 |
|
Though it is chaotic and disorderly, democracy is the time-tested solution of all the problems that originate from conflicts, disorders and instability of every nature. Nepal ’s own experiences have shown that only a democracy can accommodate and assimilate people of varied ethnicity and region. Whether it was in the first parliament in 1959 or following the restoration of democracy in 1990, parliamentary democracy has show its capability to accommodate varied ethnicity and region. During the first parliamentary experience in 1959, all castes and ethnic people suffered for common democratic cause under the leadership of B.P. Koirala. Under his unique coordination, persons from various regions and ethnicity came to the single democratic fold. It is interesting to note that persons from Newar community like Ganesh Man Singh to Madheshi Ram Narayan Singh and from Yogendra Man Sherchan (Thakali), to Dewan Singh Rai and Prem Raj Angdangbe (Limbu) were in prison with him together for many years. After that, there was almost 30 years of authoritarian experience of power under Panchayat system in which there was no such political solidarity as was seen in the team of politicians of first parliament. Even in the second phase of parliamentary democracy after 1990, a process of accommodation, integration and consolidation was seen. It was disrupted only after the King’s step of October 4, 2002 when there was no opportunities of sharing the power. Even at this interim period, though there is no immediate possibility to hold the elections and when parties are sharing power on party basis, there is some process of accommodation and integration. Despite all these characters of democracy, the debate has already been generated against the democratic process. After prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala shifted his earlier stand and sided with populism without realizing the importance of monarchy in national context, the question now is what will be the fate of democracy in case the disorder and anarchy escalates in the country. At this stage, the future scenario between military and democracy would be completely a new thing for Nepal . It is a fact that a state cannot do away the organized army though it might continue without a popular politics. In the past, monarchy in Nepal had played a very important role as a cushion between army and democratic forces. Whenever there appeared a direct conflict between these two, the monarchy stepped in to prevent it. After sidelining monarchy following the promulgation of new interim constitution, there is no such cushion now between them. In this context, we conclude that democracy stabilizes all the problems while dictatorship is always volatile.
|