The politics of Nepal is complicated; it is as multifarious as its Himalayan ranges, but the latest series of political events that has been developing here has placed Nepal in the limelight of world news. It all began with the Nepali Congress. On a dramatic breakthrough, Nepal's largest and oldest democratic party, the Nepali Congress, announced a comprehensive shift away from its coherent support for the constitutional monarchy. And out of the blue, as a pleasant gift to the Nepali commoners, fed up with the crisis, the Maoists announced a unilateral ceasefire for the coming three months and recommended the formation of an interim regime and election to the constituent assembly for a progressive way forward from the political stalemate.

Prachanda, the powerful rebel leader recently said, “The decision of the Nepali Congress had helped strengthen the political basis for collaboration between his party and the alliance”, as per the media reports. In another development, an alliance of seven opposition parties has been engaged in a nationwide peaceful movement against February's royal coup. It is no more clandestine that the massive protests against the King have sparked by threefold since the Maoists truce. The truce has lifted the political activists moral and they are taking the streets by storm.

However, riot police are intervening the demonstrations in the city by firing tear-gas shells and water-cannons, to disperse the agitating political activists from the prohibited areas but amidst this all, there is a daily scuffle going at the heart of the city between the police and the protestors.

As always in the mainstream Nepali politics, there is suspicion and doubt. Some political watchers here are predicting that the Maoists are deceiving the political parties to bring their one party autocratic system in the name of working alliance with the democratic parties.

The King's Plan

Pounced in the neck by the latest political cheetah, King Gyanendra is in a dilemma about how to respond to the ceasefire and revive his deteriorating political status. His Minister for Information and Communication, Tanka Dhakal said, “Although the terrorists have announced unilateral ceasefires time and again, past experiences have shown that there is no condition assuring us of lasting peace, but nevertheless, we assure the Maoists that they would be given a legitimate opportunities if they return to political mainstream, ‘’ as published in the Government’s press release.

Nepalese Doubts & Hopes

Cease-fires haven't worked so far in Nepal and there is strong likelihood that this truce would also decay and fall down on the shimmering hope of the Nepalese before it is ripe. The lack of trust and national consensus between the three forces involved in the ceasefire -- the opposition parties, the King and the Maoists -- gives the Nepali masses little to hope for.

And yet, the latest Maoist ceasefire has showed that all is not lost.  The Maoists are seeking to re-enter the political mainstream, as evidenced by their progressive suggestion of an interim regime and a Nepali election to the constituent assembly for a democratic way forward. This puts the ball in the government’s court and it is up to the King and his government to transform the situation into a favorable one.

The failure of the government to announce peace plans will make national reconciliation even harder, if not impossible in a foreseeable future.

 
Nepali political pundits are asking Nepalis to welcome the Maoist’s ceasefire with an open heart and work unconditionally to take this episode to the next level. They are also urging the government to strike the iron while it is hot -- to call for an all-party meeting and make a united effort to resolve the conflict.

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