The parties have also pledged to “take up the remaining tasks of the peace process from September 17 and complete them ‘basically’ by January 14, 2011.” This is the most important component of the 4-point deal between the government and the Maoists. There is, however, a caveat: Are the parties committed to and confident of ending the peace process in the next four months?
The wording of the agreement also leaves room for doubts. We urge all the parties to make use of the next four months to conclude the peace process and prepare a ground for writing a democratic constitution. Even as we ask all the parties to behave responsibly, there is no doubt in our mind that the Maoist party has to shoulder the major responsibility. As the party with its own army and the one that is yet to renounce violence, the onus for taking initiatives lie disproportionately on the Maoists.
But the Maoists still seem divided between concluding the peace process, writing a constitution, and becoming a part of a democratic mainstream and waging a revolt to capture state by force. Only on Wednesday, when Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal was busy signing a deal in Baluwatar to conclude the peace process in the next four months, Maoist Senior Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya was telling the public that his party was preparing for the final revolt.
The peaceful protest programs, announced by the party for a month beginning September 17, according to Baidya, will prepare ground for the revolt. The Maoist party must once and for all decide which way it wants to go. So long as the party remains vertically split – half of its leaders committed to peace half-heartedly and the other half harping on war – the party is going to go nowhere. Our only hope is that, if and when the party takes a final decision, it will decide to side with peace and democracy and shun the radical elements in the party.
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