Call For Talks
MINISTER for Home Dharma Bahadur Thapa said that His Majesty's Government has kept its
doors open for talks in order to end the violence that has been plaguing the country for
the last couple of years. Addressing media persons in Kathmandu, the other day, Minister
Thapa asked the Maoists to shun violence and come forward for talks in order to solve the
problem peacefully. The remarks of Minister Thapa are strictly in line with the present
government's policy to solve the Maoist problem through negotiation and restore peace and
stability in the country. The country and the people have suffered much due to violence
and terrorism. Development and economic activities have come to virtual standstill.
Tourism, the backbone of the national economy, has experienced a downward slide because of
instability, conflict and frequent strikes. Peace is, thus, a must in order to revive the
national economy and make the people feel safe and secure. If the nation suffers, no
Nepali can escape the effects. Thus, it should be the duty of all political forces and
individuals to eschew their differences and collectively contribute to nation building
through the restoration of peace.
Against this background, Maoists also must renounce violence
and terrorism and come forward for a peaceful solution to the problem. Conflict and
differences are natural in a democratic political system. But such conflicts need to be
resolved through compromise and consensus. This is the hallmark of democracy.
Confrontation creates hatred. Violence only invites further violence. Moreover, democracy
provides opportunities for all kinds of political groups and ideologies to carry out their
political activities peacefully. If Maoists are at all a political force and if they are
serious and sincere about the nation and national interest, they must immediately stop
their violent activities and engage in peaceful negotiation for the resolution of the
country's burning problem. The government has been liberal enough and called the Maoists
to come to the negotiating table. If Maoists miss this opportunity and continue to resort
to killing, kidnapping and extortion, the government, whose duty is to protect the life
and property of the people, would definitely be more firm in order to save the nation from
such untoward violence and terrorism. The flexibility and liberal policy of the government
should by no means be taken as its weakness. The nation is united against violence.
Terrorism has never succeeded anywhere in the world in achieving political goal except
creating a temporary chaos. Several terrorist groups have finally realised their mistakes
and joined the peaceful and democratic mainstream. For Maoists as well, there is no
alternative but peaceful negotiation.
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