The long struggle between absolute monarchy and democracy in Nepal has now reached a very grave and new turn. Establishing peace by resolving the 10-year-old armed conflict through a forward-looking political outlet has become the need today. Therefore, implementing the concept of full democracy through a forward-looking restructuring of the state has become an inevitable need to solve the problems related to class, caste, gender, region, etc. of all sectors, including political, economic, social and cultural, bringing the autocratic monarchy to an end and establishing full democracy. We make public that, against the existing backdrop and reference in the country, the following understanding has been reached between the seven parliamentary parties and the CPN (Maosit) through different methods of talks.
Points of Understanding
1. Today, democracy, peace, prosperity, social advancement and a free and sovereign Nepal is the chief wish of all Nepalese. We completely agree that the autocratic monarchy is the main hurdle in (realisisng) this. It is our clear view that without establishing full democracy by ending the autocratic monarchy, there is no possibility of peace, progress and prosperity in the country. Therefore, an understanding has been reached to establish full democracy by ending the autocratic monarchy, with all forces against it centralizing their assault against the autocratic monarchy from their respective positions, thereby creating a nationwide storm of democratic protests.
2. The seven agitating parties are fully committed to the fact that only by establishing full democracy through the restoration of the Parliament with the force of agitation, forming an all-party government with complete authority, holding elections to a constituent assembly through dialogue and understanding with the Maoists, can the existing conflict in the country be resolved and sovereignty and state power completely transferred to the people. It is the view and commitment of the CPN (Maoist) that the above mentioned goal can be achieved by holding a national political conference of the agitating democratic forces, and through its decision, forming an interim government to hold constituent assembly elections. An understanding has been reached between the agitating seven parties and the CPN (Maoist) to continue dialogue on this procedural work list and find a common understanding. It has been agreed that the force of the people's movement is the only alternative to achieving this.
3. Today, the country has demanded the establishment of permanent peace along wth a positive solution to the armed conflict. Therefore, we are committed to ending the autocratic monarchy and the existing armed conflict, and establishing permanent peace in the country through constituent assembly elections and a forward-looking political outlet. The CPN (Maoist) expresses its commitment to move along the new peaceful political stream through this process. In this very context, an understanding has been reached to keep, during the holding of the constituent assembly elections after ending the autocratic monarchy, the armed Maoist force and the royal army under the supervision of the United Nations or any other reliable international supervision, to conclude the elections in a free and fair manner and accept the result of the elections. We expect reliable international mediation even during the dialogue process.
4. Expressing clearly and making public institutional commitment to the democratic norms and values like the competitive multiparty system of governance, civil liberties, human rights, the concept of the rule of law, fundamental rights, etc. the CPN (Maoist) has expressed the commitment to carry forward its activities accordingly.
5. The CPN (Maoist) has expressed its commitment to create an environment allowing the political activists of other democratic parties displaced during the course of the armed conflict to return to their former localities and live there with dignity, return to house, land and property seized in an unjust manner and carry out their activities without let or hindrance.
6. Undertaking self criticism and self evaluation of past mistakes, the CPN (Maoist) has expressed commitment not to repeat such mistakes in the future.
7. The seven political parties, undertaking self evaluation, have expressed the commitment not to repeat the mistakes of the past which were committed while in parliament and in government.
8. In the context of moving the peace process forward, commitment has been expressed to fully respect the norms and values of human rights and press freedom and move ahead accordingly.
9. As the announcement of municipal polls pushed forward with the ill-motive of deceiving the people and the international community and giving continuity to the autocratic and illegitimate rule of the King, and the talk of elections to Parliament are a craft ploy, we announce to actively boycott them and call upon the general public to make such elections a failure.
10. The people and their representative political parties are the real guardians of nationality. Therefore, we are firmly committed to protecting the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity of the country and national unity. Based on the principle of peaceful co-existence, it is our common obligation to maintain friendly relations with all countries of the world and good neighbourly relationship with neighbouring countries, especially India and China. But we request the patriotic masses to be cautious against the false attempt by the King and (his) loyalists to prolong his autocratic and illegitimate rule and delude the patriotic people by projecting of the political parties, and appeal to the international powers and the people to support, in every possible way, the democratic movement against the autocratic monarchy in Nepal.
11. We call upon the civil society, professional organizations, various wings of the paties, people of all communities and regions, press and intellectuals to actively participate in the peaceful movement launched on the basis of these understandings centered on democracy, peace, prosperity, forward-looking social change and the country's independence, sovereignty and pride.
12. Regarding the inappropriate conduct that took place between the parties in the past, a common commitment has been expressed to investigate into any objection raised by any party over such incidents, take action if found guilty, and to make the action public. An understanding has been reached to settle any problem emerging between the parties through peaceful dialogue at the concerned level or at the leadership level.
November 22, 2005
