Death of democracy: NCCI conducts meeting, expresses concern about Nepal

New Delhi – The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) held a meeting at CNI Bhawan on August 2 to discuss about the perilous situation in Nepal and formulate an action plan that would hasten the peace process in the hilly nation.

Rev. Enos Das Pradhan, the general secretary of the Church of North India (CNI) and the chairperson of the Commission on Polity and National Governance (COP), NCCI, presided the meeting.

The key speakers of the meeting, Dr. K.B. Rokaya, general secretary of the National Christian Council in Nepal (NCCN) and coordinator, Christian Efforts for Peace, Justice and Reconciliation (CEPJAR), and Mr. B.P. Shrestha, member secretary, Citizen’s Peace Commission, Nepal, shared their concerns about the breakdown of law and order situation in Nepal and urged the Indian Church to support the people of Nepal in their quest for a peaceful resolution of the problem and restoration of democracy.

“Democracy in Nepal should and must be restored by peaceful means and everyone should take a part in the peace–building process,” Dr. Rokaya said. “Till 2003, the Christian community in Nepal were not fully aware of the political situation in Nepal and remained somewhat insular. But through the formation of CEPJAR in 2003, we have tried to educate them and have encouraged them to take a more active role in social welfare and the democratic process.”

“Till 2003, Christians were looked upon with suspicion by both the state that regarded us as sympathizers of the Maoist rebel and the Maoist rebels who suspected us of being government spies. Even the international community and the media were not sure of the condition of the Christian community in Nepal and their stand in the present political scenario,” he said. “This gave us concern and in the consultation of December 2004, we decided to make our position and stand clear. In fact, CEPJAR became one of the first bodies to take a clear stand on the present political situation and dispute resolution process stand and make it known to all.”

“We decided that the Maoist struggle was a political issue and should be resolved in the political sphere and not through armed conflicts,” said Dr. Rokaya. “Moreover, we resolved that the demands of the Maoists should not be ignored altogether by either the political parties or the international community and should be considered to open a new way towards a peaceful negotiation process.”

“We also declared that CEPJAR is committed to peace and any form of international intervention that would aggravate the situation and conflict should be stopped immediately, e.g. grant of foreign military aid,” he continued. “This stand challenged other religious groups also. In august last year, an Inter–Religious Peace Committee was formed. This Inter–Religious Peace Committee held a conference and came out with a common agenda and spoke out on the current situation in the country. CEPJAR played a leading role in bringing the religious leaders together and encouraging the people to take active part in the peace process.”

“The people of Nepal want more freedom and rights. They want a new Constitution that would grant them these rights,” said Mr. Shrestha. “They want a new Constitution to be formed and they want to take part in its formation.”

“Teachers, lawyers, everyone who have a voice want that peace should be brought back in Nepal but not through military means but through political efforts. Peace and democracy must and should be restored but not at the cost of justice. As long as foreign military aid continues, people of Nepal as well as Maoists will suffer.”

Several Christian leaders from the Christian Leprosy Mission, the Salvation Army and the Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action and church leaders attended the meeting and expressed their concerns for the people of the neighboring state.

Prayer and fasting as well as urging the United Nations to intervene in the peace process of Nepal on humanitarian grounds were proposed. Issues such as whether the exodus of the people of Nepal who are seeking political asylum in India and elsewhere should be stopped and whether foreign monetary and humanitarian aid should be allowed were also taken up.

Christians comprise only 2 percent of the total population of 25 million in Nepal. Human Rights watchdogs and Christian advocacy groups have claimed that violations of religious and civil freedom have escalated in this small Himalayan kingdom ever since the king dissolved the parliament and seized absolute power.