It's a holiday - announced this morning - we're celebrating the signing (at 8.29pm)last night of a peace agreement which ends the 10 year civil war in Nepal. The title is taken from the front page headline of the 'Himalayan Times'this morning.
It was quite something watching the ceremony live on TV. Typical Nepali event - everyone introduced, introductory speech, reading of the document in full (all 11 pages) by the government leader of the peace talks team, the signing (by Prime Minister Koirala and Maoist leader Prachanda), a handshake, a speech by each of them and a vote of thanks by the Maoist negotiaton leader.
The great and the good from the parties, the UN, UNHRC and even the American ambassador (who keeps opening his mouth and putting his foot in it where the Maoists are concerned - basically the US isn't sure how to treat baddies turned good) were all there in the Birendra International Conference Centre. Afterwards many people went out into the streets to light candles to celebrate. The papers say the government buildings will hold Deepavali light ceremonies tonight and the Maoists promised celebrations all over the country.
That was certainly true in Hetauda this afternoon. A lot of people in the bazaar stopped to watch a procession of flag and banner carrying Maoists. (I just happened to be coming back from a walk - honestly VSO. I didn't exactly avoid it though, in fact when I realised something was happening at the statue I headed in that direction. Those poor statues of King M - they have suffered this year). It was very good natured; there were plenty of traffic police, but no APF or army in sight.
So, will things change? There will be many twists and turns, but the peace agreement states that the ceasefire is permanent, landmines will be identified and removed within 60 days, seized property will be returned,there will be no recruitment by either side (more of that later), troops wil be confined to barracks, extortion will stop,information will be given about 'disappeared'people and the values of multi-party democracy will be respected. And then there will be elections, the monarchy will probably be ended and the King will be put on trial for his part in suppressing the April revolution - not a smooth road.
The editor of the Kathmandu Post summed up the situation well. After thanking the two leaders for their work (and suggesting Koirala for the Nobel Prize)and remembering the 14000 who have died in the last 10 years, he asks for an end to corruption, nepotism and favouritism and for both sides to keep to the agreement - 'We hope our leaders will not do anything to dampen the genuine and just exuberance that Nepalis are feeling today. Let us commit ourselves to build a new Nepal.' And so say all of us.
At last - CNN have just mentioned it for the first time - one sentence at 6.20pm (well it wasn't on this morning or at lunchtime, but BBC World Service had a report from Charle Haviland, even saying there was a holiday).
On the lighter side, according to the press, the whole ceremony was delayed by 15 minutes because Home Minister Sitaula (Gov talks leader) took the papers to the toilet with him and got them wet, so had to go and find a photo copier.
The first thing that must stop is the 'recruitment' (with the promise of good pay just for staying in the camp areas) of young people into the PLA (People's Liberation Army). I'm told that on Monday over 2000 young people passed through Hetauda on many buses headed for a camp in Chitwan district. Other reports talk of parents stopping buses to try to find their sons and daughters. One private school headmaster left his post because he was promised more money.
Apart from the fact that it's yet another day when chldren aren't at school and noone is in the office, there will probably be further changes of personnel when the interim government is announcesd at the beginning of December. As I said in the last blog, there has been much change at the office - 18 resource centres now covered by 9 RPs, new supervisors -only temporary appointments for 3 months and the new DEO is back in KTM because his mother and wife are both ill. Trying to get a minute with my new counterpart, Mahendraji, is impossible-he's the DEO and tryng to sort out his new job.
I've got a good contact in our major donor organisation who has told me about the financial situation left by his predecessor. Enough to say there won't be as much funding ths year.
On the positive side, training for heads and SMC chairs is starting -just when I have to go to Kathmandu for the winter conference, over Christmas (24-26 Dec) and then in February when we have the Programme Workshop in Kathmandu, when the DEO and section leader attend.
I am beginning to feel some empathy for the people who work at the office. Being surrounded by so much uncertainty must be really demotivating and my complaints that there is no follow-up to training seem ridiculous when it's often a different person who would be following up. I'm still asking to be associated with one RP on a more permanent basis and I think I've found the right person (she's on a 10 day course in women's education in Bharatpur, just now) - let's hope my second year in Hetauda (I arrived 12 months ago tomorrow) gets off to a good start, particularly at this time of new beginnings.
Hello Pat
Please keep up the BLOG - I may not comment but look forward to the next installments - and read them with awe and admiration. You put all our petty trials and tribulations into perspective.
Kathleen