Is Prachanda really serious about UN mediation?

Comrade Prachanda would aspire the United Nation’s mediation in all his earnest. The major political parties too sheepishly prefer, for their own palpable reasons, the World body’s being there in the government-Maoist imbroglio. Add to this, the subtle wishes of the massive amount of the Human Rights Organizations of "various colors and shades" who also now see no other option left other than the UN good offices for the ruling of the crisis. Not bad idea definitely.

The lame-duck enterprise under Surya Bahadur Thapa dismisses this tender which commands honor by a large segment of the Nepali population not because that Prachanda has proposed it. Varied reasons presumably.

There are others in the business community; for example, Mohan Gopal Khetan and the likes, who would summarily dismiss this plan by forwarding instances wherein the UN’s mediation in such a similar discord in the past, have despondently failed or were made to fall short. Why the Thapa Company prefers to keep the UN at a distance is not identified. However, what is known is that, according to Mr. Khetan, the UN mediation would instantly justify the theory of a state within a state, which is not the case in our own case of the conflict. Moreover, there is yet another set of highly qualified academicians who prefer to dismiss the theory pushed by Khetan. They say there were scores of cases wherein UN mediation has worked. The question thus arises why is this difference which is diametrically opposite? We will debate it later.

The highly impotent civil society and the politically biased eunuchs handling it under some alien’s indications, if it does exist at all, too has different opinions regarding the involvement of the UN system in our embarrassing situation. A section says agreed and the other discards the theory. This is only but natural in a society which is controlled by the interests of the aliens. Shame on us all. Where have the nationalists gone? Have they renounced politics? We suppose it to be so. If it is so then it’s a matter of utter shame for all of us.

In the process, the laymen for whom serenity is necessary, gets highly befuddled which should not have been the situation.

The global community too appears divided on this particular issue. While the developed West, read the countries belonging to the European Union, according to the grapevine, that they would pleasingly accept the UN mediation efforts for the resolution of the Nepali issue. The other equally powerful nation on the northern hemisphere would presumably not mind to the UN mediation efforts provided the leaders of the insurgency exhibit their changed attitude towards bloodshed. It says that how the Maoists could be believed when they talk of accepting UN mediation but continue with the spate of violence with much greater intensity and force? The Maoists have valid reasons to differ but this is a fact, which is what is happening. In saying so we have not been applauding the latter’s conclusion. It is theirs and we have nothing to debate on that.

What is also true is that the talk of UN mediation has come through the kind courtesy of a distinguished Nepali who is concurrently an UN high placed official who prefers an amicable solution to this imbroglio. His sincerity towards his own motherland can’t be questioned. But prior to jumping into any conclusion about the UN involvement in the Nepali crisis, what has also to be taken care of is that if such an involvement commands respect and honor from all possible segments of the society. If it does, it should be most welcome or else it has got to be revised.

Whether the government agrees to Comrade Prachanda’s proposal or not, is not a question that should bother us at all. However, what would concern us all is if Prachanda’s proposal for a possible UN mediation is rejected without providing plausible reasons. The government must convince the population that these were the reasons, which does not allow the UN to come in the front. After all, Prachanda must have thought twice before concluding that if the UN stepped in, it would balance the interests of both the conflicting parties at time of the negotiation.

It is time that the establishment must come up with its own explanations on the question of the possible UN mediation.

Nevertheless, what is reassuring is that both Prachanda and the government appear ready for the talks. This is no less an achievement, frankly speaking.

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