NATIONAL 2 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Hidden Agenda?

In the midst of different priorities of the government and the Maoists, the third round of peace talks looks elusive

By BHGAIRATH YOGI

At a time when international opinion was being mobilized against all kinds of terrorism, pro-Maoist activists in Kathmandu were engaged in vandalizing school property, burning government vehicles and terrorizing the people last week. To register their protest against raids by police and army in different campus hostels in the capital, ANNFSU (Revolutionary) — the student wing of the underground Maoist party — called a week-long closedown of academic institutions in the valley. However, they withdrew their program amid sporadic violent activities the very next day, honoring what they called "popular opinion."

Prachanda (left) and deuba : Who is smarter?

Although the Maoist activists withdrew their movement temporarily, ostensibly fearing a backlash, Maoist leaders were busy firing verbal missiles. Addressing a mass meeting in Chitwan Friday chief Maoist negotiator, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, warned that the incidents at the Pentagon and World Trade Center towers in the United States could also be repeated in Nepal. "If the government threatens the Maoists, citing the US power, the incident of Pentagon could be repeated at the Narayanhiti palace and Singha Durbar," claimed the former member of parliament. Saying that the Maoists had not gone to the negotiating table in search of a safe landing (to their movement), Mahara warned the government not to threaten the use of the army against his party. "The ‘people’s militia’ can defeat the Royal Nepalese Army," he boasted.

Now it was the turn of the Defense Ministry to react to the Maoists’ tirade. In a strongly worded statement issued the same evening, the Defense Ministry, headed by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba himself, warned that the security agencies will be forced to take action in accordance with the law if anyone is found indulged in undermining the dignified institution of monarchy or giving unwanted expressions with the idea of undermining the institution or demonstrating weapons at mass meetings or kidnapping people. "The constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom cannot be exercised in ways other than those determined by the existing laws," the ministry cautioned.

Premier Deuba, former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala and senior Congress leaders came down heavily against the Maoist rebels while addressing the second annual general convention of Nepal Tarun Dal, the youth wing of the ruling party, in Hetauda Saturday. Talking to reporters in Birgunj Sunday, Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka said he was not in favor of fulfilling all the demands put forward by the Maoists unilaterally. "I would rather resign than fulfill the demands under pressure from the prime minister and the ruling party," said Khadka, a powerful minister in the Deuba cabinet. Khadka said two out of the three demands made by the Maoists could not be fulfilled now.

Reports said the Maoists had demanded that the government release all of their cadres, dismantle the Armed Police Force and scrap the Public Security Regulations before the third round of talks take place. "They are still holding 71 policemen and 37 political activists as hostage. Why should we release all of their cadres?" asked Khadka. He also warned that the country could head towards civil war if the Maoists continued their strategy of targeting and killing Nepali Congress workers.

Even after the conclusion of two rounds of talks in less than a month, both sides seem to be sticking to their guns. In their agenda presented to the government in the Bardiya talks early this month, the Maoists called for setting up an interim government, formulating a new constitution and institutionalizing the republic. The government negotiators, in their preliminary reaction, brushed aside the Maoist demand for a new constitution and declaring Nepal a republic.

"To say that a desire for a republican state has emerged in the hearts of the Nepali people is a vague idea," said Narahari Acharya, Nepali Congress leader and a member of the government’s negotiation team. "We have seen a kind of monarchy in the veil of a republican state in countries like Cuba and North Korea. The Maoists should clearly state what their real motive is", said Acharya, addressing an interaction program organized by Press Chautari last week.

UML leader K.P. Sharma Oli was more forthright. "The Maoists are very much clear that they can’t turn Nepal into a republic through talks. By agreeing to sit down for negotiations with the government, they have also accepted the constitutional monarchy," said Oli. "The Maoists should now give up their violent ways and join mainstream politics to win popular support."

By organizing huge mass meetings in different parts of the country, Maoists seem to be trying to do exactly that. The Maoist leadership may have understood well that international opinion is against all kind of terrorist activities. By offering all-out support to the US government in its anti-terrorist campaign (See box), the Deuba government may also have tried to send a message to the rebels, say analysts. At the same time, the Indian government’s decision to deploy nearly 10,000 security personnel from its elite Secret Services Bureau along the Nepal-India border and its commitment to extend cooperation to the Nepalese government "to control activities of terrorists/criminals and other undesirable elements across the border" may not have gone unnoticed by the Maoist leadership, which has been enjoying a safe haven across the border.

Politically, too, the Maoist game plan to sell the ‘republican agenda’ to other communist parties has simply failed. Except a couple of ultra-left parties, major communist parties in the country have refused to join hands with the rebels in demanding elections for a constituent assembly and making Nepal a republic. "Such an adventure could force Nepal to lose its sovereignty and democracy," warned Madhav Kumar Nepal, leader of the main opposition UML.

Added Pradip Giri, a Nepali Congress ideologue, "The real agenda of the Maoists is something different that what they are professing. The government should try to understand that and treat them accordingly."

Chief government negotiator, Chiranjivi Wagle, too, agreed that the Maoists were looking for a safe-landing. But he did not say how that would that happen. Some critics say the radical demands being pursued by the Maoists might end up serving the interests of those whom they say their movement is targeted against. The dismantling of the present constitution would invite unprecedented instability, benefiting only those elements that are adept in fishing in trouble waters, analysts say. "The present constitution is an outcome of the existing power balance and the special geo-political situation of our country," said Nilamber Acharya, a member of the K.P. Bhattarai-led interim government that drafted the country’s democratic constitution in 1990. "The main question today is whether we want to empower the people or weaken them. The Maoists should first of all make clear their attitude toward the historic people’s movement of 1990. They should tell the people clearly whether they want to strengthen that constitution or to scrap it."

The feeling that the Maoist agenda has been clearly designed to scrap the present constitution is gaining greater acceptance in public discussions. There is little doubt that such an act might serve the interests of vested interests within and outside the country. It would be tragic if the Nepalese people, who are facing the brunt of the violence over the years, end up as the losers.

FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
Nepalese Support

Premier Deuba’s statement invites criticism from the united left

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba may not have made a different statement Saturday while talking with a Sri Lankan leader. But it was no less than a policy shift in the country’s foreign policy for the left opposition parties. According to Kantipur daily, during his telephone conversation with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Laxman Kadirgamar, Deuba said Nepal was ready to provide air space to the United States in its proposed action (against Afghanistan) to curb terrorism. Nepal is also ready to provide ‘refueling’

facility to the US aircraft, said the premier.

A group of 10 left parties, including the main opposition Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML), flayed Deuba’s statement, saying the decision was against Nepal’ policy of non-alignment and panchasheel. "It is also against the spirit of the constitution," claimed Lilamani Pokhrel, a United People’s Front lawmaker. The left parties insisted that Nepal should not be even indirectly involved in the conflict and demanded that the prime minister withdraw his statement.

Officials, however, insist that the prime minister’s statement was only the explanation of the government’s stand. "We have considered the recent terrorist attacks in the US as a crime against humanity. And the Nepalese government has already said that it would provide all necessary cooperation to the US government in its fight against terrorism," said Gyan Chandra Acharya, spokesman at the Foreign Ministry.

Addressing parliament Tuesday, Premier Deuba reiterated that Nepal was part of a global coalition against terrorism. "The government will provide all-out support to such initiatives led by the US," he said.

Though there are no reports of the US government seeking any specific assistance from the Nepalese government, the prime minister’s statement may have far-reaching consequences both in the domestic front and abroad, say analysts. "While we can’t remain aloof from the global campaign against terrorism, we must consider the sensitivities of our neighbors — India and China — before making any such announcement," said Kamal Thapa, a Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader and former foreign minister.

As South Asia has become the center of the global campaign against terrorism, analysts say, Premier Deuba should depute a full-time cabinet minister at Shital Niwas. At the same time, the government should try to develop a consensus among major political parties in the country on a sensitive issue like fighting terrorism. n