KATHMANDU, NOV 02 -
The much-awaited deal that the parties struck on Tuesday evening, charting out a time-bound action plan on completing the peace process, was a result of a series of formal and informal talks between the leaders of the major political parties over the past few months.
Though the parties had agreed in principle to complete the peace process and prepared some ground for forging consensus some seven months ago, they began working practically on consensus when they started meaningful discussions about a month ago.
The parties that had intensified discussions after PM Baburam Bhattarai’s return from New York, were very optimistic of a breakthrough when they formed a three-member taskforce on October 19 to prepare a draft of a ‘package deal.’ The taskforce that comprised Krishna Prasad Sitaula from the Nepali Congress, Barsa Man Pun of the UCPN (Maoist) and Bhim Rawal of the CPN-UML, was successful in sorting out almost all disputes except for the number of combatants to be integrated and the rehabilitation package.
Though the parties were planning to seal a deal the next day (October 20) when Bhattarai was scheduled to leave for India, they could not do so after the Mohan Baidya faction of the Maoists objected to the understanding.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and PM Bhattarai, however, got the negotiations going despite the rift in their party. Meanwhile, they continued to reach out to Baidya, but when the latter boycotted a crucial meeting called to discuss the differences, they said they would move ahead and sign agreements on completing the peace process based on the party’s majority decision.
Tuesday’s deal was possible after top leaders of the three parties and the taskforce members held a decisive meeting at 2:00 pm at Hotel Radisson, Lazimpat, where they resolved differences in the draft prepared by the taskforce. Earlier on Monday, a three-party meeting had asked the top leaders of the NC, the Maoists, and the UML to come up with a joint proposal.
Dahal, NC President Sushil Koirala and UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and other leaders were engaged the whole day in giving final touches to the draft.
The Hotel Radisson meeting continued till 4:00 pm when the leaders went to the PM’s residence at Baluwatar. From 4:00 pm to around 6:00 pm, the three parties sat separately along with their heads and taskforce representatives there to review and take a final call on the draft deal.
Though the NC and UML meetings endorsed the draft, the Maoists had a problem. The Baidya faction stood in opposition, saying the deal was not in the interests of the Maoist party as it could not ensure a “dignified” integration of the combatants and that it was tantamount to surrendering to the NC and the UML. At around 7:00 pm, CP Gajurel walked out of the PM’s residence, objecting to the draft.
Dahal, however, took a bold decision and told the Baidya faction that the party this time around would move ahead and sign the deal. The Baidya faction, he said, could write its note of dissent in the proposal. After Dahal’s clarion call, the three parties held a successful meeting with the Madhesi Mocha to take it into confidence. The deal was, thus, finally signed and announced at around 8:45 pm.
Leaders from other parties conceded that Dahal’s role was crucial in bringing the deal to fruition on Tuesday. “Indeed, Dahal took a bold step in getting the deal sealed under such a difficult situation in his party,” said NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula, a key negotiator and member of the taskforce. “We were witness to the strong objection of the Baidya faction right here.”
While NC President Koirala played another important role with his positive and flexible stance on the number and package issues despite strong pressure from within his party’s hardliners, UML Chiarman Khanal played a mediator’s role. The last round of talks, according to the negotiators, turned fruitful when Khanal made both the parties agree on the 6,500 number.
“The deal was possible because of NC’s flexible position,” Koirala said after signing the agreement. “We should now move ahead and implement it without any suspicion.”
While not ignoring the difficult negotiations at the 11th hour, some leaders who had been in the know said the turning point came after the much-hyped visit of Dahal to Singapore in March where he reportedly met leaders from the Indian establishment.
“After Dahal’s return from Singapore, the parties had agreed in principle to conclude the peace process,” said UML leader Ghanshyam Bhusal. Leaders said that after Dahal’s return from Singapore, he met Sitaula and agreed to intensify meaningful talks.
