Journey towards the new constitution

In the mid-1940s, Nepalese political parties proposed the idea of a Constitutional Assembly who would be charged with writing the nation's Constitution. However, the voices of the people and the idea of the Assembly was repressed under the rule of the king and the transitional period of rule under many different political parties until the Maoist insurgency became so strong that the State was no longer able to suppress their demands. On 10 April, 2008, under a coalition government, including the Maoist insurgents, the first Constitutional Assembly was held. The Assembly named Nepal as a Federal Democratic Republic and decreed that it would draft and ratify Nepal's new constitution within the following 14 months. 

The chairperson of the Constitutional Assembly has recently issued a special edict to his members, asking them to move to the villages and collect the visions and opinions on governance from the local people. By 14 February 2009, all members were to depart to villages. Assembly members must submit their field reports to the chairperson of Constitutional Council 15 March 2009. After this critical point in the democratic process, the writing of the new Constitution will proceed rapidly.

There are number of issues that are to be sorted out prior to writing the constitution.  Some of these issues are related to administrative management and others are related to the sentiments of the peoples' representatives.

At the same time, representatives of civil society (i.e. professionals, development activists, activists of contemporary issues, different national and internal institutions, experts of state structure and constitution-making) are also involved in the decision-making and drafting process from outside. Some of their visions on written framework have been floored in the intellectual society but a large majority has yet had the opportunity to express their views effectively through media and other platforms. Notably, in the case of women and children, very few issues have been floored and discussed in an organized way. Therefore, in Nepalese context today, there is a strong need of advocacy, lobbying, and campaigning in order to raise the issues of equality and human rights strongly and compel the constitution drafting committee to assure that women's and children's rights will be effectively represented in the new constitution. For this, the organization of an on-topic conference has been conceptualized in the initiation of women's foundation of Nepal and Coalition for Women's and Children's Rights- Nepal; a network of 12 national and international institutions working in the field of women and children which is going to be held very soon.

As already explained above, on the one hand, the new constitution making process is going a head and on the other, many ethnic and marginalized communities of Nepal are struggling with the coalition government for their rights. Although the demands are genuine but the way they have used for struggle has been problematic for the general people of Nepal. Especially, the Tharus communities who are ethnic people and have very rich in cultural heritage had charged more than half month public strike along the Tarai belt; (western part of Nepal along east to west). It is their indigenous land as they (tharu community) claim for the communal identity. Because of the public strike transportation from the boarder (with India) to Kathmandu was totally disturbed. Nepal should be dependent on Indian boarder which is located in the southern part of Nepal for all the material for daily use including food and fuel. Kathmandu valley which is located in the southern part of Nepal and all the materials should be brought to Kathmandu via the Tarai; the strick affected land. Besides the Tharu movement, there are several armed insurgents in Tarai involving to accelerate the terrorizing the environment although their purpose might be in another side. As already discussed above the days are being very harder for the people living in Kathmandu. Interestingly, the agreement between coalition government and the Tharu community happened yesterday; at the mid night of 15 March 2009, so the people of kathmadnu are hoping the situation better in the days to come. However, the situation of Kathmandu would not be good unless the entire armed insurgents including the movement of ethnic and minority communities come in the peace process through dialogue with the state leaving their deep orientation towards the armed movement.

The daily life situation today  

Because of the current political context as explained above the daily live situation and its routine of people living in Kathmandu valley; the capital city of Nepal has been massively affected. The people can not go to and come from the destiny in time because of the fuel problem. Long traffic jam happens on the road. Fuel problem has been gradually appeared problematic. Different interest groups might misuse the situation with political flavor and it might create terrible accident in the days to come.

Though Nepal is called the second richest country in water resources Kathmanu city is facing terrible problems of even drinking water. At the same time, only 4 hours Kathmandu; capital city of Nepal, remain light and rest of 20 hours remains black because of load shading (lack of electricity). So because of lacking fuel and electricity, huge number of offices like women foundation has facing low performance even in late. The system of Nepalese society and the system of offices has been extremely disordered.

An appeal

The situations; political and Nepalese lives has been already shared with you. So we apologize in being unpunctual in personal as well as official communication happening in these days. It is beyond our capacity and we appeal you to consider us for this unfortunate situation. So let's hope the situation as well as our performance will be better in coming days.

With warm regards

Renu Sharma
President, Women Foundation