Wednesday, February 7, 2007

Dateline

Niraj Aryal

Will the all powerful government be able to conduct the CA polls?

This question reigns supreme in the minds of the leaders who enunciated the idea of the CA polls and also of those who followed them just before the Janaandolan-II. The confusion among the laymen is not a matter of discussion. Still the laymen would want the CA polls be conducted as promised knowing that there are still hurdles to sort out.

At this point in time, the question that the Maoist may carry weapons in the name of guarding their leaders fearing mass attack before, during or even after the CA polls remains distant; ultimately the question of a free and fair election also becomes redundant. The Terai outrage continues unabated, death toll rises as clashes enter week three, thus threatening the CA elections. Sorting out the Madhesi issue becomes a top priority, if CA polls are to be held on time (?).

In reality, leaders belonging to both the Pahade and the Madhesi community-no discrimination made this time, protected very well by the mountains around from where the death toll is rising, cannot stop blaming the reactionaries within the country and outside for fuelling the violence and concurrently threaten a revolt if the CA polls are not conducted in the allocated time period. The EPA that holds the responsibility for holding the CA elections themselves threaten a revolt if it does not take place in time. Is it a joke? The mass becomes more confused.

This time the question is who is threatening whom? Obviously those threatening are part of the ruling Eight Party Alliance and the one being threatened has to be either Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala himself-who accepted that his latest appeal could be his the last one or it has to be the King who has been sidelined in the interim statute from the duty of a head of the state denying any power allocated to him previously.

The lay men possibly think if the EPA has proof over the involvement of the reactionaries, why they have not been able to point out the culprits. Arresting Kamal Thapa and other high flying ministers in the Royal cabinet on the basis of suspicion made no difference. And also the Prime Minister’s delayed appeal to the leaders of the Madhesi groupings went to the dogs. In this circumstance how the government is going to solve the Terai outrage finally giving way to a timely, free and fair CA election becomes important.

Analyzing the series of disturbing events that cropped up with the people’s government taking the charge some nine months ago, from Rhino Poaching to Petro-crisis to Bundhs and Chakka Jams finally arriving to the Terai crisis, it is highly unlikely that the end to the present turmoil in Terai will bring an ideal situation for the CA elections.