How and should MS-Nepal
relate to the political insurgency
in Nepal ?
It is not my aim here to
sketch neither the previous unfortunate activities, different
political stakeholders in Nepal have participated in, nor is it my
aim to compose theoretical analyses, comments and sentences on how
to alter this. I am not educated to do that. I am a water engineer
drilling holes in the ground to improve the health situation among
those who need. The present political situation in Nepal, the
unfortunate incidents at the Royal Palace, and the apparent slide
towards crisis needs no further comments and talks. It needs
action.
My job and aim is certainly not to make
political statements and commenting on the present political
situation, and this contribution should not be regarded as such. I
do, however, as a detached concerned spectator, deliberately try
to be harsh, given the serious circumstances. I do deliberately
try to shout: WAKE UP ! I do deliberately try to come up with
naïve and possibly unrealistic solutions in view of the
devastating consequences that Nepal might face in the event of a
full-scale civil war. I am concerned – not for my own security –
but for the people of Nepal and the apparent prevailing
despondency. I do not think I exaggerate my anxiety.
I can passively observe,
like gravity as sure as fate pulls bodies towards the ground that
Nepal seems to be accelerating downwards, on a slide, towards
chaos. Accelerating and not only moving with constant speed, which
might give reason - via some cynical cost/benefit analysis - to be
passive for the common good. In all movements physically and
psychologically the acceleration should cause concern, because the
end cannot always be controlled. The newspapers deliver the proof
of the rapid increasing political problem in Nepal.
How can MS-Nepal relate actively to this fact ?
The Historic Background of MS
In modern history MS has not to my knowledge -
I may be uninformed - actively participated with commendable
initiatives to fend off e.g. situations like the present course of
collision, we witness in Nepal. Historically MS was, however, the
result of the latest war fought on Denmark’s own ground, and MS
arose with the aim of preventing such a human stupidity in the
future. Fortunately, MS-Nepal has lately started to take interest
in discussions and workshops concerning the preservation or rather
restoration of peace. We have put efforts into seminars, Program
Officers have been organising workshops, and possibly our future
annual meeting could be earmarked to the active fight for “Peace,
Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation”. Hence it fundamentally -
both historically and presently – lies in the spirit of MS to
actively try and influence the accelerating sliding motion towards
hopelessness and despair. However, talks and conferences are
obviously not enough, and so another evident question is: When do
we start to act ?
For some strange unfortunate psychological
reasons, apparently it seems to be the little man’s unfortunate
lot, to sit on his behind and watch passively, while the powerful
actors prepare for Armageddon. Think of the Jewish catastrophe in
the thirties Europe and the amazing brains that masterminded that
plan. Think of the Jewish passive disbelief. The public may not
usually possess the awareness and the capacity to alter such a
slide. The public may not be empowered. The public cannot advocate
and shout loud and clearly: NO THANKYOU, and actively “fight” for
peace. Could it be MS-Nepal’s job to build such capacity ? Could
it be MS-Nepal’s job to be an active partner to try and restore
peace in Nepal ?
The Capacity of MS-Nepal
Today, MS may righteously think: We do not have
the capacity and knowledge to influence and alter what seems to be
the inevitable outcome of tomorrow, however, MS-Nepal seems to be
in the process of commencing such capacity building of its
stakeholders, hopefully to deal dynamically with the situation.
The question again is, whether we are too late – both partners in
this conflict may already have tasted the blood, and may live in
the delusion that a civil war is the answer to the social problems
acknowledged by all parties.
Making evacuation plans,
code of conducts etc., is psychologically natural, and in the
present situation unfortunately also necessary. Pulling out or
being forced out from more and more of the most problematic areas
is also to be expected in future. Are such plans and future
activities sufficient to change the course ?
MS-Nepal may not succeed to organise a peaceful
exchange of proposals with the powerful of today’s Nepal, and
persuade them to alter the present course of destruction and human
suffering. It may be too late, but at least we could in future be
able to say with a clear consciousness: We tried. And next time,
somewhere else on our mutual planet, MS may start such activities
in due time.
The Two Solutions
The question today is
evidently how can this conflict in practise be solved ? In
principle there are two ways:
- To negotiate.
- To meet violence with
violence.
All signs in celestial bodies in the space
above us, seems to point out that solution b) is in the process of
being preferred. Very powerful “developed” states, using this
planets most sophisticated weapons of mass destruction, have
broken their back in the attempt to fight and win such hit and run
guerrilla wars. How can the democratically-elected authorities of
Nepal end in a fallacy that they can win ? Civil war should never
be the solution to any problem, and if a country seems to be
accelerating towards such a delusion, those with the awareness of
reality intact, should use all possible peaceful means to stop
that.
The lately apparent success of the
revolutionary movement, means that the “price” to be paid, in
terms of political concessions, will be high, and today it is
questionable whether both parties recognise that the price the
country will pay in future and has already paid, if solution b) is
chosen, will be higher. What would the non-parliamentary groupings
achieve other than pacification and possibly continuation of a
political ineffective system, which they are opposed to? The
movement from the hills have, literarily speaking, tasted the
blood and have made up their minds that they are safe and
powerful. Hence it will be difficult to start negotiations, and
negotiations can only be done by professionals.
Mutual Recognition of the Inequalities
A mutual recognition of the problems to the
benefit of the Nepali people is needed. It appears there are
several reasons for the “success” of the political movement from
the hills. This success might be based on political,
constitutional, economic, social, geographical, and cultural
inequalities in the so-called Rapti Zone of the Mid West Region in
Nepal, where the “People’s War” broke out, but is defined as a
national rebellion today. Naturally future peace and
reconciliation attempts should be based on the premises of - and
in later agreement between - the struggling parties.
What do I naïvely mean by MS-Nepal’s active and
constructive involvement in a peace process ? No less than:
Interested, associates and
partners in Nepal should participate actively in peace and
reconciliation; workshops, guided by professional and
internationally recognised experts;
Confirmation, support and
acceptance from MS-Denmark should be secured;
Confirmation, support and
acceptance from the struggling parties are sooner or later
obtained.
An independent headquarter
of the initiated teamwork should conveniently be placed where the
problem arose - in Mid West, and from where the conflict is
supposed to escalate.
Substantial means is
applied for and allocated to this Mid West Active Peace and
Reconciliation Office, manned by a professional staff.
Preferably two professional DW’s - given the
seriousness - are employed. If the needed level of professionalism
cannot be bought for a DW salary, this problem is inferior to the
overall goal.
Since the conflict is
accelerating there is no use of - and time - to produce endless
reports to create further delays.
Internationally recognised peace researchers
and mediators – professionals on say Carl Bildt level is contacted
and affiliated to the headquarter. Workshops are arranged.
High-ranking persons in
the Nepali Parliament are contacted.
High-ranking persons in
the Maoist Movement are contacted.
Let’s wake up and act !
(A water and health engineer, Kim is
working as MS DW with Nepal Water for Health -NEWA)
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