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COVER STORY |
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COVER STORY |
When Will Political events of
last few weeks have demonstrated that there is an unprecedented support behind the
reactivation of the Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990. Although the ways chosen for
reactivation of constitution are little different, the commitments expressed by monarchy,
democratic political forces and general people, are a major achievement. Just a minimum
level of political flexibility from monarch and political forces could bring the country
back into normalcy – and the constitution would also bounce back with renewed
strength based on constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. Once good sense
prevails between monarchy and democratic forces, any sort of solution, whether holding
general elections, forming all party government or reviving of parliament, will be
acceptable By KESHAB POUDEL "Size is the poorest test of man's or
a country's greatness. We know also that many of small countries have had brilliant period
of history," writes the first Indian prime minister and statesman Pundit
Jawaharlal Nehru in his book Glimpses of World History.
Like it was said by Nehru, the
history of Nepal is also full of greatness of political leaders who always avoided
bloodbath and confrontation for the sake of national unity. Despite being in a country of
small size with diverse ethnic groups, monarchy and democrats - Nepal's two pillars of
national unity - have hardly allowed the situation to reach to the point of no return.
Whenever there appeared confrontation; compromise, consensus and harmony have prevailed in
the end. Be it during the revolution of 1950 or
political turmoil and referendum of 1979 or political change of 1990, solution was found
through compromise between patriotic and democratic forces. This time, too, monarchy and political
forces have expressed the tone of compromise and negotiations. Like their earlier leaders,
Nepalese people and leaders have shown exceptional quality of compromise. Consensus on Constitution Although they stand in different paths, the
real force is behind the constitution. King and political parties - popular forces capable
to mobilize the masses - are behind the constitution. By mobilizing people in rural and
urban areas, they have shown that a large number of people are with this constitution. What an irony when some elites are trying
to project the existing constitution as meaningless, the real political forces have
shown that they are totally committed to the document. Interestingly, not a handful of
elite, but the combined power of King and political parties is still the decisive
political force in the country. Be an extreme communist party or moderate
ones, all of them are backing the demand of liberal democratic party Nepali Congress to
activate the constitution.
It has again been proved that
constitution is still a popular document and it has capacity to accommodate traditional
forces monarchy and modern democrats as well as radical forces of the country. Good sign
is that the solution could be found in the constitution. Fortunately, all the parties - whether they
are extremist or forces representing constitutional monarchy – are firmly committed
to the constitution including constitutional monarchy. Then what about the slogan of
republican at the street? That is just a political propaganda. Along with other leaders, supreme commander
of agitation Girija Prasad Koirala stands firmly with the demand for activating
constitution. In his own words replacing this constitution by another will be like opening
a Pandora’s box. If constitutional forces unite together,
the debate on constituent assembly or republic will just die down. The demand of radical
communists - who are taking part in the agitation demanding to bring the constitution back
to the right track - is also commendable. Instigating Voices At a time when there seems to be
unprecedented support for compromise and reconciliation, retired university professors and
senior UN civil servants of Nepali origin Kul Chandra Gautam, who came Nepal as an envoy
of UN secretary general Kofi Annan, are instigating political leaders and monarchy. Nobody knows on whose inspiration or whose
interest these intellectuals are inciting, knowingly or unknowingly, for confrontation
when the agitating Nepalese political leaders are desperately looking for compromise. Despite the will of political leaders,
there are no dearth of people who play the game of political anarchy encouraging hostile
moods in Nepal as well as foreign country. One of the important aspects of Nepal's
five decade long democratic history is that whenever there has been a crisis of confidence
between monarchy and democrats, many individuals in different faces work to fish in
troubled waters. Consensus and Compromise Like agitating political parties, monarch
and people, in general, have shown their commitment to the constitution. So there is much
common ground to bring them to a meeting point. When parties are exhibiting flexibility,
monarch, too, has to extend the hand of compromise. Once they compromise, the prevailing
uncertainty will come to an end. "Our agitation is not against the
constitutional monarchy. Once the constitution is activated, we will withdraw our
agitation," said Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala, who is leading the agitation. In the history of Nepalese politics, this
is for the first time when such a large number of people have joined the agitation with
demands for activation of the constitution. From Nepali Congress, a liberal democratic
party to People’s Front, an extreme communist party, lawyers, journalists, disabled
and government employees have joined the agitation launched with an aim to activate the
constitution. "I don't know any country in the world
where people came to the street in support to activate the constitution like this. This is
a good sign for constitutionalism. Previously, the agitation used to be launched with
demands to abrogate constitution," said an analyst. Changing Coverage From media coverage to debate, the focus is
now on reactivation of constitution. Previously, there used to be wide media coverage on
insurgency and terrorism but now major headlines are related to reactivation of
constitution. This popular upsurge of the mass is involving all major parties in support
of the constitution. The popular upsurge also showed that the
country's majority of people are with the constitutional forces and nobody favors the
violence. Despite being provocative at times, all the
media headlines are related to the upsurge with a demand to activate the constitution of
Kingdom of Nepal. Political leaders should be aware that it
should lure the common people and the agitation should not be anarchic and disruptive to
the life of urban people. Only peaceful agitation can change the fate of people. "Whatever the cost we have to pay, we
must stand for the peaceful agitation. Peaceful disobedience is our strength,"
declared former prime minister and commander of agitation Girija Prasad Koirala. Just like they preach, Koirala and other
agitating leaders should not go for disruptions. King should have realized that the
expression given in the agitation is also in favor of institution of monarchy. Whatever
the slogans raised, the agitators’ simple demand is activation of constitution. Role of Political parties
Political parties are integral part
of present constitution as they mobilize and organize the people. Although it is popular,
monarchy does not have mechanism to mobilize the people. During the Panchayat days, then
King used to mobilize his political forces through the nationwide elected representatives
or legitimate institutions. Following the restoration of democracy in
1990, King does not have any such advantage. His presence is merely symbolic and he cannot
lure the people through legitimate political institutions like in Panchayat days. In the last three years, certain
actions of monarch and democrats, knowingly and unknowingly, contributed to ripen the
crisis of confidence. Once confidence and trust is restored, every political step-
whether restoring parliament, holding elections or forming one party government or all
party government - can be taken. King Gyanendra has enormous sympathy and
support throughout the country but he does not have institutions to mobilize the people
like political parties. As a unifying force of Nepal, King should get rid of prejudices
against any particular politician or party. Whether one likes it or not, political
parties have shown that people are behind them when they raise genuine issues like
activation of constitution. Present set of political leaders might have
committed mistakes but there are ways to correct them and purify the political process. Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala,
CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and RPP leader
Pashupati Sumsher Rana have the organization to mobilize people. Though they are radical
and small, Lilamani Pokharel, Narayanman Bijukcche and Hridayesh Tripathy, too, have their
institutions. "This is an unprecedented agitation in
any country of the world where people have shown such a big faith upon the constitution.
Had political leaders avoided violence, this agitation would have been the first of its
kind organized with a demand to activate the existing constitution," said a political
analyst. Massive support of people to the
constitution expressed in agitation proved that university professors and intellectuals -
who are trying to discredit present constitution terming it as being non-functional - are
no more than a bunch of unrealistic people. Commitment to Constitution Monarchy and democrat - Nepal's two pillars
of stability - have often shown that they do have courage to overcome political crisis
through compromise and recognition of each others’ survival. Although some leaders and workers of
agitating five political parties have been harping derogatory slogans aimed at widening
the rift with monarch and some staunch monarchists have made efforts to provoke the
democrats, a large number of silent spectators are expecting to see the agitation end in
compromise. Likewise, by declaring his commitment to
democracy, the monarch has also expressed that he will abide by the constitution. Unlike
any other tyrannical leaders, democrats are genuine allies of monarch.
"If we ignore the interview of
Time Magazine and Nepalgunj address, King Gyanendra's address in Pokhara show that he is
committed to hand over power to the elected representatives," said Speaker Taranath
Ranabhat. "Since the ball is in the court of King, he has to take initiatives to find
a solution." The experiences show that monarchy is a
liberal ally of democrats. Unfortunately, some of Nepal's liberal democrats and their
so-called intellectual supporters see monarchy as a threat to democracy. If democrats really want a political
solution, they must include monarchy on their broader frame and firmly issue notice to
their workers not to use derogatory remarks against monarch. Compromise and Consent Because of common political interests,
patriotic and democratic forces have many similarities and few differences. Despite their
political differences, agitating parties back the monarchy. Political history of Nepal is
full of compromise between patriotic and modern democrats as these two elements are two
wheels of Nepal's national unity. Despite the street battle, misunderstanding
and points of confrontation, Nepal's political forces know what is their real strength and
weakness. Democrats, though they are loosing their temperament, know the importance of
institution of monarchy and its support to sail the democratic process through turbulence. "We want to see immediate
constitutional and political step from King to activate the constitution so that the
clashes could be averted," said former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, in his
statement. "Sooner the step is taken, better for the country." Following the October 2002 action by the
King, Nepal's political process was derailed. Since the Constitution of Kingdom of
Nepal is still there, the process can be revived once a minimum level of understanding is
reached among the political forces. Time of Consolidation Democrats - who have been calling for the
resolution of the political crisis through compromise - must give up confrontation with
monarchy to end constitutional deadlock. One of the foremost tasks is to pave the way for
compromise and consolidation between them. For the broader interest of the country, there
must be close cooperation among patriotic and democratic forces. If democrats want to bring the
constitutional process right to the track, they must follow the right path themselves. As
political deadlock continues, political instability seems to be prolonging. The question
remains: who will benefit from the growing conflict and misunderstanding. Crisis of confidence among country's major
political forces - monarchy and democrats – has become a major factor hindering the
process of compromise. At a time when the country is facing a serious crisis, the
urgent need of a country is to find a solution between monarchy and democrats on the basis
of national unity. "We cannot save any nation that is not
determined to save itself and willing to make substantial sacrifice,” writes Chester
Bowles, former American ambassador to India in his book The New Dimension of Peace,
published in 1956. GP KOIRALA Koirala has hardly
received this level of support when he opted for the constructive approach By KESHAB POUDEL
Only a few politicians have a history
like that of octogenarian Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala. He was denounced widely
and was stopped from making constructive decisions while he was in power. The same man is
receiving an unprecedented level of support when he agreed to tread a destructive course. Had he received this sort of backing from
his opponents during his tenure as a prime minister, a committed and strong-minded person
like Koirala could have done a lot of positive things for the country. One of the unfortunate aspects of his
political life has been that when Koirala took reconciliatory stand and went for
constructive work, he was denounced by all and sundry. Interestingly, when he agreed to
play a confrontational political role, he was hugged by even the fiercest of his critics.
Yesterday’s political opponents belonging to every shade of ideologies including
extremists, now call him as their supreme leader and commander of their agitation. Koirala is the last leader in Nepali
Congress who is capable to take any political decision. Unlike other Congress leaders,
Koirala does not try to show off his lifestyle. From a small and modest 10 ft by 14 ft
room at the residence of his nephew Dr. Shashanka Koirala, he conducts all his functions
meeting political workers, leaders, foreign dignitaries, messengers and ministers. However, when Koirala led the government,
all the leaders including CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, United People's
Front leader Lilamani Pokharel, current prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa and Narayan
Bijukcche joined hands to stop him from even entering into the House of Representatives. It is an irony that presently all his
diehard opponents who denounced him as the most corrupt political leader are accepting him
as the undisputed leader to lead the five party agitation. Among the present lot of political leaders,
octogenarian leader Koirala is the only one who can mobilize all his party workers at a
single command. Koirala is also considered to be a reliable political negotiator who has
been grossly misunderstood in Nepalese politics. Unlike other political leaders, Koirala,
who is a man of political conscience, does not lie to maximize political gain. When he
received injury on his head, newspapers blamed police for mishandling. Koirala, however,
countered the news saying that police should not be blamed for it. "Our agitation is not against
constitutional monarchy. I just want to see reactivation of Constitution of Kingdom of
Nepal. Once the constitution is reactivated, there is no question to continue the
agitation," said Koirala. "The King must respond to us positively." Junior Koirala is also facing similar
situation like his elder brother B.P. Koirala -who was condemned by all his opponents at a
time when he was trying to build nation. All the opposition from extreme right to
communists backed him, when B.P. raised arms against Panchayat. There is no dearth of people who do not
want to see Koirala but his role is inevitable in current politics. “Unfortunate
thing is that we are unable to use Koirala to serve the broader national interest,”
said an analyst. |
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