OFF THE RECORD (Spotlight Weekly)

‘We Will Use All Channels To Start The Dialogue With Maoist’

— MADHAV KUMAR NEPAL

General Secretary of CPN-UML MADHAV KUMAR NEPAL believes that peaceful negotiation is the best way to end the Maoist violence. The leader of the main opposition Nepal has called for Maoists to prepare for fruitful talks to end the violent insurgency. Nepal spoke to SPOTLIGHT on various issues related to the Maoist problems. Excerpts:

What steps are the CPN-UML taking to end the Maoist violence?

Our party is very much worried about the on-going insurgency. Thus, we have started political dialogue with different political parties to search for amicable solution. We also called Maoist leadership to prepare for the fruitful talks to end the insurgency.

Do you believe that Maoist will respond to your call?

They have to respond to us. When Congress government has failed to bring them to table, it is our duty to take the initiative. We will use all channels to start the dialogue with Maoist leadership.

The high level government committee formed under the leadership of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is said to be very close to start the dialogue with Maoists. In such a situation, is not your decision aimed at pre-empting the talks?

Don't talk about Deuba committee which has already lost its legitimacy. If Deuba were able to settle the Maoist problem, what did it do in the last one year?

But the government has decided to mobilize the army to quell the insurgency. How do you look at it?

Mobilization of army is not the final solution. If the government mobilizes the army, it would be unfortunate for the country, political system and the Congress government.

It is said that your party does not have clear stand on Maoist insurgency. Is it true?

CPN-UML is the only party which has been holding the same line of thought vis-a-vis the Maoist movement. We condemn violence committed by the government and Maoist. Our party believes that violent insurgencies will ultimately limit the democratic rights achieved through people's movement.

Koirala-Bhattarai Smile Together

Congress workers were happy to see their two septuagenarian leaders Girija Prasad Koirala and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai finally sit together to welcome the guests at the tea party hosted by Koirala. After months of bitter jaw-war, it was the dream-come-true for the congress workers to find their two guardians sharing a same event and that too in a gleeful mood. Such was the proximity between the two veterans that even the former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was kicked out from the dias shared by the two.

Organized Party Unorganized Program

Although CPN-UML claimed that is a disciplined and organized party, its tea program showed otherwise. Tea program started from 11 am and lasted till 5 pm but the management was so ill-organized that journos were invited at the time that was scheduled for party workers while the leaders of political parties were invited at the time set for party workers. Due to the big crowd, the situation was so chaotic that even the CPN-UML's red-capped volunteers could not identify who was party worker and who was politician. For some journos who were invited at the first round, the tea party brought nothing more than an opportunity to see the faces of UML comrades.

Political Correctness

As country's major political parties are busy organizing the tea party, senior bureaucrats have difficult time choosing the politically correct ones to attend. This may be the reason senior bureaucrats who attended the Saturday's reception of UML's tea party came with different dress. At least, it helped them to change their identity while attending the parties hosted by the Congress and the UML.

Oli Missing

CPN-ML leaders who were active at the Congress tea party found no place in the party organized by CPN-UML. Along with Bamdev Gautam and Sahana Pradhan, even CPN-UML leader K.P. Sharma Oli was missing from the reception. Oli's absence from the reception was the favorite talk among the invited guests especially as it comes at a time when differences between General Secretary Nepal and Oli were recently highlighted in newspapers.