VOL. 25, NO. 40, June 16 2006 (Ashadh 02, 2063 B.S.)

Remarks by Maoist chairman suggests a summit meeting is in the offing

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

Sitaula (left) and Prachanda : Fruitfull meeting

Two days after he returned from hastily arranged trip to New Delhi , Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala dispatched his confidante Krishna Sitaula – the Home Minister and chief government interlocutor in the ongoing peace talks – to picturesque village of Sikles in Kaski to meet with Maoist chairman Prachanda on Sunday (June 11).

After the two-hour one-on-one meeting between Sitaula and Prachanda (as reported widely by newspapers) at the foothills of Annapurna range, the tone and substance in the remarks made by the latter has changed dramatically.

Addressing a public meeting in Sikles, on Tuesday (June 13), Prachanda has said that the summit meeting (between him and the government) would be held soon. “After the country enters into constituent assembly following the summit meeting, the nation will be free from current situation,” he is reported as saying.

Following the return of PM Koirala from New Delhi , political developments have picked up a pace. On the same day that he dispatched Sitaula to meet with Prachanda, Koirala also presided over a meeting of the top leaders of seven parties that decided to suspend the parliamentary session. “We made the decision to focus on peace talks,” said Madhav Kumar Nepal , general secretary of Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) who had proposed for the suspension of the parliament after forming special committees of the parliament. Nepal added that he has proposed holding of constituent assembly elections by October and framing new constitution by April next year.

Importantly, the decision to suspend the parliamentary session has been welcomed by the Maoists who had been hitherto demanding its dissolution. “When there is understanding on the final issue of constituent assembly, there is no need to be rigid on other issues. It is not that the broader political conference must be held. It is not that the parliament must be dissolved. But it is also not that the parliament must be kept alive. We must be open,” said Maoist talks coordinator Krishna Mahara who had accompanied Sitaula to Sikles. “A new spirit has emerged since Sikles meeting,” he added.

As the Maoists seem to have dropped their demand for dissolution of the House of Representatives and holding of broader political conference, the next round of peace talks could be quite significant. Besides, the government has also made moves to address another important Maoist demand. The cabinet meeting early this week decided to withdraw all charges against the Maoist inmates. Likewise, the government has also withdrawn the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (TADA) ordinance.

Till June 13, around 240 such detainees had already been released. Mahara said that the government has assured to release 350 Maoist inmates. He added that 250 others would still remain in detention.

The rapid developments seen in the last two, three days have re-injected enthusiasm over the successful conclusion of peace talks soon.

Now the only issue that could still pose problem for the smooth conduction of peace talks is the one concerning management of arms of the Maoists. This issue would still need to be ironed out before the two sides can go for elections to constituent assembly.

Meanwhile, in an interview he gave to Kantipur Television recently, Prachanda indicated that his party’s eagerness to join the mainstream of politics. Criticizing what he called as moves by parliamentary forces to take all the credit of the success of people’s movement, Prachanda said, “By now we should have already been inducted in the interim government.” In that interview Prachanda had vehemently opposed the existence of the parliament but after Sikles meeting he seems to have toned down his reservations against the House of Representatives – apparently satisfied with the decision to suspend its proceedings for the time being.