NATIONAL 3 -(Spotlight Weekly)

Operation Restore Peace

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba gets much-needed support from all political parties in his effort to restore law and order

By A CORRESPONDENT

The achievements by newly appointed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in bringing various political forces together to restore law and order in the Maoist affected areas have been remarkable. Even before taking the oath of office, Prime Minister Deuba called a truce with the Maoist insurgents, drawing a reciprocal announcement from the rebels.

PM Deuba : Rush to consensus

In the last two weeks, except for sporadic incidents of extorting donations and forcing elected local representatives to resign, the Maoist insurgents have honored the truce announced by its leaders by not attacking police posts. The government has released several Maoist prisoners from jail to pave the way for peaceful dialogue. The Maoists, too, have released people under their captivity.

Although two weeks have passed since the truce was announced, it seems that it will still take at least a week to start formal negotiations with Maoist leadership. Many hope that Prime Minister Deuba will bring lasting peace to a country that has been gripped by nearly six years of escalating violence.

Although many express doubts over Deuba’s ability to make the peace talks successful, the prime minister has already gained some mileage by drawing support from leaders of major political parties, including his own, for the talks.

Deuba has held talks with leader of main opposition party Madhav Kumar Nepal, Rastriya Prajatatra Party leader Surya Bahadur Thapa, CPN-ML leader Bam Dev Gautam, Nepal Sadbhavana Party president Gajendra Narayan Singh and other leaders, including former speaker Damannath Dhungana.

After receiving the backing of his own Nepali Congress party, Deuba is now on a mission to convince other national and small political parties to develop a consensus on setting the agenda for the talks.

"The prime minister will hold a conference of national political parties after completing his consultations with various political leaders," says a close aide to Deuba, on condition of anonymity. "The prime minister has received a very positive response from all political parties."

As pressure is mounting on the government and the Maoists to find a peaceful solution, negotiations seems to be inevitable. "I think all the parties will support Prime Minister Deuba in his quest to restore law and order in the country," says Sudip Pathak, president of the Human Rights Organization Nepal.

ORDINANCES
Building Consensus

It took nearly five months to regularize two ordinance tabled in parliament. The Armed Police Ordinance and Local Administration Amendment Ordinance have finally entered in the official process of parliament.

According to the constitution, an ordinance must be ratified by parliament within 60 days of its introduction. Although the government does not have a majority in the upper house, the majority of the Nepali Congress in the lower house is adequate to ratify it. Although all opposition parties have registered a motion against it, they seem to have decided to pave the way for ratification by organizing a tactical boycott of the house.

"We are not opposing the establishment of the Armed Police Force. Our opposition is to the way the government tried to bypass parliament in announcing the ordinance," says a senior UML leader on condition of anonymity. "We will not vote in favor of the ordinances."

The House of Representatives endorsed the ordinance after Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka tabled it.