Forum (Spotlight Weekly)

The One And Only Demand Of Common People Is Peace

Rajeshwore Devkota

Rajeshwore Devkota is the chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Nationalist). A senior politician who has been active in Nepalese political arena since Panchayat days, Devkota spoke to SPOTLIGHT on various issues relating to the current political atmosphere in the country. Excerpts:

How do you assess the present political situation?

After the cease-fire between the government and the Maoists, the people at large have felt a big relief. They hope this peace will prevail in the days to come.

After the restoration of democracy people had high expectations from the political arties. But in the subsequent years, people not only lost faith on these parties but there was widespread skepticism as well. How will it affect the country's politics?

In fact, it was the high expectations of the people, which helped usher in the change in 1990. Naturally, these expectations grew after the restoration of democracy. But there has no way these expectations could have been met quickly given the country's situation. However, the political leaders never felt it necessary to convey the message to the people that some of their expectations were not attainable. Instead of telling people the truth and trying to instill morality in society, the leaders indulged in immoral practices. So, when the leaders could neither give hope for future nor provide livelihood at present, the people were bound to feel despair. As a result, all kinds of anomalies and irregularities surfaced in society.

Even now people have high expectations regarding the government-Maoist talks. How do you see it?

I think we have the compulsion to view the present situation optimistically. There is no room left to think about alternatives. The cease-fire cannot and should not be broken down. It is unconditional. We do not want to think about alternatives at this juncture.

Do you think this cease-fire will pave way for progress?

I don't know whether it will achieve progress but one thing is clear ñ peace must prevail. Peace is the only alternative. If peace is guaranteed, other things will follow gradually. Today, the one and only demand of common people is peace. They are not demanding the government to provide them with livelihood, they are simply asking to be left in peace. Just imagine how the expectations of common people have nose-dived to this position.

In the past you were also critical of the present constitution. The issue of constitution is at the core of the present problem. Do you think the political stalemate can be resolved by it now?

When you want to jump, at least you have to step on something before taking any leap. If somebody wants to change the constitution, they will have to do it by stepping on the present one. If anybody wants to create it through a void, then we will end up in an anarchic situation. Many people have many views on how to achieve that but I have been saying that there should be rewriting of the constitution.

Due to bad governance in the last twelve years the country has come to this pass. Does it mean the multi party system has failed?

One cannot generalize it and lay the blame on a system that is working well in many parts of the world. But we can draw the conclusion that the parties who said that they were committed to the ideals of multi-party system when ushering it were not honest and had some other agenda. Because they tried to impose other agenda, the country suffered.

Deuba created political vacuum by dissolving the elected parliament. Subsequently, King dismissed his government and formed the present one. Many parties have said this is tantamount to active monarchy. What exactly is active monarchy?

Deuba made the first mistake by dissolving the parliament on his own. Later he, along with suggestions from other parties, approached the King to defer election as per the Article 127 of the constitution. So, it was not the King but the political parties themselves who showed the Article 127 to the King. And he acted. In fact, for six days after the King sacked Deuba, no political parties except that of Deuba, opposed the King. It is, in no way, tantamount to active monarchy.

But what is active monarchy then?

Active monarchy means if the King tears down the constitution and acts on his own. But, at present, our constitution is intact. In fact, the King has preserved the present onstitution and has committed to hold elections.

Do you think it is necessary to have the participation of political forces, which are influenced by external forces, in the impending roundtable conference?

Well, constitutionally and legally speaking one cannot say who is behind which political force. But we have been experiencing it in practice. Anyway, having noticed the views of foreign papers and their expressions, one can see that while all others have welcomed the cease-fire unconditionally, some have tagged condition to it. This is not acceptable. There is no necessity for anybody to preach to us that we have to preserve the multi-party system. We are already practicing the system, so where comes any necessity of such conditions.

How do you think should be the roundtable conference be held?

First of all, the Maoists must promise that they will not breach the cease-fire. Once that is guaranteed, all options should be kept open. There should not be any restriction on discussion of any issue under the sun.

How do you view the skepticism with which some quarters are viewing the current peace initiatives?

We must give attention to only nationalism. By airing skepticisms and terming it as conspiracy will only spoil the environment of peace. I urge all to be aware of elements trying to foil the peace initiatives. Just recently I went on a tour to different parts of the country for this purpose.

The bigger parties demand that all party government of parliamentary parties should be formed. At a time when there is no elected parliament, don't you think their demands are misplaced?

I am at a loss to see the behavior of bigger parties. If peace prevails and election takes place, they will get their opportunity to come to power once again. Election is in the interest of bigger parties. I have been asking them to be progressive and work towards realizing the election. But they tend to be regressive and want to create government from the dissolved parliament. And amusingly they are the ones who accuse others of being regressive.