On the historical peace talks…
The past week was full of hopes from the SPA & Maoist dialogues. It took place four times on 8th, 10th, 12th and 15th October, 2006.
Each time participants came out and said that they were making progress and the next session would be successful until on October 15, 2006 the last meeting ended with Maoist Supremo concluding the meeting in few minutes with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Madhav Kumar Nepal and Sher Bahadur Deuba.
The rest of the leaders were seen clamoring to figure out what happened and the next date hasn't even been announced. The seven-party alliance looked more like a 5 person get-together because despite the grandeur of the supposed representation, there were only 5 voices that emerged from the talks; no, actually, only 3 because the other 2 were from the Maoists.
Some believe this latest round of shenanigans has again taken the Nepalese people for a ride. Despite all the rhetoric, the bottom-line seems to be that the SPA and Maoist can't agree on the mechanism and timing of Maoist arms management.
This begs the question, what was actually accomplished during the talks? Can someone please tell the people what progress was made?
On the delicate nature of talks…
With the Maoists holding on to their weapons neither the Nepalese people nor the SPA will get a fair deal. Without it the Maoists might not get a fair deal from the people who have been terrorized and traumatized for the last decade. Nor can there be a let up on the international insistence that the Maoists disarm before they join the mainstream.
But at present neither side wants to be blamed for breaking the dialogue at least as yet. The Monarchy seems to be just a red herring anyway.
After Tihar it remains to be seen whether the Maoists will press their advantage by urban guerrilla warfare before the government forces get reestablished and properly reequipped or whether the Maoists will walk straight into Singha Durbar with or without the SPA.
Basically, the talks seem to have been so “delicate” and the mood so “cautiously optimistic” that no one said what they meant and no one meant what they said.
The only person rumored to have said anything of substance was Girja who reminded the Maoists that they had agreed to a ceremonial monarchy in Delhi (the Indian bottom line) and claimed the talks were over (for now) because he needed oxygen. Apparently, he said what me meant and meant what he said – he was short of breath so the talks were postponed.
On Nepal’s bid for the non-permanent member of the UNSC….
So much for the euphoria suggesting that the whole world appreciated and lauded the political developments in Nepal. Even if the lip service was there, the actions of the international community demonstrate neither appreciation nor confidence in Nepal’s political process.
A manifestation of this lack of confidence was Nepal’s loss to Indonesia for the UN Security Council seat by 130 votes (158 for Indonesia and 28 for Nepal). While there is truth to the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister’s claim that the Maoists should be held responsible for the international community’s perception, the fact of the matter lies in the truth that Nepal is inching toward a period of great instability which is expected to affect her performance and contribution in any role of international significance.
To add insult to injury, a former Military General leads the government of Indonesia.
On reviving the death penalty….
Members of the House of Representatives demanded the revival of death penalty. One hundred twenty-nine nations of the world have abolished death penalty. Nepal also abolished this punishment through the 1990 Constitution.
After all, compared to the past, human rights organizations have become much stronger as has the trend that flows dollars in the pockets of genuine human rights groups and genuine anarchists who pose as human rights champions.
One wonders what the HR cartel and civic society has to say on the topic of re-instating the death penalty? Is it good for business or is it bad for business? Is it profitable to oppose it now or is it more profitable to take up the cause once the problem has become more serious?
Basically, the reason behind the call for bringing the death penalty back into the legal system is the rampant break down of law and order in the country which is a product of political developments. But everyone knows that the death penalty has been in practice since the Maoists launched their armed rebellion and that if the House is to follow the Maoists foot steps, it will sill be the weak and poor people who are hanged, not criminal with connections.
On the last three days…..
A businessman was shot in Birgunj; a motorcyclist was looted in broad daylight. A man was tortured till he confessed that he murdered his wife. Meanwhile, his wife is alive and well.
On the highways, the Maoists openly set up barriers and raised funds from passengers. This continued even though the official Maoist line was that such taxation activities were ordered to be stopped.
Moreover, now the Maoists even check the IDs, playing the part of the state’s legitimate security forces that are locked up in their barracks. If all these incidents were reported in a newspaper 10 years ago, people would assume that it was a Gaijatra (macabre/humerous) publication.
Slowly but surely, more reports of crimes are making the headlines but less reports from the police are making it to the courts. The biggest danger is that people are literally keeping quiet about these excesses because of the fear of being killed.
On the illusion of Maoists curbing crime….
Reports have come in that local street gangs in the capital have been corralled by the Maoists and “punished” for their crimes against the people.
The irony is that the most notorious of these typical Nepali “dadas” are as follows: Mr. Milan Gurung, also known as “Chakre Milan,” also known as the UML’s most valued asset in capturing poll booths during elections.
Then, there is the idiot by the name of Deepak Manage, also known to have sold hot dogs on the streets of New York, later provided cocaine to Kathmandu’s richest and also known to have been evacuated from Nepal (when charged for a double homicide) by none other than the man who was most vocal about Krishna Sitoula’s resignation – Pashupati Rana.
Naturally, Manange and Gurung were know arch rivals because Gurung was commissioned to steal votes for the UML and Manange, to steal votes for others. And this list goes on and on.
Although presented as a ploy to curb crime in Kathmandu, everyone knows that after these criminals were “reprimanded” by the Maoists, they were then commissioned to aid the Maoists conduct their “October revolution.” People think the Maoists have done them justice when in fact, the Maoists are continue to do what they’ve always done best – to mobilize in the most effective ways possible.
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