Editorial
Dialogue between government and parties
Let EC's talks with politicians first run their course, and quickly
It is certainly heartening for the nation to know that the caretaker government means to initiate a process of dialogue with the political parties. Considering the stalemate that has existed regarding contact between the government and the politicians since the imposition of a state of emergency a year ago, reports about a planned dialogue can only add to our overall optimism about a quick return to democratic, elected government in the country.
Much as one looks forward to a dialogue between the government and the parties, however, there are the re-alities that must be dealt with. We begin by suggesting that, under the circumstances, it is only right that the electoral reforms process initiated by the Election Commission run its full course before any definitive measure toward a government-parties dialogue is un-dertaken. It is absolutely right, politically and even ad-ministratively, that the caretaker administration and the politicians get down to the business of charting a firm course to general election. Which is why an element of urgency is involved in the whole issue. But for such urgency to be addressed at the earliest, it is necessary that the dispute in the higher judiciary over who should represent BNP at the EC's reforms-related talks be settled in the court. Obviously, the nation cannot be expected to wait indefinitely and in a state of uncertainty for any dialogue between the government and the parties to begin. An expeditious end to the issue, with the High Court completing its adjudication process, is called for. And we must make it clear here that the on-going judicial process needs to be completed in days rather than weeks if the electoral roadmap and the goal of a transfer of power back to an elected government are to be adhered to. We respectfully draw the attention of the High Court that the matter must be disposed of quickly for the sake of election that the whole nation is waiting for.
One can hardly deny that it is crucial for the Election Commission to complete its talks with the political par-ties before the government initiates its own move for a dialogue. If such a procedure is not followed, there will likely be an overlapping of agenda between electoral and political reforms, thereby adding to the confusion and eventually defeating the entire purpose behind any projected government-parties dialogue. We believe that a clear, clean and quick step by step approach will inject a sense of purpose to any dialogue that the admini-stration and political leaders get down to.
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