at a national dialogue held in Kathmandu on January this year. The second book ‘Indigenous peoples, Poverty Reduction and Conflict in Nepal’ is a case study on indigenous people and conflict in Nepal. Professor Krishna Bhattachan, who is the co-author of the book ‘Indigenous peoples, Poverty Reduction and Conflict in Nepal’ shed light on the released book. nepalnews.com pb Dec 05 05