Single step remains to be taken to complete the process of integrating the Maoists fully into interim governance prior to holding the constituent assembly (CA) polls — the formation of an interim cabinet. The United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has already registered and put under lock and key the arms and ammunition handed in by the Maoist combatants. And it has released the initial details, putting the number of Maoist combatants at 30,852 and 3,428 weapons, which include mortars, machine-guns, sub-machine-guns, rifles, side arms, shotguns, homemade and other devices. The high weapons-to-combatants ratio has naturally given some quarters ammunition for doubt. They think it is incredible. News reports quoting Nepali Army sources say that the weapon count is even lower than what the Maoists had looted from the state forces. Some ministers or SPA leaders expressed doubts, too. But, according to the Maoists, they did not fight the guerrilla war on the principle of “one soldier, one gun”.

Some people, including the American ambassador to Nepal, have alleged arms concealment. If so, there will never be a better time than now for them to confront the Maoists with facts. Otherwise, their allegations will sound as hollow as those of the existence of the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. To move the peace process forward, trust is all-important. On his part, Maoist chairman Prachanda on Sunday tried to explain that the guerrillas lost many of the weapons seized from the state forces when the state army set fire to houses in villages and while the guerrillas were crossing rivers; and the rest became useless. Yet another principal reason for the big mismatch between the numbers of the combatants and weapons, according to Prachanda, was that the UN left grenades — which, along with the bombs, formed a large part of the Maoist armoury — out of reckoning as weapons. Anyway, even if it may not be opportune to spend too much time, which is now at a premium, over the possibility of Maoist double-dealing, evidences to the contrary would be welcomed.

To check cheating, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement also stipulates that any possession of arms outside the sanctioned limits will be deemed illegal. This provision can well deal with any possible future cases of dishonesty. The need now is to move on to the next stage of forming the interim government and make up for lost time to hold the CA polls in mid-June, a schedule that is looking increasingly improbable against the existing odds. Prachanda said that the interim government would be formed within a week. That would be great if it happened. But, both the government and the Maoists should take extraordinary care to prevent any mistrust stealing into their relations. Last week’s unease and concern was finally resolved with UN’s request and the government’s promise of giving more funds for the upkeep of Maoist fighters (Rs. 50 million a month has now been sanctioned). Their exit en masse constituted a breach of the peace agreement and so, perhaps, did the government’s lack of proper attention. This does not, however, minimise the importance of maintaining transparency about how the taxpayers’ money has been and will be used by the Maoists.