US Ambassador James F Moriarty has often been criticised by the Maoists in Nepal as the ‘villain’ of the ongoing peace process. The latest salvo was fired against him last week when he paid a visit to western Nepal, considered stronghold of the Maoists, and went around couple of military barracks located there. He was more forthright when he told PM G P Koirala and the communist party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML): One, the Maoists’ pro-peace credentials haven’t been matched by their action. Two, the state has failed to act.

A couple of MPs demanded that Moriarty should be recalled because what he did and said constituted ‘brazen interference’ in Nepal’s internal affairs. While major political parties are still far from taking a stand on what constitutes such interference, Maoists have been supplying enough evidence to prove that Moriarty’s fears aren’t entirely misplaced. According to INSEC, a credible Human Rights body, more than 95 per cent of the ‘murders’ during the ongoing ceasefire have been committed by the Maoists. What makes the Maoists’ job easier is the home minister’s instruction to not arrest or harm Maoist leaders/activists, no matter what they do. In fact, the police has almost become a ‘ceremonial’ even as the law and order machinery’s breakdown is complete.

Top Maoist leaders, including Prachanda, have repeatedly insisted that they’re not returning to the jungles, instead they will organise ‘people’s revolt’ in the capital. The Maoists’ tactic is simple - get the government to retaliate with force so that the onus of breach of ceasefire lies with it. Maoists are also moving ahead with a three pronged systematic strategy - club the pro-democracy coalition that links the government with the King as anti-people force, project security forces (mainly the Nepal army) as violator of human rights and denigrate the existing judicial system as anti-people. If these happen, it will be an easier walk to power.

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