On Conflict Resolution
The book discusses different aspects of the conflict management and conflict result
By A CORRESSPONDENT
Conflict management is a very complicated and difficult issue. Experiences of many countries have shown that a proper mechanism for the resolution of conflict is required. Although Nepal has been facing the violent conflict for the last eight years, only a few steps have been taken to debate and discuss the way for conflict resolution and conflict management.
Following the breaking of ceasefire in August between the Maoist and government, the country has returned to the violence but what is lacking is the mechanism to resolve the conflict. In the last seven years, the Maoist insurgents and the government announced ceasefire twice and hold six rounds of talks but the peace negotiations broke down abruptly.
"Political instability and weak governance have bred and given continuity to economic and social inequality, urban/rural disparity and marginalization of minority politics making it a huge challenge for the political sector to handle," writes Dev Raj Dahal, in his forward. The promotion of peace, democracy and good governance becomes easy if there is a legitimate bulwark of security founded on a unitary legal order. Once the institutional capacity for conflict resolution is achieved, governance will have the political will and capacity for building a modern Nepal, which promises a shared future for its citizens."
Based on a seminar on Conflict Resolution and Governance in Nepal, the book is divided into two parts. The first chapter under a title of Conflict Resolution in Nepal includes articles written by Dev Raj Dahal, Meena Acharya, Krishna Bhattachan and Yubaraj Sangroula.
In another chapter Governance in Nepal, different authors including Hirmani Ghimire, Charamehr Vajracharyam, Raghab D. Pant, Bihari Krishna Shrestha and Hari Upreti have contributed their papers.
"There is no doubt that there is a basic commitment to democracy in Nepal. A framework of institutions and laws as well as a democratic constitution are in place. However, a weak democratic culture and an environment of extreme polarization within and between institutions especially political parties-pose difficulties in consolidating democracy," writes Ananda P. Shrestha, executive director of NEFAS.
Ceasefire and successful talks are two important aspects of the conflict resolution since there are many more issues to deal. In many countries, the complete resolution of conflict took decades. Even after the surrender of gun by rebels, the society cannot secure absolute normalcy. Concerned parties also need to work out another strategy for confidence building measures.
"Conflict transformation may be defined as a process encompassing structure-oriented long-term peace building efforts, which aim to truly overcome revealed forms of direct, cultural and structural violence with outcomes acceptable to the parties in conflict," writes Meena Acharya in the paper Towards Conflict Transformation in Nepal. It conveys much broader sense than the concepts of conflict settlement and conflict resolution."
Other scholars also discuss the matter related to conflict and its resolution. Although most of the authors are well known to Nepalese societies having long working experiences in previous Panchayat system and present multi-party democracy. Interestingly, only a few scholars seem to be happy with open and plural political process.
Conflict Resolution and Governance in Nepal
Editors: Ananda P. Shrestha and Hari Uprety
Published by Nepal Foundation for Advanced Studies (NEFAS) in cooperation with Friedreich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Nepal in August 2003
Price: Not disclosed
Pages: 244
