English - Support to Participatory Constitution Building in Nepal ...

The Remake of a Statewho control the monopoly. Development cannot thrive in monopoly.The only thing that fosters in monopoly and exclusionary system is theprosperity of only a handful of people. Hence, if the overall political andeconomic freedom is not inclusive, development is not either. To enhancethe inclusive transformation and democratic culture, a meaningful statebuilding is deemed a must. At this phase, it is long awaited that the newconstitution would give a frame for post-conflict state building that wouldlead people to rapid growth, peace and development.2. Conflict in NepalArmed conflict in Nepal erupted in 1996 and lasted for 10 years. ThenCPN (Maoist) 3 waged this war as a struggle to emancipate people fromexploitation and extreme poverty. In rural Nepal, feudal landlords wereexploiting the poor. They were always supported by the state institutionsrun by those in power. Scores of people lost their lives and uncountableinfrastructures were destroyed in this 'People's War'. Human rightswere violated, free movements were restricted and the Maoists virtuallycontrolled all the rural Nepal. Only the district headquarters were underthe state control. The direct rule of the then king also turned to be anabsolute failure. A united people's movement under the leadership ofmajor political parties ousted the monarchy. Several coalition governmentscame into existence after the election to the Constituent Assembly (CA)and the constitution is now under the making.The terms pre-conflict, during conflict and post-conflict assume conflictmore as a static concept rather than a continuous process. Whateverthe assumption be, one cannot think of change without conflict andconflict is a necessary condition for change in social relations and hence isuseful. As Nepali society suffered from human killings and destruction ofinfrastructures, the conflict also helped change previously held outdatedviews and human attitude. It also resulted in the change of the social andpolitical positions. Common people do not any longer think themselvesas powerless and disconnected. They are more politically organised andempowered. Ethnic groups, Dalits, women and other marginalised anddisadvantaged communities are more visible and powerful at present thanbefore. The ethnic, caste, gender, regional and economic divides are being3The CPN (Maoist) and the Unity Centre united in January 2009 and the name CPN (Maoist) was changedinto the United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) or UCPN (Maoist). Small breakaway faction of theCPN (Maoist) kept its original name CPN (Maoist) after the formation of the UCPN (Maoist). Hence,UCPN (Maoist) is used in throughout this book even to refer the description before the unification,otherwise than stated, to avoid the confusion with the name of the breakaway faction (eds.).3