Talks For Peace
PRIME Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has decided to send an official invitation
to the Maoists for talks within the next 10 days, having designated Housing and Phycical
Planning Minister Chirinjivi Wagle to represent the government across the table. Minister
Wagle’s designation comes just days after the Maoists named the head of the delegate
to the talks. Now that both the sides have named their representatives, there is room for
optimism that the two sides will be able to thrash out something for the common good of
the nation. Since Premier Deuba took over as head of government in July this year, guns
have fallen silent in the hills of Nepal, after both sides have decided to come to the
negotiating table. Barring a few ugly incidents that continue, both the sides now seem
ready to find a solution to the country’s six-year-old insurgency. The on-going
Maoist movement has so far claimed more than 1,700 lives on both sides of the fence.
Showing its seriousness and clear intentions, the Government has said that it will take
full responsibility for the security of those who come to sit for the talks on behalf of
the Maoist party. And in a show of goodwill, all Maoists who were imprisoned under
different charges have been released. The Government has also initiated the process of
granting general amnesty to persons detained in jail and withdrawing their cases so as to
create an atmosphere conducive for the talks. The Government has announced that until a
final settlement is reached, it will not divulge information regarding the venue, the
subject of the talks and the views and opinions that arise during the talks.
Having shown such goodwill, the ball is now in the Maoist court to show
reciprocal behaviour. As the government has noted, the Maoists should also refrain from
expressing anything that goes against the dignity of the institution of monarchy.
Secondly, demonstrations and torch rallies aimed at putting pressure on the government
should stop. The Government until now has shown a lot of resilience and patience to bring
the Maoists to the negotiating table. It has gone that extra mile to establish peace and
order in the country as desired by all. The Maoists would do well to make the most of the
olive branch extended by the government and not take its liberal attitude and patience
otherwise.
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