Peace within reach

Once again there is hope that the peace process will at last gain momentum and see conclusion in the near future, paving the way for constitution writing. It was, among many other things, the intra-party tussle in the Maoist party that was holding back progress even after the signing of the 7-point peace deal five months ago. Ironically, it’s the intensifying intra-party feud among the Maoists that has now provided fresh impetus to the peace process. Realization on the part of Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal that party unity is unraveling anyway seems to have provided him the necessary motivation to take the peace process forward. There is another reason too: As the deadline for constitution writing nears and his personal credibility is increasingly at stake, the enormous risks of not concluding the peace process seem to have dawned on Dahal.



Whatever the underlying reasons, the peace process is now on a fast track as the Special Committee has directed its secretariat to prepare within five days a detailed action plan for integration. Once the action plan is ready, the Nepal Army should formally start on the integration. It’s still not clear when the army will begin to examine the Maoist combatants individually to see whether they qualify for integration based on standard norms. The Maoist chairman is learnt to have told political leaders that he will decide the date after consultations with PLA commanders.



We encourage Dahal to take that decision sooner rather than later. Any delay in the integration will once again be exploited by the hardliners in his party, who are waiting for excuses to be obstructive. Such delay will also created confusion among the NC and UML leaders, who are pretty optimist this time round. It would be wise not to let this new-found trust among the political parties evaporate once again. Should that happen, the parties will find it hard, perhaps impossible, to bridge the trust deficit yet again.



As soon as the integration process begins the parties should take up the issues related to constitution writing. They must realize that they don’t have the luxury of time. Compromise from all sides is necessary to promulgate the constitution before May 28, 2012, the day the extended term of the Constituent Assembly expires. There is growing rage among the Janajati and Madhesi communities that the leaders are conspiring to promulgate a constitution without ensuring federalism. Some of that rage is unfounded, but stupid comments by irresponsible politicians that the country should go for a referendum to decide on federalism and that all 75 districts can be converted into as many provinces have rightly fueled suspicions about their real intentions.



Demand for federalism is at the heart of the current identity politics of the country, so state restructuring should neither be denied nor deferred. However complicated the issue may be, the party leaders should negotiate in earnest and reach a deal. Promulgation of a democratic, federal, republican constitution appears within our grasp. Leaders should seize the opportunity.

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Let’s live in peace and embrace diversity