The new report that Tribhuvan University (TU) is now going to start a programme in conflict management at Master’s level published in a daily newspaper a week ago has drawn the attention of the readers. The word ‘conflict management’ has now become very popular in Nepali politics. Everybody who is interested in politics in Nepal talks about conflict management. In fact conflict has become the major problem of the country. The conflict faced by our country is different from that of the other countries.

The word ‘conflict’ does not mean that it has to be related to politics only. Had it been only politics-centred, it would end when the political turmoil finally ends in Nepal after some years, and it would not be necessary to run a separate programme in TU. The conflict is now related not only to political issues but also to social and religious issues. The struggle in the Nepali society exists for all religions that must have equal respect for all people irrespective of caste and creed. Also everybody should have equal opportunities for the highest post of the country. Similarly, there can be several cases of discrimination in the society. These cases of discrimination in our developing society create several types of conflict. Unless we settle these problems first, the country cannot go ahead — no matter whether the conflict is political, social or religious. So it has to be managed through settlement. Thus, the importance of conflict management is increasing in our society with each day of more violence and killings.

We can also hear that many seminars and workshops are frequently being organised on conflict management in Nepal. Many experts from different parts of the world are coming to Nepal to express their views on the crisis and how it can be resolved with the satisfaction of all the stakeholders concerned. Thus, the influence of the international community is increasing day by day. The political conflict between the King and the Maoists and between the King and the seven-party pro-democratic alliance, instead of coming up with a durable solution, show no sign of resolution, with all sides refusing to budge from their agendas. The conflict faced by the country is creating a lot of problems for the people. So the main priority of the government should be to manage the conflict as soon as possible and establish peace in the country. But we cannot see any sign in this direction.

Unless we feel the importance of national unity through democratic process, peace cannot be established. All the major political forces have to realise this. How important is national unity for the establishment of democracy and strengthening of democratic system in the country has been exemplified by the “National Reconciliation” propounded by late B P Koirala on Poush 16, 2033 BS, when he returned to Nepal with other Nepali Congress (NC) leaders like Ganesh Man Singh. B P Koirala called off the programme of armed revolution and instead of living in India he returned to Nepal bearing in mind that unless there is unity among the nationalists and democratic forces, neither the country can be saved nor its problems be successfully solved.

The situation in Nepal at present is the same as it was when the late B P Koirala propounded the principle of National Reconciliation. At present, everyone can imagine that the dependence of all political forces on the international community is increasing. The seven-party alliance and the alliance between the seven political parties and the Maoists also fuels the conflict further.

These events show that if the problems are not settled amicably at the right time, like during B P Koirala’s time, it will be a great loss to Nepal’s democratic movement. The international community will not tolerate the increasing number of red flags fluttering in the Nepali sky. The Nepali Congress has to think it over again. Even within the seven-party alliance of the ongoing movement, the deliberation by the CPN-UML leaders against the restoration of parliament and resolution passed by the Nepali Congress (Democratic) criticising the NC leader G P Koirala in their national convention is not in favour of the alliance’s movement. The NC cadres have taken this very seriously and they are now of the view that these activities have hurt their sentiment much. If they do not correct their activities, it will be a great loss to the Nepali Congress. The Nepali Congress has to be very serious regarding this matter.

This is how the country is grappling with the critical situation at present. Whatever may be the reasons behind the ongoing conflict, the effective and efficient management of this conflict is most urgent for the establishment of permanent and long-lasting peace. Realising the fact that the general people are the real victims of this situation, all the political forces of the country must work on solving the crisis. This would be the only viable solution of conflict management in Nepal.

Joshi, a former minister, is CWC member, NC