The comprehensive peace accord was signed between the civilian government and the CPN-Maoist on November 21, 2006 ending the country’s 10 years long civil war. With this, things seem to have settled down a bit. This agreement will allow the rebels to join a transitional government and their arms will be put under UN supervision. After the end of a year long controversial direct rule of the King and restoration of the parliament, Maoists have agreed to to a ceasefire. Besides, those parties then in opposition are now incorporated into the government and have been willing to work with the Maoists and in turn bring them into the government. All of them are now looking forward to drawing up plans for elections to a constituent assembly to rewrite the country’s constitutiion. This will eventually determine the country’s actual future. Although the actual campaign of Maoists has always been to create a communist republic, they are now ready to accept the decisions of constituent assembly regarding the future of Monarchy in Nepal.




The principal  points of the agreement:
1. Formal end of the Maoists' People's War that began in 1996
2. No political rights to King; his property to be nationalised under public trusts
3. To strictly implement all previous agreements reached between the government and Maoists.
4. Maoists' People's Liberation Army and Nepal Army and their arms to be managed as per the earlier agreement
5. No attacks or any kind of violent and offensive activities from either side; no new recruitments in armed forces of both sides
6. OHCHR-Nepal to monitor human rights situation, and UN Team to monitor and supervise PLA cantonments and Nepal Army barracks
7. Full commitment to uphold human rights, all international human rights laws, civil liberties
8. Maoists' parallel administration (People's governments, People's Courts) across the country to be scrapped
9. National Peace and Rehabilitation Commission, Truth Commission, and a high-level Commission for State Restructuring to be formed
10. Feudal land-ownership system to end, Scientific land distribution system to be adopted
11. Strong punitive policy against corruption
12. Property earned illegally by anybody through corruption to be confiscated
13. Possession, display and use of arms and weapons by anybody a punishable crime
14. Both government and Maoist sides to assist each other to maintain law peace, law and order
15. Respectful rehabilitation and social integration of the people displaced during the insurgency

 

Thus, on the one hand, the peace deal is regarded by many as dawning “a new era in Nepal”, spelling the possible end of the monarchy. On the other hand,  it is viewed as the biggest breakthrough in the history of Nepal by one of the Maoist leaders. However, this deal hardly brings even a pinch of satisfaction and comfort to the King and the institution of monarchy. The rebels have all gains in theirs hands. Branded “terrorists” until May 2006, the Maoists leaders are now members of the temporary cabinet holding respectable ministerial posts equal to other main parties’ figures.
The official Nepalese Army, a traditionally royalist institution decried for  human right violations in the conflict, has also made concessions as it is to keep the same number of weapons as that of Maoists'. On the top of it all, it has also cut off all the links with the monarch.From now onwards, the army chief is to be sworned in before the
Parliament. Now, the Maoists occupy almost the largest number of parliamentary seats, though less than that of the largest party Nepali Congress by a thin margin. At this point, it seems as if Nepal’s future as a kingdom or a republic depends on the decision to be made by the constituent assembly for which the elections are due in June 2007.
The future of the 238 years old Monarchy is bleak and uncertain. Even if it is retained, it
will have mere ceremonial role. The accord  also exerts pressure on the Maoists to give way to democratic practices. Under the deal, they have to stop ongoing kidnappings and extortions and come on line with the socio-political mainstream, affirm their transition from a rebel force to a political one. The new policies to be brought in are expected to help open up new vistas for a prosperous society. However, the future still lies in the womb of uncertainty.