National 1 (Spotlight Weekly)

Savior Of The Nation

King Gyanendra restores the glory and respect of an institution convulsed by last year's tragic events

By A CORRESSPONDENT

From his very first address to the nation, King Gyanendra has reaffirmed his full faith in constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy. In the year since he ascended the throne in the aftermath of the tragedy that struck Narayanhity royal palace, King Gyanendra has firmly abided by the framework of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990.

King Gyanendra: Duty bound

At a time when political leaders of all ideological persuasions are interpreting the constitution to suit their own petty interests and are destabilizing important organs of the state for parochial gains, King Gyanendra has reaffirmed the centrality of Nepal's oldest institution in the people's quest for peace and prosperity.

The Nepalese people, wary of the endless machinations of their political leaders, have turned to the monarchy for strength and succor during their moment of trial. King Gyanendra has responded to these aspirations in keeping with the cordiality that has underpinned the relationship between the crown and the people over the centuries.

Be it the dissolution of the House of Representatives, the imposition of the state of emergency or the appointment of heads of constitutional bodies, King Gyanendra has acted in accordance with the letter and spirit of the constitution.

In view of the relentless infighting that has gripped the Nepali Congress and other parties since the restoration of multiparty democracy in 1990, it is not difficult to imagine the sordid state the Nepalese state would have reached in the absence of the monarchy. The political leaders, in whom the people had great faith in 1990, have proved themselves incapable of grasping the difficulties of the nation. Worse, they are obsessed with fulfilling their petty interests in the name of democracy.

As politicians who claim to be the people's representatives have lost public confidence, the monarchy has assumed a pivotal role in the national consciousness. "The monarchy is the only institution that can guarantee stability and continuity in Nepal," said a political analyst.

When Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba recommended the dissolution of the lower house of parliament and called fresh elections, Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala and his lieutenants responded by expelling Deuba from the ruling party. Koirala may have found it convenient to forget that he had done much the same thing as prime minister in 1994, but the people have a strong memory.

In describing Prime Minister Deuba's decision to seek a fresh mandate from the people as "reactionary", the Koirala camp has only exhibited the shallowness of its own commitment to the core values of democracy.

At a time when security forces are risking their lives and limbs in the defence of multiparty democracy from Maoist terrorism, political leaders from all parties are busy criticizing the army and police. Moreover, these same leaders consider it a privilege to hold meetings with Maoist leaders on foreign soil.

King Gyanendra, who has visited the most difficult terrain of the far-western and western parts of the country to observe the security operations, has provided immense strength and sustenance to the security personnel and the people.

The monarch's emphasis on the need to uplift the status of the large number of Nepalese who live below the poverty line and to encourage the participation of people in the political process embodies the abiding aspirations of the people.

Under King Gyanendra's wisdom and sagacity, the institution of monarchy has remained an anchor of stability among the more than five dozen ethnic communities that make up Nepalese society. In his first year on the throne, King Gyanendra, the second son of late King Mahendra, has established himself as an efficient monarch who is sensitive to the people's hopes through, among other thing, his regular meetings with people from all walks of life.

"The monarchy remains a symbol of national unity and integrity," said a political analyst. "At a time when political parties are locked in an unhealthy race to establish their supremacy, the crown has struck deeper roots in the Nepalese soil."

With political leaders having become increasingly indifferent to their plight, the people are fortunate to have an institution that embodies their quest for continuity, stability and progress.