National 2 (Spotlight Weekly)

Where Are The Moderates?

Even as political forces are harping extremism, the voices of the moderates have become leaderless

By A CORRESPONDENT

From monarchy to the country’s major political parties, all of them are harping extreme political agenda ignoring the voices of a large number of moderate population who are sincere for the cause of liberal democracy.

Nepali Congress Leaders : Lost moderation

Is it their ignorance or compulsion or something else that has compelled the political actors to take up extreme stands? Had the present political battle raging between just regression vs democracy or constituent assembly vs existing constitutional forces, the situation would not have been so much complicated.

Although all political forces understand that taking extreme sides will not help to end the present political stalemate nor strengthen their position, they seem to have no option other than to follow the path of confrontation. This growing confrontation is going to be suicidal for the political forces.

“We don’t have any other option now other than to launch the agitation against regression,” said Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel, who seems to be pushing his party towards the point of no return.

Instead of making efforts to harmonize relations with political parties, King Gyanendra, too, is concentrating more on attending civic receptions and making other visits.

The country’s moderate force, which is influential but passive, however, does not have anyone to represent them in the present political imbroglio. In the two extreme political fronts of agitation and felicitation, the moderates are not finding anybody that can provide them and the rest of the country the much-needed leadership.

Although prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa and his ministers have a long legacy of Panchayat, they seem to be closer in terms of representing the country’s moderate political voices.

Apathy of moderate forces can also be seen in their adamancy against supporting any political front. Despite the repeated calls by the political forces to join agitations; and similar calls for felicitation to monarchy, the overwhelming number of moderates have not shown any interest.

Despite the importance of reconciliation among political moderate forces, there is only a slim chance for any immediate compromise. Nepalese politics is passing through a critical regional as well as international phase. With the intensification of Maoist insurgency in 2001, along with Nepal’s southern neighbor India, the United States and the United Kingdom have also made attempts to assist Nepal in maintaining its internal security.

More unstable and uncertain the political situation is, more confrontational attitude the country’s political forces are exhibiting. “It is unfortunate to say that nobody is trying to show any sign to accommodate like minded forces and expand the political alliance,” said an analyst. “Liberal and liked minded political forces must enlarge their alliance.”

But the recent trends have shown otherwise as different moderate political forces along with Nepal’s powerful external power, which needs moderate democratic forces, are encouraging extremism to extract political and security advantages.

By disturbing political process and encouraging extremism, one cannot fulfill its interest in Nepal, particularly, a country that has democratic system and open press.

Nepal’s traditional and moderate forces are gradually weakening and extreme opinions are taking the roots. “I don’t understand how Nepal’s democratic neighbor can deal with a neighbor with closed political system in a situation when all moderate institutions like monarchy and liberal democratic political forces are losing their base,” said an analyst.

Nepali Congress - which needs to play a centrist role – has already lost its identity by promoting extremism. Institution of monarchy, too, is taking another extreme stand ignoring the voices of moderates.

At a time when the country’s political forces including monarchy and liberal democratic forces are in course of fight to finish, one cannot see any possibility of restoration of democracy any time soon.

The compulsion of Nepal’s internal political forces is that they, knowingly and unknowingly, are creating the situation more complicated and heading towards the point of no return.