Democracy
Is It Just For Voting Right ?

By Ajay P. Nath

IN many Third World countries a political concept is being developed which feels that an enlightened despotism is preferable to chaotic democracy; the masses require protection from themselves. Even Cromwell wanted to demonstrate how democracy, among other factors, was responsible for Athens' decline. Reflecting on ancient Athens one could always remark that one could think of nothing more dangerous than debate in an uncontrolled crowd. Though the swing toward democracy following the end of Cold War and the fall of communism in former USSR and Eastern Europe, was a triumph for liberal philosophy, the pendulum has come to rest where it belongs-in the middle, between the extreme leftist and the extreme rightist. Where a political system leans too far in either direction, realignment or disaster awaits.

Change

Nepalese society probably needs to slow down the present change which is too fast to strike a balance for reform- a process which needs continuity without stop or without a stretch too far. What Nepal needs today is to avert the kind of revolutionary upheaval that has engulfed many Third World countries and resulted confusion and chaos across a vast and geographically riven landscape in the name of democracy, in which less than 10 per cent are enjoying the fruits of democracy.

Authoritarian regimes like in South East Asia, which ruled many of these nations for a long time, were treated kindly and as legitimate, no matter how illiberal they were, because they could provide full proof security for their peoples and spark vibrant economic growth. Any regime, any where, at any time of history will easily find acceptance and respects in a world driven increasingly by modern financial markets and globalized corporate system that know no political and geographical boundaries. Because of the failure of political leadership to rightly handle modern democratic polity and provide democratic and good gevernance, many elite people in the Third World countries are debating the good and bad sides of the oligarchic and democratic system of governing the people. Indeed, these people who are fed up with the multiple crises resulting from the mobocratic democracy, find the difference between even oligarchy and democracy and between ancient Athenian democracy and modern one, which could be far subtler than many of us think. Democratic rights exercised in many Third World countries, particularly after the end of Cold War, has proved that it is a fraud in many poor countries like Nepal. Modern democracy exists within a thin band of social and economic conditions, which include flexible hierarchies that allow people to move up and down the ladder. Instead of clear-cut separations between classes there are many grey shades with most people bunched in the middle. Many Africans, Asians and Latin Americans want better living standard with full proof security instead of just a voting rights deprived of basic economic and social progress. Nepalese have got the voting rights for the last so many years but what else have they got out of it except fast increasing level of hunger, disease, deprivation and insecurity ?

In a full-fledged democracy, i.e. an ideal one, every individual, every family, village and town, corporation, organisation, NGO/INGO, media and political party would keep national interest and national welfare above their own interest and welfare. But here in Nepal has it been happening ? Neither is it happening in many new democracies in the Third World countries.

After the advent of multipary democracy the Nepalese people expected to be healthy, well fed, and even luxurious with the introduction of good governance and better technology. But the expectation turned out to be just the opposite. The larger number of people were, instead, condemned to a life of poverty and sickness. The high hopes of the people and tall promises of the political leadership all turned out to be empty dreams. The national scenario of these new democracies became so hopeless and people so fed up that they were compelled to look for new alternatives.

In Nepal situation went from bad to worse and a section of the people even took up arms against the system itself and went into the bush. This situation was well exploited by those selfish elements who are somehow never willing to see Nepal standing on its own feet. It is futile to point out a finger against anyone when the leadership cannot put its own house in order. Why blame somebody else? We are providing the opportunities and they are simply seizing it. Right now Nepalese national psyche is such that it will accept and respect any Tom, Dick and Harry who can lay his undeterred hands on the rampant corruption right from the top, urgently go down deep into the root causes of present insurgency, give a clean and honest administrative machinery translating all rules and regulations from the paper to the people. If such actions, immediate and drastic, i.e. taking harsh and unpleasant decision on the spot without an inch of mine and thine-attitude are effected, even those disgruntled section of people who have taken the risky and harmful decision of raising arms against the system and state will soon be forced to change their mind and join the national mainstream. If these changes, encompassing all aspects of ordinary lives, can be introduced in present Nepal, even those elements fishing in the troubled water will find no safe haven in this country. Look at the thunderous support and clamorous cooperation openly and honestly displayed for the recent CIAA's small step towards cleaning up the house!

The world knows what went wrong in Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Ethiopia, Congo and in Cambodia. And no wonder, unless Nepalese, particularly the leadership, use their common sense and forethought, Nepal will be next in line. To avert this national political calamities, Nepalese still has options if accepted and adopted with unbiased attitudes keeping national interest above everything else. Right now the Maoist problem is the problem that has besieged this nation for the last seven years. Sadly enough there has been no domestic political consensus in this issue till dates. All political parties within and outside the government, including senior bureaucrats, media, academicians and diplomats must reach an understanding to determine one single policy on this issue. Being able to form one opinion and presenting one voice in one issue is the priority needs on such major national problems. Even those raising arms against the existing constitution should understand that the Nepalese national problems needs to be resolved within the national boundaries without any external interference. As free citizens of a free country our problem should be solved by ourselves. As a proud nation, how can we tolerate the decision imposed on us from a foreign capital.

Unity

Now if Nepal is to be protected from a state of total collapse and if the political leadership is absolutely serious to finally deliver something to the wretched and hard suffered, they must decide to unite themselves and approach the monarch to save the nation from the ongoing chaos. For the time being everybody should forget their political manifestos, and party interest in order to stabilise the national situation. Once the national situation is stabilised, law and order is re-established even in the far flung areas of Nepal, corruption is controlled and checked, symbol of clean and credible administrative machinery is in firm position and the Maoists are brought within the national fold, then a fair and free democratic election could be conducted. It might take couple of years for this. Another option could be all parties including the Maoists should reach an understanding about forming a national government to hold elections and form government whoever wins the majority. But here one thing must be made clear. No sovereign, independent country would ever hold national/local elections when there are two parallel armies facing each other; one is a legitimate national army functioning under a legitimate government and the other is an illegitimate, illegal terrorists organisations run by illegal terrorist outfit.

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