February 17, 2006

As Maoist insurgency enters eleventh year, the nation finds itself in a quagmire of violence and political turmoil

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

Ten years ago, Nepal was a struggling democracy. There was an elected parliament. Despite all the shortcomings and instability, the political leaders of Nepal were trying to govern the country based on people’s mandate. The newly restored democracy was just six years old. Economic policies were beginning to bear fruit as the nation was enjoying the average of five to six percent growth. From grass-root level in VDCs to the parliament, elected representatives were firmly entrenched and actively engaged in debates to usher in rapid transformation of socio-economic conditions of the people.

Attack in Nawalparasi : Senseless violence

Ten years later, Nepal is in a mess, to say the least. The Maoists’ “people’s war” has thoroughly disrupted the security and administration in large swathes of the country. Violence has become commonplace phenomenon. Politics is stormy. Elected representatives are nowhere to be seen. The local bodies have not seen elections in the last eight years (last week the current regime did hold a controversial elections for municipalities). Parliament has been unceremoniously dissolved. Constitutional forces are fighting with each other even as the Maoists continue to push forward their agenda. And the King has taken over the executive powers sidelining the political parties. The country is being increasingly isolated among the international community.

Above all, nearly 14,000 Nepalese have lost their lives. In the last one decade, the insurgency has taken a heavy toll not only in terms of human cost and suffering but also in terms of infrastructures destroyed. Around 13,865 Nepalese have lost their lives thanks to the violent conflict during the period according to data compiled by Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC). Billions of rupees worth of infrastructures like bridges, hydropower projects, VDC buildings, government offices, telecom and electricity structures have been destroyed in senseless violence.

In recent days, the Maoist chairman Prachanda has given interviews to national and international media indicating that his organization may join the mainstream of competitive plural politics if their demand for constituent assembly is met.

How credible and sincere his demands are remains to be seen. In an exclusive interview they gave to Kantipur daily, Prachanda and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai have indicated that they are “willing to engage in peace talks with the King’s government if the King calls them for talks by announcing ceasefire.” The two Maoist leaders also said they were “ready to accept the result of election of constituent assembly. Prachanda said that they would accept even if the people voted for active monarchy, constitutional monarchy or multi party democracy through constituent assembly.”

The interview was published on the backdrop of eleventh anniversary of their “people’s war.” The year 2005 marked another milestone in the insurgency. This was the year when the political parties sulking after the royal steps of February 1, 2005 were compelled to engage in an embrace with the Maoists in the form of 12-point understanding.

For better or worse, the Maoists have indicated that they are willing to join the competitive political system – the same system which they helped to destabilize and disrupt through their violent tactics.

In another interview he gave last week to BBC, Prachanda tried to justify the violent movement his party has been waging. “Everyone knows when we were in the parliament, we put forward 40-point demands so that the problems of Nepalis would be solved in a peaceful way. But, when the ruling classes were not ready to solve the problems of Nepalis peacefully, and instead started victimizing our party workers and people who supported us in a brutal and illegitimate fashion, they compelled us and the Nepali people to take up arms,” he said.

The government, on the other hand, does not seem willing to entertain the Maoist demand for constituent assembly yet. Vice chairperson of the Council of Ministers Dr. Tulsi Giri has ruled out talks with the “Maoist terrorists” unless the latter renounce violence. Reacting to recent interview of Maoist chairman Prachanda, Dr. Giri said, “I find it full of contradictions. On the one hand (he) has talked about forming parallel government while, on the other, there are talks about resolving the crisis through constituent assembly,” he said.

The government spokesperson and State Minister for Information Shrish Rana has said that the Maoists were still inflexible on constituent assembly and republic. “We must look in our constitution. Where is the place for constituent assembly in this constitution?” Rana asked.

Given the bitter differences in opinion, the violent conflict in the country appears far away from resolution, which is a very bad news for millions of peace-loving Nepalese.