By a staff reporter

The government’s efforts to solve the rapidly spreading Maoist problem seems to have received a big jolt, with the announcement of the Maoist party saying it will not come forward for talks with the government now.

In a statement released on Monday, the NCP (Maoist) has said that as the Girija Prasad Koirala government has not made any efforts to create the “minimum environment” required for the talks to take place as demanded by the Maoists, “it is not appropriate to send any representative of the party for talks”. The statement was issued by powerful general secretary of the party Prachanda.

However the Maoists have acknowledged the efforts made by former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and also some human rights activists. The party has also acknowledged that it received the letter sent by the high level committee headed by Deuba to resolve the insurgency problem.

This comes as a great setback for Koirala, who had said that he would resolve the insurgency problem within three months of him becoming the Prime Minister. Koirala has already been criticised for not allowing Deuba to function with full power and now he is also embroiled in a power struggle with his own ministers and MPs. The announcement of Prachanda could not have come at a worse time for the Prime Minister, when he is facing a serious political crisis as well.

The worst aspect of the insurgency problem, is the rapidly break down of government presence in many parts of the country. Specially in the Maoist affected districts, the people don’t seem to know whom they should obey. Just last week, there was a report saying how the people in nearby Sindhupalchowk district, were having a problem regarding their security as several police posts had been abandoned.

Also alarming is the way people seem to be taking the law into their own hands, even when such a thing like a bus accident takes place. About a week back, an Indian bus was thrown into the Trishuli River on the Prithvi Highway, when it accidentally ran over a child.

Even Kathmandu bears a fortress like look during the evenings and the presence of police is intimidating, say many residents. Yet, the Maoists seem to hold their own meetings and even quick demonstrations even in such a tightly secured place.

It is high time Prime Minister Koirala and his security advisors come up with a tangible solution to the insurgency problem, which is dragging the nation down economically, socially and also politically.