“If Leaders Of Eight Political Parties Agree, Nothing Is Impossible”
Ishwor Pokharel
ISHWOR POKHAREL is one of the influential politicians of CPN-UML. Pokharel, who has been in party’s leadership since 1978, was also a minister in the Sher Bahadur Deuba led government, which was ousted by King Gyanendra on February 1, 2005. Known as a key person in party handling, Pokharel is a Member of Parliament as well as standing committee member of CPN-UML. Pokharel spoke to SPOTLIGHT on various issues regarding the current politics. Excerpts:
At a time when the country has been passing through the critical situation with the deteriorating law and order situation, unrest in terai and growing violent activities, how do you see the possibility of holding the elections?
Of course, there are problems in the country but it is heading towards the positive direction. The situation is very complex. What we need now is courage, strength and commitment to solve the complex problems. It is the duty of leaders of eight political parties, government and the parliament to do just that.
Do you mean it is lacking now?
You are correct. Even the meeting of the leaders of eight political parties has not been convened for a long period. Even the leaders of eight political parties failed to endorse the policies and programs of the government. Even the budget was presented without any consent of leaders of eight political parties. The performance of the government is not as expected by the people. Despite overwhelming support behind it, the government looks very lackluster now.
Just a few days back even chief election commissioner stressed the need to improve the present situation to hold the elections for Constitution Assembly in November; do you think the present situation will change?
If leaders of eight political parties agree, nothing is impossible. They must develop programs and priorities giving role to different political parties. In the beginning, they must organize mass meetings with the participation of all eight political parties. This will be the first step.
How do you see the issues raised by armed groups in terai? How can they be solved?
Of course, various groups in terai and Janjatis are raising genuine issues. All of them need to be addressed. We must start fruitful negotiations with them. As there is still more than three months to go for the elections, we have time to address their problems.
Is the government doing anything to address the problems?
I have told you that our party is stressing the need to address the problems of Madhesis, Janjatis and Dalits. However, CPN-UML cannot do it alone. So far as the government is concerned, it has set up a committee to hold the negotiations with them but it is yet to achieve the success. The government must address their demands politically. Some ministers presented themselves very irresponsibly threatening to use force against the armed groups in case they do not come to negotiation table within 15 days. We think Home Minister’s statement was very irresponsible.
What is the role of CPN-UML?
So far as our party is concerned, our recently concluded central committee meeting has decided to launch nation wide campaign for the CA elections. Our party has already set up a high level CA elections campaign committee under the leadership of general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal. Our party has also set up a committee to write party’s manifesto for the forthcoming CA. Our party has already started to conduct the meetings at the workers’ level. From the beginning of September, our party will launch nation wide campaign to mobilize the people for CA.
What about other parties?
I don’t know much about others. Our party has already proposed to hold joint nation wide campaign with other eight parties. Such campaign will make the atmosphere more favorable. For this, leaders of eight political parties should first address a mass meeting in Kathmandu to generate the election fever.
Do you think other parties too are really sincere about the election?
I have told you that CPN-UML wants to see eight party joint campaigns for the CA. We have yet to receive any response from other parties. It is the responsibility of all the political parties to hold the elections for CA. If we cannot hold the elections, our legitimacy will be questioned.
As some of the armed groups are even demanding secession and right to self determination, what do you say?
There is no question to compromise on the issue of integrity and sovereignty of Nepal with any group. All their demands should be dealt within the integrity of the country. If the government negotiation team is really sincere and effective, the issues raised by all these groups can be addressed politically. We have not seen any determination on the part of government team. Except the demands of secessionists, the government should fulfill all other demands like power sharing and political rights. This country does not belong to particular groups but to all the people living within it. All the citizens have equal rights.
How do you see the demands of right to self determination? Should the government team fulfill demands to divide the country on the basis of language and ethnicity?
We think issues raised by Madheshis, Janjatis, Dalits and women need to be resolved politically. For this, we have to agree to go for proportional representative model in the constituent assembly. The government must recognize the right of different linguistic and ethnic groups. All the groups must be given equal rights in sharing of the power. As the country has already agreed to go for federal structure, we can address the issues raised by these groups within this mandate.
A minister representing your party in the government disclosed many lacunae of the government including the inefficiency of ill prime minister and his arrogance to lead the government as an NC government. How do you look at it?
It is the moral duty of our ministers to inform people about the performance of the government. As a party of coalition government, we have to share all the successes and failures of this government. It is the duty of our ministers to inform people on which conditions they are working and how the cabinet is running. One must analyze the executive role performed by our ministers. When Nepali Congress is taking all important portfolios like Home, Defense and Finance, much of the decision making lies on its shoulder. Our ministers have little to do. In this situation, we have to inform people about the decision making process of the cabinet.
How do you see the comments coming from your minister?
It is clear that prime minister is ill and old and he is unable to provide dynamic leadership needed by the country. Home minister, who is responsible to maintain the law and order, has been working independently. He finds hardly anytime to share the problems with other members of this coalition government. Prime minister Koirala is behaving as if he does not have to consult with anybody regarding national issues.
So, your minister doesn’t have any responsibility?
I am not saying that we are not responsible for this, but our minister cannot exercise executive authority. It is for the prime minister to decide all the issues. For instance, our minister has already forwarded the name of the ambassadors, and appointees for the vacant positions in the universities but prime minister Koirala is yet to announce the appointments.
What happened with the CPN-UML’s stand to hold the referendum to decide the fate of monarchy?
We still believe that referendum is the best democratic way of deciding the fate of monarchy. Although we presented the proposal during eight party meetings, Nepali Congress and CPN-Maoists opposed our move. Had they accepted our proposal, the fate of monarchy would have been decided a long time back and the country would have gone for CA elections. NC and Maoists opposed our move saying that it will divide the nation and monarchy would play politics on the basis of vote it receives. Such arguments are rubbish.
But, CPN-Maoist is now pressing to decide the fate of monarchy through two third of the present legislative parliament? How do you look at it?
Of course, we have added this clause in the last amendment of the constitution but this will create more problems in the country. As we have already agreed to decide the fate of monarchy through the simple majority of Constituent Assembly, we have to wait for it.
How confident are you about holding the elections of CA in November?
We don’t have any other option other than to hold the CA. The legitimacy of eight parties will come under question if we fail to hold the elections for CA. I don’t have any doubt about holding the elections.
