Let's see who prevails: Pun

Barsaman Pun is a Standing Committee member of the UCPN (Maoist). He was reportedly the party´s candidate for home minister in the UML-led government. The in-charge of the Maoist party´s military bureau, Pun is also a confidant of Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Pun spoke to Republica´s Post B Basnet Friday evening on the current deadlock over government formation. Excerpts: [break]



 Why has your party not joined the government? Is it due to the row with the UML over the home ministry?



The euphoria seen after the election of UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal to the post of prime minister could not last long as the prime minister´s party declined to abide by the seven-point agreement (signed by Khanal himself). Our party had not expected this from the UML. We hoped the deal would be translated into reality. We held a series of talks with the prime minister, but to no avail. That´s the reason why we decided to lend full support to the Khanal-led government, but stay out of it. In fact, the deadlock is not over sharing of ministries.



What will be your strategic move in light of the UML´s stance not to officially own up the seven-point deal and not to give your party the home ministry?



We are waiting for UML Central Committee (CC) meeting slated for Tuesday. We expect that the party will come out with positive decisions. The prime minister has hinted to us that the party would come up with a solution. So, our party is still in a wait-and-see mood. Everything will depend on the UML´s decision; we will chart out our strategy accordingly. We are yet to decide what we will do in case the UML decides to go back on the seven-point deal.



How does your party view the current political deadlock?



We are in a very critical phase of the peace process. Conspiracies are afoot to bring down the new government. Domestic and international conspirators don´t want to let the government take a full shape. They want to push the country further into chaos and instability. We are fighting against them, and that´s the reason why we decided to support the government without participating in it. Now the tussle is reaching its peak and we are yet to see who will prevail.



How do you think the current political deadlock can be ended and the tasks of peace process and constitution drafting concluded?



First of all the current government should get a full shape with Maoist participation. We should focus on that. Then, we should create an atmosphere of trust for national consensus. Though the Nepali Congress (NC) has stated that the party would stay in opposition, we should persuade the party to join the government for the sake of peace process and constitution drafting, and turn the coalition into a national consensus government.



Then we can formulate a calendar of events to implement the peace process and also speed up the constitution-drafting process. This is how we can make a political settlement. Otherwise the country would further plunge into chaos and uncertainty.

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