The 12-point agreement signed between the seven-party alliance (SPA) and the Maoists laid the basis for launching a peaceful people’s movement against the king’s tyrannical rule. The 19 days of unprecedented people’s movement compelled the king to surrender and restored the dissolved House of Representatives (HoR) on the basis of the SPA’s road map.

The HoR in its first meeting unanimously decided to go for constituent assembly (CA) elections as was agreed in the 12-point agreement. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala then made a historic proposal to substantially curtail the powers of the king. The HoR made the nine-point proclamation 2063, which dissolved the Rajparishad and made radical changes regarding legislative powers, executive powers, the Nepal Army, the royal palace and other provisions of the 1990 Constitution.

There are a number of issues on which the SPA and Maoists agreed. Firstly, there is the Maoists’ demand for the HoR dissolution. Secondly, interim constitution needs to be adopted. Thirdly, the round table conference is to be organised. Fourthly, the joint interim government of SPA, Maoists and the representatives of civil society is to be formed.

The government is insisting on the HoR continuation. The ministers feel that the dissolution will create power vacuum and uncertainty of the legal basis for the government. The government has drafted legislative procedures, which have been endorsed by the HoR.

But there seem to be congenial relations between the government and the Maoists. The first round of talks between them has been successful in agreeing to the 25-point ceasefire code of conduct. The important provision of monitoring the ceasefire by national or international agencies is appreciable. The summit dialogue between PM Koirala and Maoist supremo Prachanda and the later marathon meeting between the SPA and Maoist leaders on June 16 culminated in a joint statement announcing an eight-point accord. It has endorsed the implementation of the code of conduct and contains these provisions: to carry on their activities peacefully by respecting competitive multiparty governance, individual freedom, human rights, press freedom and the rule of law; to request the UN for support to facilitate and monitor the management of Nepal Army and Maoist militia and their weapons; to draft the interim constitution, to set up joint interim government, to fix the date for the elections to CA and to dissolve the HoR and the people’s government; to make consensual decisions on issues of national interest; to have international observation and monitoring to ensure fair and free elections; to resolve the problems of castes, Janajatis, regional and gender issues. It directed the government and the Maoists dialogue teams to implement the decisions.

However, the SPA leaders were not happy and started expressing dissent regarding the dissolution of HoR. Devendra Raj Pandey, Krishna Pahadi and others declined to be members of the national monitoring team for ceasefire. Even the interim constitution drafting committee formed under the convenorship of Laxman Aryal needed to be enlarged to incorporate CPN-UML and women representatives.

The SPA has not yet expressed its views regarding the round table conference. The SPA and the government have already agreed on CA as demanded by the Maoists, but there has to be a general understanding with regard to the structure and electoral procedure of the CA. Quite a number of divergent views have come up in the media. Such issues can be discussed and general accord reached through a national conference. It is high time that we gave serious thought to the call for a round table.

A continued dialogue process between the SPA and Maoist leaders is needed to remove the misunderstanding on a number of issues, including the dissolution of HoR and the Maoists’ people’s government, interim government and ceasefire monitoring committee. It was probably wrong to constitute a national monitoring committee jointly by the SPA and the Maoists. In fact, an outstanding independent civil society leader should have been requested for the co-ordinatorship of the committee. In consultation with the coordinator, the other independent members should have been nominated for the ceasefire committee. Otherwise, there is bound to be mistrust and the committee may not be neutral and fail to perform effectively.

Meanwhile, the army made a statement in response to the remarks of Prachanda during the latter’s press interview on June 16. In fact, a row has emerged among the top ministers on this issue. It was the responsibility of the government to clarify and defend the army on such an issue. There are a number of conflicting political issues of serious concern. The SPA and the Maoist leaders should try to resolve all the mistrust and pave the way for general understanding through continued dialogue.

Dr Amatya is ex-head of geography department, TU