Nepal Section, Wilpf.

Nearly eleven months are passing since the last Geneva IECM
(1-4 September,005).During these months, the world has witnessed several conflicts, wars, natural calamities and man-invited disasters. They, as well as poverty, hunger and diseases have claimed hundreds of thousands of invaluable and worth-living human lives besides tremendous loss in the material and cultural wealth and infrastructures of the society.
Iraq is burning in a war unleashed by hegemonic Americans. Iran and North Korea can be ignited by them on any gloomy day. Palestinians are braving the shells and fire from the Israeli rulers and recently Lebanon has been cruelly and incessantly bombarded by the same war mongers.
Peoples throughout the world, who love justice, independence, democracy, peace, prosperity and progress of mankind, have been heroically waging struggles against oppressions and exploitations perpetrated by reactionary native rulers as well as those by foreign powers.
Where there is darkness, there is light, too. Peoples of different countries are winning large or small victories against the exploiters and oppressors. Among the ones rewarded by their own heroic struggles, no one can forget the Nepalese people. Nepalese people ultimately gained victory in April 24,006 against regression and feudal autocracy, after a long heroic struggle of more than three and half years since October 4,002. On that day, king Gyanendra Shah had unconstitutionally dismissed the then elected Prime Minister Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba, unjustly labelling him incapable and failed one, usurped the state-power by dint of army support, took the reigns of the country in his hands and started an oppressive autocratic rule. Now the Nepalese people has brought the anti-people autocratic king in the dock.
Oh yes, after returning from the Geneva IECM, we continued in the people's struggle against royal regression and the feudal autocracy unleashed by the king. Holding Section Meetings from time to time, we tried our best to implement the decisions made in the IECM.I would like to mention them in brief as follows.

1. Participation in the peoples' democratic movement:
Since October 4,002, gradually there developed a political struggle against king Gyanendra Shah' regression and feudal autocracy. Commons who were disenchanted with the leaderships of the major political parties due to their several misdeeds, gradually began to turn towards them. After several twists and turns, seven left and democratic political parties on May 8, 005, declared a coalition adopting a comprehensive and progressive democratic platform which would address all major conflicts manifested in the Nepalese society, specially the armed conflict between the People's Liberation Army led by the ultra-leftist Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and government forces. This event gave a new welcoming turn to the struggle. People's support grew substantially and the political struggle gradually began to turn into a peaceful democratic people's movement against autocracy. The CPN(Maoist) turned positive and appreciative towards the Seven Parties Alliance (SPA) led struggle. This, through subsequent dialogues, led the two sides to enter into a 12 points understanding in November22,005. These developments impressed the international democratic community, specially the European Union which gradually became the strong supporter of the movement. These developments impressed the People's Republic of China also and it became benevolently neutral towards the movement, which emboldened the people's strength and further isolated the king.
The movement reached its peak since April 6,006 when the SPA and the CPN(Maoist) jointly launched all Nepal general strike and protests which continued for 19 days. King's government used police as well as the armed forces to suppress the movement. They used wanton arrests, baton-charges, water cannons, tear-gas shells, rubber bullets and metal bullets as well. against it. In several cities and district townships, they clamped down curfews, some of which were even 22 hrs long at a stretch. They even prohibited the out-siders to come into the capital city - Kathmandu. During the period, more than 15 millions people came into the streets in total all over the country. Not only in the cities and district townships, people came out in protest rallies even in remote hilly and mountainous villages.22 peaceful agitators were brutally martyred during the 19 days and more than 5000 made wounded in different degrees, many of whom made maimed in different parts of body and many of whom are still in hospital or in doctors' observation.
On April 21,006 king tried to hoodwink the political parties, people and the international community by inviting the agitating political parties to form a government, blindly ignoring their political platform. They rejected his proposal and strongly pushed the movement ahead. This compelled the king to bow down. In the evening of April 24,he accepted all demands of the SPA platform. Thus the Nepalese people won their dignity, democracy and right to make a new state -constitution by themselves, through a popularly elected constituent assembly (CA).
All wilpfers of our section actively participated in the democratic people's movement against autocracy. They actively volunteered in the general strikes and participated in the protest rallies confronting the joint repression of police and army. Many wilpfers were wounded and arrested. King's autocratic government orchestrated a drama of conducting municipal elections in February 8,006 to show-off its so-called democratic face to the outside world. All political parties except a few tails-men and all democracy loving people across the country boycotted the elections. More than 90% of the voters boycotted the polls and the royal government utterly defeated. All wilpfers of our section actively participated in the polls boycott. Our Section President Ms Neelam KC got arrested in the boycott activities on January 31,006 and was put behind bars for three weeks. Many wilpfers were wounded in the scuffles with the armed police during the polls boycott rallies and related activities.
The joint peaceful democratic peoples' movement achieved victory mainly due to the brave and broad participation of Nepali people of all classes and start and all people organized in all political parties and in other various social organizations, in it. All Nepalese Wilpfers, too, participated in the movement very actively, which we are very proud of. The support and solidarity of the international community was immense, without whose presence the movement would have suffered incalculable losses in lives, properties and time. Nepalese people are highly grateful to it.

2.Active in safeguarding the achievements of the second people's movement :
In Nepal, the people's democratic movement of 006 is known as the second people's movement to differentiate it with the previous one of 1990.When the king Gyanendra Shah on April 24,006 declared his submission to the people's movement, there were jubilations as well as scepticisms among the people and among political parties ,too, because of the insincere roles the monarchy played in the past. King's declaration is a great defeat to the monarchy as the king was compelled to accept the sovereignty of the people, the people as the sole source of all political powers, the people's movement which he had tried to quell down cruelly as a legitimate right of the people, the platform of the SPA capable to solve all current conflicts,including the armed one and the responsibility of the SPA to lead the government. He was bound to reinstate the House of Representatives(HOR) which was dissolved on May 22,002 and which would exercise the sovereignty of the people and guide the government and the country among democracy, peace and progress.
There was and is jubilation as well as the sense of vigilance among all. The agitating political parties as well as the different sections and groups of people are much vigilant and active least the defeated forces will raise their heads and the status quoist will maneuver to obstruct the aspirations of the people for progressive changes; such as : a) more democracy having inclusive system so that all discriminated and deprived sections or groups of the society --all Janajaties (the ethnic groups), Madheshi people, ethnic as well as religious and linguistic minorities, people from remote backward regions, Dalits(the so-called untouchables),women, disabled community etc will have equitable access to all aspects of the society; b)the restructuring of the state system basing on the regional as well as ethnic autonomy so that the power will be drastically devolved to the autonomous local elected bodies; c) establishing welfare state system in the democratic and peaceful Nepal; d) the right of people to dismantle the monarchy and go for a democratic republic through an elected Constituent Assembly and lastly e)the right and duty of people to safeguard the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the nation.
People of different sections and groups are daily organizing mass meetings, seminars, interaction programmes to raise their voices, to demand their due shares in the changes and to keep vigilance over the process of change. Members of Nepal Section Wilpf are quite active, specially among women in actions. Section President Ms Neelam KC is in the Central Committee of the Women's National Network.
Different activities such as, vigilance rallies and mass meetings in major cities and district townships of the countries have started to be organized since July 26, 2006. The wilpfers will actively participate in such activities. Such pressure activities of women have bore fruits in putting women in important political bodies.

3)Changes and achievements brought by the second people's movement:
Some important events and changes brought by the second people's democratic movement after April 24,006 are listed below:
a) On April 27,006,on the recommendation of SPA, Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala, the President of the Nepali Congress Party, a social democratic political party, designated Prime minister of the SPA government, a seven members cabinet formed on May2,006 and it was extended subsequently.
b) The first session of the reinsted HOR held on April 28,006 which subsequently passed a proposal to go for the election of the Constituent Assembly in an appropriate and earliest possible date.
c) On may 5,006 the government formed a high level Commission under the Chairmanship of ex-Supreme Court Justice Hon.Krishna Jung Rayamaghi to investigate into the suppression of the second people's movement and bring the culprits in books. Jailed leaders, caders and militants of the CPN(Maoist) have been gradually released from jails.
d) On May 18,006 the HOR passed a historic document claiming it a sovereign body which can promulgate an Interim Constitution to guide the
country until the results of the Constituent Assembly will come, legislate necessary laws and guide the SPA government. The historic document declared Nepal a secular state. The declaration changed the name of the national army from Royal Nepal Army to Nepal Army. It stripped all authorities from the king; disbanded the royal Privy Council; put the monarchy under parliament in all respects; snatched the post of Supreme Commander in Chief of the national army from the king; dismantled the army secretariat in the royal palace which would link the king to lead the army; brought all 2500 strong palace personals under the Public Service Commission Act; brought all royal properties under tax-net of the government; brought all royalties including the king within the people's criticisms and public judiciary. It put all executive rights into the govt.
e)Both sides, the SPA government on May 3,006 and the CPN(M) on April 26,006 have declared cease-fire unilaterally. They have entered into an agreement on Codes of conducts during cease-fire, on May26,006.
f) On May 30,006 the HOR passed a resolution consenting the right of Nepali citizens to procure citizenship certificate under mother's guardianship only, which was prohibitated for ages till then. It also passed a resolution to reserve 33% seats for women in the representative bodies.
g) On June 4,006 the HOR passed a resolution declaring the country where the inhuman tradition of untouchability against certain community of people will be abolished in social practices completely and strong legal measures will be applied against the offenders.
h)On June 15,006 a National Monitering Committee formed by the agreement of the govt and the CPN(M) to monitor the implementation of the bilaterally agreed codes of conduct.
i) On June 16,006 a six membered draft committee has been set-up to draft an interim constitution of Nepal in accordance with the SPA platform of May 8,005, royal declaration of April 24,006,HOR declaration of May 18,006 and other documents signed between the CPN(M) and SPA or the government. The Committee was subsequently extended to 15 members making it an inclusive body.
j)Both sides, the SPA government and the CPN(M)have formed their negotiation teams and they are frequently sitting for dialogues and negotiations. On June 16,006,PM Mr. GP Koirala, together with other top SPA leaders talked with CPN(M) Supremo Chairman Prachanda and their second man, Mr Baburam Bhattarai and signed an 8-points agreement which has heightened the hopes for the peaceful settlement of the 10 year long Maoist armed insurgency.
k)Now the dialogue and negotiations among the SPA, the government and the CPN(M) are being focused on signing a bilateral agreement on comprehensive cease-fire and on the question of management of both armies --People's Liberation Army of the CPN(M) and the Nepali Army during the CA elections and ultimately the decommissioning of the PLA or deciding its future role. After doing this and solving some other political issues and deciding over Common Minimum Programme(CMP), an interim government including the CPN(M) can be formed. The interim government will lead the country towards the CA elections in the earliest possible date.
l)Nepal is now in a great debate. Now a days, interaction programmes, seminars and mass-meetings are actively and regularly organized by political parties, concerned groups and women organizations discuss the various issues of progressive social changes, inclusive democratic system, reorganization of state structures, peace building, rehabilitation and post-construction issues and the roles of women and other social groupings in these areas. We wilpfers are actively participating in such activities.
m) International community and both great neighbors - India and China are supporting the ensued peace building process of Nepal. They have resumed to provide aids and long-term and low interest loans liberally, to cope with the present situation and face the post-construction difficulties.

4.Active in implementing the UNCSR No.1325 (2000) :
These days women of Nepal are paying more attention towards the implementation of the 1325 (2000) number resolution of UN Security Council. As it is very much relevant to the present context of Nepal where the nation is focusing on the resolution of the ten years long armed conflict, building peace, rehabilitation, post-construction, bringing progressive democratic changes in the society so that all sections and groupings of the society can actively participate in the process and in the democracy of new Nepal. Nepal Section Wilpf is active in this regard and members are actively participating in the activities according to the spirits of the resolution.
Even the male members in the SPA leaderships and the government formed through the people's movement are profusely conservative and patriarchal. They are not providing adequate or deserving roles to women, either in the leadership of the government or in the newly formed various commissions, committees and etc... We, together with other women activists are waging struggles to get the due roles for women in such set-ups also. Our struggle compelled the government and the CPN(M) to include seven women in the previously formed Interim Constitution Drafting Committee, extending its number of members up to 15,on July 15,006.

5.Observed the 96th International Working Women's Day :
Nepal Section Wilpf decided to observe the 96th International Working Women's Day on March 8,006 together with other women's organizations and other agitating people making it a part of the anti-regression and anti-autocracy people's democratic movement. Before noon of March 8,a rally of women, Dalits, Madheshies and Janajaties was brought out in the street of Kathmandu and ended at a brief mass-meeting. All Nepal Progressive Women's Association, of which National Convenor is our Section President- Ms Neelam KC, organised a talk programme on the late after-noon, in its office hall where some left political leaders gave illuminating talks about the women's movement of Nepal. All our Section members actively participated in both events.

6.Miscellaneous activities :
Section members in their individual capacities are participants in different activities which help empower the women-folk socially, politically and financially. They also take part in other activities which help to reduce the anti-women dowery system, specially prevalent in the southern part of Nepal, to abolish the inhuman Chhaupadi tradition in the western Nepal, to alleviate the agonies and hardships facing by the single (widowed) women, to prevent the scourge of drugs, HIV and AIDS, to stop the trafficking in women and children, etc...

7.Organisational activities :
Our organizational activities during the royal autocratic regime were bound to shrink. Our membership reduced to less than 10.But now a favorable situation had emerged after the second people's movement. New avenues are opening before us. I want to assure you all that we can expand Wilpf activities in Nepal with the active support of Wilpf International.
Thank you !

July 27,006, --Neelam K.C.
Kathmandu, President
NEPAL. Nepal Section,Wiplf.