Positive Direction
AT separate functions on Tuesday, Prime Minister Lokendra
Bahadur Chand emphasised the commitment of the government to hold talks with the Maoists
for the restoration of peace. He gave firm indications that peace overtures were on,
without giving, for good reasons, too many details. Ever since the Chand administration
was constituted, it has extended an olive branch to the Maoists. It would be the height of
cynicism to pronounce that the present government is siting idle, twiddling its thumbs.
Regarding moves towards restoration of peace. The public knows that this government was
formed with a specific mandate, the highlight of which was the restoration of peace lost
to increasing violence over the past years. Prime Minister Chand and his colleagues in the
cabinet have, since its formation two months ago, from public forums repeatedly asked the
Maoists to abandon violence and come forward for talks. Though there has been no clear-cut
positive response from the Maoists to the urging, the government apparently has not
abandoned its pro-peace efforts. There may actually have been a greater movement forward
towards peace talks in recent times than previously. Mr. Chand disclosed to newsmen during
a reception on the occasion of the 54th World Human Rights Day on Tuesday at the former's
residence that a human rights group has been engaged in holding government-Maoist talks
and said that the efforts were headed in a "positive direction". At the same
time he said: It takes time for talks. Let's not lose patience. Let's not start remours.
It is somewhat good news that things are moving in the
direction of peace. Though only an incorrigible optimist would expect restoration of peace
overnight in this land where some 7,000 Nepalese have perished since 1996 in the violence,
positive moves in this regard nonetheless would still give some hope that peace is
recoverable. The Prime Minister's reiteration, at a function also on Tuesday to discuss
the role of the National Human Rights Commission in the restoration of peace, that the
government was ready to hold talks with the Maoists, also strengthens such common sense of
hope. But, in order that talks take place and peace breaks out in Nepal, common efforts by
all including human rights workers and civil society, were essential, as was also pointed
out by the Prime Minister. The World Human Rights Day on Tuesday could not have been
better observed than by a pledge by all to bring in peace to this long-suffering nation.
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