Art Of War, Art Of Peace

The Maoists waged a decade long war. They started from scratch, from nothing, and they spread all over the country. They have lost thousands of cadres. The whole thing could not have been easy. There was a time when it was thought they will not attack the state army, that would be too much for them. But they managed to bring the RNA to a military stalemate.

That was the art of war.

Used to be the Maoists were for a communist republic. Now they have made an ideological transformation. They need to make that official.

To: Dr. Baburam Bhattarai

They need to formalize that ideological transformation.

They have proved themselves at the art of war. The unilateral ceasefire was their most brilliant military move ever. It was so brilliant the king was pushed to an unimagined global isolation.

Now the challenge for the Maoists is if they can prove themselves equally deft at peace.

Would they consider a unilateral disarmament in exchange for a common minimum program of a Democratic Republic by the seven parties?

These could be the steps.

1. The Maoists tell the seven parties they will take the next step beyond the unilateral ceasefire. They will unilaterally disarm in exchange for a joint alliance.
2. Then a formal eight party alliance will be formed. It will formally elect a leader.
   
3. It will chalk out a program. A democratic republic would be at the core. I have suggested a 10 point program: Alliance Of Steel. I believe you need something as comprehensive to really get the masses riled up.
   
4. Then you put forth joint protest programs. Parties do not put out separate programs.
   

As long as the seven party alliance would be willing to agree to 2,3 and 4, the Maoists should be able to do 1.

Think about it. The Maoists are going to disarm anyways. The whole idea of seeking UN mediation is to suggest they will disarm. So if you are willing to do it anyways, and if the UN option is not forthcoming, thanks to the king, why will you not do it on your own and speed things up? You are republicans, why do you so insist on the king having veto power?

And forget integrating the two armies. Fight for 27 million Nepalis, not 10,000 armed cadres. Liberation of 27 million people is more important than job security of 10,000 of your armed cadres. Let them all put down their weapons, and dedicate themselves to a peaceful achievement of a democratic republic. Especially now when the peaceful option is more effective.

If laying down your arms means a democratic republic will be achieved faster, why will you insist on keeping the arms and slowing things down? Speed things up. Lay down your arms permanently.

Instead of slowing things down, bargain hard with the parties on points 1,2,3,4.

Make them come around to 2,3 and 4 first. Then you come around to 1.

How can the parties trust you did 1? Invite them to monitor it. Invite the civil society to monitor it.

There is immense time pressure. If this regime is still in power on February 8, the seven party alliance and the Maoists are going to be locked in tough corners.

And send Girija this way. I will take him on a tour of 50 states myself. For five months.