Ruffling Of Feathers
As he defends his February 1 step as a result of compulsion, parties react strongly terming it as inappropriate message
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
The traditionally mundane Democracy Day message by the King has become a topic of heated debate this year after the leaders of political parties strongly reacted to the timing and wordings used in it.
Even as King Gyanendra continues to be isolated from the state affairs since the interim constitution has virtually kept the monarchy in a suspended animation, the message he delivered on the Democracy Day has ignited controversies.
Already in a precarious position, the monarchy is certain to attract more pressures with this message as the early indications show.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister KP Oli, talking to media persons during the Democracy Day reception hosted by the government at Shital Niwas, said the message was unacceptable to the government. Earlier Home Minister Krishna Sitaula said the government had not approved the text of the message.
Political parties, civil society and media organizations have quickly denounced the message saying that the King was trying to legitimize his February 1, 2005 step. The message itself has been termed as ‘constitutionally unauthorized and politically inappropriate.’
Maoist chairman Prachanda has said that the message revealed that royalists were trying to hatch conspiracies to derail the Constituent Assembly (CA) polls. “We parties must be alert about this and go ahead and declare republic right away,” Prachanda said.
Maoist spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara said that the message shadowed other issues like the Maoists joining the interim government. “It is now clear that the first priority should be to settle this issue of the King,” he told media.
Nepali Congress central committee members and Unified Marxist Leninist standing committee members also denounced the message and urged for maximum alertness against any efforts to derail democratic process.
Sher Bahadur Deuba of NC (Democratic) has urged the King to float a political party if he wants to engage in politics.
Interestingly, Surya Bahadur Thapa, president of Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) termed the message as natural. Refusing to comment on it, he told journalists that historians will analyze it after fifty years from now.
On the other hand, the civil society leaders have also denounced the message. In a statement issued jointly by them, prominent activists Kanak Mani Dixit, Nilambar Acharya, Suhil Pyakurel and Nabindra Raj Joshi have called for removing King Gyanendra from the Narayanhity palace and wresting the title of King from him.
Likewise, the Civil Society for Peace and Democracy has urged the eight parties to declare democratic republic. The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) also issued a statement denouncing the King’s message. The federation has said that the journalists remember how the media was ill-treated and suppressed during the royal regime.
KING’S MESSAGE
Beloved countrymen,
Today, the 57th National Democracy Day, reminds us of the joint struggle launched by the King and the people, culminating in the successful restoration of the people's rights. On this historic day, we pay homage to our august grandfather His late Majesty King Tribhuvan, the architect of democracy in Nepal , and all the brave martyrs who laid down their lives for this cause.
Nepal 's glorious history is guided by the fact that Monarchy has always abided by the aspirations of the Nepalese people, on whom sovereignty is vested. It is clear that the prevailing situation compelled us to take the February 1, 2005 step in accordance with the people's aspiration to reactivate the elected bodies by maintaining law and order following the dissolution of the House of Representatives at the recommendation of the elected Prime Minister of the day, who was unable to conduct general elections within the timeframe stipulated by the Constitution. Subsequent governments, too, were not successful in this task. Various obstacles thwarted our resolve to install elected representative bodies. We are also morally responsible for any success or failure during the 15 month effort.
As our sole wish is that the people should govern themselves through their own elected representatives, it is well known that we reinstated the House of Representatives on April 24, 2006 with the confidence that the nation would forge ahead on the path to national unity and prosperity, while ensuring permanent peace and safeguarding multiparty democracy.
In order to consolidate multiparty democracy, elected representative bodies must be installed, taking into consideration, in a mature manner, the grievances, aspirations and sentiments of all the Nepalese to the satisfaction of all. Nepal is a kaleidoscope of diverse peoples - be they indigenous, dalits or those living in villages, cities, terai, hills or the mountainous regions. It will do well to remember that Nepal 's sovereignty and integrity remains safeguarded only because all have accepted and abided by this reality. The Nepalese people alone are the arbitrators of their own destiny and they wish to build a prosperous Nepal through a meaningful exercise in multiparty democracy. The self-respecting Nepalese people have an unshakable belief that one's unique identity can be upheld only by respecting one's history.
While upholding the people's wish as supreme, may this day inspire all to remain dedicated, through multiparty democracy, to the greater welfare of Nepal and her people by ensuring their concurrence and active participation.
May Lord Pashupatinath bless us all!
Jaya Nepal ! (February 19)
