Over the top

With the deadline for the Nepal’s Constitution fast approaching, civil society has been pressuring  the Constituent Assembly to come up the document on time. Public figures from across Nepal recently gathered to articulate a set of core values essential to a successful constitution, a discussion largely neglected in the public discourse; and to reaffirm that a just constitution is still possible before the 28 May deadline. Their appeal follows:

Appeal

The Eight Values of Nepali Democracy

29 Chaitra 2066 – 11 April 2010

The country has entered a state of deep political uncertainty. This uncertainty is undermining the achievements of the People’s Movement of 2006. Today’s need is to preserve the democratic achievements of the past in building our road to the future. In this context, all political parties must concentrate on the peace process and constitution-writing, based on combatant integration-rehabilitation as agreed in past agreements. This is the national agenda of the moment, and we request the well-informed citizenry to be alert to any diversion from this path.

A constitution is not only a political document, it defines and establishes social relationships. For this reason, the new constitution must incorporate non-violence, harmony, goodwill, equality and trust as its basis. Our socio-political system and economic growth must be based on these parameters, for which we believe there has to be unanimity on the following values. With diligent and urgent effort based on these values, we believe it is still possible to promulgate the new constitution of Nepal by 28 May 2010 (14 Jestha 2066):

1. Social Justice: We strongly believe that our country’s economic, social, cultural and political transformation must be based on social justice and equity that every citizen can enjoy.
2. Non-Violence: The coming constitution must be based on the value of non-violence, ahimsa. In the context of political transformation, those who have utilized violence must build trust by making an official declaration of having abandoned violence.
3. Plurality and pluralism: Plurality is the communitarian character of Nepali society. Pluralism is the basis and system which supports this diversity. The new constitution must be a document that accepts and gives voice to varying ideas and aspirations. The new constitution must guarantee the ideals of pluralism and thereby institutionalize the federal democratic republic.
4. Separation of powers: The very foundation of a modern political system is the separation of powers, including checks and balances between the legislature, executive and an independent judiciary.
5. Freedoms: We should not contemplate a political system that does not guarantee political, economic, social freedoms as well as those of thought and expression. Under no circumstances can these freedoms be compromised. Human rights of all citizens must be guaranteed.
6. Federalism: The very geography, population diversity and political history of the country demand federalism. The federal structure must be of the kind which guarantees the country’s unity and sovereignty, as well as social harmony, equality and the rights of citizens.
7. Secularism: The state can have no religion. A state based on one faith is not acceptable. To say secularism is to believe in the freedom of all religions.
8. Nationalism: No community, class or region alone can represent the sentiments of the entire nation. The very foundation of our nationalism is our plurality. For this reason, the first basis of our nationalism is the pluralism which emerges from the diversity of our population.

Appeal Signatories:

Amuda Shrestha

Ashok Murarka

Chandra Kant Gyawali

Chandra Kishore

Charan Prasai

Daman Nath Dhungana

Dinesh Golcha

Dinesh Tripathi

Dipendra Jha

Dr. Arjun Karki

Dr. Birendra Mishra

Dr. Gauri Shanker Lal Das

Dr. Netra Timsina

Dr. Surendra Labh

Fatik Thapa

Ganesh BK

Gyani Devi Thapa Magar

Haribansa Acharya

Kanak Mani Dixit

Kedar Bhakta Mathema

Kul Chandra Gautam

Lalraj Subedi

Lhakpa Norbu Sherpa

Madan Krishna Shrestha

Mohan Singh Thebe

Padma Ratna Tuladhar

Prof. Dhruba Kumar

Prof. Kamal Krishna Joshi

Prof. Kapil Shrestha

Prof. Yogendra Yadava

Rajesh KC

Rameshwor Upadhaya

Ravi Thakur

Rukaiya Khatun

Sabitra Rai

Sambhu Thapa

Satish Chandra Agrawal

Shobhakar Budathoki

Subodh Raj Pyakurel

Sushil Pyakurel

Tek Nath Baral

Tikaram Bhattarai