National 1 (Spotlight Weekly)

Alliance In Making

Despite efforts by some forces to create misunderstanding among country’s political forces, they are gradually coming closer

By KESHAB POUDEL

After embroiling in disputes and differences for the last seven months, country’s main political forces seem to have realized that there is a need to reach compromise to bring the political process to the right track. At a time when the country has been passing through a very critical phase, confrontation and differences will only prolong the political instability and anarchy in the country.

Although country’s five agitating parties have decided to continue their agitation, they have also shown certain flexibility in their programs indicating their willingness for compromise and consolidation.

“Our agitation is not directed against anyone. We will stop our agitation as soon as the power of the people is restored and the constitution returns to the right track,” said CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal (see interview). “If the King agrees to work in accordance with the constitution, all problems will be settled.”

The institution of monarchy, which remains a strong and unifying force, can play central role to end the hostility by initiating certain moves. Such political move by the monarch will enhance the image of monarchy among the people and political parties. If the King initiates constitutional steps, the current uncertainties will end.

Along with the monarchy, the country’s mainstream political parties also need to work to avert the confrontation. Nepali Congress, an oldest liberal democratic party, will have to play a mediatory role in bringing the democratic forces and monarchy together. As a centrist party, Nepali Congress can also encourage CPN-UML and RPP to transform them into democratic parties.

Following the seven months long confrontation, country’s three major political parties – the centrist Nepali Congress, leftist CPN-UML and conservative Rastriya Prajatantra Party -- seem to be in a mood to bury their differences and bring the constitutional process back to the right track.

“Since Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala is an oldest political leader, political parties will have difficulty to reject his role as guardian,” said a political analyst. “Instead of opting for confrontation, Koirala can support efforts to bridge gap between the King and political parties,” said a political analyst.

The people who are holding the power need to play more important role. Prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, who was always harsh against his political opponents in his earlier tenures, has maintained certain restraint avoiding direct confrontation with the opposition party leaders. Prime minister Thapa has reiterated that he will continue to make effort to convince major political partie.

Supporting prime minister Thapa’s initiation, senior leader of ruling Rastriya Prajatnatra Party Rabindra Nath Sharma has already held several rounds of informal talks with country’s major political parties. Prime minister Thapa even invited his party colleagues to a luncheon meeting to seek advice from them.

“There is a need for reconciliation. I will continue my efforts to convince other political parties,” said Prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, addressing the meeting of his political leaders.

But, the situation is not as easy as it seems. If internal forces consolidate among them, outside forces cannot fish in troubled water.

Narrowing the gap among the country’s major political forces is not an easy task but there is no alternative before the political forces. “We must unite for the sake of the country and there must be compromise and consolidation among us to protect the present political system,” said Sharma. “Sooner we realize this better for the country.”

NDC Team Visits Nepal

A 21 member team from the National Defence College (NDC), India, arrived in Kathmandu for four day visit on September 22.

“National Defence College of India is an apex institution engaged in the study of the higher direction of policy at the national and international level which senior military and civilian officials may be called upon to handle in the course of their careers. The course is attended by senior officers of the Indian Defence Forces and Civil Services as well as Armed Forces Officers of friendly foreign countries. At present, Brig Gen Prakash Bahadur Basnyat of the Royal Nepalese Army, is also attending this prestigious course,” states a release from Indian Embassy.

As part of their curriculum, the College organizes tours to neighboring and other foreign countries to enable student officers to interact with their counterparts and to acquaint themselves with the socio-political, economic, defense and foreign policy aspects of the countries they visit. “With this objective in view, the members of the NDC team will be exchanging views with senior civil and military officials during their current visit to Nepal,” the statement reads. The visiting team is scheduled to meet with senior officials.

The visiting NDC Team is headed by Maj Gen Ashok Vasudeva, VSM, Senior Directing Staff (Army) of the College. Besides Indian civil and military officers, the visiting team has officers from Algeria, Thailand, Phillippines, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.