Critical Assessment
PRIME Minister Sher Bahaudr Deuba warned the Maoists not to sell dreams to
the people and instead join the democratic mainstream to uplift the condition of the
people and strengthen democracy and people’s rights. Addressing a mass meeting in
Nepalgunj the other day, Prime Minister Deuba said that the law and order situation in the
country has improved in the last three months since the new government was formed. It is
due to the Prime Minister’s peace initiatives with the Maoist rebels that has brought
about a somewhat positive scenario. At the call of the Prime Minister, Maoists rebels
ceased their violent and offensive activities and agreed to hold talks with the government
to solve the Maoist problem. This is a historic achievement made in the last six years.
Herein it may be worthwhile remembering that the peace talks had not been initiated with
the rebels despite repeated calls of the previous governments for dialogue. Two rounds of
talks have already been held and the third round of peace talks are expected to be held
some time next week. Despite the agreement for halting all types of offensive activities
from both the government and the Maoists, the rebels have not fully stopped such
activities. Some cases of abduction and extortion have been reported in different parts of
the country. Against this background, Prime Minister Deuba has warned the rebels to
completely halt such activities and be committed to peace talks in order to solve the
problem peacefully. If rebels do not completely stop such undesired for activities, there
would be enough room to suspect that the Maoist leadership does not have control over its
workers. If that is the situation, other decisions of the Maoist leadership may not be
translated into action, which ultimately will lead to anarchy. Thus, the onus lies on the
Maoist leadership, if they are honest to their own promises, to halt all violent
activities. Another thing the rebels also need to understand is the fact that selling
dreams does not at all serve the interest of the nation and the people. But it ultimately
backfires on those who sell cheap slogans and dreams as a propaganda measure. In a
democracy, one needs to be practical to mobilise the people to improve their own economic
and social status. In this, lies the supreme interest of the nation and the people.
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