Seven-point deal will stymie UML-Maoist coalition

KATHMANDU, Feb 9: The stand-off between the UML and UCPN(Maoist) regarding their controversial seven-point deal will stymie the UML-UCPN(Maoist) coalition and sap the government´s energies.

Prime Minister J N Khanal, who signed the controversial deal with Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, tried to hide it and deny it in the beginning, but owned up on Monday, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Dahal, following intense pressure from the Maoists.

The two leaders even vowed publicly to lead the country in the spirit of the seven-point deal.

But a few hours later, an UML Standing Committee meeting forced Khanal to engage in self-criticism for signing the deal. The meeting also decided that the deal needed amendment.

The UML Standing Committee has objected strongly to the deal as much for the procedural lapses made by Prime Minister Khanal as for its content.

Khanal was defenseless when UML leaders asked him at the meeting why he concluded the deal without consulting even General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel and coordinator of the UML talks team, K P Sharma Oli, however much he might have been in a rush to sign it. Khanal found himself in an extremely awkward position when party leaders asked him why he lied to an earlier Standing Committee meeting where he claimed that there was no such deal.

After Khanal had undertaken his self-criticism, the Standing Committee expressed reservations over the deal on at least four counts and said it should be amended if it is to be acceptable to the party.

First, the language of the deal, according to the UML leaders, does not reflect the democratic commitment of the party. For instance, it expresses commitment to "strengthen people´s inclusive democracy", which is Maoist polemic. UML leaders want to replace it with "strengthening federal democratic republic", a phrase that is acceptable to all the parties and has been used in the Interim Constitution as well.

Secondly, the UML Standing Committee has rejected the formation of a separate security force of Maoist combatants as one of the options for the integration modality, and wants to amend that as well.

Third, the UML wants to mention in the deal that the integration/management of PLA combatants will be done in accordance with the CPA and as per the recommendations of the Special Committee.

Fourthly, polarization among the left parties is not the party´s official line; therefore, sharing of government leadership should be among the major political parties and not just between the UML and UCPN(M) as mentioned in the agreement.

The UML Standing Committee furthered asserted that the Maoists cannot be given the home ministry unless the peace process is completed first and so long as the Maoist threat of revolt remains.

The Standing Committee also asked Prime Minister Khanal to initiate talks with Dahal and reach an agreement to amend the deal if the latter wants the UML to fully own up to it.

It´s very unlikely that the UCPN(M) will be ready to amend the deal, one reason being that it doesn´t want to lose face, but also because such an extensive amendment, as demanded by the UML, would destroy the essence of the deal. There is also a slim chance that the UML Standing Committee will back down from its demand and accept the deal as it is.

Prime Minister Khanal and Dahal met today for an hour to sort things out but failed.

The very deal that was supposed to facilitate and guide the UML-Maoist coalition over a longer term has, ironically, become a non-starter.

What are the options ahead?

The first option, and most likely one, is to ignore the deal, at least temporarily, and form a cabinet after agreeing on portfolio sharing. UML is unlikely to forgo the home ministry but may be ready at the end to comprise over the finance and defense ministries.

But the problem with walking along this road is that the UML party will not own up to all the contents of the deal and it will not guide future power-sharing or the peace process (especially integration/rehabilitation of Maoist combatants).

Even if Prime Minister Khanal wants to make concessions to the Maoists on the peace process he will not be able to do so since Ishwor Pokharel and Bhim Rawal, who have taken a tougher stance on combatant integration, are the two UML members in the Special Committee. It´s likely that in spite of the seven-point deal the Maoists will find themselves cornered in the Special Committee.

Future power-sharing will also not move along the path envisioned in the deal nor will constitution writing progress unless an agreement is reached among the major political forces, something that could frustrate and infuriate the Maoist party.

The second option is, the Maoist party opting to stay out of the government and supporting it from outside. But then, that will not fulfill the Maoist party´s needs or interests and will eventually endanger the UML-UCPN(Maoist) alliance that Khanal and Dahal have taken so much pains to forge.

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