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Contact:
In Atlanta, Deborah Hakes +1 404-420-5124
In Kathmandu, Sarah Levit-Shore +977 1-444-5055/1446

Kathmandu... Mistrust among Nepal's political leaders, failure to implement previous commitments, and repeated unsuccessful efforts to form a new government pose threats to the peace process and constitutional drafting.  Swift resolution to the ongoing political deadlock is needed to get the process back on track. Meanwhile, key deadlines are approaching rapidly: the U.N. Mission in Nepal is scheduled to leave in January 2011 and the deadline for a new constitution is May 28, 2011.

Given the very short timeframe, the Center urges Nepal's leaders to continue and intensify their efforts to reach a broadly acceptable negotiated solution, including a detailed and time-bound plan for the formation of a new government and resolution of key peace process issues, in particular the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants remaining in the cantonments.

In support of these efforts to advance the peace process, the Center today has released a report covering key constitutional, peace process, and security environment trends across the country. The report is based on more than 3,000 interviews at the national and local levels and serves as an update to the Center's previous trends analysis published in August 2009.  Main findings include:

• Citizens are increasingly disillusioned by the constitutional process and pessimistic that the constitution will be written on time.  Additionally, citizen understanding of the process remains low, particularly in regards to federalism and its implications for Nepal.
• Many Adivasi and Janajati organizations have become less publicly active than they were previously, but as their underlying constitutional demands yet to be fully addressed they are likely to increase their activities again in the future.  Meanwhile, Brahmin and Chhetri groups continue to organize in districts around the country, largely in opposition to ethnic federalism.  Finally, Madhesi citizens are disappointed in the lack of political progress by their leaders but continue to support the demands that fueled the 2007 Madhesi movement.
• Key commitments in the peace process on land return, interim relief to conflict-affected persons, and local peace-building efforts have been partly implemented, though significant challenges remain to be addressed.  Meanwhile, government efforts on land reform appear to have stalled, and planned commissions such as the Commission of Inquiry on the Disappeared, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the State Restructuring Commission remain outstanding.
• The security environment remains poor in the Tarai, with small and unknown criminal groups increasingly responsible for insecurity.  Weak law enforcement and political intervention in police affairs around the country continues to undermine the rule of law and to strengthen the culture of impunity.  Meanwhile, political party youth wings continue to interfere in contract tender processes and engage in widely publicized acts of sporadic violence.

The Carter Center recommends that the Constituent Assembly, with support from civil society and the international community, increase efforts to publicize basic information about the constitutional process. Efforts should be made to inform citizens about progress to date, current debates, and sensitive issues such as federalism.  As well, plans to hold a second public consultation process after the completion of the first draft of the new constitution should go forward.  The government also should form the already agreed upon State Restructuring Commission.

Furthermore, the Center recommends that the UCPN(M) return land seized during the conflict found to be remaining under its control, Nepal's political parties agree on a mechanism to deal with complex land return cases, and the government initiate discussions on a common minimum program for land reform.  The government also should ensure that all eligible conflict affected persons are able to access the ongoing interim relief process and that provisions are made to extend support beyond interim relief.

Finally, to prevent entrenched insecurity, which could become increasingly difficult to control, the Center recommends that Nepal's authorities prosecute individuals who commit criminal activities regardless of political affiliation, and continue ongoing efforts to increase police presence and India-Nepal cross border cooperation.

Read full report in English (PDF) >

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Working to build peace in Nepal since 2003, The Carter Center deployed an international election observation mission to observe the 2008 constituent assembly elections. The Center has remained in country to monitor the constitution drafting efforts and the peace process, with a focus on the local level. Read all the Carter Center reports on Nepal's peace process at http://cartercenter.org/countries/nepal-peace.html

"Waging Peace, Fighting Disease, Building Hope." A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in more than 70 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; improving mental health care; and teaching farmers in developing nations to increase crop production. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. Please visit  to learn more about The Carter Center.

Read full report in English (PDF)

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