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| Kathmandu, Tuesday February 04, 2003 Magh 21, 2059. |
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Maoist team
As the next logical step following declaration
of truce by the government and the Maoists, the rebels have formed a 5-member team to
negotiate with the government. The team headed by Dr Baburam Bhattarai, the underground
outfit’s most respected ideologue, has wider representatives from its regional,
ethnic and military side which indicates the level of seriousness that the proposed
dialogue has been accorded. But what needs to be understood is that the process of peace
will be a long and delicate one, and mere formation of a composite dialogue team is not
sufficient. Adherence to the proper conduct for dialogue and cautious approach not to
allow any irritant to derail the peace process are the least expected of both sides.
Along with the formation of the negotiation
team, the Maoists have called off the two-day nationwide strike scheduled for February 13
and 14, and have invited political parties to join the process. These are extremely
positive moves, and will go a long way in establishing the Maoists’ credentials in
favour of dialogue. The Maoist motive and sincerity in the dialogue as instrument of peace
have long been under suspicion, especially after they walked out of the previous
negotiation table and attacked the military barrack in Dang.
There are still some more irritants that need to
be sorted out from the Maoist side. The underground outfit has to direct its student wing
to call off the move aimed to indefinitely paralyse educational institutions throughout
the country. An agitation under threat of violence and with potential to ruin the future
of millions will in no way create a situation conducive to peace.
But it is crucially important that the
government and the political parties behaved in a much more responsible way. The peace
cannot be long-lasting if there is no wider participation in the process of dialogue and
negotiation. After all, the dialogue is to incorporate major subjects like Constituent
Assembly, regional development and governance, role of the king, command structure of army
etc. Can the issue be sorted out between a government whose legitimacy is still under
question from the political parties and the Maoists alone? The king and political parties
have to reach a compromise in order to give legitimacy and endorse the peace process.
Naturally, the peace process or negotiation is
essentially an art of minimising the difference on one side. It is not a mere question of
give and take. The final outcome will be judged by how much secure we the Nepalese and our
Nepal will be and where we will be placed in the comity of nations. The final outcome has
to be nothing less and nothing more than convergence of our wider interests. But for that
at least the other side has to close its ranks and be together to face the Maoist team
sans bullets in the spirit of truce. |
