Peace in Nepal: The way towards a new democracy?

THE Comprehensive Ceasefire and Peace Agreement between the Seven-Party Alliance Government and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) signed between Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the Maoist chief Prachanda is a historic development that marks the Himalayan country’s burden with the 10-year-old insurgency. No less important is that the Peace accord between them signals a definite demonstration towards a democracy with the Maoist rebels as a full-fledged partner. Although the actual inking of the agreement was delayed, the critical part — of managing the Maoists’ weapons under UN supervision — had already gone through without a hitch. In the event, the differences that delayed the oath taking ceremony of a new interim government do not appear to have been of great significance.

With the accord signed, sealed and delivered to the people of Nepal, the Maoists would now be a part of mainstream politics. The CPN (Maoist) is slated to join the 330-member interim parliament and the interim government of Mr Koirala. According to the agreed timetable, elections would be held before June 2007 for a 425-member constituent assembly, which would not only draft but also adopt a new constitution that can be a radical progress towards a republic.

However, the monarchy is certain to be confined if not discarded altogether. Differences over this detail are unlikely to deter Nepal’s progress towards a new democratic society. The Maoists have all but given up their anti-India and anti-West rhetoric. Their acknowledgement of Washington and New Delhi’s guiding presence at the crucial stage of transition has pledged well for Nepal, Nepal-US, and Indo-Nepal relations.

New Book on Conflict out on Friday

A pictorial book of Nepal's decade long conflict – A People War, is set to hit bookshops on Friday.
According to a press release issued by nepa~laya today, the book is being published by the same company and was envisioned by senior journalist Kunda Dixit.

The book consists of 180 images by over 75 photographers from Nepal and abroad. The pictures are accompanied by captions and an introductory preface in English and Nepali.

The pictures were selected by an international selection committee earlier this year out of nearly 2,500 entries from 113 photographers.

In addition to Dixit, the committee included Bangladeshi photographer Sahidul Alam and Singaporean war photographer Shyam Tekwani, both internationally-acclaimed photojournalists involved in media training.

It is belived the book is a tribute to the resilience and strength of the Nepali people who endured a decade of conflict, with the pictures telling stories of suffering and loss, but also that of survival and hope for the future. “The book is also a testimony to the professionalism and commitment of the photographers who documented the conflict in these memorable images that will remain etched in our minds,” the press release quotes Dixit as saying.

The 217-page hardcover full-colour coffee table book is distributed within Nepal by Educational Book Shop and is priced at Rs 2,500.