November 21, 2012
Six Years of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)
Implement the Peace Accord
Six years have completed following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the government and the then warring party CPN-M which formally ended the decade-long armed conflict. Except management of the Maoist combatants, there was no notable eventful accomplishment. The peace accord was expected to be the starting point of Nepal’s progress and establishment of democracy with social justice. Excitement of Nepali people, who had been searching for ways to emancipate themselves from the effects of decade-long conflict, turned into despair when the Constituent Assembly got dissolved without making constitution. The transitional mechanisms mentioned in the CPA were not formed due to the irresponsibility of the signatories. At the present situation, the country is without elected people’s representatives, which is a non-democratic situation in itself.
Management of Maoist combatants was the only notable achievement during this period. However, questions regarding the reintegration of Maoist combatants who had left the cantonments into the society remain. Non-return of the captured property, lack of interest towards the whereabouts of disappeared persons and displaced persons and the State remaining silent towards injured and disabled persons has made a mockery of the spirit of the CPA.
Human Rights community, including INSEC has been repeatedly drawing the attention of the stakeholders to form Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Commission on Disappearance which are necessary for transitional justice and solve issues of conflict victims appropriately. But these issues have not yet found importance in the working list of the government and political parties. Meanwhile the UN agency has expressed concern regarding perpetrators of gross human rights violations and on the issue of war crime and crime against human rights.
On the whole, stakeholders have not given attention to important issues which need to be addressed for sustainable peace. We would like to draw the attention of the stakeholders on following issues at the start of the seventh year of the CPA.
- Implement the CPA effectively;
- Form Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission on Disappearance in line with international standard;
- Remain committed to the values and beliefs of human rights by ending the state of impunity.
Bijay Raj Gautam
Executive Director