In a highly positive turn of events in an otherwise sombre-looking political atmosphere, the most contentious issue that had been blocking the progress towards the constituent assembly (CA) elections was settled on Wednesday. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and CPN-Maoist chairman Prachanda finally signed a five-point understanding that more or less takes care of the dispute over arms management. Accordingly, both sides handed over separate letters bearing identical contents to the UN to monitor the peace process. Other provisions of the pact contain the continuance of human rights monitoring through the UN office set up here for the purpose, providing assistance in monitoring the code of conduct governing the ceasefire, and observation of the CA polls. As regards arms management, the Maoist combatants are to be kept in separate cantonments along with their arms, subjecting them to monitoring by qualified civilian personnel, whereas the Nepal Army and its weapons will be limited to its barracks, with its neutrality in the run-up to the CA polls ensured. The modalities for weapons management are later to be worked out among the parties concerned, including the UN.

Now it will be no use singling out those guilty of delaying the progress towards CA by nearly two months since the 8-point accord was signed by the CPN-Maoist and the SPA on June 16. The five-point agreement follows the 8-point one, which, in turn, is based on the 12-point understanding and Jana Andolan II, and which form the basis for a lasting political settlement. The 5-point pact has salvaged the peace talks which were showing cracks, as the CPN-Maoist’s second-in-command Dr Baburam Bhattarai warned four days ago. To smooth the path towards CA and beyond, both sides should take further confidence-building measures. This is not a one-way street. On their part, the Maoists should prove their bona fides on a number of things, for example, on extortions and intimidation which are continuing.

Other hurdles are likely to crop up on the way but they are not insurmountable given a genuine spirit of conciliation based on agreed principles. Wednesday’s pact paves the way for rapid progress towards the interim constitution, which has to be put in place before an interim government, including the Maoists, is sworn in. Over the peace process, the bona fides of some were called into question because of their strident statements on the issue of managing the two sides’ arms and armies and forming an interim government. They will therefore help Nepal greatly and win the Nepalis’ goodwill by changing tack —

by using their clout to help ensure that neither side betrays, that democracy and human rights are respected, and that everybody accepts the verdict of the people. For this, they should, first of all, come across to the Nepali people as neutral third parties rather than as partisans of either side or as mere pushers of their own agendas.