Given the deep distrust between the palace and the political parties, it is not surprising that the latter have flatly rejected the home ministry’s appeal to them to find a solution to the political problem through ‘dialogue’ and ‘understanding’. The appeal that came in the form of a press statement also urged them to cancel their January 20 show of strength in view of ‘possible Maoist infiltration’. The statement, referring to the Maoist attempts to intensify violence in the country, including Kathmandu, has also urged the people to ‘stay away’ from the rally to avoid ‘possible violence’. On the other hand, the government has indefinitely imposed a night curfew in Kathmandu and Lalitpur, banned meetings, rallies and sit-ins for ‘security reasons’.

Some may view the government’s offer as a ploy to halt the gathering momentum of potitical protest, particularly after the seven-party alliance’s 12-point understanding with the Maoists. Others may see in it the level of alarm the government feels because of the deteriorating situation, including the latest rebel attacks. Still others may interpret it as a comedown for a government which had set four conditions for any dialogue with the parties.

But alliance leaders say the statement reflects government fears of the ‘massive preparations for Friday’s rally’. Besides other factors, each argument may contain some truth.

It is dialogue and reconciliation, rather than confrontation, which should have been pursued already. Still, despite the unnecessary death and destruction, things have not completely gone out of hand. But they have gone too far for such a move as Monday’s statement to promise much by way of political settlement. The political parties feel they were deceived by the palace more than once after October 4, 2002 as their rounds of talks produced no reconciliation. But the alliance appears still ready for dialgue if democracy is restored. And if the Feb. 8 civic polls, which are likely to create more problems than solve them, are cancelled, they may call off Friday’s rally, besides urging the Maoists for a fresh ceasefire, according to alliance leaders. But the offer of dialogue, combined with a clampdown on fundamental rights, hardly provides adequate proof of the government’s bona fides. At a time when there is no love or trust left between the government and the other political forces, the former is supposed to do more by way of building mutual confidence through concrete deeds. Calling off the polls is likely to constitute the first small but important step in that direction.