The 12-point accord between the SPA and the Maoists was the most important factor in toppling the royal regime and reinstating the dissolved House of Representatives (HoR). The formation of the SPA government and the signing of the 8-point agreement between the SPA and the Maoists further strengthened the parties’ resolve to arrive at a peaceful settlement of all issues, including state restructuring and its machinery through Constituent Assembly (CA) polls, which would deliberate upon all the outstanding issues related to shaping a democratic system, thereby creating equal rights and opportunities for all the ethnic groups, Dalits and women.

However, for free and fair CA polls, the primary need was a peace accord between the insurgents and the government. The onus now rests upon the newly formed government to embark on the path of peace through negotiations. For the success of peace talks, the most important aspect is the building of confidence, which is a very complicated and sensitive procedure. While the insurgents still remain suspicious of the government’s design, the government too remains equally alert to the Maoists’ tactics. Therefore, a constant and careful link between the two is essential. The recent utterances by the ministers and the rebel leaders have cast a shadow over the negotiations. This development remains a matter of concern to both the sides.

The SPA government claims HoR as its source of strength. Likewise, the SPA has to recognise that Maoists’ source of strength is their arms and militia sans which the rebels would not be recognised as a strong outfit. And without the armed forces, there was no need to recognise them as partners in the peace process. The SPA has been using the parliamentary forum to consolidate the April revolution’s gains. It insists that the Maoists cannot be a partner in a coalition until their arms and forces are brought under effective supervision. The Maoists have agreed to keep their army under UN supervision, but refused to disband it before the CA polls. Both the sides are justified in their respective stances. However, supervision and disbandment are two different concepts. The focus should be on neutralising both the armed forces until the CA polls. But as long as the government differentiates between Nepal Army and the militia, there is little hope of building confidence.

There is ceasefire in the country without a truce agreement. Dialogues are also being carried out behind the screen. The ceasefire monitoring group has expressed its own frustration. Accusations of ill-intention are being traded publicly. Unless the movement of security forces is not transparent, the danger of truce violation looms large. Both the sides should try to eliminate suspicions by exchanging relevant information. To salvage the peace process, it is vital that each side keep the other informed about the movement of arms. Attempts to legitimise government actions by dint of its legal authority but labelling all Maoist activities unwarranted will hamper peace efforts.

To bring the peace process back on track, it’s necessary to review the 8-point agreement. It stipulates that the HoR would be replaced by another mutually-agreed platform. But the government seems to be in no mood to do so. The participation of the Maoists in a new coalition government has been made contingent upon the status of their armed forces. The Maoists have expressed their reluctance to join the government and instead opted to go along with the negotiations, including on arms management. However, if the government only listens to the state’s security forces then it will lack the will to facilitate the arms management process. The government must look into the reasons some people are keen on creating confusion. If it fails to rise above its narrow security interests, the SPA government will be no better than the government before April 2006 with regards to security. National politics should be made dynamic by bridging the gaps between fissiparous elements rather than be led astray by wrong decisions.

Popular opinion is clearly in favour of holding the CA polls at the earliest, which is possible only with the cooperation of the Maoists. The rebels should be informed and consulted, as equal partners to achieve the goals of the April uprising. Arms management can be tackled only with the recognition that arms might be used to intimidate people from expressing their free will. All attention should now be directed towards an early CA poll.

However, to build trust, a broad platform to discuss all the problems is needed. Only a broadly participated political conference can do this. The SPA and Maoists must recognise that an overwhelming number of Nepalis don’t belong to either faction. On vital issues like ethnic rights and greater people’s participation, equal rights for Dalits and women, the representatives of each of these groups must have a say, preferably through a political conference. Let all the political forces agree to this.

Upadhyay is a former foreign minister