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NEPAL BANDH |
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NEPAL BANDH |
A Futile Show The whims of fringe political groups have hurt the people and injured the economy. How longer will the country have to endure this pain? By A CORRESPONDENT Once someone is asked to break the law, it is virtually impossible to ask him to obey it. This is exactly what is happening in Nepal. Ten years ago, the political leaders of different outfit ordered their cadres to do whatever they wanted against the Panchayat regime. Today they are the first ones to lament the disrespect shown to the law. "Once a man learns to violate the rule of law, it is very difficult to ask him to abide by it," said a lawyer. It is easy to encourage the young to throw stones at police vehicles but it is very difficult to ask them to do constructive work.
"Calling bandhs is illegal, one cannot justify it any ground," said Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ram Chandra Poudel, a one-time student leader who encouraged followers to violate the law during anti-Panchayat protests. Even leaders of the main opposition parties are urging the people to give up the practice of calling bandhs. But do they have the credibility to make such a plea? Fed up by the frequent general strikes called by different political parties, the citizens of Kathmandu valley are searching for ways to bury the bandh. But this is not easy, as most political parties still see bandhs as a convenient tool. Their stand on strikes is determined by whether they are in power or in the opposition. The citizens of India have got relief from bandhs following the decision of the Kerala High Court and the Indian Supreme Court. Although the court ordered the Election Commission to deregulate parties which call bandhs, regional parties still use this form of protest as a popular means to pressure the government. Nepal should learn from the Indian experience. Bandhs should be declared unconstitutional because organizers often force the common citizens to forfeit their rights, but nobody talks of a constitutional remedy. Political parties must come to an understanding on the need to adhere to the rule of law, whether on the street or in the parliament chamber. "Nepal bandh is a futile means of protest. We will not call a bandh," said K.P. Sharma Oli, leader of the CPN-UML, whose party has the distinction of having called at least 36 out of 47 Nepal bandhs in the last 10 years.
The Nepali Congress, too, has urged its workers not to call bandhs. As political parties are gradually realizing the importance of the rule of law, it may help to set a new trend in politics. The people, however, were forced to welcome the new year in the midst of a two-day bandh. Barely three days of the 'Valley bandh' organized by five leftist student organizations, a group of nine left parties called a two-day Nepal bandh on January 1 and 2. The otherwise bustling Thamel looked deserted on New Year eve as a cold breeze blew around. Some tourists seemed to be concerned about their itinerary for the next two days. If political parties are now really sincere to the cause of the country and welfare of the citizens, they must ignore allegations of hypocrisy and call on their workers to follow the rule of law. |
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