Standoff continues

Photo: topnews.in

Political standoff persists in Nepal with no sign of quick solution. The UN mission in Nepal (UNIMIN), which declared its closure with immediate effect, is not a good news for the country's politics. UNIMIN was set up to oversee Nepal's post-war transition.
Prevalent situation is of mistrust and disunity. Political pundits in Nepal are of the view that there is a fear that a failure to find a solution to the crisis and fulfill pledges, might pave the way for another protracted struggle between the Maoist and its opposite parties. This might throw the country back to those uncertain and horrific days of rampant abduction, destruction of property and killings mainly carried out by the Maoists. Chances of peace might be lost for good or for a very long phase.
UNIMIN was created in 2007 with temporary mandate to monitor progress towards durable peace after a decade-long conflict between Maoist guerillas and the state in which at least 16000 people died.
UNIMIN did work hard to find solutions. It persuaded the conflicting parties to sit and work out a charter for peace. It helped establish camps for thousands of Maoist fighters pending agreement on their integration into the national army -- a key tenet of the peace agreement.
UNMIN also assisted with 2008 elections that brought the former rebels briefly to power.
The political leaders at the time should have taken things under their control from there on. They should have acted with wisdom and maturity, as this was certainly an innovative phase for their politics. The Kingship was done away with and people were looking for a new sunrise with hopes and aspirations. But progress stalled. With the time, disagreements between the Maoists and their political rivals grew and sign of understandings disappeared. The world at large failed to comprehend as to what held the parties from reaching an agreement with such golden prospect on the platter and no enemies around. They had a green field. Instead, they failed themselves and the people. Many believe it was for the rigid and unreasonable demands and imposing attitude of the Maoists that prevented the parties to reach an understanding. Finally the United Nations took its stand last September and decided the mission would close on January 15.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said UNMIN was designed to be a transitional arrangement, and it made little sense to keep it open "without any meaningful progress by the parties on political issues."
The Nepalese politics have been living under a different ambience for a long time under the king. It could not possibly mature the way it should have. Democratic lessons were only academic and entire politics were either on decrees of the King or the dictates of the Maoists. Absence of democratic practice disabled the growth of democratic thoughts.
No wonder, after dissolution of the monarchy and the graduation of the guerilla fighters into politics proper, they found it difficult to carry out negotiation, mainly because neither they were prepared to be guardians of their own nor educated in democratic politics. They lacked negotiation skills.
More than four years after the war ended, many of the promises made by both sides remain unfulfilled and the planned merger of the two armies, intended to draw a line under the conflict, looks increasingly unlikely.
UNIMIN officials also complained the mission had been unfairly dragged into the political battles that have prevented the formation of a new government since the last one collapsed in June.
The sore point of disagreement is the assimilation of 19000 members of the Maoist People's Liberation Army into the National Army. It is but natural for the other parties to oppose the Maoists demand of absorbing the entire 19000 members in the National Army; they fear the ultimate sway they might enjoy in the armed forces. It appears that the Prachanda and his members want entire power - civil and military - in their hands - that might not be easy to achieve.
We realize the situation the leaders and the people are going through. It has been a testing period for all. Negotiation is not an easy task and to create a win-win situation is even tougher. Amidst the entire crisis, Nepalese leaders ought to show signs of maturity and resolve their problems by their own merit, instead of looking on the international bodies to do it for them. Nepal had always been a land of beauty and now it must combine peace.

The author is an Assistant Editor, The Daily Star.