Peace in peril?

The five-point deal signed by the major parties on the night of May 28 saved Nepal’s peace process that was teetering on the brink of collapse, and boosted the flagging morale of the citizens. Two months on, political scenario is stagnant and turning more complicated especially after UCPN-Maoist’s proposal to reshuffle the cabinet. UCPN (Maoist) decision, on Saturday, to recall all its ministers from the coalition after the prime minister rejected to swear in new leaders nominated by the party for ministerial berths has not only put the life of the present coalition government at stake but also brought an ominous signs in the future of Nepali politics.



Complication in the political course, however, has not been intensified just by the recent developments in the UCPN (Maoist). In fact, the new genesis of trouble has its string in the differing interpretations of the text of the five-point pact. Formation of a national consensus government, which is part of the deal, is essential to conclude the peace process. But the parties have not yet begun serious talks toward this direction, thus allowing peace process and constitution drafting to remain where they were before May 28. With just a month to go before the end of the second extension of the Constituent Assembly (CA), we believe that the political crisis in Nepal has only deepened.



Conclusion of the peace process and constitution drafting hinges on the formation of a national consensus government. But the internal feuds over power have sapped the energies of the major parties and aggravated the political crisis. Disruption of the parliamentary proceedings by Nepali Congress (NC) demanding the resignation of the prime minister and implementation of other provisions of the five-point deal has added to the political stalemate.



Neither NC nor UCPN (Maoist) seem to have taken initiatives in earnest for a national consensus government. While rivalry between former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel over the next prime ministerial candidate has prevented NC from taking initiatives for a national consensus government, Maoist decision to float Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s arch rival in the party, as the prime ministerial candidate has furthered confusion. With these developments in the two key parties, the bone of the contention has come to be prime ministerial position again.



We hold that a move toward consensus government is the need of the hour. Political parties cannot afford to waste time only in mitigating internal factionalism when deadline of the second extension is hurrying closer. UCPN (Maoist) and NC should begin intensive homework for national consensus government. Without a national consensus government in place and some progress on the front of the integration and rehabilitation, there would be no ground for the third extension of the CA on August 31. Peace and constitution cannot wait any more.

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