CHAPTER 7
Messages of integration and rehabilitation process of Nepal
Geja Sharma Wagle
The decade-long violent and bloody conflict caused deaths, disappearances, displacement, damages of property and infrastructure along with economic down turns. Extra-judicial killings, arrest, torture, disappearance, gross human rights violations were regular activities by both security agencies and the CPN (Maoist) during the emergency.AccordingtothereportoftheMoPR, atotalof17,886people losttheir lives,22,863 families(79,571persons)were internally displaced,and 1,530people were disappearedduring thearmedconflict.
ThePeople’sMovementof2006 signaledsignificantpoliticalchangeinthehistory ofNepal and laid a strong foundation for Nepal’s democratic transformation, restructuringthestate,andprovidingspaceforconflictresolutionandsustainable peace.Yetthehistoricmovementof2006notonlyestablishedthe Federal Democratic Republic by putting an end to the 238-year old monarchy, butalsoendedthedecade-longarmedconflictbybringingthethanrebellion– the CPN (Maoist) into the political mainstream through a peaceful dialogue process. Nepal’s peace process had formally started when the governmentandtheCPN(Maoist)signedthehistoricCPAon21November 2006.Butthepeaceprocesshadinformallybegunfollowing thesigningofthe Twelve-Point Agreement between the then Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and the CPN (Maoist) on 22 November 2005 in New Delhi.
Completionofpeaceprocess,integrationandrehabilitationofrebelcombatants and the management ofarms ofrebel forces, and promulgating a new constitutionthroughtheCAarereallyperpetual,messyandcontentiousprocess foranypost-conflictcountryloomingwithhighrisksoffailure.Butdespitethe delays,confusionsandcontradictionsamongstmajorpoliticalpartiesoncontent and process, Nepal’s peace process concluded with the positive note. Every conflict andpeaceprocessisuniqueinthegivenpolitical,economic,social, securityandstrategiccontextof everycountry.ButNepal'speaceprocessis moreuniqueandindigenousinmanyrespects.Infact,politicalpartiesofNepal themselves envisaged, led and concluded the peace process, and integration and rehabilitation ofthe ex-combatants, and the management ofarms ofthe rebel.
Not only Nepal concluded the integration and rehabilitation process, but also established a unique Nepali model in particular, voluntary retirement, given Nepal’s political, constitutional, security and military context following some basic internally acclaimed principles and practices. Nepal learnt lessons from internationalpracticesinpost-conflict countriesaboutarmsmanagement, integrationandrehabilitationofex-combatantswithoutthirdpartyinvolvement. But Nepal did not import and replicate either international model.
FollowingthepromulgationofthenewFederalDemocraticRepublicConstitution onSeptember,thedecadelongpoliticaltransitionandpeaceprocesshave cometotheend.Butitissadtonotethattherearestillsomeunfinishedissues of peaceprocesswithregardstotransitionaljustice,truthandreconciliation process, forced disappeared persons, and reparation and compensation for conflictvictims.Onanotherhand,Nepal’speaceprocessexclusivelyfocused on integration and rehabilitation ofex-combatantsbutitdidnotpaythemuch- needed attention to conflictvictims.
Though,giventhegrossfinancialamountof thepeaceprocess,itmightbe termedasan‘expensive’processbutthepeaceislessexpensivethanthatof the war. Therefore, like every peace process, Nepal’s peace process has also manypositivemessagesandsomenegativemessagestobelearnedthatwill beusefultoconflict-ridden countriesaroundtheglobe.If Nepal hadNepalcompleted thepeaceprocessaddressingtransitionaljustice,truthand reconciliationand disappearanceissuesalongwithintegrationandrehabilitationofex-combatants, it would have been an exemplary model ofcomprehensive peace process.