“ Nepal’s Democracy And Democratic Forces Are Trapped” - Kamal Thapa
Former home minister KAMAL THAPA, who was summoned by Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), as per the decision of government to indict persons recommended for action by controversial Rayamajhi Commission, is quietly observing the new political development of Nepal. Soft spoken Thapa spoke to KESHAB POUDEL at his residence in Baluwatar. Excerpts:
Following the People’s Movement II, you faced a very difficult time. How do you evaluate the present political trend?
In the history of Nepal, this is a very difficult and challenging moment. If you precisely analyze the present political trend, you can see that Nepal’s democracy and democratic forces are trapped in an ambush of extreme leftist force. The present challenge of democratic forces is how to overcome this ambush.
The CIAA has already summoned you on charges that you misused state fund during People’s Movement II to suppress the agitation as recommended by Rayamajhi Commission. What do you say?
Rayamajhi Commission’s report is yet to be made public. Thus, I am unable to make any formal comment and criticism on it. So far as the reports appearing through media are concerned, I can say that Rayamajhi Commission’s report is not based on fact and incidents rather it is a report prepared on political prejudice, bias and vendetta. It is just a document of political propaganda and it can not be a base for legal actions.
It is reported that you misused massive government fund to oppress the People’s Movement II. What do you say about it?
First of all, I want to make it clear that Home Ministry has altogether Rs. 15 million annual budget under the title and I spent less than Rs. 10 million. There is official document which will show you that more than Rs.10 million was spent before Jana Andolan II. There is no relation between that fund and Jana Andolan. Thus the report that I had misused millions of rupees or Rs. 500,000 everyday is nonsense. I spent the budget as all other home ministers did following 1990. Even that practice is still followed by present home minister. I spent the budget applying same procedures and law. I even requested the CIAA to comparatively investigate and study the way how all home ministers since 1990 have used that fund. If I had spent the budget in ways different than other ministers, then you can say I committed mistake. Otherwise, it is just propaganda.
How do you see the quality of leadership at present? What is lacking at present?
Now, CPN-Maoist is heading with clear mission and agenda. Maoists have been more or less successful on their initiative. There is no visionary, committed and dynamic leadership to counter the Maoists who have their objectives and strategies to accomplish their mission. This is the reason the Maoists are gaining day by day but the country and democracy is gradually failing.
Have you ever seen this kind of situation?
If you study characters and faces of leadership since 1950, you will find almost all the leaders followed populism. Their comments represent the populist sentiment as no one has shown guts to speak anti-wave. There is complete lack of leadership who can guide the people. Though there was certain short-coming, B.P. Koirala was the only one leader in the last five decades who could speak anti-current. He led the crowd – he was not led by the crowd. B.P. Koirala has shown courage to give leadership to the people by even speaking anti-current issues. Except him, I have not seen any courageous leader who can give leadership to the people.
Were B.P. Koirala’s voices heard during his life time when he championed the cause of national reconciliation stressing the need for unity between monarchy and democratic forces?
It was a great tragedy in the history of Nepal that the country could not move forward through the understanding between the King and B.P. Koirala. There could be many reasons behind the misunderstanding. But one can see B.P. Koirala’s courageous quality of leadership when he spoke the realty of Nepal even at a time when he was facing case in the court with possibility of facing death penalty. He was a rare kind of person of such high quality who could express such commitments of patriotism and monarchy even during such trying times. Every Nepali must read what B.P. Koirala said in his recently published book King, Nationalism and Politics. Although then government filed a case against him demanding death penalty, B.P. Koirala defended the monarchy for Nepal’s stability, identity and democracy. Despite expressing his differences with the King, he defended the monarchy. In present context, what B.P. Koirala said about country and patriotism is more relevant.
Don’t you think it is the King’s actions which made him irrelevant?
I don’t think it will be appropriate just to blame one party. Many international players have also played a role in the past. It is a matter of investigation to find out who is responsible for the mistakes of past. The present need is to have consensus of all political forces to protect our national unity, political stability and national independence.
What mistakes does the King need to correct?
I can see there is still a suspicion that the King may take step to reverse the present political process. To regain the confidence of civil society, the King and international forces have to express credibly commitments to ongoing political change, multi-party democracy and plural system. If that happens, the situation can change in favor of monarchy.
Do you see any possibility of that happening?
It is possible. Having had several meetings with the King, I can claim that the King can do it. The King was never against the multi-party democracy and he often held the view that people are supreme. In this circumstance, nothing is impossible.
Were not the initial steps by the King to blame?
So far as the King’s actions of October 4, 2002 and February 1, 2005 are concerned, there was misinterpretation about his faith to multiparty democracy and his actions. Actually, the King stepped in the politics to strengthen the multi-party democracy. He had never expressed his view that he would reverse the political process. The King took political steps at a time when the country was at the verge of civil war and multi-party democracy was out of track. His objective was to hand over power to the people through the elections.
If King’s intention was honest, why did not he announce the elections date on the day when he dismissed elected prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba?
Definitely, certain mistakes were committed to achieve that objective. So far as King’s intention is concerned, the action was taken with good intention. In coming days, people will evaluate the situation objectively. I am not saying that the actions were without any mistake.
When the King violated the constitution dismissing the elected prime minister and appointing the government exercising absolute power, how can you say his intention was good? Is having good intention enough in politics?
There were mistakes and many mistakes were committed by those who were in power. But, you cannot bring the consensus just by pointing out at the past mistakes. We have to learn from past mistakes and unite all forces together to solve country’s present crisis. There is a need for political consensus and reconciliation among all political forces.
You have been sent to prison several times in the past. How do you look at it?
Following the restoration of Loktantra, I was sent to prison three times. I want to congratulate the government for giving me an opportunity to prove as the first political prisoner. Even after the promulgation of this interim constitution, I was the first political prisoner. This was a new experience for me.
As a former home minister, how do you see the political situation?
The political situation is very fluid and all political forces are trying to adjust and readjust among themselves. Foremost thing for all Nepalese people now is to protect Nepal’s independence and integrity. For broader objectives, one has to give up narrow interests. We have to be very careful about the situation.
How do you see the possibility of involvement of external forces?
If internal political forces are divided, there is every possibility of involvement of foreign power. It is up to the internal political forces to decide.
Do you think Nepalese are capable to solve the present crisis?
We can solve the present problems.
