NATIONAL 1 (Spotlight Weekly)]

See You Again!

Though the second round of talks turns inconclusive, both sides agree to continue negotiations

By BHAGIRATH YOGI

As the government's negotiation team finally greeted the rebel leaders, after waiting for the latter for nearly 22 hours in the posh Tiger Tops Resort within the Royal Bardiya National Park in mid-western Nepal last Thursday (September 13), things seemed to be rolling finally. However, after more than two days, nothing substantive came out of the secret parleys.

As soon as the talks were over Saturday afternoon, both sides rushed to the capital to tell their side of the story to the public. Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Information and Communications, chief government negotiator Chiranjivi Wagle said the government side had expressed serious disagreement with the Maoist demands for the abrogation of the country’s constitution, establishment of a republic and formation of an interim government. He said the government also refused the Maoist demand to scrap the Armed Police Force and withdraw the Integrated Security and Development Program being implemented in districts affected by the Maoist insurgency. "The government has, however, agreed to make public within a week the condition of those in police custody, in prison and those referred to as missing," said Wagle. "We have urged the Maoists to stop their activities, including organizing armed mass meeting, raising forced donations, threatening people, etc."

Within an hour, talking to reporters at Nepal Law Campus — the first press conference held by the underground party in the capital — chief Maoist negotiator Krishna Bahadur Mahara said his party was honest "in finding a new political way out for the country" through talks. "How can we come within the sphere of the present constitution against which we raised arms nearly six years back," said Mahara. He also denied charges that his party cadres were involved in extortion and other such activities.

As soon as the second round of talks was over, the chief district officers in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts issued notices late Saturday — a government holiday — imposing a ban on mass meetings, rallies, raising donations, etc., for up to one month beginning September 15. Though the government notice said no programs that violated the constitutional norms would be allowed, authorities forced the cancellation of seminars intended to help the government-Maoist talks.

As part of its strategy to avoid direct confrontation with the government, the underground party withdrew two public functions scheduled to be held in the capital on September 17 and 21. They said the meeting of the student wing of the party would now take place on September 24 in the eastern town of Biratnagar and regional level mass meetings would be organized instead of the central meeting proposed to be held in the capital. Police, backed by military personnel, started raids on campus hostels, hotels, guest houses, etc., where they suspected that Maoist cadres had concealed arms and explosives ahead of their proposed mass meeting.

The Maoist leadership denied that they had any plan to use force during the mass meeting. Comrade Prachanda warned that the ongoing talks between the government and his party could collapse if the government did not withdraw the ban on mass meetings in the capital. In a statement issued Sunday, the top Maoist leader warned that the government would face violent retributions if it did not put a halt to the arrest of Maoist sympathizers. He also asked his guerrillas to resist security personnel in their own way.

Aware of the growing international opinion against terrorism in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, (See cover story), the Nepalese government seized the opportunity to put pressure on the rebels. As the Royal Nepalese Army worked hand in hand with Nepal Police in planning and executing security measures in the capital valley, it had a clear message for the rebels — fall in line or else.

Though the talks in themselves are least likely to find a common ground given the diametrically opposite stands of the Maoists and the government (See box), analysts say both sides will find it more difficult now to break off negotiations. Thousands of people all over the country took out peace rallies last Friday to press both sides to find a peaceful solution to the insurgency, which has claimed the lives of more than 1,800 people and left nearly 1,000 people disabled.

"The government and Maoists must honor the nationwide public sentiment and should not indulge in activities that could jeopardize the talks," said Sudip Pathak, convenor of People’s Solidarity for Peace Talks that organized the rallies. Agreed Mahesh Acharya, Minister for Agriculture and one of the members of the government’s negotiation team, "At a time when all the political parties and popular opinion is against violence and terror and the Maoists, too, seem to be in favor of a peaceful landing, the government is really encouraged."

A day after the second round of talks were over, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba convened an all-party meeting in Singha Durbar Sunday to brief them about the Maoist agenda. The government has also urged the political parties to give their official views on the issues raised by the Maoists. Sources said the government plans to formulate its official response to the Maoist agenda on the basis of consensus among the major political parties.

The government’s move to isolate the Maoists politically seems to be paying as 10 left parties have joined hands to forge, what they call, broader left unity and have brushed aside the Maoist demand for constituent assembly and republic, saying that it is not relevant in the present context. In terai districts like Banke and Parsa, local people started taking on the Maoists in an organized way and countering their activities. A Maoist supporter died in popular backlash in Parsa and one local person was killed when police intervened. Though local leaders and administration avoided the situation from turning into a communal conflict, the incident showed how volatile things could become if handled improperly.

Despite the face-off, analysts say both the government and Maoists have no viable option left than to try to find a negotiated settlement through talks. "The very fact that both sides have committed (themselves) to dialogue and none of them have said they would back off, is a positive development," said Prof. Kapil Shrestha, a member of the National Human Rights Commission. "Since total victory or defeat is not possible for either party, dialogue provides them the only win-win situation."

Prof. Shrestha, however, cautioned that the government should not be tempted to use the recent international developments for short-term use. "If dealt with determination, tact and diplomacy it will not be much difficult to deal with a force like the Maoists. But, unfortunately, the government doesn’t seem to have done adequate homework on issues like rehabilitating and re-integrating Maoist cadres," he said.

As the Royal Nepalese Army is under great pressure to show its loyalty to the popularly elected government and the Maoist leadership can no more enjoy a safe haven in the bordering Indian towns amid the growing public opinion against terrorism, finding a peaceful solution to the protracted insurgency has become a must. "Maoists know very well that international opinion is not in their favor. So, instead of trying to attract thousands of people for their cause, going back to the jungle will be nothing but a suicidal move," said Krishna Pahadi, a human rights activist.

For the Maoist leadership, the regimented orientation of their cadres and infiltration of anti-social elements in their rank and file of late may pose a great challenge in their move to join the national mainstream. They need some saleable points like constitutional amendments and participation in the government to convince their cadres. "Given the latest developments, an insurgency can’t prolong in Nepal and it must come to an end," said Rajendra Dahal, editor of Himal Khabarpatrika. But it is common knowledge that the way to lasting peace is still a long way ahead. Much of it will depend on whether the Maoists choose to join the peaceful transformation of Nepalese society or continue to act as the agents of destabilization in this Himalayan kingdom as part of a ‘grand design,’ as believed by many. n

Maoist Agenda

Main Political Agenda

1. To abrogate the present constitution and empower the people to draft a new constitution.

2. To form an interim government to initiate a process by dissolving the present parliament and government.

3. To initiate a process toward institutional development of a republic.

Issues of Immediate Concern for the People

1. To annul all the unequal treaties including Nepal-India Treaty of 1950, Integrated Mahakali Treaty, to withdraw Indian troops from Kalapani and stop border encroachment.

2. To regulate and manage the Nepal-India open border.

3. To introduce the work permit system.

Proposal for Facilitating the Talks

1. To make public whereabouts of people missing from police custody, including Dandapani Neupane.

2. To release all prisoners including central committee member of the CPN (Maoist) Matrika Yadav.

3. To annul all the laws and regulations including Public Security Act, Armed Police Force targeted against the people’s war.’

4. To withdraw Integrated Security and Development Program being implemented against people in a "conspiratorial" way.

5. To send back to the barracks Royal Nepalese Army personnel deployed to terrorize the people under various pretexts.