December 6th, 2009
Speaking on the Inaugural session the Chief guest General Secretary Com. Madhav K Nepal said-” The topics chosen for the deliberation is very pertinent and timely in the given situation of Nepal. After recent steps to restore constitutional processes through the formation of all party government, there is impassionate hope among the people that the peace will come at the earliest in the country.” He further added- however, despite repeated appeal for discarding violence and coming to the peace process, Maoists have not shown any positive gesture or flexibility so far. Their sincerity for peaceful settlement through full commitment to the principle of pluralism and parliamentary democratic system has yet to be tested.”
Com. Nepal was in opinion that ‘ Nepal today is passing through most difficult phase in its modern history.’ He further added- ‘ the youths are compelled to leave the country in the fear of Maoists forcing them to join their armed forces. Due to the fear of killings and hijackings, cadres of political parties are compelled to take asylum in the capital city without any options of solving hand mouth problems. Obstructions to the free movement for jobs or works in the farms and other places and blockade to the transportation of even essential commodities including food have made the livelihood problem of the people very serious. It has increased vulnerability in the society.’
‘The big problem faced by us at the moment is that how to create conducive environment and bring Maoist’s in the negotiating table at the same time ensuring maximum flexibility among all concerned so that the dialogue and understanding could be converted into lasting peace in the country.’ Com. Nepal was discussing in detail regarding common minimum programme of the coalition government where the UML is on eof the major partners.
“Among the demands of the Maoists, new constitution through the constitutional assembly is the major one. They have given prominence to the processes in their demands. There is no consensus yet about this. Our party believes that if various interrelated issues associated with constitutional assembly are clarified, then there should not be problem to go for constitutional assembly. For facilitating the peace process in a more concrete way, our party has also forwarded the peace road map.” The chief guest concluded this inaugural speech ‘wishing a very fruitful’ national seminar.
Among the other speakers in the session was president of NTUC Laxman Basnet, General Secretary of DECONT Khila Nath Dahal and the Chairperson of Employers’ Council Mr. Rohini Thapaliya. On the other hand Vice-chairperson Socialist Left Party of Norway Henriette Westrin and General Secretary of Young Left of Sweden Tora Breitholtz were international speakers.
“I thank you heartily for the invitation to take part in your peace and democracy conference” says Henriette addressing to the Seminar. ” Democracy and war are questions closely connected to each other. There are innumerable examples that show us that people being deprived of the possibility to take part in democratic processes, take the dramatic step to terrorism, a warfare which is often a result of oppression, but once more strikes other people than the oppressors. When children are hold as hostages or bus passengers are blown up, more fear and hatred are spread, and conflicts are built up instead of being solved.”
In the Seminar, which was jam-packed with media persons the Vice president of Socialist Left Party of Norway further added-” No human being is more value than others. Every inhabitant of a country has a right to use his influence and a right to be free from fear for war and oppression.”
” Several times The United States has tried to create “democracy” and “peace” with bombs and bullets, the last examples being Afghanistan and Iraq. War does not give peace. Occupation does not give peace. And war does not give democracy ” she concluded her speech.
Representing Young Left of Sweden Tora Breitholtz expressed impressive remarks on the occasion. ” I can scream” she shouted loudly and said-‘ No! I won’t take it no more! I don’t accept being discriminated, touched and abused! I will hit back the next time you hit me! But as long as I scream alone, a lot of those men won’t listen to me. That is why I want you, all the ladies in this room, all the women in this world, to scream with me.”
She concluded her speech by saying- “Democracy is something that we will always have to fight for. We know that nothing will be given to us, unless we fight. Because, true democracy doesn’t make a halt at any doorstep, not even the doorsteps of our homes. True democracy means participation, equality and dignity for all. It should give possibilities for ordinary people to control the economy, the society and our own lives. True democracy implies women’s liberation and socialism. Nothing less than that would be enough and even though questioning the foundation on which society is built never is easy, that is what I do. I question it because I have to. Because, I see the vast possibilities that lie ahead of us.”
GEFONT Chairperson Com. Mukunda Neupane chaired the session where Secretary General Binod Shrestha delivered the Keynote speech and Deputy Secretary General Binda Pandey was the master of ceremony.
Next Session was the core session. Theme of the session was Armed Conflict in Nepal: Issues of Social transformation & Progressive way-out for peace. Standing Committee member of the cpn (uml) Com. J.N. Khanal had presented the theme paper where central committee member of Swedish Left Party Com. Kalle Larsson had chaired the session. uml Standing Committee member Com. Sahana Pradhan was the panellist to comment on the paper.
In his deliberation Com. Khanal said- “the change of 1990 was the greatest one in the history of Nepal in twentieth Century. After the political change in 1990, people expected that there would be overall reforms and reformation of state, society and economy.”
“But that didn’t realise in real sense” Com. Khanal thus proposed several points for Social transformation in three areas package of Restructuring the state, Restructuring the society and Restructuring the economy.
As the panellist to comment Com. Sahana was in opinion that Com. Khanal’s paper was interesting. However, she pointed out necessity of amendment and clarification on different issues. She was demanding more detail on ‘violent conflict’ related story.
“There are more than 36 countries in world facing violent conflict, as one of the knowledgeable personality, I was expecting deliberation in detail on that by Com. Khanal” she said. Com. Sahana however differed her opinion on presenter’s proposal on women seat reservation-“One third representation of women in local bodies and 20% in national bodies to be increased gradually later on”. ‘Com. Khanal too, is bearing exploitative patriarchal values’ She criticised.
Summarising the voices raised from the floor Com. Khanal response them. Com. Kalle Larsson-Chairperson of the session concluded the session sharing his gratitude and sincere thanks. Com. Kalle said-” 9 males & 7 women participants from the consumed 35 & 24 minutes during their intervention. I guess it is logical and rational.”
Next Session was under the Theme- Multi-party Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy: An Europen Experiences. UML Central committee member and women leader Com. Bidhya Bhandari chaired the session where as International Secretary of Socialist Left Party-Norway Com. Monika Andersen made a presentation. Com. Modnath Prashrit- the Standing Committee member of UML was invited to comment on it.
“The issue is extremely important”, Com. Prashrit said- Europe has vivid history. It has faced extreme tyranny of the Kings, beheaded them and in this advanced century, they are still enjoying constitutional monarchy”. He was comparing Norway and Nepal- ” What lesson is for us from the Europe?” Com. Prashrit said- “Unlike Europe, we have short history of democratic movement, we have to walk a long way ahead! Europe need not to study Nepali Monarchy, but we must have to learn from the struggle & role of Monarchy of Europe”.
Concluding her remarks Chairperson of the session Com. Bidhya said- “I would rather compare present Nepali King with the king of France Ludwig XIV, who was claiming himself as the State!”
I learned more from the paper, from the comment and thought provoking intervention from the floor she said.
The Minister for Women, child and social welfare Com. Astha Laxmi Shakya chaired the Fourth session of the seminar. Where as was National board member of the Swedish Left Party Com. Ulla Andersson presented a paper on European Experiences on women’s participation in the social transformation and democratisation. Gauri Pradhan, Chairperson of Alliance for HR & Social Justice was the commentator of the session.
” I am not a woman, but an activists and the advocate of the women rights” Gauri started by saying- ” The paper is wonderful”. He discussed on issues raised by the paper and added conception of Women & Development, Women in Development and the issue of Gender mainstreaming. He further discussed on the difference between Feminism and Femalism. He categorised Feminism as Feminism & Neo- Feminism. ” In my opinion Feminism is against men where as Neo-Feminism is between women & men; thus as a man I could be the Neo-Feminist!”
Speaking from the Chair Minister Astha praised paper and the presentation. She acknowledged all of the participants for their interesting intervention. ” Class discrimination & Gender discrimination both are inter connected, we have to carry out our struggle together”, she concluded.
Last session was wrapping-up session, which was chaired by gefont vice-chairman Bishnu Rimal. There were one each panellist from Nepal, Norway and the Sweden. Monika Andersen from Norway said- we got genuine chance to share our experience between three countries at once with such diverse representatives. Nepal & Norway hard to compare; as socialist you are fighting for the rights and in Norway we are struggling to maintain achievement of our yearlong struggles.
Com. Kalle Larson said- why we are opposing constitutional monarch even though it is symbolic? Swedish has three reasons. First, our principle doesn’t allow this; second, we do not want to spent public expenditure to certain hereditary family and third, no family should have privilege He wa in opinion that who knows one day comrades from Sweden, Norway and Nepal will get opportunity to discuss socialism & how to limit Royal rights in Rana Palace! We did it comrade—next time may be we will organise such seminar different palace!
UML central committee member Com. Bhim Rawal extended his thanks to the gefont first. He said the papers from Sweden & Norway were useful. He further discussed Conflict in Nepal and shed light on uml 9-point proposal for peace & democracy.
Finally, Com. Bishnu Rimal concluded the whole seminar with extending GEFONT’s gratitude to all of the well-wishers. “The paper were wonderful, deliberation were interesting and excellent” Com. Rimal said- ‘it has helped us to enrich our knowledge.’
Highlights of the Norwegian paper
- ‘In Europe there has been a historical shift in the countries with Monarchy, from the days of the absolute Monarchy towards a Constitutional Monarchy. The Age of Enlightenment and the new ideals from the French revolution inspired the population all over the western world. And principles of sharing the power between various institutions became common, this made that the Monarchs all over Europe lost power.
- In Europe there are no longer seen as really legitimate to inherit power, therefore the Royal Families of Europe have been turned in to symbolic persons, more than people in possession of any real power.
- The Royal Family today have a symbolic role in the Norwegian Society. They get invited to openings and cultural events.
- It is possible to make a Multi Party Democracy exist side by side with the Constitutional Monarchy
- The will of the people will always be important when a country considers the way they govern, whether it is a constitutional monarchy or a constitutional republic. – If you implant a system of government that the people oppose, it will always end in tragedy, whether this is a constitutional republic or a constitutional monarchy, – a communist regime or a fundamental marked-liberalist regime.
Com. Monika Andersen,
International Secretary, Socialist Left Party of Norway
Highlights of the Swedish paper
The women struggle the last centuries have gone in 3 waves—
- The first wave was between the years 1875 -1921 and about equal democratic rights to vote, same rights to higher education and juridical and civil rights for both married and unmarried women as well as equal law of succession.
- During the second wave 1965- 1980 the struggle was about equal rights between men and women, by law, for work. No longer should your sex decide your wage. Group 8 started the second wave. They built a big organisation started by 8 women, all of them socialists or communists. During this time the feminism theory was formulated, women studies, gender and the patriarchy conception introduced. The patriarchy conception made it possible to make a difference between individual men and power structures that keep up a male dominance.
- The third wave took another shape. Networks, papers and books become a part of the struggle, many young women begun to take space in media and entered the struggle. Heterosexuality as norm is questioned and seen as a part of the oppression of women. The women research develops and also the theories. Gender system and gender-contract were introduced as conceptions.
- We live in the land, which is the most equal, but we are not at the goal. A big study – “The women power examination” – concluded that it would take 150 years to be equal at the speed we have in working for equal rights, quilts and possibilities. More representation is not enough although very important – it is an issue of power!
– Com. Ulla Andersson,
CCM/National board member Left Party Sweden