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

The Remake of a Statethe relationships among those who will have to implement those solutions(Bloomfield et al. 2004). Hence, R&R strengthens democracy by developingthe working relations necessary to successfully practice it.Some people view R&R as deliberate attempt of keeping aside thesufferings of conflict victims and an excuse to offenders. This could happenif the reconciliation is either conceptually misunderstood or used as onlyoutcomes (forgive and forget) and not taken it as a process. But importantaspect of the reconciliation is its process to address justice, healing andtruth. As reconciliation is a voluntary process, no one can impose it. Butthe victims themselves acknowledge, remember and learn from the pastfinding ways to live in future with rebuilt relations and expanded hope.Hence, it is a process of deep change of an individual with a reconciliatory‘forgive but not forget’ (Tutu 1999) framework. In essence, reconciliationis not an excuse for impunity.A successful R&R requires right process, appropriate actors and effectiveinstruments to address past and develop common vision of future. R&Rhas to permanently prevent the use of past as a source of renewedconflict, to break the ongoing cycle of violence, to consolidate peace andto strengthen newly established democratic institutions and politicalprocess.R&R is a continuous and long-term process. A quick fix approach cannever achieve lasting peace (Tutu 1999). Being a voluntary processof transformation of relations, it demands change in belief, attitude,aspiration, emotion and feeling of the protagonists, sufferers and eventhe community members, which is quite difficult and even painful(Galtung 2000; Bloomfield et al. 2003). Breaking negative stereotypes andprejudices requires engaging individuals (once the enemies) as well ascommunities. Thus, it has to be a broad and inclusive process.The primary actors of the R&R are victims, offenders and protagonists(parties in conflict). Other key actors are community, government, supportorganisations (non-governmental, judicial, private or aid agencies). TheR&R requires understanding on how the armed conflict affects differentsocial groups such as children, women, elderly people, disables, students,IDPs etc. For example, often women suffer from sexual abuses (mass rape,forced pregnancy and marriage, prostitution and molestation) duringthe period of armed conflict that promotes social stigmatisation andmarginalisation. In reconciling women suffered from sexual offences, theoffenders need to be identified and punished. Establishing truthful and263