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Kathmandu Friday August 10, 2001 Shrawan 26, 2058.
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Matching gesture
The release of eight more Maoist detainees, the
last ones held under the Public Security Act, is an indication of the Deuba
government’s attempts at trying to forge a dialogue with the Maoist insurgents, who
want to do away with the present parliamentary system of democracy, and want an end to the
country’s monarchy. They most likely want to replace all these with their own brand
of the dictatorship of the proletariat. Though the Maoist demands and the present
dispensation look increasingly irreconcilable, giving rise to genuine fears among the
people as to whether the talks will really be held, it is nonetheless the duty of the
government to exhaust all possible means of solving the problem peacefully through talks
before attempting something drastic. The government seems to be showing a genuine desire
for talks by releasing in phases all the Maoists held under the Public Security Act. The
government has also made public the status of 273 persons thought to be the Maoists. These
are no mean gestures but it has unfortunately not been matched by the Maoist leadership.
The Maoists continue to hold abducted policemen and persons. Even about those they claim
to have release, the government seems to have no information. While lauding what appears
to be unilateral government gestures unmatched by the Maoists, the Maoists or their
sympathizers appear to be hedging their bets and object to the passage by parliament of
Armed Police Force and Public Safety Act. Somehow, these objections do not appear to be
fair.
Most agree that the talks between the
government, which should represent not merely the government but all shades of the
political mainstream, and the Maoists are desirable to solve the insurgency problem in an
amicable manner. But most also agree that the government might be giving away too much too
soon without a matching gesture from the Maoists. The government gesture of recent days
should not be to the Maoists' gains who continue to indulge in sporadic looting and
abduction, quite in contravention to the cessation of violence and other anti-social
activities agreed by the two sides. How long should the government security forces stand
and watch and do nothing as the Maoists indulge in looting and abduction. By indulging in
Robin Hood like activities, the Maoists can win some popularity among the poor for
sometime but not always. The Maoists will also do well to stop desecrating temples and
shrines and instead should try to bring social and religious reforms by convincing the
people. In short, if the Maoists are really keen on talks, they must cease all activities
forthwith and not take advantage of the government’s gestures but instead begin
matching them in words and deeds. That is the only way the Maoists can show they are
genuinely interested in talks.
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