Consultations started late last week between the SPA government and the CPN-Maoist on the formation of an interim government. But the government is taking the Maoists’ declared quantity of weapons with a pinch of salt and also urging them to implement the peace accord “more fully” by desisting from what remains of their past practices such as public display of arms, intimidation and coercion. On the contrary, the Maoists maintain that they have been honest in their disclosure and that the government can take action in such cases as unauthorised display of weapons. Besides, the Maoists suspect that the SPA is unwilling to take them into the government. In recent days, they have also been making the point that the “forces of regression” are conspiring against the CA polls, citing, for example, the King’s Democracy Day message and the agitation in the Tarai. So, they are pushing Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to have Nepal declared a republic through the parliament even before the CA polls; or if he cannot do that, for the Nepali Congress to decide in favour of republicanism. These issues dominated the meeting between Maoist duo — chairman Prachanda and his deputy Dr Baburam Bhattarai — and Koirala on Saturday.

On his part, Koirala is reported to have reminded the Maoist leaders of the November 8 agreement and the understanding, now incorporated into the IC, that the first meeting of the CA will clinch the monarchy v republic issue. Koirala is right. But it is also true that the eight-party agreement can amend the IC, as testified by the process of constitutional amendment. The eight parties and the parliament scrapped even the 1990 constitution and much that it contained, making alterable its ‘unalterable’ provisions. So, if they will, they can decide on the monarchy now, as they have done on so many major issues, such as federalism. That will not, however, affect the sovereign nature of the CA, which can decide otherwise.

However, there should be no harm in keeping patience until the CA’s final verdict, as Koirala has urged. But the government ought also to demonstrate that it will not put up with unauthorised and unwarranted statements or actions by those holding positions deriving salary from the public purse. In this regard, the government needs to do more, whether the matter relates to the aberrant brigadier general in Pokhara or to the unconstitutional

royal message. Public faith in government and legislature will erode if their decisions and resolutions are not meant for serious implementation.

The prime task before the nation is to carry the peace process to a successful conclusion. To do so, the need to keep the mid-June CA schedule cannot be overemphasised. This will be possible only if all necessary preparations, including interim government, are made without further loss of time. Failure to hold the CA polls on time is likely to give the Maoists plausible reasons for a new action, put the SPA government in an unfavourable light, and give those uncomfortable with the present change more time for undesirable manoeuvre.