National 4 (Spotlight Weekly)

“This Country Cannot Bear The Conflict And Confrontation For Long”

— Madhav Kumar Nepal

The general secretary of the CPN-UML MADHAV KUMAR NEPAL is one of the influential leaders of the five-party coalition. Since he was the common candidate of the five parties for the post of prime minister, Nepal is in the center-stage of Nepalese politics. Nepal spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on various political issues on Thursday last week at his residence. Excerpts:

What is the real purpose of the agitation that the five party coalitions is carrying out at this critical juncture?

One of the main purposes of our agitation is to bring derailed constitutional process to the right track. Our demand is clear as we want to see the return of power to the people. The power must be exercised by the people through the political parties of their choice. In this sense, the aim of our agitation is to strengthen the people. We want to establish the principle that people are the ultimate source of power and that the people should be given the right to choose their own government. Since the October 4 steps by King Gyanendra when an elected government was dismissed, the constitution has been derailed. We are pressing to bring the constitution to the right track. Our other aim is to develop understanding among political forces in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990. It requires trust and unity among us on the basis of the constitution.

All the political parties are said to have initially supported the dismissal of the Deuba government. It was only after their hopes of forming the government was dashed that they started agitation accusing the King. Don't you agree that the agitation was the outcome of your frustration?

This is absolutely wrong. We had never demanded for the dismissal of Deuba government. Immediately after the dismissal, our party issued a statement terming King Gyanendra's action to dismiss Deuba government as unconstitutional. The meeting of our party, in clear-cut words, criticized the Royal move as unconstitutional. We were the first to do it. Some vested interests are trying to discredit our party by saying that we did not denounce the Royal move. Our policy is clear: the dismissal of Deuba government and formation of Chand government both were unconstitutional. Even the appointment of present Thapa government is unconstitutional. You don't have to go far to get proof this: just read for the newspapers and our party documents of that time. We cannot support any action to dismiss the elected prime minister.

When the country is embroiled in a kind of civil war, how do you justify your agitation?

We are not launching agitation to gain something for us. We launched the agitation when we did not see any efforts on the part of the King to put the constitution on right track by correcting his unconstitutional steps. If the King agrees to allow the political parties to function as per the wish of people, there will be no need to agitate. How can you expect support from us when the other side is trying to alienate us from the national scene, and when ministers are being encouraged to denounce us?

Don't you think it is the duty of every patriotic Nepali to join hands to end the civil war? Why are you not cooperating with the King when the country is in critical situation?

In a situation when the efforts are being made to condemn and discredit the political parties and their leaders, how can you expect cooperation from us? If there is real sincerity for compromise on the part of the King, the role of political parties must be recognized. We want respect not humiliation. I don't see any possibility of reconciliation and compromise as long as the other side does not accept the existence of political parties. Lip service and sweet words are not adequate for compromise. What is required is genuine commitment to translate them into practice. If there are certain differences, it must be settled through negotiations. We have already said that the on-going conflict will harm the interest of the country. We have been urging not to go for confrontation and conflict. This country cannot bear the conflict and confrontation for long.

What do you suggest to end the stalemate, then?

It requires compromise, consensus, understanding and trust. The question is: what is the basis for realizing that? The chair of the prime minister is not our target but we want to stand on our principle. There must be commitment in words as well as deeds to work within the framework of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990. The present struggle is aimed at bringing the constitution to right track. The present dispute is on the issue of returning the sovereignty to the people. If sovereignty is returned to the people, all differences will melt away. We are not demanding anything for us. If the country can move ahead without our role, we are ready to accept that. We are merely opposing the violation of the constitution.

Don't you see any possibility of compromise?

We cannot compromise with anybody as long as the present situation continues. We have forwarded two solutions for the present situation. It can be settled through either autocratic or democratic way. If someone thinks of following the autocratic way, why should they require support of political parties? If they want democratic solution, then parties should be allowed to perform their role in accordance with the constitution. In democratic solution, there will be respect for the constitutional monarchy and acceptance of the role of political parties. People should be given the right of self-rule. If parties take any wrong decision, people will punish them.

Don't you believe that the misrule and unprecedented corruption by the Nepali Congress government gave birth to the Maoist insurgency?

I don't think it is the sole cause of insurgency. The extreme leftists do not need any cause to start violence. You cannot blame the whole political process just because there are a few bad individuals. We have seen the faces and behaviors of the King's appointees in the last one year. Were all of their actions clean? In democracy, people can punish those bad guys but who will punish the nominated ministers who are accused for the involvement in the scams and scandals? In every system, a handful of people are corrupt. Show me a society where you do not have any criminal? That is why they need laws to punish criminals and corrupt politicians. Thanks to our efforts, the parliament has passed a stern law to punish the corrupt. You cannot discredit a system on the basis of misdoings by certain individuals. We have to identify the rights and wrongs. We want to sort out the problem. So we have been stressing the need to compromise and reach agreement between the King and the political parties on the basis of cooperation and understanding. The basis should be the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990.

News reports have come regarding the efforts of Kathmandu-based foreign diplomats to settle differences between the King and political parties. How do you look at it?

It is up to the Nepalese people to settle their problems by themselves. No foreign envoys have pressed us to stop the agitation or start the negotiations. All the news reports in the papers are completely false. At least nobody has come to me to say such things. I have seen worries and concerns among our foreign friends regarding the deteriorating situation here. They all want to see consensus and compromise among the political forces to end the conflict. Our foreign friends seem to be interested to bring normalcy in the country by bringing the Maoists into the mainstream. They are also stressing for clean and transparent government. What Nepal's foreign friends want to see is prosperity and happiness for Nepalese people. This wish is also shared by Nepalese people. No foreigner has dictated us about what we need to do.

Then what about the newspaper reports?

They are based on mere imaginations and speculations. There is no truth in the report as I have already told you that no envoy has ever asked us to do things as was reported in the newspapers. How can I unnecessarily drag the foreign friends into controversy when they have said nothing against us? We have to understand their good intentions. Like all Nepalese our foreign friends, too, want prosperous, democratic and developed Nepal. I don't translate such good intentions as interference. If we exploit their good intentions towards Nepal, the people and country will benefit.

Two years ago, you had stalled the proceedings of the House of Representatives for 57 consecutive days demanding the resignation of G.P. Koirala by leveling charges of corruption and now you are shaking hands with him. Is it not strange to see you associating with the same person whom you used to blame for being responsible in generating this situation in the country?

We have not joined hands with Koirala by demanding to continue the corruption and misrule. We are united against the intention to sideline political parties. This is a unity among the political forces who have been sidelined by the King. This is a unity among forces ignored and neglected. Our unity is against a step to overthrow the democratic government and democracy. We are launching agitation against the elite and guided democracy. We want to see the restoration of democracy. The present unity is for the cause of democracy and people.

Have you ever made efforts for compromise with the palace?

We have already expressed our opinion that the present way of ruling the country is fundamentally wrong and it is against the principle of democracy. The experiences of last one year have shown that the country cannot move without the participation of political parties. Parties should be given the right to choose the prime minister and ministers. In the twenty first century, it is not in the interest of monarchy to get involved in controversy. We want to see a respected and dignified monarchy that stands above controversy. If the King involves in the day-to-day politics, he will find himself in controversy. If the King exercises the authority, he must be prepared to take responsibility for both success or failure. When the King is choosing the prime minister and other ministers, he should be responsible for the performance of the government. If people are allowed to play their role, the elected leaders and political parties will be responsible for good and/or bad performance. If you blame Girija Prasad Koirala for the misrule during his tenure, how can you let the monarch free in the situation when his appointees are committing similar mistakes. Only in a democracy, the King will be respected and people will be treated as masters of their fate. Democracy does not have any alternative.

The solution of the present political imbroglio is to call early general elections. Don't you think you should work for that?

The situation is not favorable to hold the elections. In the last one year, the situation further worsened. When the government could not hold the elections a year ago, I don't think it can do so now. There is a need to create proper atmosphere for holding elections by bringing the Maoists to the mainstream. We can press the Maoists just on the ground of public opinion. Political parties can mobilize the public opinion. Political parties still have a large number of active, strong and dedicated workers.

Would you agree to head the caretaker government to hold elections appointed by the King under article 127?

The King alone cannot exercise the Article 127. According to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990, King can exercise the article 127 only as per the recommendation of the elected prime minister. If there is no elected prime minister, the King has to exercise it in accordance with the recommendations and suggestions by the major political parties. We have been saying that we don't want autocratic and active King but people from some other quarters and so-called royalists are encouraging the King to violate the constitution. Since, these so-called royalists have nothing to lose in case the King loses popularity, it is up to the monarchy to decide the correct course of action. Some vested interests want to reap personal gain by pushing the King into controversy. Being a constitutional monarch, the King cannot work alone.

When the House of Representatives is already dissolved, how can the UML claim that it is the largest parliamentary party?

We still have members in the upper house and we represent the majority public opinion. We can claim as being the largest party till a new parliament is formed. To deny political parties their status is to attempt to minimize and discredit the political parties. I have already told you that if the King wants to rule in an autocratic manner, why does he need our support? The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 clearly envisages that there must be elections for the House of Representatives within six months - if elections cannot be held, we can recommend for the revival of the House of Representatives. The House was dissolved by fixing the date for fresh elections. You cannot rule the country without the existence of House of Representatives for a prolonged period. Unfortunately, there is neither any sign of announcement of new date for elections nor any remote possibility of reviving the House of Representatives.

Prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has claimed that his government was endowed with executive power. Do you see any difference between the last prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand and the present prime minister Thapa?

I have not seen any difference between the last two governments as the King appointed both of them. They have neither popular support nor backing. Interestingly, even Rastriya Prajatantra Party is opposing the present Thapa government.

What do you suggest for the solution of present crisis?

The solution is very short and simple. What is required is genuine commitment. In a situation when the elections cannot be held, they should revive the House of Representatives. The House will give legitimacy to the government by bringing the constitution to the right track. This is possible only when the King and the political parties trust and respect each other.

But, the prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa is making efforts to bring all political parties in to his cabinet. Do you see any possibility of Thapa government solving the problems?

This government has no justification. Prime minister Thapa has to resign paving the way for political settlement. I have already told you that this government does not have any legitimacy and credibility. In the last one hundred days, Thapa government could not accommodate any major political party. It has failed to perform its duties including the one about bringing the Maoists into the mainstream. The government has also failed to form an all party government. Longer the Thapa government remains in office, worse problems for the country.