Dangerous Democracy
Kuber Sharma
Democracy becomes dangerous when procedures to change the government is tampered with. Democracy is sustained by rule of law and fairness of elections. Election Commission reconstituted after Janandolan II is another institution trying to misinterpret and manipulate the laws to reject the applications of political parties not nominated in Interim Parliament. The ten thousand and more signatures submitted by parties are being rejected on sample test basis. We heard that they test checked 2% of 57,221 signatures submitted by Green Nepal Party and found 57.5% mistakes which only shows enumerator's bias. And on that basis they asked GNP to submit another 5750 consenting signatures. GNP reluctantly complied with EC directives by submitting 10,260 voters signatures. EC refused to give photo copy of mistakes. They forced the parties to hand copy hundreds of names which they found non-reconcilable with voters list. Is that transparency and right to information? We hear rumors that Election Commission (EC) is hatching a scheme to order applicant parties to produce certain number of voters before EC personally to testify their signatures. EC is ignoring the universal practice of voter's sovereign rights. EC can not compel any voter to vote in the election nor the voters are bound to obey the instructions of political parties. EC does not realize the cost involved in complying with such absurdity. Here I am reminded of an Arab Sheikh's statement about liberal democracy "I hereby grant democracy where every one has right to vote and those who do not vote shall be hanged". The unrest and obstructions created by Maoist, Regional and Ethnic groups make the task of collecting signatures dangerous and scaring away voters. In elections wrong votes are rejected and no candidate is asked to replace the invalid votes. EC should have rejected invalid voters and honor the right ones. The present government has least respect for existing laws. Statements of PM and leaders of eight parties alliance are taken as law by the bureaucracy. To monopolize power without peoples mandate itself is a clear signal to opponents to oust the government by force. Leaders talk only about CA election and removal of King. As if that is the solution of all evils. Nobody talks about development and poverty alleviation. What a self defeating concept? Those who try to come into the framework of interim constitution to contest the CA polls are not allowed registration. Those who are rejecting interim constitution and delimitation of constituencies are openly threatening to destroy election mechanism by violent attacks. The agitators will gain sympathy of those whose applications will be rejected. The members of EC may be acting to appease their masters without realizing that they would have to pay heavy price if CA polls are boycotted by large segment of population questioning their impartiality and fair conduct. Country do not need puppet EC. We have been demanding government of neutral persons to hold elections.
I can understand the attitude and actions of Maoists and other Communist Parties. Their goal is to demolish the institutions of liberal democracy. They don't need multi-party system except 'one party dictatorship of Proletariat'. The U.S.A. and EU also have not gauged the consequences of rejecting parties to register. West have evolved two party system over a century. Most European countries have proportional system of representation in parliament. Nepal is experimenting new system of federal republican structure of state through proportional and inclusive representation. Every ethnic community and caste is trying to find a place in Constituent Assembly. Rejection of their political parties can be fatal blow to united Nepal. Nepal has long tradition of politics of exclusion for which country is bleeding even today. Conflict, instability and drastic changes lead to different kinds of regimes. For thirty years Panchayat polity did not allow political parties to function and contest elections. After Jan Andolan I (1990) Pancha's cadres of Panchayat system were marginalized. After Janandolan II (2006) Pro-Monarchy parties and persons are discriminated.
Everybody is talking about creation of new Nepal without any sketch of restructuctured federal Nepal. Prachanda, Maoist Supremo, has already declared he would be President of New Nepal after two years. Does that mean PM Koirala is presiding over liquidation of plural democracy? Some even say that Prachanda is using Koirala to vacate the throne, bring Nepal Army under Party control to demoralize and demobilize and finally capture Singh Durbar and Sansad (Parliament) to install communist government as Lenin did in Russia. Some leaders of coalition partners have already reacted to U.S. past President's Mr. Carter's remark "G.P. Koirala is my Hero." Some commented - a hero whose party is in minority in Interim Parliament who concedes to unjust demands of CPN-UML and Maoists, who guarantees security to political workers and orders his cadres to return to villages but nobody obeys. Communists say Koirala is not a hero, he is playing villain to save Monarchy. Any drama reaches its climax when villain is stronger and ends when hero is victorious. If Koirala is a villain then who would emerge as hero? Prachanda? Moriarty the U.S Ambassador to Nepal has returned home without getting a chance to shake hands with Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda). Moriarty often repeated his statement that U.S. Government will follow Nepal policy in close consultations with India. It is not clear yet whether Government of India would like to see Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist and UML) ruling Nepal. The proposed constituent assembly election on 22 Nov., 2007 may give a chance to communists of Nepal to secure majority of seats and form the government by legitimate means. Would that bring end of Monarchy, Koirala Congress, other liberal democrats and Democracy. Communists would nationalize land and private property and bid goodbye to cherished goal of American democracy "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
Some Nepalese fear that the new Nepal could be divided into two countries. I personally do not subscribe to that thought because our neighbors will not support that kind of extreme result. India has always recognized Chinese Military power. Dividing Nepal between Terai and Hills will put India face to face with Chinese and its other irritated neighbors. China has already claimed Arunachal of India. Indian govt. admits that Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh have contacts with rebels of North Eastern India. In case Nepal is divided, there are chances that India will be broken at chicken's neck point (Narrow strip between India and Bangladesh near Silliguri). Sensing future turmoil China has already made moves to befriend Maoists. Europeans are inviting Maoists to Europe to orient them with their Federalism and Socialism. Americans may support Maoists through U.N. and NGOs. Past President Mr. Clinton wrote in his memoir how his government pumped money in Russia to defeat communists. American money through NGOs went into the hands of ex-military, journalists, intellectuals, petty businessmen etc. Nepali NGOs sympathetic to CPN(UML) and human rights activists are running countrywide organizations with large budgets financed by U.S. and European countries. The effect is seen on changing versions of UML leaders and PM Koirala along with Civil Society hawkers. At the end, I can say that there will be elections for constituent assembly despite unrest, if eight parties agree to share electoral seats to continue monopoly of today over seats of Government. I also do not rule out the possibility of suppressed groups organizing strongly against such authoritarian sham Government.
(Writer is Chairman of Green Nepal Party)
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