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NEPAL: Cease-fire: Com. Prachanda Proposes and King Gyanendra

disposes: Update 75

 

by Dr. S. Chandrasekharan

 

When the Maoists declared a cease-fire, their intention was mainly

to embarrass the King who has to either acquiesce or reject and

incur the wrath of the people and the international community.

Confident that he could override international opinion and the

feelings of the people who were looking forward to a peaceful Dasain

festival, the King apparently chose to reject the cease-fire.

 

The King also cancelled his New York to trip to attend the General

Assembly where he would have been certainly placed in an awkward

position of having to explain the royal take over and subsequent

events.

 

Back home in Kathmandu, however he was very conciliatory. On

September 19, in one of the meetings he said "There is room for us

all constitutional forces . . . to bring peace together and solve

problems they have in the country." But what were his Assistants

saying?

 

Dr. Giri, the Senior Vice Chairman, on the very same day declared

that the government need not follow the present constitution (1990).

The reason he gave was that the political parties who formed it have

already removed the term "constitutional monarchy' from their party

statute and instead accepted a republic and Lok Tantra. Two points

arise out of his statement. First, it was not the political parties

alone who formed the 1990 Constitution. The Palace had a hand all

the way in modifying many of the clauses that included the now

famous Article 127 as also 126. Second the Nepali Congress, the

major political party has not yet opted for a people's republic.

 

On September 21, the Supreme Court admitted a contempt plea filed by

the Nepal Bar Association against Dr. Giri for accusing the Apex

Court and judges of being influenced by the political parties while

deciding the cases.

 

The Foreign Minister while addressing the United Nations said that

the King is trying to make Nepal- a model of democracy, meaningful,

mature, cultured and refined!

 

It is to be presumed that both Dr. Giri and R.N.Pandey, the Foreign

Minister are making statements with the King's approval and does it

mean that the 1990 Constitution is being jettisoned and the

Panchayat system of government with its own interpretation of

democracy being introduced ?

 

The Maoists on the other hand appear to have underestimated the King

who unlike his late brother could choose to remain stubborn. Driven

to the corner, especially after the Kalikot incident and the seeming

support of India for direct negotiations between the Maoists and the

political parties, they expected the King to climb down and

acquiesce in the cease fire. But it was not to be.

 

Perhaps, what must have forced the King not to accept the cease fire

was the declaration of the Maoists that they would organise protest

programmes at local and district levels during the cease fire period

and that they would initiate joint programme with the political

parties and the civil society.

 

First response to the cease- fire came from the Army though it took

them almost two weeks to come out openly against the cease-fire. The

Army spokesman said that the "cease fire declared by the Maoists is

just a drama." The King said "peace at any cost is not a solution."

A stronger and direct rejection came from the Home Minister who

ruled out any declaration of cease fire by the government. He went

even further and said that no talks will also be possible unless the

Maoists are decommissioned.

 

The King accompanied by the Queen made a "walkathon" for over four

hours on September 22, from Kuppendole to Jawalakhel with women,

school children and a few other people lined up all along the way.

His intention was to make a kind of a "statement" that he is still

popular in the valley and is in charge despite escalating protests

and violence involving students and other civil representatives. He

blamed foreign money being responsible for unwarranted activities in

the valley- an indirect accusation that the agitation is being

financed by external sources.

 

Despite the crowds waiting to have a glimpse of him in his walk, the

King cannot ignore the increasing momentum that is gathering in the

agitation against the royal coup. Hundreds are being arrested every

day of people of all walks of life -students, teachers, lawyers,

journalists, women's groups and political activists. The agitation

is spreading outside the valley into other towns. Not a day passes

without Police using force to disperse the demonstrators and

pictures of political activists and students with blood stained

clothes are being widely circulated.

 

Considering the deteriorating situation in Nepal, some civic groups

are still demanding UN intervention. On 15 September, they appealed

to the UN Secretary General once again. The appeal said "In the

interest of seizing the opportunity to work for sustainable peace

process and bring relief to Nepal's long suffering population, we

now urge you to use your good offices to attempt to broker a full

and unconditional cease fire . . . "

 

Earlier on September 6 the Secretary General had already conveyed to

the groups that he had taken note of appeals addressed to him by the

representatives of NGOs, civil societies in Nepal requesting his

good offices to help find a peaceful solution. Later on September

16, Kul Chandra Gautam an aide of the Secretary General revealed

that the UN Representative Lakhdar Brahimi has been holding

discussions with India and USA to garner their support to find a

tangible solution to Nepal's insurgency. He added that the UN is

aware of the geopolitics of Nepal and is working quietly by

consulting its neighbours.

 

It looks that the United Nations is keen to enter the fray and

facilitate peace talks. But contrary to what is perceived that India

is against it, it is more likely that the King and his government

are against any UN role in the cease fire or in the talks. Their

reasoning could be, that A. UN involvement would mean an

acknowledgment that Nepal as a State is failing. , B. Any direct

dealing with Maoists would legitimise them as an equal party in the

talks.

 

But the Maoists cannot be wished away. They are in control of most

of the rural areas and a parallel administration is being run by

them in many of the districts outside the valley.

 

Prachanda's Press Interview:

 

In a surprising and a bold move, Prachanda gave a ninety minute

interview to a group of journalists at an undisclosed place. There

were some Indian journalists too. Though there was nothing new in

what he had said, what is important to note is that they were able

to contact and assemble a large body of journalists secretly which

speaks very highly of their infrastructural ability and contacts to

get them to a secure place. It is also evident that Maoists appear

to be more confident than ever in pushing ahead with the road map

they had made out to achieve their objectives. This is in contrast

to the agitating political parties who are yet to reach a consensus

even on the first step of restoring the dissolved parliament.

 

The points made in the interview were

 

1. To end the conflict, he reiterated the formation a constituent

assembly, an interim government of all parties and a civil society

for a democratic republic.

 

2. Would like to involve the UN to create an atmosphere of

confidence so that possession of weapons by them does not become a

stumbling block in the Peace process. ( Note : there is no mention

of giving up arms.)

 

3. His party will confine its people's war to Nepal. ( meaning there

will be no joint operations with other Maoists in the neighbouring

countries)

 

4. He ruled out any dialogue with the King until he transfers power

to the people.

 

5. While admitting that he met Ganapathy, the General Secretary of

CPI ( Maoists) recently, he stressed that the peoples' war in Nepal

is not a commodity for export.

 

6. He is against any foreign intervention- He said that the 1958

agreement was wrong as it perpetuated the system of monarchy.

 

7. He claimed that his party would have captured Kathmandu if

countries like USA, India and UK had not extended military support

to the King.

 

Prachanda denied coming to India or of meeting the political leaders

in Delhi, though there are unconfirmed reports, that he did come

along with Baburam Bhattarai to see the Indian leaders. The need to

get the Indian journalists could have been to assure India that the

Maoists in Nepal have no plans to have any joint operations with

their Indian counterparts and that India need not worry on that

account.

 

A list of Maoist related incidents since 28 August, 2005 is given as

an Appendix. Whole sale kidnapping and brainwashing of students,

teachers and civilians continue.

 

Appendix:

 

Incidents

 

Date Incidents

 

August 2005.

 

29. One Policeman injured and another Head Constable

injured seriously, by a bomb explosion planted by Maoists in the

valley.

 

Maoists abducted teachers from the class rooms of

five schools of Nangkholyang VDC of Taplejung district. The schools

have been forced to close down.

 

Maoists forced out families of three security

personnel from their homes in Pangtang VDC of Sindhu Phulchok.

 

Three Maoists killed in security operations in

Sarlahi district with five more Maoists injured. 2 SMGs, 2 Chinese

pistols, one revolver and many socket bombs were recovered.

 

September 2005.

 

07. Army gave a list of violations after the declaration

of cease-fire. These were 1. They triggered a land mine explosion at

Pokharichan, Ramechap district. 2. Abducted a Police man from Dang

district. 3. Looted money and valuables from the occupants of 14

vehicles in Sarlahi district.

 

08. In the eastern hill districts, families of 800

security personnel have been displaced by the Maoists over a period

of time.

 

09. Over 31 civilians were abducted in the course of a

week from various parts of the country and mainly from Salyan,

Dhankuta districts.

 

10. Students affiliated to Maoists ( ANNISU-R) forced

nine schools to shut down in Udaipur district.

 

About 100 students were abducted from Myagdi

district west.

 

11. Security forces arrested seven Maoists with grenades,

pamphlets in Tulsipur, Dang district.

 

17 civilians kidnapped from Raula bazar, on the

border of Ilam and Panchattar districts.

 

13. One security person wounded in a skirmish with Maoists

in Bhojpur district.

 

16. 4 Maoists including two women were killed by Security

forces in Gorkha district.Maoists shut down over 20 health centres

in Baitadi district for not obtaining permission to run the centres

from their local government.

 

22 Over 2000 civilians including teachers and students

were abducted from remote areas of Acham.

 

http://saag.org/notes3/note276.html