From The Nepali Press No people power Deshantar, 27 October Dr Krishna Hachhethu
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ISSUE #117 (01 NOV 2002 - 07 NOV 2002)
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The Maoist problem is at the core of the recent events. There are only two solutions to the problem. Number one, talks, number two, force. I'm not optimistic about talks. If a government that had the people's mandate was unable to hold talks, there's no guarantee that a government that doesn't enjoy popular support can do so. If talks don't happen, the state will use force. Before 11 PM, 4 October, the government, the political parties, the donors, the king-everyone-supported the move to put down the Maoists, but that still could not be done. So how can this government deal with the Maoist challenge alone? There's a certain psychology at work. When the Maoists started killing Congress workers, the ultra left applauded. They said it served them right. But if they maintain the same attitude when the Maoists clash with the king's forces, what would happen? If the parties remain inactive and immobile, the donors will cease their support. Then, only those powers within the king's hold will fight the Maoists. But once the other powers return from the battlefield, for how long will they continue to fight alone, and for what? Seen from this angle, the royal announcement of 18 Asoj [4 October] itself threatens the continuity of constitutional monarchy. Politics is being pushed into darkness. In this situation, the Maoist leaders guess that foreign armies, especially the Indian, will come in. But once foreign forces come in, it will take another 50 or 60 years to remove them, and to create public opinion against them. Thus, I don't think we can expect people power, but rather weapons, instruments and training.
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