Now, getting Maoists on board democracy

With Nepal8217;s Seven Party Alliance immediately welcoming King Gyanendra8217;s announcement for restoration of Parliament, all eyes are set on the Maoists8217; response.

With Nepal8217;s Seven Party Alliance immediately welcoming King Gyanendra8217;s announcement for restoration of Parliament, all eyes are set on the Maoists8217; response.

Well before King Gyanendra made his second address in four days following some plain speaking by India on his limited options, efforts were being made on another front by Indian interlocutors to persuade the Maoists to drop their opposition to restoration of parliament. This is the first step in the four-step plan to bring multiparty democracy in the Himalayan kingdom and is crucial to its success.

The Maoists were told, in discussions with the interlocutor, that sanction was needed not merely to appoint an interim government and conduct elections to a constituent assembly, but also to bring the Army and the bureaucracy under civilian control. Against the backdrop of the pro-democracy movement and the Maoists8217; stand, this sanction could only come from the people and not the King and Parliament alone could provide this sanction.

It was suggested to the Maoists that the parliament, dissolved in May 2002, need not be convened for long. It could meet to establish the interim government, announce dates for elections to the constituent assembly and then call for dissolution.

However, with the Maoists certain to have a key role in the future, India could be faced with a tricky situation. In their scheme of things, India must no longer claim a preferred status in Nepal. Maoists believe that the status once enjoyed solely by India should now be shared with China as well. In effect, this means that the India8217;s treaty with Nepal in 1950 should be abrogated.

In India, key interlocutors with the Nepalese parties and the Maoists did not think this was an unreasonable demand. CPIM leader Sitaram Yechury who floated a four-point formula for the restoration of multiparty democracy while pointing out India should have an important relationship with Nepal said, 8216;8216;The agreements with Nepal could need a fresh look. But first we need to move towards the establishment of multiparty democracy.8217;8217;

While South Block waited for the king to notify his address, a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security was underway to discuss contingency plans for the evacuation of Indian mission staff in Kathmandu. That followed the decision by US and China to evacuate their non-essential staff from Nepal. Even though the government later denied any such evacuation plan sources said an Indian Airlines aircraft was kept in readiness.

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Preparations were made to obtain special permission from the DGCA for night-landing in Kathmandu. The plan was aborted once it was confirmed that the King would deliver his address.