Political leaders and civil society representatives have said the present political crisis could find an outlet if the three main players – King, Maoists and political parties – agree for an election to Constitution Assembly.
Speaking at a face-to-face programme organised by the Reporters Club on Monday, leaders of various political parties and the civil society debated the possible way out of the deepening conflict as the Maoist insurgency entered into the 11th year today.
Central Working Committee member of Nepali Congress (NC) Arjun Narsingh KC said that by expressing commitment towards competitive multiparty democratic system, human rights and press freedom, the Maoists have clearly shown their interest in initiating dialogue.
However, KC hesitated to say that parties would work hand in hand with the rebels unless they avoided their goal to capture the state mechanism by armed violence.
Senior leader of CPN (UML) Shanker Pokharel was of the view that the Maoists insurgency has reached such a climax that use of army was never going to make the situation better. The royal government’s indifference towards the call from people for ceasefire and initiate dialogue to restore peace and political stability would make the institution of monarchy more vulnerable.
He also criticised the Maoists’ vague stand about the possible image of Nepali society in a broader democratic system. Now, the mainstream political parties should shoulder the responsibilities to bring the rebels and the royalists back to the track.
The UML leader said that new strategy of the political parties would be to bring the Maoists into peaceful movement. Fusion of the peaceful movement and armed rebellion would ultimately pressurize the king to accept the conditions for election to the Constituent Assembly, which has been the bottom line of both the alliance of mainstream parties and the rebels, he added.
Peace should be sovereign and opinion expressed by the people in the election of Constituent Assembly should be acceptable to all three political powers – king, rebels and parliamentarian political forces, Pokharel added.
There should be independent international observers, chiefly the United Nations should monitor the election of the Assembly so that none of these three parties manipulate the electorate, he further said.
The Maoists have said on different occasions that they would accept the results of assembly elections and they have, to some extent, convinced the civil society leaders and political parties on this. The UN has said it was ready to consider the request for monitoring the peace process.
Speaking at the same programme, Yagya Prasad Acharya, a member of the Raj Parishad (royal council) said that the parties and the Maoists should support the roadmap the King presented “for peace and democracy”.
He added that the King is ready to face any challenge in his bid to protect the institution of monarchy particularly at a time when the voice for a republican setup has grown stronger.
Civil society leader Dr Sundar Mani Dixit maintained that the King should now understand that he cannot rule with support of less than 20 percent population. He warned that the monarch’s support base would decrease in the days ahead if he continues to stick to his tactics to intimidate the agitating political parties.
Prateek Pradhan, editor of The Kathmandu Post, who recently interview Maoist chairman Prachanda, said the present strategic stalemate has indicated that neither of the two warring groups is able to secure victory. Consensus for the election to the Constituent Assembly is the only means to restore peace and political stability in the country, he said.