The much-touted integration of former Maoist combatants into Nepal Army (NA) came to its conclusion on Monday with 70 former combatants passing their officer-level training and being inducted into NA as lieutenants.
A key aspect of the peace process as outlined in the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the then Seven-Party Alliance and the then CPN (Maoist) has concluded, marking a major achievement in the entire history of Nepal.
Not only the CPA, but the 12-point understanding signed between the two sides in November 2005 had also envisaged a peaceful end to the armed conflict that started in 1996. But while the conclusion of the integration process is definitely a welcome development, it would be wrong to characterize it as an end of the peace process. [break]
A lot remains to be done, including the democratization of the NA. Even as the 70 former combatants were being inducted into Nepal Army at Kharipati, Bhaktapur, human rights and civil society activists were holding a press conference to voice their concern about the plight of Nanda Prasad Adhikari and Ganga Maya Adhikari, who have been bedridden in Bir Hospital for almost a month.
The Adhikari couple has been observing fast-unto-death demanding action against the murderers of their son, Krishna Prasad Adhikari, who was abducted and killed by the Maoists at the peak of the insurgency in 2004. Neither the signatories to the peace process nor the government seems to have taken the demand of this old and ailing couple seriously. Yes, the killing took place during the insurgency and all insurgency-era killings need to be investigated through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) as per the CPA. But for this there should first be a TRC in place.
The responsibility for its establishment lies with the signatories of the peace agreement. In its absence, cases like the Adhikari couple will keep haunting Nepali society. The situation could truly get out of hand if the families of almost 16,000 people killed or disappeared during the insurgency begin to clamor for justice. It is the responsibility of the parties, including the UCPN (Maoist), and those in power at present to try to convince the Adhikari couple that justice will be served and that the TRC is the right body to address insurgency-era cases. This should happen before the health of the Adhikari couple deteriorates any further.
TRC and disappearance commission were envisioned in the CPA for a definite purpose: they are vital components of the peace process and are absolutely necessary in ending impunity. Any more delay in the establishment of these transitional justice mechanisms would be courting disaster. Another key aspect of the peace process is rehabilitation of former Maoist combatants into the society.
Many combatants who received compensation packages have failed to live normal lives due to lack of proper mechanisms to ensure their smooth rehabilitation. But more than anything else, there can be lasting peace only through the promulgation of a new constitution to consolidate the federal democratic republic, thereby ensuring the rights of all citizens irrespective of their caste, ethnicity, religion, gender and region. Again, the parties should understand that successful completion of integration is an important milestone in the peace process, but far from its end.
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