Problem is number of combatants to be integrated: PM Nepal

The political parties, primarily the Maoist and non-Maoist camp, are far from reaching a consensus on power sharing and integration of Maoists combatants. With the term of the Constituent Assembly expiring on May 28, and an extension of its term becoming necessary through an amendment to the Interim Constitution for which a two-thirds majority is a must, they are under pressure to act quickly and put aside their differences.

The ruling parties have continued to stick to their demand that all issues, including Prime Minister (PM) Madhav Kumar Nepal’s resignation, should be settled through a package deal. But the Maoists have demanded that the PM should first resign to open door for consensus on contentious political issues. This has made the political situation complex, prompting concern inside and out side Nepal on the future course of politics.

In this context, Republica’s Political Affairs Editor Kiran Chapagain talked to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on the political issues plaguing the nation.

EXCERPTS

Myrepublica.com: The government tabled a bill in the parliament to amend the Interim Constitution and extend the term of the Constituent Assembly (CA) by one year. How hopeful are you of Maoist support to pass the bill?

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal: I am very hopeful. I cannot imagine that the Maoists will stand against the sentiment of the people and CA members. I am also hopeful because I have learnt from my sources that some Maoist friends have conveyed their concerns as to why the government was taking so long to start the process of extending the CA term.

Myrepublica.com: How flexible can the government be to win the support of Maoists on extending the CA term?

Nepal: The government is ready to show maximum flexibility. We are trying hard to hold talks with the Maoists. Informal talks are on. There have been no formal talks on the matter as of now.

Myrepublica.com: But the UCPN (Maoist) is in such a position that it looks very difficult for it to vote for the government proposal to extend the CA term?

Nepal: This matter should not be made into a prestige issue as it concerns all Nepalis. It is also an issue related to the future of the country. As the Maoist party is being run responsibly, I believe the party will proceed accordingly.

Myrepublica.com: The Maoists have demanded that the constitutional provision about majority government system should be replaced by a system of national consensus government if the government wants to see the CA term extended. How do you view this condition?

Nepal: We have also been stressing on consensus. I agree with their spirit but disagree with the letters. There is a provision for consensus [in the constitution]. There is also a provision for forming a majority government to avoid a situation when a consensus government cannot be formed for a long period, for months, due to deadlock. If this provision is omitted in the constitution, what happens if parties lock horns and cannot form a consensus government? So, it will be risky to omit the provision and have only the provision on formation of a consensus government.

Myrepublica.com: The Maoists have decided to declare a constitution of their own on May 29. What is your comment?

Nepal: It is ridiculous. It will be the starting point of pushing the country toward confrontation. The move will invite trouble to them. I wish they refrain from doing so. Advocates of politics of consensus should not proceed with this. The deadlock is because they have not been able to come with the number of combatants to be considered for integration in security agencies. If they decide the number, everything will be settled.

Myrepublica.com: The Maoist party is uncomfortable deciding this. Why is the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML stressing so much on this issue at this time? The Maoist leadership will after all eventually decide on the number.

Nepal: The leadership had taken a decision in the past that all the combatants would come under the command of the Special Committee [for supervision, integration and rehabilitation]. Have they come under the Committee? ‘Prachanda’ in his capacity as the prime minister announced to return the seized property from the parliament but the commitment was never implemented.

Myrepublica.com: Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal yesterday [Monday] reiterated during his meeting with ambassadors that the combatants would be brought under the Special Committee in a month. Similarly, he has also committed that the integration and rehabilitation of the combatants would be completed within the renewed mandate of UNMIN which expires on Sept 15.

Nepal: He has said the same thing in the past. He had said the rehabilitation and integration would be completed in six months. What did he [Dahal] do in nine months [when he was the prime minister]? Should not he have finished this task in six months when he led a government.

We have no other intention than to see the Maoists transformed into a civilian party. The Maoists must not have army and paramilitary structure. We have not demanded other things from the Maoists. Once this demand is addressed, everything will be settled. Is this demand wrong? Past agreements should be implemented.

If the number is fixed and if there is consensus on my name as next prime minister, then I will not have to resign. If there is no agreement on my name, then I will have to go.

Myrepublica.com: But why are the Maoists being pressed on this matter at this time? You should have pressed them much earlier?

Nepal: We have been raising this issue persistently. I personally raised this with them. But they did not listen. This issue should be settled at this time when the Maoists have been seeking an agreement and pressing for a formation of their government. Girija Prasad Koirala said some 3,000 would be integrated. But they demanded to consider two to three thousands more. Dahal had also said the same thing to me. Should not they live up to their commitment in this regard? He [Dahal] had also said the same thing during his meeting with heads of foreign governments and prime ministers. They [foreign governments] have communicated to us about what he had told them during meetings [on the number of integration]. Should not the Maoists stick to what they had said?

Myrepublica.com: Dahal has complained before ambassadors on Monday that the government is trying to humiliate and corner him by raising the issue of the number of combatants to be integrated.

Nepal: The government has not cornered them. We are trying to help them and asking them to implement their own past commitments. We are trying to extend our help to them to enable them to transform into a civilian party, make them committed to democracy and free them from their army and paramilitary structure. Should this be understood as trying to corner them? Does asking them not to forcefully collect donation mean that we are cornering them? Does asking them not to break the legs of others mean we are cornering them? Does asking them not to threaten press mean we are cornering them? Does asking them not to defame neatly-dressed people mean we are cornering them?

Myrepublica.com: Can the government address the Maoist demand not to press them to fix the number of combatants to be integrated if the latter becomes ready to extend the term of the CA?

Nepal: No, not possible. Once the number is determined, it will be binding to them.

In 2006, Dahal, while talking to me, had put the strength of Maoist army at around 7,000. I had repeated asked him for the number of combatants then. He mentioned the same number in the Shaktikhor video tape as well.

So the parties have not been able to agree on a package deal due to difference over the number of combatants for integration.

Many things will be settled if the number is determined. The obstacles on the way to move forward will be cleared.

Myrepublica.com: Is fresh negotiation on the number underway?

Nepal: I do not want to reveal all the things at present.

Myrepublica.com: It means fresh negotiations are going on to settle the number row through political channel?

Nepal: Talks are underway in different political layers.

Myrepublica.com: What happens after May 28 if the CA term is not extended?

Nepal: There will be a constitutional crisis. It will bring a big problem. Maoists should not let such a situation happen. The Maoist party and its main leaders will be held solely responsible for such a situation.

Myrepublica.com: But the government will also be equally responsible for that situation?

Nepal: Yes. I am still trying to bring them to consensus. I am not a problem. I am not going to cling to power.

Myrepublica.com: What is the possibility of declaring a state of emergency to extend the CA term as provisioned in the constitution if the Maoists do not agree on extending the CA term?

Nepal: What is the basis for clamping a state of emergency? Any move to be taken should be justifiable. Is there any situation to declare state of emergency?

Myrepublica.com: Maoists said that the parties were near to an agreement before you flew to Thimphu, Bhutan but the agreement became distant after you returned to Nepal. Has your tone changed following your Thimpu visit?

Nepal: One thousand percent wrong. There is no change in what I had said in Hotel Radisson before my Thimpu visit. I spoke the same thing after my return from Thimphu.

Myrepublica.com: If so, why have the Maoists felt so?

Nepal: Wrong communication. Wrong communication has shaped his mind. Otherwise, I have not changed my stance. I have personally told Pushpa Kamal Dahal that I will not be an obstacle to any solution.

Myrepublica.com: Some foreign friends have suggested you to step down.

Nepal: I do not think they suggested so. Even if they have done so, they might have done with good intention.

Myrepublica.com: But you told them to mind their business?

Nepal: They know their limitation. I am not trying to single out any individual. I am trying to caution them about general tendency. I appeal that no one cross their boundary. I tried to express our sentiment.

Myrepublica.com: If you resign, it will help formation of a coalition of consensus.

Nepal: No, not at all. My party and coalition partners have told me that there should be a package deal for consensus. The problem is the number of the combatants to be integrated.

Myrepublica.com: If the number row is settled, will you step down?

Nepal: If the number is fixed and if there is consensus on my name as next prime minister, then I will not have to resign (laughs). If there is no agreement on my name, then I will have to.

Myrepublica.com: Maoists might come to vote for CA term extension ultimately in the last minute. But what will the Maoists get as facing saving in return?

Nepal: Consensus. The point of agreement begins from there. They will get time and space.

Myrepublica.com: What is the ideal situation for the formation of a Maoist-led consensus government?

Nepal: The ideal situation is that they should be able to win the confidence of other parties. In addition, the ideal situation will be there when the Maoists will free themselves from their military and paramilitary structure and transform themselves into a civilian party.

Myrepublica.com: You have been saying that you have sacrificed on many occasions. Don’t you think that this is also yet another time to sacrifice on your part?

Nepal: I will sacrifice when the time comes (laughs). Man sacrifices when time comes. I will be here as the prime minister until an agreement is signed. I will sacrifice when an agreement is reached.

kiran@myrepublica.com