The same day, a UML talks team led by former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal met Maoist leaders and asked them to demonstrate sincerity in expediting the peace process. We have always maintained that all the stakeholders-- mainly the three big political parties-- must demonstrate sincerity and flexibility to conclude the peace process, but the onus of giving impetus to the stalled process is on the Maoists.
As the key stakeholders in the peace process and also a rebel group that is yet to complete its transition from an armed outfit into a fully civilian political party, the Maoists have a role and responsibility greater than anyone else. Unfortunately, they have been reluctant players all along.
Since the time Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal resigned from the post of prime minister in May 2009 till the formation of the current government one-and-half months ago, the Maoists have largely obstructed the peace process, intent on driving home the point that that process cannot move forward --less alone see completion-- so long as they are kept out of power.
Now that the Maoists have a coalition government that they worked so hard to cobble together and whose success largely depends upon how quickly the peace process moves forward, it was assumed that they would do everything required to expedite the process. But that has hardly been the case. The Maoists have largely wasted the last one-and-half months for reasons beyond our comprehension.
We wish to remind the Maoists that their credibility is at stake and is linked more than ever to the success of the peace process. If it doesn’t move forward even now when they are already in the government and are indeed the driving force behind it, people will have enough reason to suspect their sincerity toward the peace process and commitment to peaceful politics.
The Maoists must urgently propose at least three things: First, the number of their combatants they wish to see integrated into the security forces; secondly, the modality of integration; and thirdly, the norms for integration. Once they come up with their proposal people will have a chance to see how other parties respond.
If the other parties make impractical demands, they will be seen as trying to obstruct the peace process. But so long as the Maoists do not place a proposal on the table the finger should remain pointed at them.
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