While it is too early to say that the two sides are closer to resume their dialogue to settle the insurgency, there is no doubt the coming days will witness a lull in the fighting. The army security forces are engaged in a bitter hostilities with the ultra leftists after the truce collapsed several months ago but the government has welcomed a recent Maoists' offer to cease all anti-government acts for ten days from October 2. The embattled authority of prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has urged the Maoists to continue this truce and use the good omens for resuming the dialogue for a settlement of the vexed insurgency through talks.

Nepalese prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa is facing twin problems in ruling the country -- an increasingly vociferous opposition demanding restoration of democracy and a determined ultra leftists' group, which is bent upon turning the nation into a Republic by dismantling the monarchy. The government is seeking to explore new avenues for rapprochement with the opposition in one hand and resumption of dialogue with the Maoists on the other while trying to maintain a brave face. The task of settling both the problems is proving Herculean for the government and on the process a spectre of political instability is stalking the Himalayan kingdom. However, the government seems keen on taking a more rationale approach in dealing the matters and has called for all-party system governance to overcome the situation which is becoming somewhat intractable.

Former Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was recently among nearly three thousand political activists detained by police in Kathmandu during a huge anti-government demonstration when the protestors chanted full-throated slogans demanding democracy in the picturesque country. " Gynendra quit Nepal" shouted more than nine thousand activists of five major political parties defying a ban imposed by the government on political rallies. But the activists paid scant importance to the ban and asked king Gynendra to move quickly to restore democratic government in the country, which introduced parliamentary democracy as effective government in 1990 but the present King seems seeking to scuttle the representative character of rule.

Nepal appears to be heading for political instability unless the King succeeds in reaching some kind of understanding with the major political parties on the national elections as well as other political problems that are haunting the country for some time past. The issue of radical leftists' insurgency is becoming more complex as the ultras are hardening their stance and launching daring attacks on the government side. This has rocked this impoverished nation for last several years. The government and the Maoists initiated a dialogue earlier to find a settlement on the vexed demands of the ultras like setting up a Republic in Nepal in place of the monarchy, but new political unrest have jeopardised the process of negotiation. The Maoists have called off the seven-month long truce. Peace with the Maoists is the key to hold new elections since the ultras have gone back to the path of violence following the collapse of the truce. They have killed an adviser of the King and also burned down the house of a member of the Royal Council in stepped up attacks.

The effective monarchy took a back seat in Nepal since 1990 when democracy was introduced following a pro-democracy movement that achieved its avowed objectives. However, the functioning of the parliamentary democracy has not been smooth as politicians both from rival parties and belonging to factions of main political party Nepali Congress squabbled forcing midterm polls. Alleged corruption by those at the helm also contributed to the waning confidence of the people on the new democratic pattern even though there is no iota of doubt that democracy is cherished by the people. Late King Birendra did not try doggedly to cling to power when mass commotion was clear for democracy but at later stage politicians failed to live up to the expectations in providing a clean and welfare-oriented administration. As such, when prime minister like Girija Prasad Koirala was forced out of office following corruption charges involving aircraft of the Royal Nepalese Airlines, few shed tears for him but biggest casualty was the credibility of the politicians.

Then again, when Koirala and Sher Bahadur Dubey, both from Nepali Congress, fought over ascendancy in the party and the latter became the prime minister, the country suffered further political setbacks. But it was the royal massacre more than nearly threes years ago that left that stunned and shocked most in and outside Nepal. The official account that crown prince Dipendra killed all in a fit of anger as a sequel of altercations with his parents is hardly acceptable to an ordinary Nepalese and the matter still remains shrouded in mystery. The

killings brought King's brother Gaynendra to the throne as the crown prince had also reportedly shot himself to death after killing the King and others. The new King so far proved not much acceptable to the politicians as he chose to install royalists as prime ministers disregarding the true politicians. Political parties differed among themselves but are now broadly united against the undemocratic rule.

The current time is being viewed with controversy mainly for the reason that an impression is gaining ground that the King is seeking to take back the executive powers to the monarchy. He dismissed the elected government of prime minister Sher Bahadur Dubey and installed royalist Lokendra Bahadur Chand as prime minister, who, however, had to step down as political parties

continued agitation describing the developments as unconstitutional. The King then appointed Surya Bahadur Thapa, another royalist as the premier turning a blind eye to the nominees of the political parties. This has angered the political parties.

Political unrest appears on the increase in the South Asian nation which is struggling to establish a democratic edifice. True, strain on the inexperienced democracy causes occasional problems while the role of a section of power-hungry or money-hungry politicians has only helped to impede the development of the representative government in Nepal. But there is no alternative to democracy even though the system was growing slowly through experiments and trials.

The government wants the Maoists back to negotiations and wants support and assistance from the political parties in this direction. But the political parties are lukewarm to the proposal given by ruling Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) president P. S. Rana. Because political parties are certainly keen to see an end to the activities of the Maoists but not by terms of the government side. On the contrary, they are quite soft to the ultras in the sense that they have criticised the King's dealings with the problem. The Maoists called a long strike in Nepal which had virtually shut down the nation. The opposition parties did not oppose the ultras. At the same time political parties want clear steps on restoration of democracy with the King remaining only ceremonial. Any bid by the government to cling to power by ignoring the opposition parties and the Maoists may prove disastrous. A more positive and accommodative policy by the government is desirable and sooner it takes place it is better for Nepal. As regards dialogue with the Maoists, their leader Parachand has announced ten days of truce marking the post-monsoon festival. Analysts feel that this may lead to a conducive ground for resuming the dialogue if both sides demonstrate pragmatism on the insurgency issues.

Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury is Senior journalist