Nepal: Give Peace a Chance
13 Feb, 2003 · 969
Praveen Kumar assesses the stakes involved for the three main actors of Nepal’s political drama in making the on-going peace process successful
The Maoists and the Government of Nepal announced a ceasefire recently that was welcomed by the whole community. The reason behind the Maoist peace offer was obvious. In the post September 11 period, they were seen as terrorists and the American and British assistance to the government to fight the Maoists also factored in their decision.
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. The political parties should take the blame for failing to engage the Maoists due to their petty interests. It is in the interests of
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that the democratic forces should come together and participate in the peace process, rather than sheltering behind the slogan that this move will negate the gains of 1990. Herein lies the dilemma before the political parties – whether to accept the peace process and get sidelined, or reject it as anti-democratic and become unpopular with the people.
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there is widespread support for the peace process. If the Maoists backtrack on their promises, the government has nothing to lose, but the Maoists will lose whatever sympathy and support they have at the popular level. Therein lies the catch. The government should not seize advantage and try to upstage the Maoists. Peace should be given a chance.
The Maoists laid down certain preconditions, which included removal of their terrorist label and scrapping the bounties upon them. Also included in the preconditions was a significant call for a round table that would include all the political parties and civil society.
The government responded positively to these demands. The terrorist label was withdrawn and also the bounty announced. The government has also accepted their crucial demand for a round table. Crucial was the belief in the government that the Maoist leadership – Baburam Bhattarai and Prachanda – had actually met the King before the ceasefire. If this is true, then it augurs well for the ceasefire, and the beginning of a real peace process.
Both the Maoists and the government have appointed their negotiators for the dialogue. The Maoist team would be led by its ideologue, Bhattarai, while Narayan Singh Pun would represent the government. Pun, who is the minister for Physical Planning and Works, was the protagonist behind the underground negotiations, which ultimately led to the cease-fire. Since the Maoists trust Pun, the dialogue prospects appear bright as of now.
The crucial question is, what will be discussed. There seems to be widespread acceptance from the government and the Maoist side that, at the end of talks, an interim government would be established, which would conduct elections, and the elected representatives would form a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution. Though this solution is simple, will it come about? Will this solution get the support of all sections of the people?
The main political parties have not raised objections so far but it is more than clear that they are unhappy. The main reason is seen to be a coming together of two forces, which are not only armed, but have grievances against the democratic forces. Hence the political parties are justified in doubting whether the peace process would affect the return of democracy since 1990. Both the Congress and the UML have already raised some reservations at being sidelined.
Having said that, can they remove the causes underlying the growth of militancy in the 1990s? It was the total failure of the political parties and their inter and intra party rivalries, coupled with a total lack of governance, that had led to the present chaos in
Both the Maoists and the King have good reasons to keep the political parties sidelined. The Maoists have a grudge against the political parties, including the Congress and the UML, as they never viewed the problem as being a political one, but as being related to law and order. The King has his own interests to keep the parties emasculated, and they have made his task easier by total mis-governance.
There has been a lot of pressure from the donor community. Of the approximate annual development assistance of US $ 400 million, around one third has been diverted to fight the Maoists. The donor community, led by the multilateral agencies and individual countries, has already threatened to go slow on aid if the problem persists.
With popular support, international pressure, and the dilemma facing the political parties, peace has a good chance to survive. Though doubts have been raised in many quarters whether the Maoists could be trusted, this process should proceed. The regional and international situation is not conducive for the Maoists. Within
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