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VOL. 27, NO. 22, February 08, 2007 (Magh 25 2064 B.S.)
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Silence Of The Mind
Following a year long silence, King Gyanendra puts his views cautiously but does not face sharp criticism as in the past
By KESHAB POUDEL
Silence has been a great strength for the monarch as it has helped the institution regain some popularity in the people.
In fact, silence has been the strengths of monarchs all over the world as is shown by the history. British Queen Elizabeth remains one of the most popular monarchs because she rarely speaks.
Similar was the case with late King Birendra who gave very few interviews during his reign as a constitutional monarch. Just after he was crowned, King Gyanendra, however, gave a series of interviews to the media and spoke whatever he liked. His style of speaking not only made him unpopular but even pushed the monarchy to the brink. After taking over the direct rule and heading the cabinet as its chairman, King Gyanendra gave a number of interviews to various media though then Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990 had given a limited constitutional role to him.
Even after handing over power to the parliament following the popular agitation II, King Gyanendra gave made controversial statements which sparked nationwide reaction paving the way to curtail his authority further.
However, King Gyanendra seems to have realized now that silence is a great strength. That might be the reason why he spoke after maintaining silence for nearly a year. In the last one year, political parties amended the interim constitution twice adding certain articles giving right to the interim parliament to declare Nepal as a republic, but the King had chosen to keep mum.
Except some well known republican ministers like Ram Chandra Poudel, Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Maoist minister Pampha Bhusal, nobody raised any question on King Gyanendra's interview this time. The interview was given to Hari Lamsal, the editor of a low profile weekly tabloid Rastravani.
Silence As Action
"Silence also is (an) action," said King Gyanendra in the interview published last week. "We have remained silent as we have wished to make the peace process a success." This is the first realization of King Gyanendra - who had made all kinds of futile exercises by organizing press meet, inviting intellectuals for consultations and so on after dismissing the elected government.
Had he decided to go for any broadsheet high profile media, every one would have published it. However, his choice was selective and deliberate. "Ultimately, King Gyanendra has come out with his view in a low profile weekly as he wanted to come out with his views moderately but in dignified manner. Besides, he also expressed his faith in the verdict through a democratic process. In the history of Nepal, the institution of monarchy has witnessed many ups and downs," said the political analyst.
Looking at bitter experiences of past, others, silent supporters of monarchy, fear that the King might start to speak again as in the past. If he starts to speak, he will court controversy and popularity of institution of monarchy will suffer. As an institution based on faith of people, monarch has no privilege to speak to the people like popular political leaders.
Monarchy's future will not be determined by majority or minority votes of the people like political parties and leaders. Monarchy will be there even if the overwhelming number of people are against it since it is an institution that relies on faith.
"The institution has always been run as per the wishes of the Nepalese people. We wish for peace, democracy and strengthening of nationalism - the type of political system should be as per the wish of the Nepalese people. That system has to be suitable for the country and the people. The Nepali people should be able to stand with their head held high. The effort to solve instability also has to be done through a democratic process," said King Gyanendra.
Along with faith upon the verdict of democratic process, King Gyanendra also has mildly expressed his differences with the main actors at the political stage.
"What situation the country is passing through, how the country has been destabilized, the Nepalese people have to speak up about the situation prevailing in the country. Due to many reasons, people have not been able to speak. In the name of democracy, attempts have been made to destroy the country's physical structure. I don't think these are democratic practices. Nobody should take the people for granted," King Gyanendra said.
Unlike his late brother, King Gyanendra was not groomed to be a King as he was not in the line to succeed. He became King twice by historical coincidence in 1950 for about two months and after massacre of Royal family members in 2001.
"In fact, King Gyanendra was not born as a direct successor to throne. By historical coincidence, he was declared as the King at the age of 4 years when his grandfather took a risk of his throne while acting against then autocratic Rana regime. A few months after his first coronation, the situation brought him again to his previous position of Prince. After more than half a century, he again became the King after the horror of the Royal massacre in 2001. The destiny has always put him in the throne like a musical chair," the analyst said.
Till a few months back, nobody in the popular politics was prepared to risk his career in defense of the institution of monarchy. Now the tide seems to be turning as all viable alternatives with the ruling parties seem to have been exhausted and the country is facing a serious threat of lawlessness and disintegration. Slowly and gradually right thinking persons in politics are looking towards various options including the time-tested traditional institution of monarchy.
A recently appointed minister without portfolio Sujata Koirala seems to have made an intelligent guess of coming events as she dared to stand for time-tested traditional institution by highlighting its cultural base. "Monarchy has cultural importance. In my personal view, I don't mind to have cultural King," said Sujata Koirala.
Political results cannot be predicted by astrologers. It depends upon several variables. In the absence of one or other variable, the unexpected role may produce a different result.
"What King Gyanendra did by assuming all the powers of state in him on February 1, 2005 might not be the only reason by which he had to face this unpleasant situation," observed the analyst. "Results would have been definitely different had King Gyanendra acted with due patience and tolerance. King Birendra did that but other variables were persistent to destabilize Nepal and the King was removed from his role."
At this critical juncture in Nepal, King Gyanendra, whether as a person or King, has a great role for the peace and democratic transformation of the country. "Even if he loses the throne; he may have larger space in the hearts and minds of the people of Nepal. As long as the monarchy enjoys that credibility, it would remain a unifying factor for the nation," said the analyst.
Global Experiences
One has to go through the recent history of Afghanistan and Cambodia. It was ultimately the long dethroned King Zahir Shah who was requested by all the conflicting parties to legitimize the constitutional change of Afghanistan into the republic. And diehard republican communists in Cambodia needed that unifying institution of monarchy to maintain peace and stability.
When King Noroddom Simhanouk wanted again to relinquish his throne, interestingly, the communist prime minister Hun Sen refused his request and said that the constitution does not permit him to relinquish the privileged position of the monarch.
"Unfortunately, Nepal does not yet see anybody like President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan or prime minister Hun Sen of Cambodia who understands the historic necessity," said the analyst.
"Although he spoke his mind this time, the most valuable advice to King Gyanendra would be to maintain restraint as much as possible in actions as well as utterances. Let this be one of his rare expressions of personal opinion. Let him always keep in mind that silence also goes to the mind of the people," said the analyst
