International Conference on the occasion of 10 years of the signing of Comprehensive Peace Accord in Nepal

1. Background:

Peace process formally began in Nepal with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) between the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on November 21, 2006. CPA had reaffirmed its commitment to the 12-points understanding^[1], 25-points codes of conduct for ceasefire^[2], 8-points agreement^[3] as well as the spirit of the letters sent to the United Nations by the Government of Nepal and the Maoists^[4], and formalized the decisions of the Summit Meeting of the Seven-Party Alliance and the CPN (Maoist) adopted on November 8, 2006^[5]. CPA had also pledged for forward-looking restructuring of the state by ending all forms of discriminations prevailing in Nepali society and resolving problems related to class, gender, geography and ethnicity.

Nearly a decade after the signing of CPA, Nepal has promulgated Constitution of Nepal, 2015 from the Constituent Assembly institutionalizing Nepal from a unitary, Hindu, monarchical state into a federal, secular, and republic state.

The foundation for peace in Nepal set by people’s movement of 2006 and the CPA, and complemented by mandate of Madhesh, Janajati and Dalit movements has been consolidated with the promulgation of a new Constitution after election of two Constituent Assemblies, integration of Maoist combatants and management of their arms, provision of interim relief and compensation to conflict victims, establishment of Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Enforced Disappearances Enquiry Commission and rebuilding of some public physical infrastructures.

Despite these achievements, challenges remain. The scope of the foundational tenets of the constitution has been contested by the Madheshi, Janajati and marginalized movements^[6]. Above all, these movements are still opposed to the proposed federal demarcations. In addition, there remains disputes and contestations on how Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Enforced Disappearances Enquiry Commission, two fundamental components of the peace process, has been established.

In the midst of such a context, Nepal Transition to Peace Institute, is organizing 3 days’ international peace conference to reflect on the occasion of the ten years of the signing of the CPA in November 2016. NTTP-I is a peace research institute founded upon the history of decade-long engagement in Nepal’s political transition as a credible and Track 1.5 peace process for mediation, facilitation, and dialogue among the political parties of Nepal since 2005. As a trusted forum for informal dialogues among the political parties, NTTP Forum has been functioning to resolve political standoffs, thaw stalemates and promote peaceful engagement among the political parties even in critical times in a low key and trusted setting.

2. Objectives of the Conference:

Nepal Transition to Peace Institute (NTTP-I) shall organize a 3-days international peace conference on November 16-18, 2016 at Hotel Radisson in Kathmandu with the following objectives:

• Document the experiences, facts and analyses on various aspects of the CPA in the aftermath of 10 years of its signing;
• Identify and disseminate the successes and gaps of Nepal’s peace process to national and international audiences;
• Encourage the key stakeholders of Nepal’s peace process to reflect upon a tumultuous journey of a decade of transition, and spur discussion on the future path for sustainable peace in Nepal.

3. Highlights of the conference:

NTTP-I shall launch a landmark publication entitled “A Decade of Comprehensive Peace Accord in Nepal (2006-2016)” which shall include articles commissioned from national and international authors focusing on accomplishments, outstanding agenda items and issues, mechanisms and institutions and future prospects of Nepal’s peace process. The publication shall be published in both English and Nepali languages.

The 3-days conference shall feature well-known keynote speakers including top national political leaders and internationals including former UN Special Representatives, former ambassadors to Nepal, professors from reputable universities who were involved in Nepal’s peace process, and renowned peace experts.

The conference shall consist of eight sessions. The opening session on November 16, 2016 and the closing session on November 18, 2016 shall be addressed by the key note speakers and witnesses of the Comprehensive Peace Accord. There shall be four other sessions on November 17, 2016 and two sessions on November 18, 2016. The tentative plan of different sessions is as follows:

[1] The historic 12-points understanding was reached between Seven Political Parties and CPN (Maoists) on November 22, 2005.

[2] The Code of Conduct for Ceasefire agreed between the Government of Nepal and the CPN (Maoist) on 25 May 2006 at Gokarna.

[3] Seven Political Parties and CPN (Maoists) signed 8-points agreement to endorse 12-points understanding and code of conduct on ceasefire and state-restructuring at the Prime Minister’s residence, Baluwatar on June 16, 2006.

[4] PM Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda formally wrote to His Excellency Kofi Annan, UNSG on August 09, 2006 requesting UN assistance to the peace process.

[5] On November 08, 2006, High Level Leaders of the Seven Political Parties and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) signed an agreement on key issues: implementation of the previous agreements, contents of the Interim Constitution including monarchy and interim legislature-parliament, management of the victims of conflict, monitoring of the already reached agreements and a time schedule.

[6] Madhesh-based political parties, Janajati parties, socio-cultural groups and other fringe organizations have been conducting protests in different parts of the country after being dissatisfied with the contents and drafting-processes of the new constitution promulgated through the second CA since mid-July 2015. Protests in Madhesh have been violent leading to loss of lives and properties. Blockade at the Indo-Nepal border for more than four months disrupted civilian life and jeopardized the national economy. Despite the first amendment made in the new Constitution in January 2016, these movements are still ongoing.