Donald Camp, the US principal deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs, has concluded his two-day visit to Nepal by repeating the American position that the King and the political parties should bury the hatchet and that the Maoists must renounce violence. This American position has been unhelpful to a genuine search for a broad-based democratic political settlement in Nepal. Supposing that the palace and the parties came together, what next? Will it resolve the problems associated with the conflict and restore peace and democracy? Indeed, before the royal takeover, these two forces had been united and they had even held unsuccessful talks with the Maoists. The establishment did not want to go ‘beyond the 1990 Constitution’ and the rebels did not come ‘below the demand for constituent assembly.

Any palace-parties rapprochement does not guarantee a return to peace and democracy, though it may see resumption of the supply of American weapons aimed at crushing the Maoists. This would certainly make the conflict even bloodier and more protracted. Therefore, this line is not in the interest of the Nepalis, even though it may favour America’s strategic interests in Nepal. Indeed, Elisabeth Millard, senior director at the US National Security Council, has admitted, “The US has interests in Nepal as Nepal lies strategically between China and India.”

The American formula is arguably a recipe for a prolonged political instability and conflict. What is needed instead is a broader democratic peace formula under which the Maoists could be persuaded, through dialogue and international guarantee, to accept a multiparty democracy. But it requires peace talks to sort out all the doubts and differences, including the question, upon a political settlement, of what credible international agency they should surrender their arms to and how. Just asking them to lay down arms and join the ‘political mainstream’ carries no meaning. The government should take a bold new initiative for this. It will not gain, nor will it help peace, by blaming others for its own inability to think and act right. For example, Wednesday’s insinuations by Home Minister Kamal Thapa as regards the recent seizure of a truck carrying explosives do not reflect a high sense of responsibility on the part of the government. Restore the 1990 Constitution, and your problems with the agitating political parties will be resolved. Show a willingness for a broader democratic solution, the Maoists will be ready to talk. The need for introspection has never been so great and so compulsive.