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COVER STORY |
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COVER STORY |
NATIONAL
RECONCILATION Twenty-seven years have
already passed since B.P. Koirala returned to Nepal following seven-years-long exile in
India calling for the national reconciliation. Caught in conflict and facing challenges
from within and outside, Nepal, today, is in serious crisis and is struggling to protect
its identity. The concept of national reconciliation propounded by late Koirala is more
relevant in today’s context. As political forces including Nepali Congress, the party
founded by B.P Koirala who championed national reconciliation, is leading the course of
confrontation, the country seems to be heading towards further turmoil. The
twenty-seven-years old policy, which has been virtually forgotten by Nepali Congress, was
not only relevant yesterday but is equally, if not more, applicable today and will also be
pertinent tomorrow By KESHAB POUDEL “Today, our country is in a national
crisis. All have realized this. This crisis is getting heightened since the last few
years. As a result, the very national identity has been endangered. All including the King
have, from time to time, referred to the danger posed to national identity. We are
returning home after realizing this grave reality” said B.P. Koirala in a statement
he gave on return from foreign exile on December 30, 1976. Although twenty-seven years have already
passed since B.P. Koirala returned from his exile pointing to crisis and calling for
national unity, the content and spirit of his statement is still valid in the Nepalese
context as the country is once again engulfed in deep political crisis in the face of
violent insurgency.
Fortunately, Nepal had passed the
most difficult crisis in 1976 under the guidance of the strong and faithful nationalist
leader B.P. Koirala. Although his younger brother G.P. Koirala, who understands ethos of
the national reconciliation, is currently at the helms of the Nepali Congress, no one can
hope that someone in a position like him would take courageous step like B.P. Koirala, who
was taken to Sundarijal prison directly from the airport, after he returned home. “In the history of every nation there
comes such moment when its people have to risk their lives to safeguard the national
identity. We think, such a moment has come in Nepal today. Our well wishers have advised
us not to return Nepal seeing the dangers involved in it. We would like to tell them that
we have taken this historical decision because the likely danger to our lives is nothing
as compared to the danger to the nation,” Koirala said in his statement. Nepali Congress and Reconciliation For Nepali Congress, a liberal democratic
party representing all ethnic groups and economic class, reconciliation is essential for
its survival and its identity. Democracy and nationalism can go together and they are
compatible with each other. Former prime minister and younger brother of late BP Koirala, Girija Prasad Koirala, who champions the democratic cause including individual freedom and human rights, is leading the five decade old democratic party by encouraging confrontation by raising anti-monarchy slogans even as the so called pro-monarchists are busy harping anti-Congress and anti-democratic slogans.
The irrational elements in Congress party,
who had also put pressure on leaders like B.P Koirala, are easily influencing and
pressuring junior Koirala to do whatever they want. Despite the pressures of such
elements, B.P. Koirala never joined hands with any extremist party to launch any movement
arguing that such movement would push the country into deeper political trouble. Besides,
Nepali Congress could even lose its own identity once it joins hands with extremists. Following the death of B.P. Koirala, Nepali
Congress shifted its earlier stand and joined hands with extremist parties. In the course,
democracy was restored at the cost of nationalism and national unity but no political
leaders including Girija Prasad Koirala, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Ganesh Man Singh
could have a smooth sail in the subsequent years of their political career. The same bunch
of extremists, who were used to destabilize Panchayat system, restarted their machinations
and rocked the positions of senior Congress leaders. Although it is now leading the agitation,
Nepali Congress is in the crisis to protect its own identity. As late B.P. Koirala had
said - if Congress gives up its policy of national reconciliation, it would loose its own
identity. This is exactly what seems to be happening in the current political course. Nepali Congress leaders and workers, though
they still champion the cause of liberal democracy, seem no more different than any other
extremist party leaders as they now have started preaching extreme ideas. The student wing
of Nepali Congress is taking the lead in destroying public and private property as well as
barring the people from exercising their individual freedom of movement. If Congress party under the leadership of
Girija Prasad Koirala, who was groomed in a well cultured political family and under the
shadow of his visionary brother B.P Koirala, can take such path, it is anybody’s
guess to what extent the party, under the next generation leaders who received political
training together with extremists, can go. “After the death of B.P. Koirala, there were no other leaders who could lead Nepali Congress under the policy of national reconciliation,” said a political analyst. “Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Ganesh Man Singh made Nepali Congress a partner of extremist parties by joining the agitation with them. And now the junior Koirala is compelled to turn the Congress into one of the partners in the five party alliance, which includes extremists. Where is the glorious identity of Nepali Congress?”
Through the national reconciliation policy,
B.P had fought the forces of anarchy and instability, which he had said were playing the
external hands. However, his brother and so-called followers, knowingly and unknowingly,
are encouraging forces of anarchy and instability. Although Nepal has passed through two
different political systems and two different international contexts including bi-polar
and uni-polar, the relevance of the national reconciliation policy remains intact. At a
time when the country is facing one of the most difficult times, reconciliation between
the country’s major political forces is the only option left to restore stability in
the country. In palace too, the forces opposing the
liberal and democratic party seems be dominating in the decision-making. Such elements do
not hesitate to condemn Nepali Congress and its leaders as anti-national. These elements
do not mind shaking hands with external forces to weaken Nepali Congress. The experiences have shown that only a
liberal democratic system can protect the nationalism and democracy and these two things
are complimentary to each other. Utility of Reconciliation Unfortunately, one cannot see any visible
changes in the confrontational lines adopted by the political forces including the King.
Nepal’s foreign friends and well-wishers want to see reconciliation among
country’s political forces but no one seems serious about it. From the US Assistant
Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca to British Special Envoy Jeffrey James
and from ambassadors of friendly countries to other donors, everybody has stressed for
reconciliation among the political forces. “We think that all the democratic and
constitutional forces should come together understanding the common threat. There must be
reconciliation among the country’s constitutional forces,” said Rocca. Even senior envoy of Nepal’s northern
neighbor has hailed B.P.’s national reconciliation as a fundamental to safeguard
political stability in Nepal. In a private conversation with two senior journalists
including this scribe, the envoy revealed that he found political stability and strong
Nepal during B.P.’s period. After reading the Nepalese history, the envoy said that
Nepal has not enjoyed political stability since 1950.
B.P. Koirala who was criticized as
anti-Indian in India and pro-Indian in Nepal, was the first democratically elected
Nepalese prime minister to defend Nepal’s independence and sovereignty differing with
Indian leader late Jawaharlal Nehru over the latter’s statement on Nepal’s
security matters. Although many so called royalists,
nationalists and followers in his party do not want to recall the bold steps taken by late
B.P. Koirala, the history is there to judge the role of B.P Koirala’s national
reconciliation. “National reconciliation was important
yesterday. It is equally important today and will be tomorrow,” writes Yubaraj
Ghimire, former editor of Kantipur and the Kathmandu Post daily, in his regular
column. The National reconciliation was important
at all the times but Congress party, lost in the euphoria of democracy buried it. National
reconciliation was a milestone in his illustrious political carrier of B.P Koirala who
returned from long political exile in 1976 from India. This year, too, Congress leaders will
follow the annual ritual (of the day marking B.P. return which will fall next week) by
organizing talk programs and exploiting national reconciliation to suit their own
interest. Unfortunately, there is nobody in the current bunch of Nepali Congress leaders
who are fully convinced about the path shown by B.P. Upon his return home after seven years of
exile in India, on December 30, 1976, the then outlawed Nepali Congress president B.P.
Koirala had referred to the threat Nepal’s nationalism faced from outside and
stressed the need for national unity and reconciliation (to prevent such eventuality)
between modern democratic forces and traditional pro-monarchy forces. Although democracy has replaced the
authoritarian systems in many parts of the world and the global order changed after the
dissolution of the Soviet Union, the circumstances and context in this part of the world
is yet to change. While advocating for the restoration of
democratic system in place of Panchayat, B.P called unity among all nationalist and
democratic forces. Koirala was always cautious to protect the separate identity of
Congress as a liberal democratic force. After the death of legendary leader B.P.
Koirala, a powerful section of Nepali Congress including his own brother G.P. Koirala
gradually deviated from the policy of national reconciliation. After the death of B.P.
Koirala Nepali Congress secured the power and his brother junior Koirala has served for
more than six years as a prime minister but the country has always suffered from political
instability. B.P. Koirala strictly stood for national reconciliation visualizing that any
deviation from its ideology will destroy the party and ultimately ruin the country. The only emphasis on restoration of
democracy alone or a thrust on hollow nationalism both were, according to him, hazardous
to the country. Nationalism and democracy are complementary to each other. B.P. Koirala
held the view that the national unity can be built on the foundation of democracy and the
foundation of democracy can be cemented only under speedy economic development. Nationalism, democracy and economic
development constituted the cornerstone of the national reconciliation. Following the
restoration of democracy, Nepal could neither achieve economic prosperity nor safeguard
its nationalism through the national unity. There is split and chaos in the political
front. There is difference among the political leaders in the party as well as the
confrontation among political forces including monarchy and democratic forces.
Distrust, mistrust and hatred have become the bases of relations. This has pushed the
country into more chaotic situation. The national reconciliation day is being
celebrated this time when the country is undergoing one of the worst crises in its history
because of distrust and mistrust among the political forces. From monarchy to political
parties, no one is showing any sign of reconciliation. Although the King has expressed the
commitment to democracy, there are no signs of elections through which people can choose
their representatives. Political parties, which are calling for peace, are yet to show any
flexibility. Describing the-then situation, visionary
leader B. P. Koirala had said. “Today, selfishness, communalism, individualistic
practices and the tendency to have an external-tilt is rampant in the country. In such
circumstances, nationalism becomes the first casualty.” (See box) Reconciliation Sans Follower Nepali Congress has many leaders who claim
to be the true follower of B.P. Koirala. From first generation leader Girija Prasad
Koirala to second generation leaders like Shailaja Acharya and Sher Bahadur Deuba were
groomed under the leadership of visionary leader B.P. Koirala. But no body understood the
spirit and significance of national reconciliation. Not only other leaders but even those
from Koirala clan have deviated from the path. As they say the road to heaven will be
paved by thorns, the path of national reconciliation is not rosy. It demands tremendous
amount of patience and courage. Reconciliation will not lead anybody to the power
immediately but it will protect the nation turning into a mess. Since Nepal is in a difficult geographical
position and since it has diverse culture and ethnicity, Nepal can achieve stability and
identity only through the course of reconciliation. B.P. was a visionary leader who understood
the importance of national reconciliation and preached it during all his political life.
Although B.P. Koirala also launched armed struggle, he suspended it shortly after he was
convinced that only through national reconciliation can the prosperity of nationalism,
democracy and economic progress be guaranteed. In a country like Nepal, no single force
can protect nation’s identity and nationalism. It is only through the unity among the
country’s major political forces and through the solid foundation of democracy can
its nationalism be protected. In the last twelve years, Nepalese
nationalism flourished under the democratic system but it was abruptly disrupted in the
last one year. The country, which has been facing the violent insurgency, has once again
become divided between democratic and traditional forces. This division will weaken
Nepalese nationalism as well as create hurdles to flourish liberal democracy. Nationalism And Democracy The statement B.P. Koirala gave on return
from foreign exile on December 30, 1976 After a pretty long period of exile, we are
returning to our country. On this occasion, I would like to say a few words to the
countrymen. Today, our country is in a national crisis.
All have realized that this crisis is getting heightened since the last few years. As a
result, the very national identity has been endangered. Others have also admitted this.
All including the King have, from time to time, referred to the danger posed to national
identity. We are returning home after realizing this grave reality. We think that the lack
of national unity is a major factor for such a national crisis as a result of which
foreign elements have started to become successful in playing their dirty games and making
Nepal a center of international conspiracy. National unity can be achieved only through a
collective campaign and efforts of all Nepali people. Such a collective campaign does also
lay the grounds for the institutional base for the emotional duty of the Nepali people. If
the sloganeering alone could do this, the national unity would not have suffered so much
nor our country would have landed in such a miserable condition in the last sixteen years.
Today, there is selfishness, communalism, individualistic practices and the tendency to
have external-tilt is rampant in the country. In such circumstances, nationalism becomes
the first casualty. Till yesterday, our struggle was confined
to the attainment of the people’s democratic rights. That is why we emphasized more
on the democratic side. Today, there is a new dimension added to it. A dual responsibility
has befallen the Nepali Congress. This second responsibility is, safeguarding the national
identity. We have visualized two-fold faces of today’s Nepal: Nationalism and
Democracy. It means the Nepali people should take the
responsibility of restoring democracy as well as safeguarding the nation. If we talk of
only one responsibility we will be following the wrong track by being one-sided. And, if
we emphasized only on the restoration of democracy, we will not be contributing to
addressing this national crisis. Moreover, we may even fall into the trap of the
foreigners by such one-sided action. Similarly, if we talk of nationalism only, we will be
repeating the same 16-years-old hollow slogans of nationalism, and will be siding with the
authoritarianism. Such a hollow slogan of nationalism cannot generate an internal
willpower in the countrymen to safeguard the nation. Therefore, we need now to understand
that the national unity can be built on the foundation of democracy only. And the
foundation of the democracy can be cemented by the economic development and the just
economic system. Therefore, we fell that nationalism, democracy and economic development
are interdependent on each other. It is well known that the Nepali Congress
has taken historical and serious decisions from time to time in the national interest. The
decision to wage the 1951 revolution and its executions are some examples. After finding
that there was conspiracy to put off the elections forever, it took the leadership of
national campaign for the holding of the elections. We received the cooperation from
various parties in this campaign. Nepali Congress launched the resistance movement for
democracy after the cruel and the fatal blow dealt to democracy in 1960. And today, we
have taken this historic decision seeing the crisis the nation is facing. This is in
accordance with the tradition of the Nepali Congress. In the history of every nation there comes
such moment when its people have to risk their lives to safeguard the national identity.
We think, such a moment has come in Nepal today. Our well-wishers had advised us not to
return Nepal seeing the dangers involved in it. We would like to tell them that we have to
take this historical decision because the likely danger to our lives is nothing compared
to the danger to the nation. The workers of Nepali Congress have also shown the example of
unprecedented courage and love towards nation by returning to the motherland following the
party directives. In this hour of national crisis, all of us
should get united by forgetting and ending the past unhealthy debates, experiences and
differences. Our program should be directed by the feeling that we will no more exist in
the absence of our nation. I do not know what fate awaits me after I return to the
country. Through this statement, as the Chairman of Nepali Congress, I would like to
appeal to the entire countrymen that let us all unanimously unite in the pious task of
defending the nation, its progress, happiness and prosperity of the people. If I get an
opportunity, I will put forth my feelings before His Majesty also. The responsibility to
save the nation is the common responsibility of all. Jai Nepal Bishweswor Prasad Koirala December 30, 1976 |
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