National 1 (Spotlight Weekly)

Prisoners of Compulsion

Despite showing signs for compromise, Nepal’s political forces are yet to come up with a solution

By KESHAB POUDEL

Street agitation : Dangerous sign

King Gyanendra begun his consultations with political leaders following a month long street protest and vandalism by five political parties. Supreme leader of five agitating political parties Girija Prasad Koirala expressed his willingness for negotiations. Strangely, one is yet to see real signs of ending political stalemate.

Encouraged by daily headlines of destructions and demonstrations by Nepalese media houses – including both having Indian investment and Nepalese investments – the realization of political strength is yet to materialize.

On the part of King Gyanendra, he has already consulted with half a dozen politicians including former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and speaker of House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat, who do not have much influence over present political turmoil.

Likewise, supreme leader of five party agitation and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, too, has expressed his willingness for negotiation with the King terming pro-republican slogans being raised in the streets as mere ‘academic exercise.’ In his interview to BBC- Nepali service, former prime minister and Congress leader Koirala said the negotiations should be aimed to bring the constitutional process back to the track. “I have never declined to hold dialogue with the King but such meeting must be aimed at ending the political stalemate,” said Koirala.

As long as negotiations do not start between real political forces, one might not feel relief from present political stalemate. If there is realization for negotiations, why are not they coming forward to find out a political solution?

Sincere efforts by the monarch and political parties are foiled by certain invisible elements as soon as they show signs of compromise and negotiations. Monarch begins his consultations with political leaders who have no role in the agitation; and leaders of agitating parties, despite their strong commitment to institution of monarchy, are yet to control their cadres who are chanting anti-monarchy slogans in the streets of capital.

This shows that monarch and political forces seem to have no control over their own house. “I don’t think republic will come through chanting anti-monarchy slogans in the streets. All five agitating political parties including radical People’s Front are committed to the constitutional monarchy,” said Koirala to BBC-Nepali service. “Once the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal is activated, all these street agitations and slogans will die out.”

After meeting with King Gyanendra, former minister and president of Nepal Samta Party Narayan Singh Pun said that he found the King was seriously concerned about the present political situation. “King Gyanendra wants to see the solution of present political stalemate,” said former minister Pun.

Just like former prime minister Koirala who cannot stop his workers chanting anti-monarchy slogans; sober and gentle minister like Kamal Thapa, despite his sincerity and respect for political leaders, too, seems to be helpless to prevent outright derogatory write-ups being published in government paper directed against the agitating leaders.

The recent political development shows that there is a realization among the political forces to overcome the political crisis paving the way for the activation of constitution. The real question is: are they really interested to share political power?

Whether on the sides of political leader Girija Prasad Koirala, who has had experiences of more than five decade long political involvement including heading elected government more than four times; or King Gyanendra, who does not have long personal experiences of dealing with political crisis of this nature - there are domination of people who are interested more on intensifying confrontation rather than ending it.