NATIONAL 2 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Conflict Continues

After killing 11 policemen in Kalikot district, the Maoist leadership proposes 'dialogue'. Will the government respond?

By BHAGIRATH YOGI

After Dunai, it was Kotbada. Barely two months after a devastating attack at the district headquarters of the remote northern district of Dolpa, bordering Tibet, Maoist rebels targeted a poorly-equipped remote police post in northern district of Kalikot. Eleven policemen were killed and half a dozen others injured in the November 29 attack. Unlike in the aftermath of previous attacks, senior government officials in Kathmandu gave the Royal Nepal Army a 'clean chit', saying it was not in a position to help the policemen situated some seven hours' trek away from the district headquarters. After the Dunai attacks, Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi had to resign after accusing the army of non-cooperation.

Interestingly, four days after the Kotbada attacks, top Maoist leader Comrade Prachanda, wrote a lengthy article (published by Kantipur daily on December 4 and 5) accusing the government of not being sincere for peace talks. "Our party is ready to sit for talks with the government provided it makes public the whereabouts of our leaders and cadres and starts releasing them," Prachanda said. However, he said, dialogue with the Koirala faction of the ruling party would not be able to resolve the problems facing the people and the country. ìWe see the need for talks with all political fronts,î he said. Prachanda warned that if the concerned groups do not take his proposal seriously, the Maoists are ready to fight till the end.

Though no immediate comments were available from the government side, sources said officials are still doubtful about the latest proposal by the underground party. "Maoists seem to be using the proposal for talks only as a strategy. They do not look serious about it," said Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ram Chandra Poudel last week. Poudel had held high-profile informal talks with a Maoist leader, Rabindra Shrestha, in

October this year. The government then released two senior Maoist leaders, Dinesh Sharma and Dinanath Gautam. At a dramatic press conference, Sharma and Gautam denounced the violent path adopted by their party but within few hours withdrew their comments saying that they were forced to make them under coercion.

The Maoist party expelled Sharma and Gautam and said there was very little possibility of resuming talks because of the government's 'dirty tricks.' Mediator and human rights activist Padma Ratna Tuladhar also accused the government of insincerity. Things looked stalemated until the Maoists mounted the Kotbada attack.

After the Dunai attack on September 25, the government deployed army troops at the headquarters of 16 districts affected by the Maoist rebellion. Authorities said the army would patrol and protect life and property alongside the police in the sensitive areas. But they seemed to have no plans to defend remote police posts. Analysts say casualty on the part of the government forces would continue because of half-hearted government actions.

There may be practical problems for the government, too. Senior government sources say two ordinances meant for setting up an armed police force and appointing regional administrators in the five development regions have been waiting for the royal seal for the last three months. They said army top brass is not satisfied with certain provisions in the proposed bill to set up the para-military force. As the time passes, the government will have to submit the bill in the winter session of the parliament expected to start by mid-February. Given the lack of consensus among major political parties on dealing with the insurgency, the bill is likely to draw heavy protests.

As the government is forced to drag its feet, the rebels seem to be inclined to gain maximum mileage. They have adopted two-pronged strategy: Gain public sympathy by showing a readiness for talks and push the government back from mobilizing military or paramilitary forces. The dismantling of five suspension bridges before attacking the Kotbada post showed that they could go any length to maintain their strongholds.

The prospect of peace talks looks uncertain, at least for now, because neither side is going to gain, even if they take place, say activists. "By asking the government to make public the whereabouts of their cadres, the Maoist rebels are adopting a strategy of exposing the atrocities and human rights violations by the government," says Krishna Pahadi, chairman of Human Rights and Peace Society, a non-governmental organization. "The proposition of talks, hence, only seems as a means of working out a cease-fire."