For Maoists in Nepal, is it power without responsibility now?

The government will make the necessary amendments to the laws for speedy implementation of transitional justice within the next 15 days.

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The last minute abdication of Pushpa Kamal Dahal (left) and his decision to stick with the current coalition arrangement under Oli came following an assurance from Oli to bring in all necessary legislation for effective implementation of transitional justice.

By all accounts, it seems the Maoists in general and their chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal in particular, are poised to gain by the latest deal that gives a fresh lease of life to the K P Oli government.

Although there is speculation that Oli will quit the job and support Dahal as his successor soon after the budget and the government’s policies have been adopted by Parliament, a 9-point deal inked between the two leaders shows how Dahal and the UCPN-M are going to gain – that too at the expense of Oli.

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The last minute abdication of Dahal and his decision to stick with the current coalition arrangement under Oli came following an assurance from Oli to bring in all necessary legislation for effective implementation of transitional justice. That may mean having all conflict-related cases referred to the powerless Truth and Reconciliation Commission from different courts and grant ‘amnesty’ to Maoist leaders without much noise, something that Oli had been resisting firmly so far.

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The government will make the necessary amendments to the laws for speedy implementation of transitional justice within the next 15 days. Registering lands or legalising land deals of the conflict period on the basis of available evidence, providing relief to the families of the ‘martyrs’ and those of disappeared, rehabilitating and providing treatment to those wounded during the period, expediting the withdrawal of all ‘politically motivated cases’ slapped during the insurgency are also on the cards.

Maoists face accusations of occupying private land and houses following the decisions of their ‘peoples court’ but successive government have refused to regularise possession.

The biggest gain that Dahal has been able to secure from a vulnerable Oli is his promise to have all ‘politically motivated’ cases withdrawn, although the Supreme Court has already given a verdict that cases of heinous nature or those involving gross violation of human rights during the conflict period, cannot be withdrawn under any pretext.

Oli has also agreed that all major appointments and policy formulations will be done in consultation and agreement with major political partie, which means giving the Maoists a larger say. In a way, the Maoists will be exercising more powers without accountability.

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All of this is likely to raise constitutional and human rights issues that will be scrutinised by the Supreme Court, civil society as well as the international bodies, making it difficult for the government to implement these steps unilaterally or arbitrarily.