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

Reconciliation and reintegrationthe ways and means to provide justice. Developing confidence, reestablishingmutual trusts and deepening understanding between formerenemies is a tremendous challenge but an extremely essential elementof achieving lasting peace in Nepal. Writing foreword to a handbook,archbishop Emeritus of South Africa Desmond Tutu has highlighted theessence of reconciliation. His main message is to examine the painfulpast, acknowledge and understand it, and finally transcend it together toguarantee that it does not and cannot happen again (Bloomfield et al.2003). R&R reorients people from the adverse and antagonistic relationof the time of conflict to more mutually respected and cooperative ones.Essentially, reconciliation develops healing-relation between victims andoffenders that is needed for durable peace. Therefore, it is a process ofsearching for justice, healing, forgiveness, pattern of cooperation andcoexistence as well as that of understanding needs, fears and aspirationsof the past antagonists. Similarly, reintegration is a process of acceptanceof ex-combatants, IDPs and conflict victims in the community.In the mentioned scenario, this chapter mainly aims at focusing on thefollowing objectives;1. Identifying the issues related to reconciliation and social andpolitical reintegration based on the reflection of communitiesand suggesting measures to promote community-focusedreconciliation and social and political reintegration frameworkstrategy.2. Identifying community based capacity building measures forreconciliation and social and political reintegration.2. Conceptual basisReconciliation is a process of addressing the legacy of the past violenceand rebuilding the broken relationships (Bloomfield et al. 2003). Nepalesesociety is deeply divided because of the antagonistic relations developedby the ten years of armed conflict. Hence, reconciliation is a process ofexamining their past relations and addressing them. At this critical andhistoric time, Nepal has got an opportunity to restructuring society andpolitics as well as establishing rule of law and respect of human rights.In a general sense, establishing democratic processes and structureis fundamental basis for addressing post-conflict challenges. But inspecific sense, democracy cannot thrive amidst injustice and legacy ofviolence. Therefore, reconciliation is an integral part of developing and260