Chairman146;s children

The formal inclusion of Maoists in Nepal8217;s interim government is a good sign. The deadline for electing a constituent assembly is June; the prelude should have the widest possible participation. But this rapid transition will test Maoist leaders. A year ago, they were labelled terrorists. Now, as members of the Communist Party of Nepal Maoist, they control five of the 21 ministries, including information. Informed estimates put the number of active cadres in the region of 50,000 to 60,000. Can the CPNM carry this manpower responsibly into electoral politics?

First, arms decommissioning must be clearly observed. Arms have been deposited under UN supervision so far. Concerns about remnant armed cadres must be addressed. But the real onus is on the leadership to fill the vacuum left by an ostensible discarding of the armed struggle. They must frame a political agenda. The Maoists will bring to the constituent assembly stridently republican demands. In fact it was the overreach of the monarchy, with its assumption of direct rule in 2005, that gained the Maoists mainstream accommodation. As the king8217;s powers shrink, whether with abolition of the monarchy altogether or with constitutional monarchy, the Maoists will be called upon to make political accommodations in less dire times. Nepal8217;s politicians will not make it easy. They have a spectacular tendency to squabble and scheme against each other when the going is good. It is with them that the Maoists will have to cohabit.

Democracies give politicians who adhere to the electoral system many chances. However, the kind of encouragement 8212; from some quarters it is just grim tolerance 8212; the Maoists enjoy today will not stretch into acceptance of any reversion to violence. This is a one-off opportunity, and the Maoists8217; advisors must emphasise that to the cadres. It8217;s to be hoped they grab it. The returns for Nepal and for the unreformed radical Left here in India could be immense.