Tenaganita acknowledges the spirit of the people’s movement to build a new nation committed to constitutional democracy and we express our solidarity and support for the road map for peace. King Gyanendra accepted popular sovereignty, reinstated parliament and invited the mainstream seven-party alliance to implement its roadmap – including election of a constituent assembly to rewrite the constitution in line with the parties’ five-month-old agreement with the Maoists.  This road map to bring about peace and development is crucial.

We recognize it is precarious and therefore needs much confidence building among the people of Nepal.  The struggle for democracy has cost lives and bloodshed.  But the dominance and power of the monarchy, the absence of democracy, increasing poverty and unemployment and the Maoist uprising have brought about large scale extensive outward migration and trafficking of persons especially women and children..

Today, in Malaysia, the second largest group, next to Indonesian workers, is Nepali migrant workers.  There are more than 500,000 Nepali workers in various sectors of employment.  In fact, more and more workers aspire to leave the country.  In fact, Nepali workers yearn for peace, democracy and development in their country.  They want stability and security so that they can return home with the confidence of reintegration into their communities and   reconstruct their beloved nation.

At the same time, it is only through peace and democracy can we extensively reduce the vulnerability of the people especially the women and children to human trafficking.  The sufferings of the people have grown with now more and more women headed households, high number of HIV/AIDS cases and disintegration of families especially in the rural areas.  It is in the interest of the people of Nepal that we as part of the international community must support in developing and strengthening the peace process to ensure democracy reigns.

Tenaganita sees the challenges faced by the Nepali people, in keeping the peace process on track; containing the king and controlling the army; planning for constitutional change; and responding to calls for transitional justice.

The international community needs to help the government of Nepal as it tackles these challenges in an environment which remains precarious.  We must accept that Nepal’s people are the drivers of international engagement and that in the changed domestic political environment its parties, civil society groups and other representatives are in a better position than before to make their own suggestions and decisions. 

Therefore any involvement of other governments in the peace process must recognize the struggle and aspirations of the people on the form of constitutional democracy the people of Nepal want to construct.  Encouragingly, the parties and the Maoists have reaffirmed their commitment to their joint peace plan. Solid self-interest underlies the twelve-point agreement; though there is no guarantee, implementing it successfully is still the most attractive option for both sides.

We hope that the direction to democracy and genuine development of the people will also be the road map for migrant workers especially in ensuring safe migration, proper in built mechanisms to ensure just recruitment with informed choice, and in reintegration within an environment of peace and security. We also call upon the current government in building democracy ensures the rights of migrant workers are upheld and respected and as well as the right of migrant workers to vote and decide on the kind of government they want when elections take place.