Nepalgunj - Amid spiralling tensions across the country, the Local Peace Committee (LPC) in Banke district has taken initiative to promote calm and deescalate conflict. Tensions have been running high in the Tarai ever since various political parties and civil society groups took to the streets demanding a review of provincial boundaries proposed in the new constitution. At times, the protests have turned violent, injuring hundreds and killing over 40 protesters and security personnel and injuring hundreds of others across the Nepali plains. In Banke district’s Nepalgunj too, social harmony has been prominently affected.
Amid escalating tensions, the district-level Banke LPC collaborated with the Armed Violence Reduction and Strengthening Community Security (AVRSCS) Project, INSEC and HimRights to convene a consultative meeting on September 12, 2015 in Nepakgunj of the village-level Local Peace Committees (VLPCs) of the 15 Village Development Committees (VDC) surrounding Nepalgunj sub-metropolitan city to discuss ways to maintain social harmony. The selected VDCs were perceived to be facing immediate threats to social harmony in the current crisis, further exacerbated by continuing general strikes in the district.
Participants at the meeting discussed ways to prevent the spread of rumours as well as methods to rise above partisan political beliefs to keep the social fabric intact. They emphasised the relevance of the VLPC mandate to facilitate the creation of an environment suitable for dialogue and promoting interpersonal goodwill and trust. The meeting helped restore confidence among community members and played a catalytic role in averting deeper polarisation.
Three members, including at least one woman, from each VLPC attended the meeting. The Chief District Officer (CDO), Superintendent of Police (SP), regional head of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and media persons were also present. The participants discussed the impacts of continued strikes in Banke district -- how VDCs adjoining Nepalgunj had been adversely affected due to a lack of access to timely information and the relative absence of security mechanisms. The participants exchanged views about the crucial role of VLPCs in restoring social harmony while VLPC members pledged to convene similar meetings in each of their VDCs to instill confidence among communities.
UNDP’s Conflict Prevention Programme (CPP) has been supporting LPCs and VLPCs build capacity to create an enabling environment for constructive dialogue, leading to the prevention of conflict and the promotion of social cohesion whilst helping affected communities stand tall during times of crises.