In reaction to the Maoists’ three-month unilateral ceasefire, the government has said that the Maoists have failed to assure it of an enduring peace. In a press statement on Monday, Minister Tanka Dhakal, the government’s spokesman, argued that similar announcements by them in the past did not yield anything leading to peace. However, referring to the Februay 1 Royal Proclamation, he implied that the Maoists would be allowed to enter the political mainstream if they so chose and provided with “all opportunities” at par with “civilised Nepali citizens’. It also stated that the government would “consider positive any initiative by any individual or group for the restoration of peace.” On Saturday, Maoist leader Prachanda said the ceasefire was aimed at creating “a congenial atmosphere from the domestic political forces to the United Nations to resolve the problem.”

The government’s doubts about the Maoists are understandable, so are the Maoists’ suspicion as regards the government’s intentions. But this approach can hardly lead to dialogue and political settlement. The government insists on the Maoists laying down arms and joining the present system. On the contrary, the Maoists are unlikely to settle for anything short of constituent assembly elections, which may or may not retain the monarchy. These divergent stances leave the field open for international forces to take the initiative. India and the UN have hailed the ceasefire, with UN chief Kofi Annan renewing the offer of his good offices for the peace process.

On the domestic front, the seven-party alliance is in the mood to talk to the Maoists. Indeed, the CPN-UML has authorised its general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal to “take necessary initiative to speed up the process of dialogue with the Maoist leadership”. Obviously, this dialogue alone, though important, cannot make a final peace deal, as the government has to be involved. What it can do, however, is to help the peace process, for example, by narrowing down their differences over the future road map for the country. The distrust between the warring sides is so deep that they are unlikely to make peace on their own. So a credible international role seems necessary to start the peace process that promises progress towards a final resolution of the crisis.