False consensus

Interview with KP Oli, Standing Committee member of UML, in Chhalphal, 28 November

From The Nepali Press | From Issue #530 (December 3-9, 2010)

Chhalphal: How do you assess the current political situation?
KP Oli: Nepali politics is in transition. Democracy has been restored and we have to institutionalise it. The Maoist insurgency ended but the peace process is still ongoing. In other words, the peace process is a fight against violence, which is still ongoing. Apparently, the republic has been established, but the Comprehensive Peace Accord only brought about a ceasefire. The objectives of the war, weapons and policies are still as they used to be. The Maoists still control the PLA combatants and weapons, on the basis of which they warn of violent protests time and again. The government has not been formed in five months, ever since the prime minister resigned. We have only six months to conclude the peace process, but the issues of the constitution and peace process have not been touched yet. This is why we are hearing voices of frustration and protest.

What is the root cause and who is responsible for this?
The Maoists' intention to capture power, the continuity of the politics of violence, and a craving for weapons are the real problems. Some other forces are also behind them for their own interest. They said Madhav Nepal's resignation would pave the way for political consensus, some even launched a signature campaign demanding his resignation. In fact, they did not understand the ulterior motives of the Maoists. Whoever was involved in this episode is responsible for the current situation.

How have you taken the incident in parliament?
The parliament incident was an inexcusable, condemnable, unethical deed. The culprits should be brought to book. But this is not a surprising act for an extremist party, it's not a big thing for a party that slaughtered thousands of people. This incident should not disrupt the peace process and ongoing dialogue but they should not be allowed to act however they want.

When will the government be formed?
The Maoists are not ready to accept anyone's leadership. People saw their attempt to block the budget. They seem to be determined to create a vacuum by preventing the formation of the government.

Who is likely to lead the new government?
There is no possibility of the Maoists leading the government because they have not implemented past agreements, denounced violence or given up weapons. They cannot lead the government until they transform themselves into a civilian party. Whatever the UML and NC decide should offer a way out.

If the current stalemate persists, will the president take over?
The Nepali president is not a military president and we are not about to risk democracy. There is a provision for a state of emergency in the constitution. If the government has to declare a state of emergency, there can be discussions on presidential rule. In democracy these kinds of discussion are natural.

Published on Dec 3, 2010