What a waste of five months! Having been forced to relinquish the reins of the government for their own folly in the first week of May, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) now wants to lead the government as a condition to resolving the political deadlock. For the past five months, they have been obstructing the parliament, holding street protests including boycott and showing of black flags to the president, prime minister and his team and stone-pelting to “re-establish civilian supremacy”. Of course, the Maoists have said they would not insist on formation of ‘national unity government’ under their leadership if the parliament passes a resolution terming President Dr Ram Baran Yadav’s move “unconstitutional”.
The president had stayed the sacking of the former army chief in the first week of May only after 18 parties, who hold majority in the Constituent Assembly, knocked on his door for intervention. The same parties cannot, in anyway, yield to Maoists’ demand that the president erred in staying the then army chief.
The Maoists also keep saying that passing a resolution against the president will resolve the deadlock “for the time being”. The next target will be, again, to force the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government to quit and form a government under their leadership since “writing the constitution and logical end to peace process will only be possible under a Maoist-led government”. Which means the Maoists would continue with their protest, including obstruction of the parliament. The formation of talks team by the Maoists, NC and the UML, subsequent forming of taskforce to resolve differences over language of the joint resolution and all the remarks about nearing consensus have been proved hollow and shows that all this was mere eyewash. It does not surprise us that the Maoists have raised the demand for cash incentive of Rs 1 million for each of the 4,008 disqualified Maoist combatants. It is but a crude pressure tactic. It only shows that the Maoists’ real intention has been change of government in the name of “civilian supremacy”.
This paper has always argued, and continues to do so, that the Maoists should be part of a national government. But we denounce their attempt, rather crude blackmail, to lead the government by disrespecting constitutional norms.
The Maoists keep talking about a “package deal” to resolve the dispute. Now we know what that package should contain. We once again urge the three big parties to strike a compromise and move ahead. The writing of the constitution has been effectively held up, the parliament remains obstructed and as a result it has not been able to pass the budget. Any delay will invite a constitutional crisis and harm the peace process
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The Unified Maoist leadership is under great internal pressure. So, they are changing stands several times. Now, they would be happy if they could install a "Sikhandi" as PM and could become themselves as Arjun. In such arrangement, the probable scenarion could be Jhalanath plays SIKHADI and rightist leadership within Unified Maoist plays as Arjun. The left leadership will call it a day and starts its own course. The NC will be bewildered, Indian government will be happy getting a lottry in the
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rajesh
and you are unbiased? what happens to all the comments that go against your views? why have the option to post comments at all?
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syakar adiga
Now ,the veil of “civilian supremacy” can not conceal the hidden agenda of the Unified Maoist. In fact their organizational carrying capacity is beyond their control and economically shaky as well. Therefore the choice is limited and compelled them to be a " POWER MONGER". Their stock of the "Goebbelian Thesaurus" is going to turn into a Rugby Jokes. So it is upto them to make or break themself. In worse cum worse situaltion U-Moaois would divided into U1 and U2 Maoist. We are not worry
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Kailash Lal "Palpali"
the editorial team seems to be a bunch of congress activists, who is not concerned about how to move ahead but rather invite confrontation in the country. What do you expect the biggest party in the country to do? They are mandated to lead the national government and of course, the president´s move is unconstitutional as well. Is president supposed to use his mind or do whatever the 18 parties tell him to do? He is not congress leader now, he represents whole Nepal. Republica should explai
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hasyaspad
nepali political thought is plagued with blackouts. by this i mean that we either choose to conveniently forget the events in the past, even those that are in the immediate past or involuntarily are forgetful. all the zeal and excitement when the maoists won was replaced with obstruction and hinderances from the bureaucrats and the state machinery. girija took like three months to pave the way for maoists to even lead. even before they got the reins of the government, plans were hatched for maki
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