Have the Maoists changed?

The unparalleled crisis caused and assembled by the Lauda air scandal in the country has apparently shaken the Maoists insurgents as well to the extent that the party’s recently held second national convention too concluded that the nation was in a grave crisis which demanded urgent solutions. This in itself is a good indication coming as it does from the revolutionaries’ quarters in the sense that they too have exhibited that if any grave crisis gripped the nation its effect would be visibly felt in their camps as well and hence presumably decided to send signals that they were prepared for talks. In so doing the insurgents have definitely indicated that they too were the sons of this soil and that they too were concerned with the state of the political things obtaining in the country of late due to the deadlock seen in the parliament and in the streets as well over the most unfortunate and infamous Lauda affair. This is yet another positive indication from the quarter of the insurgents. This is how we prefer to interpret their fresh overtures.

Most heartening is their announcement that they wish to initiate a meaningful dialogue with the representatives of all the political parties and various institutions together with different people oriented organization in search of a solution to the present malaise that have gripped the nation. This statement yet again assumes importance in the current scheme of things, which wishes to bring in the participation of all the responsible actors of the nation.

The third hint that has emanated from the Maoists quarters is that they have pushed the need for the formation of an "interim government" which would be decided by the above-mentioned all-party conference that will ultimately prepare a fresh people-oriented constitution. In essence, what they mean by the framing of a people oriented constitution is not yet clear.

Unbelievably as it may appear, however, the implied message from the Maoists insurgents is that if things moved as per their wishes they would be more than willing to participate in such a government. This implied message is yet again important in the sense that the Maoists too apparently have concluded to give a second thought to their ongoing struggle with the establishment. Yet another significant message could be drawn from their recent declarations. Our own interpretation is that the Maoists’ internal desire is to come into the national mainstream like other political parties which in itself comes as a grand departure from their old hard-line posture acquired against the establishment and the system as well. This is, if true, will really be a windfall for the nation. If the Maoists stick to their fresh declarations and the establishment initiates dialogues as suggested by the insurgents that is being now backed by most of the competent political parties will relieve the nation from the constant and continued panic from the fear of becoming the target of the Maoists during the nights and of the state police force during the day. No less an achievement indeed.

The communist leaders who ultimately wish to see a republican sort of government in Nepal too have open heartedly lauded the fresh overtures of the Maoists and have said that the Maoists could be brought into the national mainstream provided the establishment under Koirala exhibited a desire to cash in on the fresh changed stances of the insurgents. Some communist leaders have even analyzed from the fresh announcements of the Maoists that they would presumably compromise with the existing constitution wherein the monarch is the Head of the State.

Summing up, we can’t predict the internal motives of the insurgents when they have announced so many things, which might appear different for different intellectuals. It could well be that in pushing their new initiatives and positive looking proposals they wish to keep their rivals in a dilemma and in the mean time collect strength for yet another major onslaught on the establishment. Yet, however, a dispassionate analysis of their fresh revelations forces us all to conclude that some significant changes, for some obvious reasons or whatsoever, have been effected in the party by the recently concluded second general convention of the party which was held in an unknown village of the western region of Nepali territory. If the changes seen in the Maoists camp were for the better and in the larger interest of the nation and if the insurgents honestly prefer a meaningful dialogue with the government and the representatives of all major political parties then it would be advisable to the establishment to move fast. The complete U turn exhibited by the revolutionaries could have been brought about by so many seen and unseen factors. We will not interpret it here. For the time being what could be said from our side is that after all what is the harm in giving the dialogue a chance if it brings peace in the troubled Kingdom. It would be wise to consider what the Finland’s charge de’ affaires Asko Lukkoinen said recently that if the violent activities continued for long in Nepal his country might pull out its support much the same manner as they did in Sri Lanka.

The message is loud and clear.

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