National 10 (Spotlight Weekly)

Lost Destination

Amid crisis back home, premier visits Europe without any clear objectives

By BHAGIRATH YOGI

Two days after ‘Gai Jatra’ (the famous cow festival), Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba left for Johannesburg, South Africa, leading a Nepalese delegation to take part in the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) via Brussels. But during his controversial stay in Brussels, when the host government was facing tough times over the issue of sales of 5,500 assault rifles to the Nepalese government, the premier changed his mind. He then hopped on to London for his health check-up. His aides said in Kathmandu that he would undergo check-up for his `nasal congestion.’ Officials accompanying him, however, said he was suffering from backache. London-based sources even said that the premier had some problem due to excessive thyroid secretion. In Bangkok, Deuba met his Thai counterpart, Dr. Thaksun Sinawatara, over breakfast 7:30 in the morning on Tuesday and "discussed issues of bilateral cooperation." Wrote the state-owned Gorkhapatra daily in its front page news, "PM Deuba’s Europe Visit Remained Successful."

Deuba : Zig zag flight

Besides making headlines for government-funded newspapers, people were at loss what the premier’s nine-day long visit abroad accomplished after sending millions of rupees from the coffers of a cash-starved nation. f course, the premier seems to have made history by becoming the first prime minister after Nagendra Prasad Rijal who changed his destination midway in the international visit.

Premier Deuba’s Europe sojourn coincided with escalation in Maoist violent activities, this time in the capital valley itself. Taking benefit of the transition phase when there was no more emergency, the rebels chose their targets to explode bombs, assault political activists and hack to death innocent people in different parts of the country. They have again started their old tactic-by torching down village development committee offices and destroying power houses in Kavre and other districts.

"The government will arrive at a decision (regarding the state of emergency) after consulting with all including political parties and security organs," Deuba told reporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport upon his arrival Tuesday. He was, however, quick to add that the state of emergency would not be imposed in the country after the nomination papers are filed for the forthcoming mid-term polls.

Official sources said the government was considering imposing emergency for a few more weeks (probably till October 13) after which it could be lifted to give time for poll campaigns. If the security situation deteriorated in between-as indicated by the growing incidences of violence launched by the insurgents— the elections might not be held on November 13, thereby pushing the country into a constitutional crisis.

Analysts say the government’s decision to extend the state of emergency is likely to increase confrontation between it and political parties. Ten major political parties, including the parent Nepali Congress, have demanded that the state of emergency be withdrawn immediately and people’s fundamental rights restored.
The Maoists-on their part-seem to be trying to aggravate the crisis thinking that the constitutional deadlock tha would arise if the elections could not be held on November 13-would provide them more space to maneuver. "In that case, the King will have to invoke article 127 of the constitution and could form a government involving democratic and nationalist forces including the Maoists, if they wish so," said Dipta Prakash Jung Shah, a royal appointee to the National Assembly.

Others don’t agree. "As per the spirit of the constitution, the King can revive the House of Representatives— that remains dissolved now-and allow the political process to continue (if the elections were not held on Nov. 13)," wrote advocate Bharat Upreti in Himal Khabarpatrika.

But instead of allowing the country to head towards what many see as a "constitutional deadlock," analysts say the government should take initiative to bring the rebels over the table of negotiations.† "The Maoists will readily join peace talks if the government is sincere for a peaceful way out," said C. P. Mainali, a senior leader of the CPN (M-L).

But the Prime Minister’s priorities lay elsewhere. By ignoring the all-important Johannesberg meeting, Deuba spent time in Brussels watching if the Belgian government would finally decide to sell arms to Nepal. The Belgian government’s decision for the same may have benefited Deuba ahead of general elections and his relatives-who are reportedly mediating the deal, but the country has certainly lost with the prime minister’s insistence to shut down all doors for peaceful way out of the present crisis.