Nepal’s leaders take lessons in democracy
Prominent members of Nepal's main political parties have visited Switzerland hoping to learn about the federalist system.
The visit comes ahead of November’s election in the Himalayan kingdom and is seen as part of Swiss efforts to support Nepal’s transition to democracy.
“Both sides agreed that the exchange has been positive and helped boost cooperation,” a foreign ministry statement said on Friday.
During the five-day visit the Nepalese delegation met experts and representatives from the Swiss authorities as well as the Geneva-based United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour.
The foreign ministry said Switzerland hoped to contribute to a solution of fundamental issues, which include a possible federal structure of the country and the different political convictions of the key players.
The Swiss authorities have been involved in human rights initiatives and have been providing humanitarian aid to Nepal for more than 40 years.
Prachanda
The delegation from Nepal included the former Maoist rebel leader, Kamal Dahal – known as Prachanda.
He told a news conference in Bern that the visit could give new impetus to the peace process in Nepal and create a positive atmosphere between the various political players.
Prachanda, a controversial figure who led Nepal’s Maoist movement during the civil war, said it was not possible to take over Switzerland’s political system without adapting it to the situation in Nepal.
“But the Swiss experience can help us establish a new society,” he said.
A delegation of Nepalese politicians and representatives of the civil society stayed in Switzerland in January.
Some Swiss media slammed the authorities for inviting Prachanda, but the foreign ministry rejected the criticism.
“It was not an invitation to Mr Prachanda in particular. It is not up to us to decide on who takes part in the peace process,” foreign ministry spokesman Lars Knuchel told the Basler Zeitung newspaper.
But Günther Bächler, a Swiss advisor for peace building in Nepal, welcomed Prachanda’s visit to Switzerland.
He said there were attempts to shut the Maoists out of the peace process. Several uprisings by an ethnic group in southern Nepal also hampered progress.
Elections
During the decade-long civil war at least 13,000 people were killed, including many civilians, and hundreds of thousands were forced to leave their homes.
Prachanda, the leader of Nepal’s Communist Party, said in 2001 his goal was to do away with the monarchy and the parliamentary system.
However, last year a seven-party alliance and the Maoist rebels signed a peace accord paving the way for an interim government and a constitutional assembly which will decide on the fate of the monarchy.
Elections for the assembly, scheduled for November, are seen as the culmination of the peace process.
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Nepal is a priority country for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Last year it spent SFr18 million ($14.8 million) on projects in the Himalayan kingdom.
The agency works mainly in rural areas. The SDC is active in rural infrastructure development and is involved in activities linked to the conflict such as human rights initiatives.
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