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Press Release
November 21, 2006

On behalf of LDN
LDN Management Board

Liberal Democracy Nepal (LDN) heartily welcomes the signing of the much anticipated and long awaited Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) between the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) government and the Communist Party of Nepal [Maoist] - CPN (M) - to end the decade-long conflict in the country. We welcome their commitment to finding a peaceful solution through dialogue, negotiations, and through the electoral process.  We hope that the newly signed accord will pave the way for the Nepali people to live in peace, and that it will allow them to choose the new governments through the process of free and fair elections in an environment without the fear of violence and intimidation. Importantly, we anticipate that the Communist Party of Nepal [Maoist] - CPN(M) will permanently and irreversibly shun violence and arms, and join  mainstream competitive party politics as an unarmed political party, like all the other democratic parties in Nepal.  Similarly, we hope that all political parties in Nepal will respect the will of the people, function in a transparent manner and completely abandon corruption, nepotism and favoritism. Furthermore, we believe that actions contemplated in the accord must be enacted through due process of law.  This will ensure that the political changes and transition that Nepalis have long awaited will achieve necessary legitimacy and permanence.  
We applaud the efforts of all sides for their role in nurturing the necessary conditions for negotiations, and for enabling all Nepalis to come together as the rightful stakeholders in the peace process. However, we also recognize that entering into peace agreement alone is not sufficient for creating lasting peace.  Implementation and compliance to the terms of the agreement by all signatories is an essential prerequisite for the success of this historic CPA. Therefore, we would like to urge the UN, international community, civil society, political parties, and the citizens to be vigilant and play a constructive role during this critical hour.

We congratulate, the SPA, Nepal Government, CPN (M) and all Nepalis and Nepal’s well wishers. Today, LDN celebrates the signing of this peace accord, with all the Nepalis and Nepal’s friends throughout the world.

Liberal Democracy Nepal (LDN) is dedicated to disseminating and discussing the full range of issues and ideas germane to the ideal of creating liberal democracy in Nepal.  LDN is an affiliate of Nepal Study Center at the University of New Mexico, USA. http://liberaldemocracynepal.org