Premier Thapa’s political ‘acumen’ to be tested soon

June 11, 2003
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Kathmandu: The Maoists appear to be in a dilemma.

Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa.
The dilemma that they confront now is on how to cope with the emerging political scenario due to the sudden resignation tendered by Lokendra Bahadur Chand last week and his replacement by yet another shrewd politician of the country-Surya Bahadur Thapa.

For the Maoists understandably theirs going smooth with the new prime minister will not be that easy as had been with Chand in the recent past.

Chand, considered by analysts as to be a hardliner and close to the Palace, some how or the other managed two round of talks wherein he apparently gave concessions which the insurgents apparently demanded. The Maoists perhaps know better that it would be not that easy to extract “political mileage” from the incumbent prime minister Thapa and hence appear to devise new schemes and strategies to cope with the incumbent conspiratorial brain seated in Singh Durbar.

A reflection to this idea comes from their recent statements which indicates that they too could join in the agitation now being sponsored by the Big-5 if the latter agreed on certain minimum demands put forth by the insurgents.

The agitationists out of frustration too appear to shake-hands with the firebrand and radical communists if the establishment, more so the Palace, doesn’t yield to their political demands.

Their demands include the restoration of the house and the formation of an all-party government with all the executive powers under the leadership of some one nominated by the big-5.

RPP sources say that the second demand has already been met with by the King when he formed the Thapa government and notified through a communiqué that the executive powers now remain with the government thus formed under premier Thapa.

The big-5 reject this Royal declaration and wish to put Thapa government under the same category as that of the previous government led by Chand.

The deadlock thus continues.

The fight thus appears more with the King than his government under Thapa.

Question again arises: what if the Maoists join the agitation sponsored by the big-5? If this does happen, what would happen to the country if the parties together with the big-5 wage a joint struggle against the government and finally the monarchy? Will the incumbent establishment be able to contain the threats posed to it and the monarchy?

The Maoists have hinted that they could acquire any posture to meet their demands. But will they support the big-5 for the restoration of the now dissolved house? Will they prefer to wage a movement together with those who champion the 1990 constitution? These are some of the questions that demand serious merit by the Maoists prior to theirs jumping onto the movement sponsored by those who claim that most of the Maoists demands could be met with by effecting certain changes in the existing constitution.

The Maoists demand an altogether a new constitution. They demand a constituent assembly. They demand an interim order to go in for a constituent assembly. The parties now in opposition appear reluctant to these Maoists demands.

Interestingly, the Maoists have hinted that they are not perturbed by the change of guards at Singh Durbar. It matters little for them on who is seated in Singh Durbar. All that they wish the resumption of the talks even if it were a new guard-Thapa. For them Thapa or any Tom, Dick or Harry makes little difference. The new regime is ready to initiate talks with the men of the old regime, this is what they opine. This means that they were in favor of meaningful and positive talks.

Analysts maintain that the Thapa government can save its political face if it succeeds in bringing the Maoists for the third round of talks. If this materializes would certainly attract the attention of the lay men towards the talks and not to the moves of the agitationists.

But how premier Thapa tackles the controversy supposedly created by the alleged agreement (?) reached with the Maoists on limiting the RNA men to five kilometer periphery will perhaps test his political acumen.

The government team, to recall, denies that it has reached such an agreement with the Maoists. The Maoists claim that it had been agreed so at the second round of talks with the establishment team.

Thus the controversy is on.