Instability
In
Continuity
With the appointment of Girija Prasad Koirala as a prime minister to lead new interim government on April 1, 2007 by interim Parliament, a new team of ministers has joined the cabinet with an additional strength of Maoists. Headed by same prime minister Koirala - who also led the earlier government under the previous Constitution after last April’s People’s Movement, the 22-member interim government has mixture of old and new faces. One of the major tasks and challenges of the government is to hold the free, fair and fearless elections for Constituent Assembly. If the government cannot hold the elections for CA in free, fair and intimidation-free manner, Nepal may be pushed to most uncertain period. From one phase of instability and violence, Nepal will enter into another phase of violence considering its geo-political situation. The power game will be in full swing then
By KESHAB POUDEL
Four-days-long drama of making and unmaking interim cabinet came to an end on the morning of April 1, 2007 following eight party leaders’ decision to form a 22-member cabinet headed by Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala.
After the endorsement of proposal of eight political parties by Legislative Parliament in the afternoon, the uncertainty and hectic political drama was wrapped up. It was hectic day for octogenarian prime minister Koirala, who left Kathmandu to attend 14th SAARC Summit the same day, completing all official proceedings including oath taking ceremony and chairing the first cabinet meeting.
For prime minister Koirala, who formed previous government in an orderly system, this sixth inning seemed to be the happiest movement as he inducted five Maoist leaders, who had waged a war since 1996 to set up a people’s republic- in his cabinet.
“A political party which was branded as terrorist and yet carries that tag in some countries has joined the government. Except that it would be too much to expect any substantial change in the performance of the government,” said a political analyst. “With the same bureaucracy, in the same working pattern and almost carrying same personal weaknesses and temptations as other political leaders had in the past, nobody hopes any substantial change in its performance except change in rhetoric and postures.”
The Challenge for Government
The greatest challenges for the new government is to hold the election in a free, fair and fearless environment. Without amending the constitution which has mandatory provision to hold elections in Jestha (before June 14), that cut off date has already been changed into June 20 by the cabinet. Although they may bring necessary amendment to legalize that change, the first act of government violated the mandatory part of the constitution.
To hold the elections in free and fair manner, the change has to come from the forces indulging in violence.
Every day news reports show that Maoists continue to engage in abductions, threats, extortions and intimidations. The example set by Maoists has encouraged other groups also to resort to violence to achieve prominence and acquire concessions from the government.
In the southern Nepal in Terai region, several such groups like Terai Jantantrik Mukti Morcha (Jwala Singh) and Terai Jantantrick Mukti Morcha (Goit) have emerged as offshoots of Maoist violence.
In hill also, similar trend has appeared. Maoists have the advantage of the government as well as the advantage of their additional strength of armed militia - which has always been in the notice of people in Nepal .
“ Nepal has entered a new phase in its history and I call the political parties to stay united to resolve the problems,” said prime minister Koirala in the parliament. ”Our aim is now to hold the elections for Constituent Assembly in June.” But Koirala is yet to find way on how to handle the Maoists.
However, all hopes to see an end of Maoist atrocities and gun violence were shattered when Maoist cadres badly beat up and injured several workers of CPN-UML and Nepali Congress in Manma, Kalikot, 400 kilometers northwest of capital city on April 2.
Koirala Prevails
During the process of cabinet formation, there was a hitch over seniority as it was claimed by CPN-UML leader Sahana Pradhan. However, they all realized their capacity to bargain and conceded to the decision of prime minister Koirala in the end.
“Prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala has again recorded a success in uniting all the heterogeneous political forces under his supreme and undisputed leadership. None of the political parties of this team had even a discretion to question the political wisdom and capability in the leadership,” said the analyst. “Although there were many heated debates till Sunday morning, ultimately what prime minister Koirala said prevailed upon all the political parties.”
This is not the first time in history of Nepal when one saw such kind of drama. Everybody’s attention has been focused in the cabinet making and unmaking games since the very beginning of democratic process initiated in 1951. There remains continuity in mystery in government making and people have been taking interest in this game of gainers and losers in the seat of power. “People in Nepal are quite familiar with the political game that distracts people from other problems,” said the analyst.
Other two parties out of eight party coalition including Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Rastriya Janashakti Party were completely sidelined in the process though prime minister Koirala made some conciliatory remarks for them in the parliament..
In Nepal ’s democratic history, no other person had this unquestioned political role to decide the fate of the country.
“Unfortunately, Koirala could not create a political environment of reconciliation between all political forces from right to left. He has in fact led left of center coalition and continued the alliance of the previous agitation. They who were out of the fold of agitation and right of center parties have been completely shut out of the alliance. That way this alliance instead of becoming inclusive of all political parties has come as leftist-dominated alliance,” said the analyst. “With the communist majority in parliament, the cabinet also reflects that domination. It is yet to be known the secret of his success to dictate the leftists.”
Old Wine In New Bottle
There are almost all the old faces in the cabinet. Only new thing of the present cabinet is the inclusion of CPN-Maoist - a political party which was branded as terrorist and yet carries that tag in some countries
During the course of debate over the cabinet formation, nobody debated on political or economic agenda or any issue relating to government programs and policies but all of them were concerned on distribution of portfolio. Though they all took lofty postures in the public speaking to transform country into New Nepal, nobody spoke about how their new Nepal would look like.
“We have entered the mainstream to make new Nepal ,” said CPN-Maoist leader Prachanda who is yet to announce his economic programs to realize it.
The recent comments made by former finance minister of Afghanistan and professor Ashraf Ghani, who visited Nepal under the World Bank’s invitation, in Nepal a vernacular weekly on April 1, presents a stark reality of present position. According to him, none of politicians in Nepal are clear about “Restructuring” of the state.
Though restructuring of the state remains a main objective declared for this new version of democracy Loktantra, political leadership is yet to explain it and bring forth programs to fulfill that objective.
Timing of the Government
A very noticeable and significant thing was the timing and the speed for negotiations among the political parties for cabinet formation. The decision was taken before prime minister Koirala left New Delhi on Sunday to attend the SAARC Summit.
Had prime minister’s visit not been scheduled, the negotiations for the cabinet formation would have continued for longer. But all the political leaders including prime minister were careful to get it done before his visit to New Delhi for the sake of their own nationalist image.
“Had the cabinet formed after arrival from New Delhi , many people as their mind set, would have said that South Block had influenced the decision? To avoid that embarrassment to both India as well as political parties of Nepal , all the political parties including prime minister intensely worked to finalize the cabinet,” said the analyst.
Opportunity for Maoists
Maoists have unique opportunities to meet challenge and belie all the opinions against them. But till now, there is no indication from their actions and utterances. So free and fair elections for CA would entirely depend upon the blessings of lord Pashupatinath.
“It is vital, now more than ever, that all parties work together to keep the momentum of peace process going. I will be urging all parties to focus on making the elections peaceful, and credible as Nepal looks towards a future without violence,” said visiting DFID minister Gareth Thomson. “The formation of the interim government is a huge opportunity, but significant challenges remain. Key legislation needs to be passed for elections to be held later this year and civil unrest may rot end overnight.”
Nobody knows how the government will hold the elections in free and fair manner when violence continues. “Would it be an “abnormal” elections as country has been passing through abnormal situation like the Prime minister said some time back. “Abnormal” elections means no better than farcical elections and farcical elections is no solution for the pressing problems of the country. It may invite serious counter-productive results in which the country and people at large would be the worst sufferers. There is an opportunity for Maoist to lead the peace process by disarming the militias fully and convincingly. If they do it sincerely that would have a miraculous effect upon the mood and psychology of the nation,” said the political analyst.
CPN-UML’s Drama
The CPN-UML has sent all the new faces in the interim government under the leadership of Sahana Pradhan, who had recently undergone bypass surgery. The party suddenly changed the portfolio allocated for one member and handed that over to another without any reason.
CPN-UML summoned its elite cadre Bhim Rawal while he was attending a seminar in Norway to join the cabinet as a foreign minister. By the time he reached Kathmandu that portfolio was changed and Sahana Pradhan, who was denied ambassadorial position to Russia , was recommended for the foreign minister.
UML leadership did not explain why things changed so swiftly and secretively. People are left guessing according to their own perceptions.
Democracy has come but attitudes and habits have not been democratized. As he was returning from a democratic country of the west, Bhim Rawal showed the guts to refuse the change in the portfolio - which is rarely seen in the power games of this country.
One of the main beneficiaries of UML’s drama was Nepali Congress general secretary Ram Chandra Poudel, who pulled Koirala’s government out of power in 2001 by resigning as a deputy prime minister and home minister. He was picked as senior most minister after Koirala.
“I was summoned by Girijababu and asked to join the government to assist him as a second man.” said Poudel. “Till Saturday morning, I didn’t have any idea about joining the government,” said Poudel to Kantipur Television on Saturday evening.
Orderly Disorder
In the last one year, Nepal’s political process has gone from order to disorder - from a functional constitution with all democratic imprudence to unknown destiny of the elections for the Constituent Assembly.
“Why our actors opted for ad hocism and transitional period by betraying established regular constitutional process and developments? There are very few instances in the history where a nation was pushed from regular to irregular from stable to ad hocism from continuing process to transition through established system to destabilize situation - from constitutional order to constitutional disorders. How could they opt constitutional for disorder?,” asked an eminent constitutional lawyer.
“I was surprised to see why the government formed under the leadership of seasoned politician G.P. Koirala started to work to make the country volatile and preferred to work in an interim manner,” writes Nepali Congress leader Govinda Raj Joshi. “Amid these conspiratorial moves, the elected House of parliament was dissolved and an ad hoc body, which we call interim legislative parliament, was established.”
Cabinet of Contradictions
This is a cabinet of contradictions not only in terms of ideology but in terms of individual opinions and views. Hisila Yami – wife of CPN-Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai who had branded Koirala in his book Monarchy Vs Democracy as a Lendup Dorje of Sikkim - is a minister in this cabinet. Similarly, Ram Chandra Poudel who publicly said that Maoists are operated by Nirmal Niwas, the house of present King Gyanendra, is also there.
In his book Dr. Bhattarai writes “There should not be any doubt that RAW, which had already found their Lendup Dorjee (the Sikkimise leader who collaborated with India during the annexation of Sikkim) in Girija (the current pro-Indian Nepali Congress prime minister) aligned the new Jigme Singay with their Lendup Dorje for the Bhutanization of Nepal, with a goal of eventual Sikkimization of Nepal.”
But perhaps in politics, there is nothing like permanent friend and permanent enemy. Although Koirala has not changed much in his physical appearance and ideology, he is now an inevitable leader of the communists.
Super Power Sidelined
For other political leaders of the world whether elected or non-elected, it is very difficult to cast aside the advise of the world’s only super power United States but prime minister Koirala has shown that he can annoy them by not listening to their advise and suggestions.
Where did Koirala get such power from? As he is not an elected leader, Koirala does not have strong backing of Nepalese people. What else he has this time to discard the genuine suggestion of world’s only super power?
Koirala seemed to prefer to follow suggestion by Indian’s political leader D.P. Tripathi, who is a member of Nationalist Congress Party, a smaller faction of present coalition. During his visit to Nepal on March 28, Tripathi had advised Koirala to include Maoists in interim government.
Foreign relations experts argue that the United States, though it is the super power, does not have determining influence in Nepal. Sandwiched between two Asian powers India and China, it is Nepal’s two neighbors particularly India which has high stakes as well as high influence in Nepal.
“The immediate neighbors- India and China are there since the unification of Nepal by King Prithvi Narayan Shaha. Nepal still remains a yam between two boulders as explained by him more than two hundred years ago. Even super power cannot bypass them and impose their will on Nepal on their own,” said eminent lawyer and analyst Ganesh Raj Sharma in his interview with Vijaya Kumar Pandey for Kantipur Television. (See Spotlight October 28- November 17, 2005)
Despite the repeated suggestions by US ambassador to Nepal James F. Moriarty not to take Maoists in the government as long as Maoists continue to practice the violence, intimidation and extortion, prime minister Koirala seemed to decide to induct the Maoists in the government following his consultation with Indian leader D.P. Tripathi, who has been leading the team of Indian political leaders to bring Maoists and Seven Party Alliance together.
“US ambassador Moriarty has not been opposing any political ideology of Maoists but has been speaking out against Maoists’ politics of gun, intimidation and abductions. Moriarty had expressed his conditional welcome to the formation of new interim government hoping that it is a part of peace process. So far as his insistence for disarming of Maoists forces is concerned, that was completely ignored by prime minister who was in a hurry to bring Maoists in the government before leaving for New Delhi,” said the analyst..
It is not only the US government, almost all newspapers have been carrying reports that the Maoists continue to be involved in such activities in varied forms. Though these incidents are sporadic, they seem to be consistently following their old habit. Indian leader Dr. Tripathi ignored the violence of Nepalese Maoists though Indian newspapers reported Nepalese Maoists’ involvement with Indian Maoists in attacking a bank last week in Sitamadhi, 25 kilometers south of Nepal-India border.
“As a representative of US government, Moriarty is opposing the politics of violence in Nepal. As long as that situation is there in Nepal, US government seems to be determined to oppose it. But, as we see, US ambassador Moriarty as a diplomat and person is lone voice of conscience who has been ventilating the inner feelings of vast majority of Nepalese who have a silent cry in wilderness,” said the political analyst.
Nepal’s new challenge now is to hold the elections for CA in free, fair, credible manner. Otherwise from one phase of instability and violence, Nepal will enter into another phase of violence considering its geo-political situation and power game, then, will come in full swing.
List of Ministers:
Girija Prasad Koirala , NC president, Prime Minister along with Defense and Health and Population Ministry portfolios
Ram Chandra Poudel (NC), Minister for Peace and Reconstruction
Sahana Pradhan (UML), Minister for Foreign Affairs
Krishna Bahadur Mahara (Maoists), Minister for Local Development
Pradeep Nepal (UML), Minister for Education and Sports
Mahantha Thakur (NC), Minister for Science and Technology
Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat (NC), Minister for Finance
Narendra Bikram Nemwang (NC-D), Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
Krishna Prasad Sitaula (NC), Minister for Home
Dev Gurung (Maoists), Minister for Local Development
Rajendra Mahato (NSP-A), Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies
Prithvi Subba Gurung (UML), Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation
Matrika Yadav (Maoists), Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation
Chhabi Lal Biswokarma (UML), Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives
Hisila Yami (Maoists), Minister for Works and Physical Planning
Jagat Bogati (ULF), Minister for Land Reforms and Management
Khadga Bahadur Biswokarma (Maoists), Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare
Ministers of State
Ramesh Lekhak (NC-D), Minister of State for Labour and Transport Management
Gyanendra Bahadur Karki (NC-D), Minister of State for Water Resources
Ram Chandra Yadav (UML), Minister of State for General Administration
Indra Bahadur Gurung (NC-D), Minister of State for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
Mahendra Singh Rathore (UML), Minister of State for Education and Sports
INTERNATIONAL REACTIONS:
The international community has welcomed the formation of interim government including the Maoists.
India:
In a statement issued by Ministry of External Affairs, the Government of India has welcomed the constitution of the interim Government in Nepal under the leadership of Koirala. “The formation of the interim Government marks another step forward in the implementation of the peace process, and towards the creation of conditions in which the people of Nepal can determine their future through free and fair elections to the Constituent Assembly,” the statement says.
“While continuing our support to the people and political parties in Nepal to carry forward the peace process, the Government of India looks forward to working with the interim government to further strengthen India’s traditionally close and mutually beneficial relations with Nepal.”
European Union:
On behalf of EU, the German ambassador Franz Ring said the formation of interim government is an important milestone in the peace process.
The EU has said it wishes to encourage the interim government and the parliament to take peace process forward by preparing for the CA polls.
Likewise, the International Development Minister of the United Kingdom (UK), Gareth Thomas, who arrived in Kathmandu on Monday, welcomed the formation of new government in Nepal. “It is vital, now more than ever, that all parties work together to keep the momentum of the peace process going,” Thomas told reporters, adding, “I will be urging all parties to focus on making the elections peaceful and credible, as Nepal looks towards a future without violence.”
China:
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has extended his warm congratulations to PM Koirala on the happy occasion of the formation of Interim government.
In his message, Jiabao has said China is happy for the great progress achieved in the peace process of Nepal and welcomes the efforts of realizing lasting peace made by the concerned parties of Nepal.
United Nations:
UNMIN chief Ian Martin issued a statement welcoming the establishment of the new interim government as a key moment for the consolidation of Nepal’s peace process.
“A truly unified government should be in a stronger position to face the challenges still ahead: creating conditions for a credible Constituent Assembly election; addressing the legitimate demands of groups in Nepalese society calling for more inclusive democracy; establishing effective law enforcement across the country; and providing for the future of former combatants and a wider reform of the security sector.”
He added, “Effective law enforcement that respects international standards, accountability for violations of citizens’ rights, and ending breaches of the commitments under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement will be critical elements for success in the coming months.”
United States:
The American Embassy in Kathmandu issued a statement backing the peace process. “Upon formation of the Interim Government, the US Embassy reaffirms its full support for the peace process in Nepal. The next step in this process should be the holding of Constituent Assembly elections as quickly as possible. The government must create an atmosphere for free and fair elections by vigorously enforcing law and order throughout the country,” the statement says.
The US has also urged the Maoists to abandon violence. “The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), which to date has refused to abandon violence, must finally do so. As a partner in the Interim Government, the Maoists must now be held fully accountable for their actions. They must meet their commitments and at last join the mainstream as a non-violent political party.
It further sates, “The United States also urges the new government to initiate a comprehensive national dialogue with all ethnic groups to hear their grievances and to promote unity. If the peace process is to succeed, unity must be forged, law and order enforced, and security maintained. The Nepali people deserve nothing less from their servants – the new Interim Government.”
Likewise, Pakistan, Japan and Australia, too, have issued separate statements welcoming the formation of interim government and expressing satisfaction over the peace process.
