National 1 (Spotlight Weekly)

Elusive As Ever

Despite the approaching deadline, the peace talks remain as elusive as ever

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

Even as the deadline for peace talks approached, Kathmandu witnessed another round of agitation triggered by the rise in petro-prices.

Hopes of millions of peace-lovers are sure to be dashed as the deadline of January 13 fixed by the government for the Maoists to come for negotiations appear to fail to kick-start the much-awaited talks.

Peace activists observe that neither of the warring parties seem to be adequately pressured to resume the negotiations at this juncture. While the government – particularly the Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba – wants to go ahead with the poll plans, the Maoists have continued with their tactics of sowing confusion among the constitutional forces.

In a clear signal of things to come, Deuba said that he “had no other option” than going for polls when he addressed Chitwan Mahotsav program in Bharatpur on January 9. “We are still attaching the number one priority for talks. We will sit for talks even if they come just five days before the elections,” he said. Deuba also warned of strengthening security operations against the Maoists if they do not come to negotiations.

Even as activists and experts lay the blame squarely on the government for not creating conducive environment for peace talks, a government minister recently revealed that the Maoists could still be thinking of winning the war through military means. “It appears that a strong faction within the Maoists believe that they are in a position to militarily overcome the state. And that, I think, is the reason why they have not accepted the government’s talks offer,” said Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

He dismissed the demands by the activists that the government should first revoke terrorist tag and red corner notices against the Maoist leaders.

“If they genuinely want to come for talks, such tags will not become an issue. The government is willing to withdraw such tags if they agree to sit for talks,” added Deputy Prime Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikary.

Although the government has not said it in as many words, it has given enough hints that the issue of constituent assembly would be discussed at the negotiations. “We are ready to talk on any issue under the sun,” said DPM Adhikary.

The High Level Peace Committee (HLPC) held consultations with the members of the National Assembly last week over the peace process. This is the first time the HLPC had consulted with the members of the Upper House. The consultation was, however, boycotted by the MPs of Nepali Congress (NC) party.

The Maoists, on the other hand, have stepped up violent activities across the country. In the days prior to the termination of the January 13 deadline, the Maoists and security forces engaged in fierce clashes in Kailali and Doti district. In Masuriya jungles of Kailali, the security forces claimed to have killed at least 41 Maoists. In Barchhen VDC of Doti district, the security forces destroyed what it claimed as the biggest arms and ammunition manufacturing factory of the Maoists. It also claimed to have killed a number of weapon experts belonging to Indian People’s War Group in the same operation.

Maoists, on their part, have spread their activities particularly in and around highways. They obstructed parts of Mahendra highway, among others, by felling trees and planting bombs.

Amid this scenario, the major ruling coalition partner the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) has sent conflicting signals. Its general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said that his party could step down from the government if it fails to initiate peace process within April this year. But he immediately retracted his remarks upon pressure from the PM and dismissed the reports of the threat to quit the government.

The HLPC members seem to be in two minds over the next course of their action following the January 13 deadline. While UML believes that they should yet again call the Maoists for the talks, other leaders led by PM Deuba view that they now need to go ahead with poll plans.

The gap among the constitutional forces has not yet been bridged throwing cold water over the possibilities of immediate change in ground situation. While the biggest political party Nepali Congress (NC) led by Girija Prasad Koirala continues to demand the reinstatement of the constitutional process; most other parties including the ruling ones are veering towards constituent assembly – the primary demand of the Maoists. “And the most interesting thing is that there is a perception that Koirala’s party is anti-monarchy when he is most vocal about restoring this constitution,” observed an analyst.

As the political parties have still not come under the common umbrella, the exercise of holding peace talks might not bear fruit anytime soon – unfortunately.