Nepal has perhaps survived speculation that it may collapse anytime now. The fear, however, has not died yet. Many countries that are crucial to Nepal’s development continue to categorise it as a ‘ fragile state’. In private conversations, Western diplomats say candidly that Nepalis have failed to manage the country effectively. And Nepalis administrators have begun expressing their discomfort over the brazen interference of foreigners, including the UN missions, in their internal affairs. Interestingly, Mahindra Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan president, had advised Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal during their meetings on the sidelines of the NAM) summit, that he must not succumb to ‘dictate and pressure’ of outside forces and that he must ‘chart out your own path in consensus with your parties at home’.

Rajapaksa may not have been the sole influence on Nepal’s prime minister, but he has begun telling some outsiders to stick to the code of conduct prescribed for diplomats. But internal players are not all that cooperative either. The Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M), which came to the democratic process renouncing a decade-long armed movement three years ago has again announced that it would confront pro-democracy forces head-on. To begin with, it will boycott and obstruct the president and PM’s movements in the next couple of days.

The Maoists and pro-democracy parties had agreed to work on a consensual basis — a fact that international donors, UN and neighbours incuding India (recognised stakeholders in the peace process) — keep reminding them of. But the latest Maoist declaration makes it clear that they have chosen confrontation over conciliation.

... contd.