Wednesday, September 21, 2005

All sincere

Niraj Aryal

His Majesty calling off his high profile visit to the UN instead opted for visiting local districts. Finally HM talking to a British Television Channel said there is a "sheer need for durable and sustainable peace talks".

The Maoists calling for three months long unilateral cease-fire have shown their sincerity to the peace talks. They now look forward to the government to reciprocate. At least this much is visible. Be it a politically motivated or India behest truce, the Maoists have provided this opportunity to the government. This also clarifies without India’s desire there is no possibility of peace talks in the country. Now on the part of the government taking further steps grabbing this opportunity with both hands it has to create conducive atmosphere for peace talks. How it makes that possible let the authorities in the establishment formulate.

The political parties already claim that talks are going on with the Maoists on the issue of durable peace in the country. They have also shown their responsibility.

All of a sudden all the major political fronts look sincere to peace.

On the other hand the general mass who suffered all along these years the atrocities from both the warring sides still look suspicious to the political game that is being played around them. The disbelief is still there. The question thus asked is who is to be believed? The one that announced the ceasefire? Or the one, which is yet to reciprocate? The bewilderment continues.

In contrast to the public lectures and assurances given by our leaders, in reality differing deeds are wiping out atmosphere for peace.

For example, contrary to His Majesty’s positive considerations on the desirability of peace talks with the Maoists made during his exclusive interview to Richard Westin of the British News Channel, Mr. Dan Bahadur Shahi, home minister in the present cabinet later ruled out the possibility of peace talks with the Maoists.

The King and his ministers differ so sharply with each other on the possibility of peace talks with the rebels. This is surprising.

The Maoists while declaring the ceasefire had claimed to create environment in both the national and international level for a forward-looking political way out of the present crisis. It has been barely fifteen days since the Maoists have declared a ceasefire, since then the rebels have already threatened twice of breaking the ceasefire. On top of all these, violence, and kidnappings of school children continue unabated.

The political parties performing up to their best still could not gather popular support for their so-called regression. The leaders without any convincing political agenda still pendulant between the two extremes, not decided yet to which path they should follow. Even they have shown many a times their sincerity to peace talks. However, their dreadful political past seem still fresh in the people's mind so it remains distant of the political parties to convince the people of leading the country to a durable peace. The people have valid reasons to disbelieve their "representatives", to say the least.

In the same tone the Republican agenda forwarded by the political parties seems not to have been based on the popular demand, looks more like a strategy to irritate the ruling class, more so the King presumably.

Until the entire political front in the country merge together leaving behind the past enmity, not differing in their words and deeds no sustainable peace is possible. Equally important is India’s desire to see Nepal live in peace and prosperity. Is India listening?