Nepal’s former PM KP Sharma Oli on fifteen years of Comprehensive Peace Agreement

We are in favor of reconciliation and stability in society through a peace process that promotes truth, justice, reparation and transformation. But we cannot agree to giving amnesty in the case of conflict-era excesses that constitute crimes against humanity and grave human rights abuse.

KP Sharma Oli

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Starting in the year 1996, our country suffered the decade-long violent conflict between the government and the then rebel Maoists. It has been fifteen years since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) between the Government of Nepal and the CPN (Maoist) on 21 November, 2006.

The CPA followed the successful conclusion of the peaceful People’s Movement, which was the result of the sacrifice and struggle of the Nepali people, who sought a permanent end to the conflict and for long-term peace leading to political, social and economic transformation.

On this important occasion, I pay heartfelt tribute to all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in different political struggles for the purpose of attaining peace and progress for the people. On behalf of our CPN (UML) party, I pay tribute and express gratitude to those who struggled in different movements to realize this dream of social transformation, in the process of becoming wounded or suffering torture, as well as to those who lost their relations and dear ones in the process.

The roadmap of the peace process drawn by the CPA was extremely important and designed to meet the long-term needs of our society. Our initial responsibility under the Accord was completed with the management of Maoist arms and combatants, followed by the promulgation of the new Constitution on September 20, 2015 by a popularly elected Constituent Assembly, which confirmed Nepal’s status as a federal, democratic republic.

Our Constitution has paid due respect to all who contributed to Nepal’s political transformation, including respected elders of our movement, the immortal martyrs and the victims of the conflict. We must concede, however, that the task is as yet incomplete, in terms of attending to the old wounds of conflict, delving into the causes of the conflict, and addressing them in order to prevent recurrence. Our party believes that the values carried by the text of the Constitution can and should be applied so that the pending issues of the peace process are completed in a manner that makes a difference in citizens’ lives.

The CPN (UML) party has taken the leadership role in historic turning points of modern Nepal, from the People’s Movement which ended the autocratic Panchayat system and restored democracy in 1990 to the peaceful People’s Movement that established the federal democratic republic, as well as adoption of the new Constitution by the Constituent Assembly.

Whether leading the government or in governing coalitions, or when in the opposition, our party’s emphasis has always been to introduce positive transformations in the lives of the Nepali people.

We were unable to address many issues of transitional justice despite our intention because of the reluctance shown and contradictory positions taken by political forces who were directly involved in the conflict.

I wish to recall that when we led the government after the general elections of 2017, we sought to fulfill the directive of the CPA that those who lost their lives in various political movements be given due respect as martyrs. Likewise, the government led by our party, with a view to completing the remaining work on transitional justice, held countrywide consultations on amending the transitional justice law in accordance to the orders of the Supreme Court. The Government also extended the terms of the office-bearers of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and Commission of Investigation on the Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP), besides supporting them with institutional arrangements. While in Government, we were alert to the need to address the pain and suffering of the victims of conflict. I am duty-bound to clarify here that we were unable to address many issues of transitional justice despite our intention because of the reluctance shown and contradictory positions taken by political forces who were directly involved in the conflict.

Then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala (L) and Maoist Chairman Prachanda signing a comprehensive peace agreement, in Kathmandu, on 21 November, 2006. Photo: Getty Images.

Whether in or out of government, our party’s point-of-view regarding transitional justice has remained unchanged, and I wish to reiterate today point-by-point the following.

First, we are in favor of reconciliation and stability in society through a peace process that promotes truth, justice, reparation and transformation. Second, we cannot agree to giving amnesty in the case of conflict-era excesses that constitute crimes against humanity and grave human rights abuse. Third, keeping in mind the fact that Nepal’s unique peace process is the result of our homegrown efforts, we believe in taking the transitional justice process to its logical conclusion through Nepali leadership. And, fourth, we are committed to truth-seeking on behalf of both the citizens and society victimized during the conflict, and to build an atmosphere of reconciliation by ensuring reparation through memorialization, honors and medical treatment where necessary.

As we proceed thus, there is no doubt in our mind that we need to take into confidence the international community that has supported our peace process and which harbors goodwill towards us in confidence. Completing the remaining tasks of the peace process by addressing transitional justice through well-acknowledged principles is our common responsibility.

The ten years of conflict that has marked our recent history was an extremely distressing period. At the same time, after the conflict period and with the people’s sacrifice culminating in the establishment of the federal, democratic republic, today we are at the stage of fully implementing the Constitution promulgated by the Constituent Assembly. Efforts to ensure prosperity for the people and towards socialism is now a constitutional responsibility. At this significant moment, therefore, the CPN (UML) party seeks to internalize the overall lessons of the past conflict and expresses once again its firm commitment to ensure guarantee of non-recurrence of such conflict by addressing all the components of transitional justice including truth-seeking, reparation and justice.

(Statement issued by CPN-UML Chair K P Sharma Oli on the 15th anniversary of signing of CPA.)