LDN People Resources | DC Worshop Oct 21-25, 2005 |
Workshop on Opportunities and Challenges for Nepali Political Parties Washington, D.C.24 October 2005 A workshop on Opportunities and Challenges for Nepali Political Parties was conducted in Washington, D. C. by Liberal Democracy Nepal (LDN) on October 22-23, 2005 in which the representatives of six political parties (Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal UML, Nepali congress ? Democratic, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Jana Morcha Nepal, Nepal Sadbhavana Party (A)), who were on a visit to USA were invited for a face to face interaction on the present political crisis in Nepal. A prominent Nepali human rights activist Mr. Padma Ratna Tuladhar was also in attendance. The Workshop consisted of four moderated thematic sessions: 1) Dealing with Monarchy and Royal Nepal Army, 2) Dealing with the Maoists, 3) Managing the Movement for Democracy, and 4) Parties Managing Themselves. Several aspects of the above themes, including the restructuring of the state, social justice, and inclusive party polity, were deliberated in depth by the delegates, LDN moderators and participants. In addition, on October 22nd, Baltimore America Nepali Association (BANA) organized a town hall meeting in Baltimore to allow the local community to have an open forum with the delegates. The town hall was attended by several dozen participants. The political leaders from Nepal gave their perspective on the current political condition in Nepal. The presentations were followed by a lively question and answer session between the delegates and town hall meeting attendees. The main conclusions/recommendations of the 21-22 Washington D. C. workshop were as follows: 1) Concerted efforts needed to protect human rights and civil liberties in Nepal; 2) The workshop demanded immediate restoration of multi-party democracy in Nepal, and extended full support for ongoing peoples? movement for democracy; 3) National sovereignty should rest fully with the people of Nepal; 4) Sovereign people should themselves decide the role of monarchy; 5) The CPN (Maoists) should commit to lay down arms and pledge unconditional commitment to multi-party democracy, and pluralism, and respect for human rights; 6) The political parties should commit themselves to full internal democracy, inclusive people-centered politics and healthy democratic practices. 7) A negotiated settlement is necessary to end the current conflict; and 8) All possible support should be extended for bringing the three protagonists for a peaceful resolution to the current conflict. The representatives from Nepal included Dr. Ram. S. Mahat, Chakra Bastola, Jhala Nath Khanal, Pari Thapa, Ashok Rai, Dr. Minendra Rijal, Bilmalendra Nidhi, Anil Jha, Dhruba Pradhan, and Padma Ratna Tuladhar. The participating members of Nepal Diaspora included several members of LDN, friends of LDN, community leaders and invited participants from the Washington Metropolitan area. In addition, a panel on the UN?s possible role was also organized with the Assistant Secretary-General of the UN and Deputy Executive Director of the UNICEF Kul C. Gautam as a keynote speaker. UN?s conflict expert Samuel Tamrat also spoke and joined the panel discussion. |