Nepal: Youth and Peace

Introduction

Peace means a condition where people exercise free will against injustice and violence. Peace is required for every one to live and work together without major disagreement on public issue like politics, development and maintenance of rule of law. A peace is a state of situation which helps all to improve their life, liberty and possession. Nepal has recently conducted Constituent Assembly elections. It elected many young people to draft future constitution. Majority of them are below fifty years of age.  This mirrors a change in the nature of Nepalese politics. Now, the Nepalese people are looking for peace dividends through a constitution that supports the rule of law. There is a need to overcome the confrontational culture of past and work for rebuilding this nation and offering the people essential goods they deserve. The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and all other elected 25 parties should work together to collectively define the vision of the nation. The comprehensive peace agreement has to establish lasting peace in the nation. Young people should set creative ideas into action that work in Nepal's diverse context. 

The Ideals of Youth

Today’s youth are the harbingers of peace, democracy and justice. Anti-war movements waged by youth all over the world have contributed to the expansion of peace education, peace institution and peace research. But peace doesn’t mean only the absence of war. Non-violent moment (ahimsa) has contributed to political consciousness and helped to create democratic institutions that are favourable for a choice of peace. Similarly, peace is also related to social justice. Social justice means creation of a public order that removes fear and fulfils the basic needs of majority of Nepali people living below poverty line and unable to participate in social development. This implies that peace, justice and democracy are closely related. How can peace be maintained when there is no equal representation of youth in democracy? How can they attach faith in a political system when they do not have any share? Why youths are marginalized in peace process when they can contribute a lot? The Nepalese youth must answer to these questions.

Obviously, youths lack proper peace education. They also lack proper skills and ability although they have strong spirit and motivation to work for the solution of social problems, including violence and conflict. I think there is a need to foster: peace education, peace action, peace movement and education of all section of people for the formation of a peace culture. These are important elements where youths need exposure, socialization and participation at all levels of decision making – local, national, regional and global. Once these steps are achieved peace becomes a way of life for all including youths and roots causes of violence are peacefully eliminated.

Nepal's Facts

Over 13,000 people have been killed during People’s War conducted by Maoist party and counter measures of the state. About 3,000,00 people were displaced from their home, children lost their parents, women became widow and many family members suffered disconnections from their society and many development infrastructure were destroyed. Many youths have left the country. These traumatized people need material, moral and psychological support, a measure of justice and reconciliation. Infrastructures need reconstruction. Without these a New Nepal cannot be built. They must overcome fear from one another. They should be enabled to enjoy human rights. The New Nepal needs the full cooperation from all the young people. The Constituent Assembly needs to focus on the problem of all Nepalese rather than non-implementable principles. New Nepal means new generations of leaders, new vision, new programme and new culture. But, these are possible when young people learn from the experience of their predecessors.

Building a New Culture

A new culture should renounce violence and built democracy, development and peace. Revenge, hate, fear and violence do not make a culture of democracy. Peace is regarded as a condition of freedom from war and a lack of essential human needs. Peace studies for youth thus help them to visualize a truly peaceful society extending far beyond the idea of peace as no more than the absence of war. How young people can contribute to improve the unequal condition of society? They can if they are directly involved in understanding and analysing the socio-economic conditions, discover ways to create a harmonious order, help the needy with additional resources, voice and increase their human potential through building a community. The vast majority of the population live in poverty as Nepal remains one of the poorest countries in the world.  The government barely functions for the public interest and much of the societies are wreaked in violence.

Posted on : 2008-06-11 07:35:41

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