NATIONAL 2 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Suicidal Move

The CPN-UML's street protests erode its credibility as an alternative democratic party

By KESHAB POUDEL

The street at Putali Sadak was filled with pieces of broken stones and the air was filled with the toxic effect of tear gas on Monday (April 16). Communist workers broke off sidewalk railings and pulled out drain covers to block the streets. The area turned into a battlefield when police used force to disperse the agitators who were trying to block Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala from entering his office in Singh Durbar.

It was not only the party faithful who were out on the streets. Liberal UML leaders like Madhav Kumar Nepal, K.P. Sharma Oli, Jhal Nath Khanal, Bharat Mohan Adhikary and other were on hand to support the agitators.

UML leaders : Are they faithful to democracy ?

The UML leaders, along with leaders of other radical communist parties, led a wave of violence that saw windows smashed, tires and government vehicles set on fire, stones pelted against police in what was billed as "peaceful" demonstrations.

The event proved that the CPN-UML is still suffering from the hangover of communist militancy that much of the world discarded over a decade ago. Party leaders seemed happy to ruin themselves, like they did in 1993, when the streets of Kathmandu were turned into a battlefield for a month.

If the ongoing political agitation is any indication, it shows that the CPN-UML seems to be following a more radical path and encouraging unconstitutional practices. Despite repeated claims of the opposition that they would organize peaceful protests, violent almost instantly crept in.

But the organizers of the protests remained defiant. "The government is responsible for all violence in the street. If our workers were not provoked by the police, they would not have been forced to damage public property," said Lilamani Pohkhrel, leader of the radical United People's Forum.

For the small left outfits, the protests came as a boon, since they received a higher level of publicity the CPN-UML's involvement inevitably brought.

In the end, it is the UML which has emerged badly bruised. "The violent agitation in support of unconstitutional demands has done more damage to the UML's credibility than other left forces," said a political analyst. "The CPN-UML cannot continue as a moderate communist party as it is increasingly veering towards radicalism," the analyst said. "If this agitation is the peaceful protest the UML promised, one wonders what methods the party would use if it had called for violent protests."

CPN-UML's hobnobbing with radical communist forces is not a new development, as the top leaders in the party have been competing with one another to acquire a militant image to establish themselves within the party. As a closed organization, no one can see the power struggle that goes on in the CPN-UML.

In their quest to strengthen their leadership positions, general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and deputy leader K.P. Sharma Oli are the main competitors in the race to claim the radical mantle.

A few weeks back, Nepal even indicated that his party would be ready to go underground to launch a violent struggle. Going one step ahead, Oli declared that party workers were capable of overthrowing the present system from the street.

UML street agitation : Trying violent means

As the CPN-UML is tilting in a militant direction, it has been suffering in terms of its credibility as a liberal alternative democratic party which they have painstakingly built in the last ten years.

Although street agitations are nothing new in Nepal, the way communist leaders are encouraging violence is strange. Ever since the restoration of democracy in 1990, when demonstrators overthrew an autocratic political system through street agitations, all political parties have resorted to similar methods.

The Nepali Congress and communist parties, in effect, encouraged their workers to break the law to overthrow the partyless Panchayat system.

In an open and liberal polity, there is no justification for continuing with violent street demonstrations. Whether they are thrown by supporters of Girija Prasad Koirala or Madhav Kumar Nepal, stones damage public property and disrupt peace.

Some of the western friends of the CPN-UML have already expressed displeasure over the party's unconstitutional methods to overthrow the government, but CPN-UML leaders seem to be ignoring them.

"The CPN-UML is damaging itself and sending the message to the world that it does not have any democratic commitment," said a political analyst. "What has compelled it to adopt violent means."

The UML's agitation has not received internal or external support. For the police force, it seems that they have to fight a lone battle with the communists in the urban and rural areas.

The difference for them is that they have to face Maoists' bullets in the rural areas and the sharp stones of the CPN-UML in the urban streets. For the common people, the CPN-UML's agitation has brought more inconvenience.

"The CPN-UML has already been trapped in a political game and it is very difficult for them to exit from it," said the political analyst.

Except for some die-hard communist followers, no one is justifying the UML's decision. "The UML is not following parliamentary norms and values. It is very unwise on the part of the CPN-UML to destroy public property worth of million of rupees," said Hridayesh Tripathi, leader of Nepal Sadbhavana Party. "Sooner the UML calls off their violent agitation, better for their future."

Street agitations have already crippled Nepal's economy as the major political parties regularly call violent street demonstration to express their dissent.

The CPN-UML and other nine left parties called violent street demonstration hundreds of time in the past as if it is a way to pressure the government.

This time, too, they are leading an agitation with a group of extreme left, including United People Forum, Unity Center, Nepal Communist Party Masal and Worker and Peasant Party.

CPN-UML, which holds 69 seats in the House of Representatives, is hobnobbing with small extreme left outfit which do not have more than half a dozens of representatives in the legislature

"Street demonstration is also a part of democratic exercise. As long as Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala continues in power, we will continue street demonstrations," UML leaders say.

Interestingly, it is the main opposition CPN-UML which emerges as a main opposition party in the last three elections. The party even formed minority government and joined different government as a coalition partner.

Although the activities of the CPN-UML seems to be a suicidal game, the leadership does not seem to be bothered about it. "The CPN-UML in a suicidal phase and does not want to listen to rational arguments," said a political analyst.

No body understand the rational behind the agitation of the CPN-UML "When ruling party does not listen our voice, CPN-UML is compelled to go to the street to pressure the government. There is a solution of the agitation but it must come from the ruling party which is running the government," said professor Harsha Narayan Dhaubadel, a pro-UML intellectual.

Unlike in the ruling Nepali Congress where everything is flared up in politics as soon as it starts. The situation is different within the UML where the leadership challenges are happening in covert manner.

The latest story doing the rounds is that the UML, which had openly declared its half-hearted commitment to the democratic constitution when it was promulgated (they extended only critical support with strong reservations), now seems to have withdrawn the remaining part of its support -- whatever it meant and implied.