FOCUS ON WOMEN'S ROLE IN PEACE TALKS

December 6, 2002 – (Kathmandu Post) A woman mediator can play a constructive role in the round table conference lately proposed by the Maoists to find a way out of deepening political crisis.

This view was expressed today by the women intellectuals at a symposium organised to mark the South Asian Day for Peace, Justice,
Human Rights and Democracy.

Speaking at the programme, they also criticised the royal proclamation for violating the constitutional spirit and said it has damaged the prospects of peace talks between all the concerned parties.

Speaking at the interaction programme organised by women students of Padma Kanya Campus, the human rights activist and former member of parliament, Padma Ratna Tuladhar said intellectual women should get themselves involved in political process to build the society based on peace, justice and human rights.

"I think, women being peace-lovers can contribute a lot to the peaceful solution of the Maoist problem plaguing the country. They can really facilitate the process of the round table talks proposed by the Maoists for which they are seeking representation in all sectors," he said.

He also mentioned the massive violations of the human rights of women in the wake of Maoist insurgency..

According to him, the dialogue with the Maoists is only possible if the spirit of the Constitution ensured by 1990 movement is maintained with the sovereign people at the centre.

Another speaker, Subodh Pyakurel of INSEC said there could be no dialogue without people’s agenda and stressed the need of addressing women’s agenda at the district level before moving on to overall agenda of dialogue at the national level.

"The agenda of women in the Maoist-affected countries should be given top priority before sitting for dialogue. In this connection, a Nepali intellectual woman could penetrate into the issue as a mediator," Pyakurel observed.

Pyakurel informed the gathering that a large number of girls in rural areas have become crippled after falling victim to landmines planted by the Maoists.

" The conflict has shaken the foundation of democracy without which there can be no peace, justice and human rights," he said. He, however, sounded optimistic that the present situation could be an appropriate time to reunite democratic forces.

Daman Nath Dhungana, former speaker and lawyer strongly criticised the royal proclamation describing it as a constitutional encroachment which has further deepened political crisis

" Corrupt members of the political parties should be punished without affecting the multi-party system . The royal move has violated the Constitution of multi-party system restored after the political movement in 1990. Peace talks is not possible in such a situation, " he said.

From: http://www.mahilaweb.org/footer/news/dec_02/kathmandu_post.htm