Maoist Response A Groundless Rancou

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Maoist Response A Groundless Rancou

"The megalomaniac Maoists felt belittled when the parties

unilaterally embraced the offer to revive the House without

consulting them, one of the key points in the understanding."

 

Maoist Destroy Hospital

"It was unfortunate that the hospital, which was involved in

humanitarian services was destroyed. The act of the Maoists goes

against the commitment expressed by them to human rights and

humanitarian laws ten days ago, the press statement said."

 

By Govinda Bhattarai

 

r The Maoists have given dismissive and, therefore, disquieting

reaction to the reinstatement of the House of Representatives, a

significant achievement of the current pro-democratic movement.

Earlier, discounting the popular sentiment and mandate, they

shamelessly declared that they would continue with their bloody

campaign. Later they acceded to halt the hostilities until the House

of Representatives convenes on Friday. Disgusted with the never

ending cycle of violence that has taken over 13,000 lives, it was

for peace that the people came onto the street, displaying strong

solidarity for a common cause. The Maoists must have understood

that.

 

Understanding

 

Restoration of the House is a part and parcel of the 12-point

understanding reached between the alliance of the seven political

parties and the Maoists. And a constituent assembly to write a new

constitution is the basic point of agreement in the understanding.

According to the roadmap, the revived parliament would choose a

prime minister and mandate the subsequent government to hold talks

with all the political forces, paving the way for the constitution

of an interim government (that will comprise the Maoists also) that

would eventually hold the constituent assembly election. Even the

Royal Proclamation has given in to the demand for a constituent

assembly, as it came in line with the seven parties? roadmap. So

what could be the rationale behind the rebels? rancour when the

parties have stated this loud and clear?

 

The insurgents with their guns dangling over their shoulders must

have been awe-struck by the power of unarmed people. The 19-day

protest apparently dwarfed the 10 years of Maoist bloodshed. They

seem to have felt enervated and unnerved by the overwhelming wave of

intrepid mass lining across the country for freedom. That the

demonstrators were undeterred by batons, bullets and teargas was a

frightening message to the Maoists who are brandishing guns to

intimidate them.

 

Perhaps, the grandeur of the protests prompted them to respond so

abrasively. They clearly want to take some recognition for the

success of the movement. They have been insisting that it is a joint

movement, that of the seven parties and their own party. Part of the

credit, of course, goes to them, as their 12-point understanding

with the seven political parties gave people a ray of hope for

peace. People, who had earlier ignored the call of the parties,

poured into the streets as they saw light at the end of the tunnel.

For their silent support to the movement, the rebels may, therefore,

partake the glory; but they want to gobble up the entire cake, which

is not fair.

 

The megalomaniac Maoists felt belittled when the parties

unilaterally embraced the offer to revive the House without

consulting them, one of the key points in the understanding. They

have forwarded the logic that there is no provision in the

constitution to revive the House once it is dissolved. As the issue

at hand is drafting of a new charter, the situation has gone beyond

the 1990 constitution. Reinstatement of the House is only a

transitional means to solve the crisis politically. Why have grudges

about the means when the end is going to be what everybody has long

been looking for, election of a constituent assembly?

 

This feeling of being ignored has, perhaps, given rise to their fear

of being overshadowed. Where is their role in the entire state of

affairs? Would the parties be complacent with power and forget their

promises made to their foe-turned-friend? This probably is a genuine

concern on the Maoists? part. This could be the reason why they want

to make their presence felt with blockades and attacks on security

posts. But what they seem to have forgotten is the fact that, at

this time of jubilation on ?partial victory?, their activities are

sure to turn suicidal. One will hardly welcome, rather abhor,

another incident of murder when people are revelling in their

victory.

 

The Maoists still look wary of the political leaders who in the past

failed to deliver what they had vowed. The announcement to continue

with their armed struggle may be their boisterous tactics to check

the parties from faltering and to alert them to unforeseen obstacles

that might come in the way to the end. Fortunately, that does not

sound threatening. ?We will continue with the blockades to the

capital and the district headquarters, but no one prevents them

(leaders of the seven political parties) from entering the Singha

Durbar where they will convene,? said a bellicose Baburam Bhattarai

in a BBC interview on Tuesday. One can almost sense a conciliatory

tone in the seemingly belligerent remarks.

 

Resolution

 

As the House is sitting on Friday, it will hopefully pass on the

very first day a resolution to go for a constituent assembly poll,

which is what the Maoists want. Secondly, the Royal Nepalese Army is

ready to integrate the militants into the national force. Now that

most of their major demands look set to be fulfilled, they now need

to prepare themselves for the final landing: declare a ceasefire,

surrender their arms and participate in the soon-going-to-be-formed

interim government to write a new future for the country.

Terms of Service.