Cover Story (Spotlight Weekly)

GP KOIRALA Reconciliation Or Confrontation?

Nepali Congress leader and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala is at the helm of Nepalese political affairs when the country is facing similar nature of crisis as it had faced twenty-eight years ago when his elder brother B.P. Koirala returned from exile (in India) to avert the serious crisis of national identity with the message of national reconciliation. Despite the difficulties and threats he had to encounter, the senior Koirala had pursued national reconciliation with the monarchy – traditional force – to preserve national identity. Coincidently, his brother G.P Koirala, who is the only remaining active Congress leader to have long association with B.P and who knows the ethos of B.P.’s policy – is in a position to lead the country towards reconciliation. As it seems, the junior Koirala is pursuing the path of confrontation at present. If he would return towards the path of national reconciliation remains to be seen

By KESHAB POUDEL

“In this hour of national crisis, all of us should get united by forgetting and ending the past unhealthy debates, experiences and differences. Our program should be directed by the feeling that we will no more exist in the absence of our nation. I don’t know what fate awaits me after I return to the country. Through this statement, as the chairman of Nepali Congress, I would like to appeal to the entire countrymen that let us all unanimously unite in the pious task of defending the nation, its progress, happiness and prosperity of the people.” B.P. Koirala in a statement he gave on return from foreign exile on December 30, 1976.

Twenty- eight years after the statement given by B.P. Koirala while returning from his eight years long exile, the country is again facing a major crisis for its survival when it needs a courageous leader to pursue the national reconciliation to unite all political forces. At a last leg of his political career, 82-year-old G.P. Koirala (younger brother of B.P.), whose fate is not uncertain as his brother B.P. Koirala - is in a position to play similar historical role. There is a design to finish political role of junior Koirala but his daring political nature has saved him several times from the deviation of his stand.

The month of December (or Poush) is historically important in Nepal as it has both the brighter and darker side to it. The brighter side is that Nepali Congress leader B.P Koirala returned from eight years long exile to India with a message of national reconciliation for safeguarding national unity, cooperation, and harmony in this same month. The darker side is that it was in the same month when the elected government led by senior Koirala had been dismissed.

But, unfortunately, most Congress leaders of present attach this month with this second episode wholly forgetting the first one. Thanks to the domination of this kind of thinking, Nepali Congress leaders have decided to shift their central office in their own building not on the month of Poush (as would have seemed appropriate since the last minute finishing is still going on) but on the last week of Mangsir. This mentality expresses the Congress psyche, which is reflected in the distrust and mistrust between the monarchy and democratic forces.

Forces of Distrust

B.P. Koirala : Legacy of reconciliation

On both the monarchy and Congress camp, there are many people who are playing the role to widen their differences. When B.P. Koirala returned from exile in 1976, every effort was made to harass him but they could not change the stand of B.P.

Surrounded by people hostile to reconciliation, G.P. Koirala has already proved his political will and strength at the time of crisis. He played a historical role as a prime minister when nine members of Royal family including King Birendra and crown prince Dipendra were mysteriously killed. Had the transition of new King and old prime minister not allowed to go smoothly, the country’ political crisis could have taken deadly turn. Few months after the accession to throne by King Gyanendra, Koirala was compelled to resign. This was the point when the first seed of political crisis was planted.

Seen and unseen as well as knowingly and knowingly, sustained efforts were made to widen the rift between the monarch and Congress leader Koirala. Following the dismissal of elected prime minister and dissolution of the House of Representatives, the King is directly ruling the country exercising all the constitutional authority even as some constitutional bodies are working to harass Koirala.

There were people around who wanted to deepen confrontations. Self-proclaimed monarchists are targeting Koirala while some Congress leaders are openly encouraging anti-monarchy slogans pushing both the forces to the point of no return.

Amid such crucial circumstances, the question remains how junior Koirala will play his role as he has nothing to loose. If reconciliation is not achieved during the life of Koirala, there is very little hope for reconciliation after him.

Although Nepali Congress is launching an agitation by joining hands with two extremist forces denouncing the monarch in the main streets under Koirala’s leadership, he is the man who can still turn the table.

In the last 28 years, Nepal has passed through many difficult situations. For the initial eight years, B.P. Koirala was there to prevent major confrontation. The present crisis is the worst one but how his brother will handle it remains to be seen.

Congress Policy Shift

During his time, B.P. Koirala never allowed his party to join hands with extremists. In his lifetime, he witnessed gradual transformation in the Panchayat system from absolute authoritarian to sparsely liberal. However, the present leaders of NC including those from Koirala clan, Shailaja Acharya and other second-generation leaders seem to have deviated from the path.

B.P. Koirala also launched armed struggle but he suspended it shortly after he was convinced that it is only through the national reconciliation can the interests of nationalists, democrats and economic progresses be guaranteed.

Can the present set of Nepali Congress follow B.P? It seems that nobody dares to take that kind of decision fearing that others will overtake the party.

As it is said that the road to heaven are paved by thorns, the path of national reconciliation is not rosy. It requires tremendous amount of patience and courage. National reconciliation will not lead anybody to the power immediately but it will prevent the nation from turning into mess.

Soon after the death of B.P, Nepali Congress shifted its stand by inviting extremist forces to launch the agitation against Panchayat. The Congress leaders were successful to uproot Panchayat but they were unable to provide the political stability to strengthen the institutions.

As a reward of joining hands with totalitarian extremist forces, Congress leaders had to pay a heavy price as the country was dragged into prolonged political instability and anarchy. The course of political instability swept away senior leaders like Ganesh Man Singh and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai whereas Girija Prasad Koirala is still surviving in the face of strong wind. Second generation leaders like Sher Bahadur Deuba, Ram Chandra Poudel, Shailaja Acharya, Sushil Koirala and Taranath Ranabhat, too, seem far from each other.

By joining hands with extremists, Nepali Congress has already lost its identity and has helped create new communist leaders and give them much needed democratic credentials and popularity.

Unlike Girija Prasad Koirala, who has strong faith on the national reconciliation, the communist and other forces neither have any respect to traditional forces nor are committed for the reconciliation. They breed only in uncertainty and anarchy. What compelled the Congress to join hands with the radicals?

Even the constitution made following the movement is in crisis as most of the communist forces have made it clear that they don’t mind replacing it. Among the four agitating parties led by NC, two communist and one regional party are openly demanding abrogation of the present constitution. Congress is the only party demanding the reactivation of the constitution.

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 – which is a product of joint political movement between Nepali Congress and seven leftist fronts - is facing a major crisis for its survival. A radical group - which was part of the joint movement of 1990 – has been launching armed struggle against the constitution.

As B.P. Koirala had said – if Congress gives up its policy of national reconciliation, it would loose its own identity. This is exactly what seems to be happening in the current political course. Nepali Congress – which has a history and recognition of liberal democratic force - looks no different than radical outfits. Its leaders are harping more radical slogans than the communists.

What is National Reconciliation?

As defined by B.P. Koirala in his several speeches, national reconciliation means reconciliation between the traditional forces of monarchy and modernizing forces of democracy.

National reconciliation highlights the unity, compromise and harmony and there is no room for direct confrontation. National reconciliation is not to join hand with totalitarian and authoritarian force.

Monarchy is permanent and reliable force for Nepali Congress. There are many commonalities between the monarchy and the democrats. The King needs an independent territory and it is his inherent interest to protect his own territory. If independent territory is lost, the King will be the first person to lose his status and privilege. Democratic forces also need independent territory to pursue their agenda. In this case, there is common interest between the monarch and democratic force. When the country is in major crisis for survival, the foremost task of democrats is to join hands with the monarchy.

Now the country has reached in a stage when only a person like Girija Prasad Koirala can give the final good-bye or grand burial to the policy of national reconciliation. “Junior Koirala is the only person in public estimation at this stage who can revive and invigorate this far sighted, dynamic and lasting political apostle. National reconciliation still prevails supreme in the mind of the people which has preserved the legendary role of B.P Koirala,” said an analyst.

Despite his hobnobbing with the extremists, Koirala could still turn his party from confrontation to reconciliation. “I am leading an agitation demanding for the reinstatement of the House of Representatives. Only after the reinstatement of the parliament, we can initiate the process of national reconciliation and we can overcome this crisis,” said Girija Prasad Koirala. (See interview) “National reconciliation is always relevant to us. It is a powerful medium to protect and preserve national identity. Our future lies on it. I firmly believe that only through the national reconciliation we can avert the present political and national crisis.”

Junior Koirala’s statement shows that his faith and belief towards national reconciliation is still intact. But his alliance with the extremist parties has sown confusion regarding the nature of reconciliation he is talking about.

Whether one likes it or not, there are no other leaders in Congress like Koirala who has such firm belief on reconciliation. His party’s activities show a little sign of compromise to the ideology of their leader. However, of late one has witnessed that under the flag of Nepali Congress, agitators are chanting anti-monarchy slogans at the streets of capital and other parts of the country further widening the gap between the modernizing democratic forces like Nepali Congress and traditional forces monarchy. As the agitation is turning more radical, there seems to be a thin possibility of unity between the country’s two forces.

As the monarchy is a traditional institution with wide acceptability, modernizing forces needs support of traditional institution to stabilize democracy. They are compatible to each other. Tragically, there is a misunderstanding among Congress workers and so-called democrats about its importance. This misunderstanding, resulted from intentional motives or ignorance, is creating crisis and widening the gap between these two forces.

“Lack of national unity is a major factor for such a national crisis as a result of which foreign elements have started to become successful in playing dirty games and making Nepal a center of international conspiracy. National unity can be achieved only through a collective campaign and efforts of all Nepali people,” B.P. Koirala had said once.

Whatever the ethos of national reconciliation propounded by B.P. Koirala, his followers are trying to interpret it on their own terms. Only a few of them believe that national reconciliation has two aspects: Nationalism and Democracy.

“And, if we emphasized only on the restoration of democracy, we will not be contributing to addressing this national crisis. Moreover, we may even fall into the trap of the foreigners by such one-sided action. Similarly, if we talk of nationalism only, we will be repeating the same 16 years old hollow slogan of nationalism, and will be siding with the authoritarianism,” B.P. Koirala had said in his statement.

B.P’s statement has two facets. A section emphasizes the component of nationalism and another section emphasizes the democratic component. B.P. Koirala believed that the national unity can be built on the foundation of democracy and foundation of democracy can be cemented only under speedy economic development. Nationalism, democracy and economic development constituted the cornerstone of the national reconciliation. Following the restoration of democracy under the leadership of Nepali Congress, the component of nationalism was ignored. The only emphasis on restoration of democracy alone or thrust on hollow of nationalism both were, according to BP Koirala, hazardous to the country.

One of the important things about BP Koirala was that he had never compromised with tyrannical forces against the traditional forces of monarchy and he worked hard to reconcile between modernizing democratic forces and traditional forces. BP held the view that the support of traditional force was necessary to stabilize democratic system. Modernized system could gradually grow under the patronage of traditional forces. The combination of these two forces could give much needed stability to any political change.

Nepal is still facing the result of confrontation between the two forces in 1990. Although democracy was restored with the support from radical leftist forces then, the country had to pass through a series of political instability resulting in the disruption of political process. One of the radical forces of 1990’s change is now leading insurgency and every one knows what kind of values other forces like CPN-UML – which is represented in the government – are preaching in the country.

The burning of tire, general strikes, bandhas, disruption of industries, destroying public property was not part of Nepali culture. Thanks to the recognition given by liberal democratic Nepali Congress to such activities of the extremists, it has now become a way of life. Now even the student wings of country’s liberal party and party workers cannot sustain their politics without following the path shown by radicals.

Nepal has already paid a heavy price following rejection of national reconciliation by Nepali Congress. Had Nepali Congress followed the national reconciliation and joined hands with traditional force, the country would not have to face the present set of crisis.

“In history of every nation there comes such a moment when its people have to risk their lives to safeguard the national identity. We think, such a moment has come in Nepal today. Our well-wishers had advised us not to return to Nepal seeing the dangers involved in it. We would like to tell them that we have to take this historical decision because the likely danger to our lives is nothing compared to the danger to the nation,” said B.P. Koirala.

In his own party, there are many people now who cannot speak truth just to maintain their own identity. This is the tragedy of Nepalese politics.

As Nepali Congress is celebrating 29th anniversary of the national reconciliation day shortly, whether the party will really prove to be a follower of national reconciliation or just pay lip service remains to be seen.