The four-member UN team has returned with ‘cautious optimism’ regarding the ongoing peace process in Nepal. The head of the mission, Staffan de Mistura, confirmed four areas in which the UN could contribute to the peace process with the support of all sides: arms and army management, electoral assistance for the constituent assembly (CA) elections, assistance in monitoring the code of conduct and expansion of human rights activities in Nepal.

The UN is, however, waiting for clear understanding between the disputants, especially on the issue of arms management. If the government and the Maoists fail to make the ongoing peace process a decisive one, the return of violence will be even more disastrous. To avoid this, no one should stick to the radical or status-quo mentality. The government and the Maoists should get more serious about reaching an understanding on contentious issues.

Despite home minister and coordinator of the government’s negotiating team Krishna Prasad Sitaula’s claim that all political issues have been settled, the question of whether to keep the Maoist militia with arms or separate the two remains unsettled. Some SPA members and some foreign powers, mainly the US, want a separation of the arms from the People’s Liberation Army, but the rebels want to keep their arms and the army in temporary camps. The government’s unilateral and secret letter to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan followed by the Maoist chairman’s letter three weeks later have already shown a contradiction, which should have been sorted out prior to the UN team’s visit.

In the light of the latest activities of high-level army officers (Kalikot to King’s Way incidents), and the Maoists’ ongoing abductions and fund-raising, there is a need to thrash out an agreeable solution for the management of weapons. However, getting entangled only in the issue of weapons management will not be wise. A consensus on creating a framework for interim constitution, parliament dissolution, a viable alternative to the House of Representatives and forming an interim government with the Maoists are equally important. Delaying the main issue of CA polls and lengthening the period of political transition might lead to grave consequences and sideline forever the demand for CA elections. The main issue of CA polls should be addressed properly and without further delay.

The differences on key issues among major political players are yet to be sorted out. While the NC wants the CA to decide the fate of monarchy, the CPN-UML wants it to be decided through a referendum. The Maoists have suggested that Nepal be declared a democratic republic. The NC-D too prefers a federal democratic republican set-up. Similarly, the NC says the interim parliament should be an extension of the incumbent parliament (made up of incumbent lawmakers, elected parliamentarians from the Upper House and other members from the Maoists, political parties not having representatives in the parliament, and from the civil society). However, the CPN-UML says the SPA and the Maoists should decide on interim parliament whereas the Maoists say an extensive political assembly would decide the interim parliament consisting of 303 members (one-third from SPA, one-third from the Maoists and one-third from the civil society).

While the US has expressed its reservations on steps initiated by the government, India has expressed hope concerning a unique alliance between the SPA and the Maoists. The US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, Richard Boucher, recently expressed support for the possible UN role in the ongoing peace process. But he still sees an important role for the Nepal Army and wants the Maoists to disarm. The US still does not seem to have got over its McCarthyite hangover and the Cold War mentality when it comes to dealing with communists. The Nepali people’s desire of promoting their own values and the right to choose their own political path do not seem to suit US interests.

Drafting of an interim statute, formation of an interim government, management of arms, preparation of the voters’ lists, CA polls, and restructuring of the state are issues that need to be worked out at the earliest. However, the prime minister’s ill-health has caused a delay in taking decisions, which may also delay CA polls, thus leaving a breeding ground for conspiracies. Even Laxman Aryal, coordinator of Interim Constitution Drafting Committee, has sniffed conspiracy aimed at preventing the finalising of the interim document. Despite the 12-point and 8-point agreements and 25-point ceasefire code of conduct signed by the SPA and the Maoists, the people are not happy at the slow progress towards an interim constitution and interim government, which are essential for the CA elections. The process has to be expedited in line with the people’s mandate expressed through the Jana Andolan. Or else the country would plunge back into conflict.

Chalise is a career journalist