Peace process in crisis: Dr Mahat

KATHMANDU, March 27: Nepali Congress (NC) leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said on Saturday that the ongoing peace process is at a ´serious crisis´ as the Maoists are dilly-dallying for the management of their arms and combatants.



Speaking at an interaction organized by the party´s sister organization Nepal Tarun Dal in Kathmandu, Dr Mahat said the Maoist proposal to seek ´fresh agreements´ to help promulgate a new constitution within the stipulated date is aimed at achieving their ´revolutionary goals´. "This is sheer political dishonesty," he said.



Dr Mahat, who is also a member of the Special Committee for Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist Combatants, alleged that Maoists were pushing for a fresh agreement in the name of promulgating a new constitution without accomplishing the management of their arms and armies. [break]"The Maoists have proposed a new agreement to reflect their present capacity and power," he further alleged.



He argued that the Maoist desire to promulgate a new constitution without concluding the peace process is landing the peace process in ´serious crisis.´ "The Maoists want to keep all their combatants in one place even after integration so that they can use them for achieving revolutionary goals," he further said.



Referring to the talks held between NC and Maoist leaders on Friday evening, Dr Mahat said the Maoists have shown no sign of severing their ties with arms and armies any time soon. "We represent peasants and workers. We won´t be able to sever our ties with arms and armies unless there is a guarantee of a progressive constitution that incorporates the agenda of peasants and workers," he quoted Maoist leaders as saying at the meeting.



Stating that NC is firm in its stance that peace process should be completed before the promulgation of a new constitution, he alleged that the Maoists were bent on derailing the entire peace process by making various excuses. "Originally there was an agreement to conclude the entire peace process within six months after the formation of government through Constituent Assembly. But nearly three years have already passed and there has been virtually no progress on the peace process front," he further said.



Dr Mahat added that peace process could be in jeopardy as Maoists´ actions and their official documents speak of revolt. "They have been threatening to go for a revolt if we reject their agenda in the new constitution. They have already formed People´s Volunteers [outfit] for the purpose," he said, adding: "But they pretend to forget the very context of signing 12-point agreement."

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