The government has sent wrong signals to the public by stopping the seven political parties from convening a mock session of the dissolved House of Representatives. Scheduled for Tuesday, it was supposed to discuss ways of taking the pro-democracy movement forward and to hold a debate on the new budget. Enraged political activists took out marches in protest, chanting pro-democracy and even anti-monarchy slogans in the prohibited areas. An scuffle ensued when the police manhandled journalists. The mock session has been postponed till July 26, to be held at another venue. Given the government’s attitude, it is doubtful whether it will be allowed to take place.

After all, the mock session holds only symbolic value. In the past, too, such a session had been convened. Tuesday’s episode indicates that the government is in an aggressive mood. But the pro-democracy activists and leaders are in no mood to yield, either. The government’s intolerance cannot keep protests from erupting again and rising in numbers and intensity. But above all, it violates the citizen’s fundamental right of freedom to assemble peaceably and without arms. While the numbers of those who believe the government intends to restore democracy are dwindling at home and abroad, such crackdowns will strengthen the position of doubters.

Meanwhile, the attempts to set up organisations of pro-establishment professionals, i.e. journalists and lawyers, parallel to the established and legitimate organisations, seek to divide them. These and other similar steps give the impression that the government is set on a course other than promoting reconciliation and resolution of the national crisis. The political parties are planning a fresh movement. Whether they may succeed or not this time around, the cycle of protests will go on. The government’s agenda has transformed a two-sided conflict — between the constitutional forces and the Maoists —into a three-sided one, with the increasing possibility that the other two forces might come closer together against the government. Against this scenario, whether military means alone can restore peace and security, not to speak of democracy, is highly uncertain, even on the most optimistic reckoning.