National 2 (Spotlight Weekly)

More Confrontation

Despite the resignation of Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, the political crisis is far from over

By KESHAB POUDEL

Two years after the death of King Birendra and his family members, Nepal's political situation remains unstable and chaotic. When King Birendra adjourned the winter session of the House of Representatives following 57 days of obstructions created by CPN-UML, demanding the resignation of prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala in 2001, weeks before the tragedy at the royal palace, parliamentary democracy entered a turbulent phase that has turned worse at each turn.

In the last two years, the country has seen three prime ministers, with a fourth one in the making. Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala resigned a few months after the enthronement of King Gyanendra, who dismissed the elected prime minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, in September 2002 and appointed Lokendra Bahadur Chand.

Under pressure from five major political parties, Chand submitted his resignation on Friday. King Gyanendra invited the leaders of the mainstream political parties to find settlement, providing them 72 hours to nominate a consensus candidate for the prime minister. CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal's name was proposed by the five agitating parties as their consensus candidate.

When leaders of seven political parties joined the all-party meeting at the Royal Palace with King Gyanendra and Crown Prince Paras on Friday evening, following the resignation of Chand, Nepal's leaders publicly demonstrated that, despite the rancor pervading the national scene, they can sit together to search for an amicable solution.

In reality, though, it seems nobody is concerned about resolving the crisis. By giving the mainstream parties 72 hours to nominate a consensus candidates, King Gyanendra just passed his ball their court, raising questions about whether the political tensions and clashes would ebb soon. The five agitating political parties have somehow modified the slogans against King Gyanendra, but their confrontational mood appears intact.

Whoever may be the prime minister under Article 127, he will lack legislative power and face similar kinds of trouble Chand did. Unless the House of Representatives is constituted either through early elections or reinstatement, the King would continue to be involved in political controversy and every prime minister would have to wage battles on the constitutional and political fronts.

Despite their sitting together, there is still no sign of real reconciliation between the King and political parties. Amid widening political differences and deepening suspicions, more political clashes will be inevitable.

King Gyanendra, who has repeatedly expressed his commitment to multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy, seems to be in no mood to bring the House of Representatives into the picture. Instead he asked leaders of seven major political parties to propose a common name to replace Chand. "I don't understand what type of multiparty democracy the country is practicing when they have to decide on one candidate from among many aspirants."

"Since the House of Representatives was dissolved on condition that fresh elections would be held within six months, the country cannot remain indefinitely without the house. Once elections cannot be held within six months, the house is automatically revived," said Laxman Prasad Aryal, a former senior judge of Supreme Court and a member of the panel that drafted the current constitution.

A strong group of lawyers has explained the possibility of reviving the House in case of postponement of the elections for indefinite period of time. Another small group, however, does not see that possibility.

In the absence of parliament to elect a new prime minister, any nomination by the King will definitely generate another round of controversy. If four parties are given the opportunity, the remaining three will form another alliance to launch an agitation against the government.

The five political parties launching a violent agitation has already announced another round of protests. "It seems that political leaders who have a long experience of political struggle are choosing a confrontational course, inviting a more chaotic situation and paving the way for another rigid force to emerge in Nepalese politics," said a political analyst.

The present actions of King are creating more trouble for monarchy and those of the political leaders are equally destructive. The next logical question is, what is prompting them to do so?

"If all internal forces are losing the battle and playing suicidal game, there must be some invisible force which is benefiting from the misunderstanding and chaos of Nepalese politics," said a political analyst.

Had Nepalese politicians realized that they are taking the wrong path, the situation would have been different. Greater the political confrontation, greater the benefits those invisible forces stand to achieve.

In the last one and half years, no political party have ever played any rational games to create a conducive environment to nurture the political process. After appointment of Deuba as prime minister, Koirala stepped up a vehement campaign. In the last nine months, Koirala pulled out his own government and expelled more than half of his one-time loyalists, paving the way for CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal to be come the major contender for prime minister.

"The problem of Nepalese politics is not constitutional. If political forces want, the constitution gives enormous space to settle the matters. Since this is a political problem, there is no meaning to debate on constitution," said a political analyst. When the King dismissed Deuba exercising Article 127 and constituted the new government under it, no one challenged it, despite the fact that the step was against the constitution.

This time when King is in position to everything, including suggesting the date for general elections or revival of the House of Representatives under the recommendation of him, some monarchist lawyers are insisting that King has to consult with the Supreme Court.

Every one knows the reason behind political crisis but nobody wants to reveal it. In a course, they are creating more room for trouble makers in the internal politics. As long as political forces show willingness to follow a system and process, there will be no solution. Whoever may be prime minister, the situation is more than likely to be repeated within a month. n