Indications are the talks between Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Maoist chairman Prachanda at Sikles, Kaski, on Sunday went off well. As a compromise, while the seven-party alliance agreed to prorogue the parliament for three weeks somewhat in line with the Maoists’ demand for dissolution of parliament, the rebel side dropped their long-standing demand for a broad political conference. These were also the two main points of difference that had begun to be seen as a stumbling block to a negotiated peace settlement. This is obviously a good news as the understanding would now clear the way for holding of the eagerly awaited second round of government-rebels talks that would focus on the primary agenda of beginning the process for elections to the constituent assembly (CA). Hopefully, the new constitution framed by the popularly elected CA would then be the one that truly reflects the aspirations of the Nepali people in addition to securing the rights of all, especially of the marginalised groups, ethnic communities and weaker sections of the society like women and children, whose voice has been silenced for just too long.

As the talks progress, numerous issues of national priority would have to be thoroughly deliberated and way-outs mutually agreed upon. Foremost is the need to promulgate an interim statute that would serve as the legal basis for the transition phase followed later by formation of an interim administration including the Maoists. Equally important, however, is the question of Maoist arms management before the rebels formally start to play an active mainstream political role. Fortunately, the Maoists have already agreed to keep their arms under the UN or some other credible international agency through an acceptable oversight arrangement. They, however, also want demobilisation of the arms of the Nepal Army. The rebels aren’t just ready to forsake the claim that a parallel government exists on swathes of Nep-al’s territory under their command. This is a sensitive matter and has to be handled with utmost care and caution. The Maoists, on their part, should understand that their credibility as a party is contingent upon arms management, as it were, at the earliest.

Reassuringly, the Maoist leadership and the government both seem keen in announcing the date for CA polls. This is no doubt a great idea as people are most eager to see advancement towards that direction. The leader of the Maoist talks team Krishna Bahadur Mahara said the other day that an election to a CA “could be held within six months.” This timeframe of his rather sounds unrealistic, if not childish, because developing modalities and completing formalities to hold a vote of such a historic significance as the CA is surely going to be a complex and time-consuming process. First and foremost, the two sides have to bring the current peace parleys to their logical conclusion after settling all the contentious issues that have surfaced or are likely to emerge in the days ahead. Why not, then, for now begin by announcing the date for the second round of talks?