At 8:29 pm on 21 November 2006, Nepal bade farewell to 11 years of bloodshed that claimed 13,000 lives and entered a new era of peace. "The time of 8:29 pm will be remembered in history forever", said one government minister at the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Seven Parties' Alliance and the Communist Party of Nepal – the Maoists.

Newspaper headlines echoed his words as the peace accord was celebrated with a national holiday. It was a V-Day, a victory celebration. Nepalese were and are rightly euphoric. And they are proud: the Gorkhas, famed Nepalese warriors, have done it again, not with knives but with determination and daring dialogue. "Nepalese have set an example in conflict resolution for the whole world", said one English daily. "What until recently had seemed impossible has become a reality."

The peace accord was doubtless the outcome of the people's uprising, and they are impatient for immediate returns. But momentous though the signing of the peace accord was, its realization will not be easy and will take time. The war affected so many people. Thousands were internally displaced, hundreds of children were forcibly conscripted by the Maoist militia and countless people were maimed for life. Voiceless ethnic communities and ostracized groups made their own the Maoist cause or fought for the nation and watched their dear ones die.

These people want to be recognized as human beings and as bona fide citizens of the land and to share in the peace dividends. They dream of a new Nepal, one that is free from fear, coercion, extortion, corruption, discrimination and where just order will prevail.