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Growing Complications
The suspension of summit talks followed by Prachanda’s letter bomb adds complications to the peace process
By A CORRESPONDENT
It appeared as an act of vengeance. The chairman of Maoist party Prachanda, who was angry over the government’s unilateral action of sending a letter to the UN, responded by penning his own.
But the implications of the letter could be far-reaching – it could not only spoil the atmosphere but also weaken the possibilities of inviting the UN for monitoring the peace process and arms management here.
Despite immediate damage control exercise by the government as well as the Maoists with both their talks team members claiming it would not affect the ongoing peace talks, the letter war is likely to ruffle the feathers of the UN.
Announcing his strong objection to the letter sent by the government, Maoist chairman Prachanda wrote separately to Secretary General Kofi Annan. In his letter, Prachanda has strongly objected to the request made by the government that the UN monitor and decommission the arms of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). On July 2, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had sent a letter to the UN asking it to “assist in the monitoring the combatants of the Maoists and decommissioning of their arms” and “ensure that the Nepali Army stays inside barracks.”
“The letter was written and sent unilaterally without consulting us in utter violation of the spirit of the ongoing negotiations,” Prachanda writes in his letter, adding that the government letter was in complete violation of 12-point and 8-point pacts signed earlier between the seven parties and the Maoists. He further writes, “(We agree) to request the UN to assist in the management of the armies and weapons of both sides and to monitor them for a free and fair election to the constituent assembly.” It further states, “Such arbitrary and unilateral application of two different yardsticks to the two armies is highly objectionable and totally unacceptable to us. Particularly any talk of ‘decommissioning’ of arms of only the PLA before the election to the constituent assembly is just unthinkable.”
Prachanda’s intractable position regarding the issue of arms management is becoming the major point of disagreement between the government and the Maoists. In fact, even the international community has indicated that the Maoist must show flexibility over this issue.
Last week, the visiting delegation of European Union parliament also urged the Maoists not to carry weapons when going for election. “They are keen to join the political system, but if they come up with unrealistic demands, the peace process will break down,” said Neena Gill, the head of the delegation.
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