NATIONAL 1 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Street Strategy

After failing to force the prime minister to resign in parliament, the main opposition takes to the streets

By BHAGIRATH YOGI

A senior Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) leader, K. P. Sharma Oli, was in his style Monday while announcing the much publicized protest programs against the year-old G. P. Koirala government. "This government has failed on all fronts and we are compelled to launch the protest programs in the street in order to kick it out," declared the former home minister and convenor of the central protest mobilization committee of the party.

Oli, however, could not give details about the proposed protest programs. "The details about the joint protest programs would be made public after consulting other opposition parties," he said. All the UML had in the cards for now was to organize mass meetings in different parts of the country on April 8 this year to mark the people's movement.

Leaders of opposition parties : One-point agenda

Why the UML, that had succeeded in rallying the support of five opposition parties in the parliament (except Nepal Sadbhavana Party) in demanding resignation of Prime Minister Koirala for his alleged involvement in the Lauda Air deal, went alone in announcing the street protests could not be known. While small left parties in the parliament saw it as a tactic to bulldoze them, the centrist Rastriya Prajatantra Party leaders were cautious enough not to fall in a trap. "We will not take to street protests in demanding the resignation of the prime minister," said Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani, vice-chairman of the RPP.

Gauging that its move to disrupt the parliament could not only backfire, it could also expose its real intention, if any, the main opposition party may have decided to draw people's attention through street protests, say analysts. Interestingly, the party deliberately chose Oli as the convenor of the campaign, who reportedly was unhappy over the party's decision to disrupt the parliament.

On its part, the ruling Nepali Congress was able to temporarily manage its internal dissension and get the party united in backing the prime minister to face the opposition (See separate story). The defiant Koirala put on a brave face and accused the main opposition of disrupting the parliament with a view to stop the Bill on Armed Police Force from being passed in the parliament. "The UML leaders are addressing joint mass meetings with the Maoists and have agreed to work jointly (to oust me)," Koirala told his party workers.

Interestingly, the main opposition has found itself in a Catch-22 position. Upon learning that its base is getting eroded fast by the Maoist rebels in different parts of the country, the party wants to establish as a strong alternative force, say insiders. But, for the time being, it may have little option than to seek Maoists' support to provide protection to its cadres.

Such a game could be suicidal for the main opposition party over a long run. UML leaders, hence, refute any such allegations. "It's wrong to say that we are working jointly with the Maoists. In fact, ours is the only party that has reached the areas considered to be Maoist strongholds and spoken to the people against them," said UML general secretary Madhav Nepal. He was referring to a recent peace rally organized by the main opposition party in Maoist-affected Rapti zone.

Nepal further clamied that the move of the opposition to disrupt parliamentary proceedings was constitutional as well as legal. "G. P. Koirala is a leader of corrupt people and he must be kicked out of the government immediately," he declared.

Ironically, the main opposition, said to be a government-in-waiting, has fallen short of asking for mid-term polls to seek fresh mandate. All the party seems to be wanting now is to provide outside support to the intense in-fighting within the ruling party and let it collapse due to internal reasons. A weak Nepali Congress could result into its political gain, the party strategists say.

Whether that will happen or not, the street protests announced by the party are likely to keep its workers engaged for some more time to come.

BHUTANESE REFUGEES
Verification, Please!

Even after a week of their arrival, the members of Joint Verification Team (JVT) comprising Nepalese and Bhutanese officials were still working out the modalities to kickstart verification of the Bhutanese refugees in eastern Nepal till Monday. As the officials were tight-lipped nobody had any idea when the verification would actually kick off. Reports said the JVT had decided to start the process in its office itself rather than going out to all seven camps due to "security reasons." The Bhutanese team is led by Sonam Tenjing and Nepalese team by Usha Nepal. The Foreign Ministers of Nepal and Bhutan had agreed to set up a JVT late last year during their meeting in Kathmandu to verify the nationality of the refugees living in the camps. The refugee community and rights organizations have asked for third party involvement, to be specific that of the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the verification process. "It's very important to give a fair picture that things are happening in consonant with international norms," said Ratan Gajmere, a Bhutanese human rights activist. Added Rakesh Chhetri, another Bhutanese rights activist, "Since such a verification is taking place for the sometime anywhere in the world, involvement of an international agency like UNHCR will help both the parties to make an appeal in case any conflict arises during the course of verification." The Bhutanese refugee community had also demanded UN mediation in the process during UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's recent visit to Nepal. But so far there are no indications that either government will agree on such demands.