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| Kathmandu, Monday January 06, 2003 Paush 22, 2059. |
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Biratnagar message
King Gyanendra’s speech at the civic
reception in the eastern industrial town of Biratnagar was important in that he has again
reaffirmed his faith in multi-party democracy and called on everyone irrespective of his
or her political hue to join together to solve the critical problem facing the country.
The King’s subdued yet finely weighed sentiments came at a time when leaders of the
two of the country’s major political parties were unabashedly attacking the monarch,
quite oblivious to the fact that Nepalese monarchs carry more than just political clouts.
Many Nepalese see the Crown as the last resort where they can expect justice. The
King’s affirmation of his commitment to multi-party democracy is a meeting point that
can bring all political parties under one umbrella to hold elections and to solve the
gravest crisis faced by the nation so far—the violent Maoist insurgency.
History may never forgive those who indulge
in petty and selfish politics in times of grave national political crisis. There is little
room to doubt the King’s sincerity when he spoke of multi-party democracy and that
the Nepalese kings were guided by the wishes and aspirations of the people. The fact to
remember is that the country is still being governed under the 1990 Constitution that has
not been suspended. Without putting the cart before the horse, the political parties,
especially their leaders, would do well to heed the call of the times, meet the challenge
posed by the Maoist violence and help conduct elections at the earliest possible date so
that power can be peacefully passed on to the people’s representatives in a dignified
manner.
The King’s commitment to democracy in his speech at
Biratnagar should be a starting point of a closer relationship between the monarch and
political parties. Soon after the King’s speech, the Deputy Prime Minister Badri
Prasad Mandal told newsmen that the date for elections would be announced soon. Even
though he did not say whether these elections would be for the lower house of parliament
or for local elective bodies, it is nevertheless encouraging. It is so because it
signifies that none wants to hold on to power and that the King is eager to hand over
power that he took over on October 4. Political party leaders would be failing in their
duty to the people if, despite the promises of the Biratnagar speech, they were to take a
confrontation course. Most people are unconcerned whether the King or Koirala or Madhav
Kumar Nepal bent the constitution the most. What they are concerned about is the return of
peace in the country for which all political forces must unite in order to coax the
Maoists to give up their violent ways and come to the mainstream. All major forces in the
country, including the King and political party leaders, must be aware of the grave
consequences to the nation at this critical juncture. Surely, the message from Biratnagar
is that in unity lies the solution to national problems. |
