Let´s not underestimate the importance of a successful integration process and the self-confidence it will bring to the current peace process. The issue of the Maoist combatants is actually at the heart of the political stalemate. And an agreement on it will help untangle many other political complications as well. The ruling coalition, mainly the NC and UML, fears that the Maoists don´t want to give up the politics of violence and therefore want to keep the PLA issue unresolved. As they see it, the idea is to keep psychological terror alive in the public psyche so that the Maoists continue to dominate the political space. The PLA integration/rehabilitation issue is, therefore, a test of Maoist sincerity. A deal on the PLA will also reflect their commitment to taking the peace process to a logical conclusion and accepting peaceful, plural politics.
It would, however, be naive to assume that the PLA issue can be resolved in isolation, without reaching any agreement on other contentious issues. Agreement over PLA combatants will certainly be a game-changer in the current stalemate but there should be agreement on other fronts also to move the political process ahead. Thankfully, the party leaders are to put all six major issues of contention on the table and they have agreed to take up each one of them. We urge them not to let this opportunity slip. And we also want to remind them that they do not have the luxury of time since the deadline for writing the constitution is less than five months away. If there is no deal this time, it will set the country irrevocably on the path of confrontation. However, there is hope things will be different for once. Agreement among the top leaders Wednesday afternoon to set up a high-level mechanism by Friday is a good indication in that direction. The high-level mechanism will institutionalize and facilitate the negotiations.
Related story
Former Maoist rebels: Who took the cut from our salary?
