National 3 (Spotlight Weekly)

“The Country Still Has Some Existing Legal And Democratic Alternatives”

— GIRIJA PRASAD KOIRALA

Once again, the country has been pushed into a serious crisis of political regression. Against it, all democratic forces are actively engaged at this juncture. All the state institutions are mobilized against those political figures who have been leading the struggle. The actions of the Judicial Property Probe Commission and Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) are becoming the tools for political vendetta. The actions of the CIAA have clearly shown how such institutions created to protect the interest of the citizens could be used as a political tools of any authoritarian regime.

The Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority has asked me to appear before its office "to clarify certain matters" regarding the sources of my property based on the report of Property Probe Commission, but the said notice did not cite the authority upon which it was based. There cannot be any other reason except the political one behind the hurried actions of the Commission without waiting for the publication of the report of Judicial Property Probe Commission.

I will follow the legal course in appropriate time regarding the actions and decisions of Judicial Probe Commission and lawfulness of its modus operandi and Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority's revengeful actions with the blessings of the government. I dare the Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority, through this statement, to initiate any actions strictly following the existing constitution, law and judicial norms and discipline. If the commission abides by it, I am ready to cooperate with it remaining within the discipline of law. I would further challenge them to file case in a competent court of law acting under the provision of the constitution, law and judicial process. I am eager to prove that its actions are motivated by political vendetta.

My life long struggle for democracy has taught me lessons on what to follow and what to defy depending upon the nature of authority. I will be actively following such paths. I have a long experience of leading struggles against the authoritarian Rana regime and I have also experience of working as a long serving elected prime minister under the democratic constitution of 1990, following and respecting the constitution and laws. The present struggle is against the authoritarian regime taking shape in the country. And the CIAA, which is an organ of that regime, is being used not only against me but against democracy and basic principles of rule of law. Being one of the oldest fighter of democracy in this country, I am ready to face and fight against any kind of hardships, harassment, torture, and pain rather than extend any support and/or surrender to the actions taken by the Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority. I consider and would like to remind all that the current political struggle is directed against the authoritarian political regime. I believe that the country still has some existing legal and democratic alternatives. I will actively seek remedy from within the legal system, and I declare that I have entered into a new phase of democratic struggle.

I have no doubt in my mind about the need for transparency and probity in the life of the people working in the public life. During my tenures as a† public figure. I regularly declared my property statements. As a person committed to the service of the people and the country, my life is like an open book. My appointment to the post of prime minister expressed through the periodical elections should not be considered as a political arrogance on my part. Being a person tasted through the popular opinion, I need not entertain any inferiority complex at this last leg of my political life and see no need to prove my honesty and integrity in front of those who are working for the conspirators.

Absolute power is always authoritarian and oppressive in nature. When devoid of the legal remedy, everyone has inalienable right to disobey, revolt and to even carry out revolution. If the democratic system based upon the popular opinion offers peaceful alternative, I am fully committed to work and serve as a disciplined citizen which is my life's ideal and vow to adhere to it till the last breath of my life. Therefore, I appeal to all citizens that this is time for us all to wake up and be alert against the abuse of state authority when we are struggling to restore the democratic rights and interests of the Nepalese people.

(Translated version of the excerpts of the statement by Girija Prasad Koirala, president of Nepali Congress and former prime minister)