National 3 (Spotlight Weekly)

Ugly Reaction

Former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, an octogenarian political leader, should show empathy and compassion

By KESHAB POUDEL

For the elderly leader like former prime minister Koirala, who is the strong advocate of his elder brother B.P. Koirala's policy of national reconciliation, the time ahead is very difficult. This is the time that will test his tolerance and compromising skills to bring the country back into right track.

The mayhem and anarchy demonstrated by his party workers following the incident at the Domestic Terminal of the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) on August 28 when a junior army personnel stopped his car from going to the terminal did not enhance the stature of party but it damaged Koirala's reputation and standing as a leader of liberal democratic force.

Koirala, who champions the cause of democracy and individual freedom, does not lack supporters and sympathizers. Nobody can intentionally, in any circumstances, hurt the prestige of former prime minister Koirala.

Koirala - who is among the very few active politicians in South Asia of his age - is a man of political will and skills of compromise. Surprisingly, the anarchy and destruction unleashed by the Congress workers on August 28 and 29 projected the party in a poor light.

Koirala's prestige could not have been damaged by an incident in which a junior security personal on duty tried to stop his mobility. Whatever the efforts made to tarnish his image in the past, he represents the popular will of people.

Because of limited information given out by both the sides, the truth is yet to come out. Based on the reports that appeared in the newspapers and the response of the RNA's spokesperson, it seems to be a result of a communication gap. "RNA does not direct anybody to stop the mobility of respected former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala. The security personnel at the Airport duty stopped his vehicle without knowing who was inside it," said brigadier general Rajendra Bahadur Thapa, spokesperson of the Royal Nepalese Army.

Congress leaders have presented different versions of the incident and claimed that the move is calculated and carried out as per the order from the King and top brass of army to humiliate and hurt Koirala's prestige and dignity. "Girijababu expressed anger after he faced a couple of such humiliating actions by security force recently. Just a few days ago, he was prevented from entering the VIP room at Simara Airport," said Koirala's secretary. "When Koirala is given high class security, how can army personnel claim that they could not recognize him?"

Other security matters also need to be considered when analyzing this incident, believe many. At a time when there have been reports in Indian as well as local media a few months back indicating the possibility of hijack from Kathmandu, the airport security might have been tightened.

There are no dearth of persons around Koirala whose personal interest lie not in the reconciliation but on confrontation. The two incidents gave ample ammunition to the followers to provoke Koirala.

"The security forces of Nepal are passing through an extraordinary time struggling to prove their fame along with receiving solidarity and support from the political leadership," said an analyst. At present the country is practicing the multi party democratic system in which one or more parties will be in the government and many others outside it. The security force has to prove that they respect all the leaders of the parties.

Nobody seems to be bothered how the calculated mayhem organized by Congress workers has tarnished the image of country's oldest party and its leader. "Nepali Congress seems to be working as a neo-Maoist party," said a sympathizer of Nepali Congress who - critical to monarchy and army and sympathetic to Koirala - still believes that Koirala cannot promote such violent acts. "Some external elements must have unleashed the violence in the name of Koirala," he added.

"When such a large number of industries remain closed down and many people are unemployed, how can a country be held to ransom for the sake of an ego of a wise and senior leader," said a senior diplomat of a powerful member of European Union. "The leader like Koirala - who is still regarded as a liberal democrat - should not encourage violence."

"When the country has been passing through a very unprecedented period, the politicians must understand the strains and pressures on the security personnel. If they cannot reduce their strains and difficulties, they should not add to it," said the analyst. "Elderly and experienced Koirala - who embraces B.P. Koirala's national reconciliation - should not encourage any anarchist for the sake of his dignity. Any move of encouraging anarchism does not suit his stature."

Interestingly, the mayhem took place when Mahathir Mohamad, the statesman and the builder of modern Malaysia, is coming to the capital. When he reads about the reporting and watches the events, what impression will he get about our nation-builders?