Nepal: Time to deliver

We have recently assumed responsibility for the UK’s relations with Nepal in the British Foreign Office and Department for International Development (DFID), and we look forward to getting to know your country. A change of government in the UK will not change our commitment to working with the people of Nepal for greater peace and prosperity.

The UK recently got a new government – its first coalition government in 65 years. All over the country, Conservative and Liberal Democrat candidates competed hard against each other for precious votes. But as no single party had a majority of seats, the two parties put aside their differences and came together for the good of the country. Both parties have been working jointly to decide our goals and priorities, and how we will work together to achieve these. This is no less than British voters expect from their politicians at a time of economic and social challenges.

In Nepal too, parties with different ideologies and interests have expressed their common desire to come together to complete the stalled peace process. It is not easy to put aside party differences and think of former opponents as partners, but developing a common vision makes it possible to put aside narrow party political concerns in favor of the national interest. We have done this in the UK, and trust Nepal’s leaders also will put aside past differences and focus on the national interest. This will set Nepal on the road to lasting peace, democracy and development; not doing so risks further uncertainty and instability.

As a long-standing friend, we are concerned that Nepal’s peace process is off track. Key elements of the deal have seen little or no progress: The integration and rehabilitation of former combatants; tackling conflict-era human rights abuses and impunity; forgoing violence as a tool of politics; land return and reform; and creating a more democratic, equitable and prosperous society. Key among these is the remarkably inclusive Constituent Assembly, whose work has been disrupted by the lack of consensus among leaders, and which now needs more time to complete its crucial role.

It is not easy to put aside party differences and think of former opponents as partners, but developing a common vision makes it possible to put aside narrow party political concerns. We have done this in the UK, and trust Nepal’s leaders to do so.

We are not going to tell Nepalis how to resolve Nepal’s issues. But we do want to encourage consensus in political discussions so that progress can be made. Commitments have been made and broken by both sides, and trust – so vital to the peace process – has been lost. Pre-conditions and threats rarely form a sound basis for negotiations: If parties cannot trust each other, how can they reach agreement around a table? And while peaceful demonstrations are a democratic right, they cannot be a substitute for dialogue and the parliamentary process.

As we have seen for ourselves in Northern Ireland, discussions between party leaders mean nothing unless they are backed up by concrete action. Implementing commitments would demonstrate good faith and would help build, step by step, the mutual confidence needed to complete the peace process. There is a real fear that Nepal’s opportunity for a lasting, transformative peace could slip away unless actions are taken urgently to restore the momentum. We strongly encourage all parties to build mutual confidence by taking visible steps that will demonstrate their pledge to a democratic, inclusive Nepal. The people of Nepal have been waiting too long for prosperity and the dividends of peace.

The People’s Movements, 2008 elections and recent rallies against violence are a clear expression that ordinary Nepalis hold their leaders responsible for delivering change. It is not right that four out of five Nepalis live on less than 150 rupees a day; that six women die every day from complications related to child birth; and that malnutrition affects half of all Nepalis under five. The people of Nepal deserve better. They deserve the ability to improve their lives and to help themselves, and this wonderful country, realize their considerable potential.

The new British Government – a coalition of different interests working together – is committed to continuing to support the peace process and helping Nepal become a more prosperous, more just society. We will play our part, but the change must come from within. Now is the time for Nepal’s politicians to save the peace process. Now is the time to put party politics aside, and for all sides to compromise in Nepal’s national interest.

Alistair Burt is Minister at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office; Alan Duncan is Minister at the Department for International Development (DFID)