Zone of Peace: Revised Concept for Nepal Constitution

Dev Raj Dahal

Head, FES Nepal Office

I begin with the author Dr. Isabella Duquesne’s vital concern: “Can Nepal stand apart from the turbulence of the modern world and develop politically and economically by transforming itself into a zone of peace?” Obviously, my answer is affirmative. Nepal’s resilience to survive and adapt as one of the oldest nations in the world provides sufficient hope. It survived the imperial, hegemonic, multi-state and cooperatives regimes in the world. The crucial factors that make it resilient are the vitality of its centripetal forces and the power of spirituality of society to sustain the state. This is also the core argument of the author. She says: “Nepal’s great strength is its spirituality.” Nepalese people are not xenophobic because they do not feel cultural cringe—inferiority complex of one’s own culture and any need to become reactive to other’s intensions and actions. This is the mark of its openness. This openness has inspired many foreign sages and seers to come to Nepal to perform meditation and reflection and achieve enlightenment and the Nepalese to travel and work in many parts of the world. It is not surprising because the apostles of enlightenment Raj Rishi Janak and Gautam Buddha spread the universal messages of justice, brotherhood and peace. They propounded eternal values and dedicated their lives for the well-being of all living species. This is history.

The author’s serious concern now is: “How to maintain Nepal’s constructive independence?” This question is more vital now than any comparable time in Nepal’s history as Nepal’s two challenges of internal cohesion and external adaptation have strained its statehood. Post-modern classes are deliberately deconstructing its history, values and institutions and exposing this fragile state to unstable geopolitics. There are also non-state actors--thieves, criminals, armed groups and traitors for whom national sovereignty is an enemy. The lust for power, resources and separate identities continues to stampede over the national space creating a vicious cycle of fear, insecurity, loss of public order and underdevelopment.

Can Nepal escape from the chrysalis of this neo-feudalism which lacks spiritual and rational heritage of the nation? The author points its great strengths in tolerance, tourism, transit state, hydropower, liberal economy of peace and international acceptability. Of course, they are crucial virtues providing Nepal competitive and comparative advantages. Formulation of contextual policy can help reclaim its historical identity of an independent nation-state restore the dignity of Nepalese. The virtuous cycle of peace can be created in systemic values—in socialization and action—not in the maximization of identity of one variable such as class, ethnicity, caste or region while minimizing the others that people uphold, such as basic needs, justice and ecological sustainability. Buddha, inspired by the Upanishads, said “inner peace and outer peace are related.”

Nepal’s peace process might remain ‘restless’ unless political leaders feel the accountability to implement all the contents of peace accord. It is neither incongruous nor surprising for establishing Nepal a Zone of Peace. It is not incongruous to Nepalese geopolitical imperative for physical survival and ethical necessity to foster a policy of peaceful co-existence. It is not surprising because, like Newton’s third law of motion, people’s war emerged as a class reaction against market fundamentalism. But the fusion of class politics and the market forces too bred regional and ethnic fundamentalism. This shows that subordination of politics to mini identities cannot foster Nepal’s peace. Leaders’ failure is caused by their party-minded and power-oriented linear approach, not the systemic, national and value-based, democratic one. The ground reality, therefore, reflects embattled nature of political compromises over many constitutional issues whose resolution is linked to the durable peace. Post-conflict peace building requires long-term structural adjustments of actors of conflict and peace. Only then it can overcome regular failure of dialogue, standoffs and unholy alliances lacking systemic features.

I agree with the author’s conclusion: “Peace is national characteristic of Nepali folk soul.” True, indeed. The viability of Nepal rests on the internalization of this “folk soul” into national life of elites, leaders and decision-makers. Only then constitutional expression of peace helps to institutionalize and reconcile its historical legacy of peace and current manifestation in peace zone. The book is written with positive mindset as it appreciates the highest civic virtues of Nepal and the Nepalese and fills the mind with great hope on its progress. I congratulate Dr. Isabelle.

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Comments

Posted on - 2011-08-25 by bhimrajgurung
I thought this subject had died down its natural death.It does not qualify for it,reason is obvious.It has to be a peaceful nation secondly it has to be to the convinience of its next door neighbours India and china.