The 8-point peace agreement signed between the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the Seven-Party Alliance (SPA) on Friday marks yet another solid step towards the country’s journey from conflict and confusion to an era of peace and democracy, as it sets out clearly the blueprint of the things to be done immediately to pave the way for constituent assembly (CA) elections. It has also largely removed the uncertainty and doubt that was beginning to cloud the political firmament and the emergence of misunderstandings between the Maoists and the government owing to the delay in moving things forward. When there has been a general consensus in the country that the CA should decide the kind of polity and the state structures in adherence to competitive politics, fundamental rights and press freedom, it will be unnecessary on the part of anybody at home and abroad to issue statements favouring ceremonial or constitutional monarchy or a republican order even before the people have spoken in ultimate terms.

Two cases in point were the statements by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and CPN-UML politburo member and former deputy prime minister Bamdev Gautam, the former favouring ‘ceremonial monarchy’ and the latter calling for the abolition of the same even before the CA polls. Everybody is free to go to the people with their agenda in the run-up to the CA polls. Foreign diplomats, too, should refrain from commenting on what are purely Nepal’s internal matters, for example, when and how the arms of the Maoists and the Nepali army should be managed, or what the future shape of the Nepali army should be like, or whether the Nepalis should have ceremonial monarchy or a republican order. Both the rebels and the SPA government have decided to write a letter to the United Nations to help manage the armies and weapons of both the sides and to monitor them to ensure free and fair CA polls.

Friday’s agreement has proved that given understanding between the rebels and the SPA, big things can be done in the interest of the nation and the people. The agreement decrees the promulgation of an interim constitution based on democratic principles and building on the gains of the 1990 popular movement, the 12-point understanding between the rebels and the SPA, the recent Jana Andolan, the spirit of the 25-point code of conduct for the ceasefire, followed by the formation of an interim government, including the Maoists, announcement of a date for the CA elections, dissolution of the House of Representatives as well as all people’s governments formed by the Maoists. A 31-member ceasefire monitoring panel and a 5-member statute-drafting committee have been formed. And there is a provision for international observation and monitoring according to the need. Finally, things seem to be moving in the right direction. Consultation and consensus should take care of any disputes in the meantime. But it is the people who must have the final say through the democratic exercise of their sovereign rights.