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Peace, Harmony, and Tolerance

A liberal democracy engenders free, fair, and competitive multiparty elections. It is protected by checks and balances, and separation of powers between legislature, government and judiciary. It consists of good governance supported by strong institutions and guarantees personal and economic freedoms, individual liberty, social justice, and protection of ethnic and political minorities. The rule of law is an intrinsic and fundamental value and practice in a liberal democratic system. Most importantly, the government under liberal democracy derives its legitimacy only through the will of the people, expressed through regular elections.

A liberal democratic system will further the welfare of the Nepali people. A well functioning liberal democracy will also be an effective shield against threats from autocratic or totalitarian interests.

We have chosen the Mandala as our logo not only for its universal theme and appeal, but for the widely shared cultural meaning it holds for Nepalis. Like the Mandala, the Liberal Democracy Nepal theme espouses an ideal to bring disperate voices and communities within a circle. The new Nepal must also practice the politics of inclusion. Peace, harmony, and tolerance are the three essential ideals of a Mandala. Likewise, liberal democracy places its faith in peaceful means of selecting governments, balance of power, and tolerance towards ethnic and political minorities.

The circle and the square enclosing the complex colorful mosaic of a Mandala represent the rule and order, which is also the focus of a functioning democracy. Artistic expression that goes behind creating a Mandala is not static. Similarly, while some ideals like personal liberty have remained indispensable, leading democracies around the world have incorporated ever changing values into their governing systems to make them more dynamic, representative, participatory, and just, and hence liberal. It is in this context that we have chosen a Mandala as our logo.

Objectives

The objectives of Liberal Democracy Nepal Forum are:

• an independent online forum dedicated to the exposition and exchange of ideas, issues and proposals for promoting and strengthening liberal democracy in Nepal.
• a forum that seeks to engage as wide and diverse a group as possible in an ongoing dialogue centered around the theme of promoting and strengthening liberal democracy in Nepal.
• aim, in particular, to draw into the discussion Nepalis and friends of Nepal who are engaged at various levels and capacities in forming and/or influencing institutions, policies, and practices that are related to promoting and strengthening liberal democracy in Nepal.
• aim to seek, solicit, and highlight issues, thinkers, and research with analytical and practical value for promoting and strengthening liberal democracy in Nepal.

Looking Ahead

The democratic era of the 1990’s brought liberty, political rights, and freedom of expression for the people of Nepal . But age-old socio-economic cleavages, social exclusion, regional inequalities, poor governance, and an increasingly active monarchy have undermined the historic achievements of 1990. After eight years of conflict between the Maoists and the State, and 12,000 lost lives, there is no end in sight to the conflict. If anything, the struggle between the palace and the parties which culminated in the Royal takeover of February 1, 2005, threatens to make political conflict in Nepal more endemic, generalized and intractable. Already weakened through a decade of violent insurgency, February 1 further fractures the Nepali state, making it less likely to achieve peace or to maintain a democratic trajectory.

Even before February 1, 2005, the post-1990 Nepali state was already seen by many as falling short on many key measures and expectations of democracy. Activists, academics, and common educated citizens were nearing consensus that significant changes in the character, composition and functioning in the state were required before democracy in Nepal could go from political process to producing the results that citizens eagerly awaited. The multiple breaches in democracy signalled by the royal takeover (in civil liberties, personal and political freedoms, etc.) makes the agenda of liberal democracy in Nepal more relevant than ever.

The ideals of liberal democracy hold potential benefits for all the three political forces in Nepal, as well as a way out of the present crisis. For the constitutional monarchy a liberal democracy offers stability and insulation from political turmoil. Political parties are served by liberal democracy to the extent that an included and well represented population emerge as the greatest defenders of democratic rights and freedoms. Under a liberal democracy Maoists and other minority voices are able to enter and impact the national mainstream of politics without resorting to violent political means.

It is clear that socio-economic and political reforms aimed at addressing significant flaws in the 1990 political compact will have to be pursued and adopted as the basis for a national reconciliation, and ultimately for the reconstruction of the nation and its frayed institutions. Systematic reforms are unavoidable in order to stabilize the state and to make it devolutionary, just, and participatory. Such a system should be an ardent promoter and protector of personal liberty, free speech, and social justice, and must put a high value in the rule of law and economic freedom. Above all, the new Nepal must be a nation of full and equal opportunity for all its citizens including those excluded on the basis of caste, ethnicity, gender and political conviction. A liberal democracy is the only viable political alternative for a variegated and heterogeneous country like Nepal.