VOL. 25, NO. 17, December 23 2005 (Paush 08, 2062 B.S. )

DR. GIRI’S PRESS MEET
Searching For Points of Agreement

First vice chairman Dr. Tulsi Giri offers negotiations on many points of agreement with political parties

By KESHAB POUDEL

Although there are many points of agreement between the King and the political parities, elements close to both the sides are highlighting only the points of disagreement widening the political rifts between them.

When political forces are sticking to their own guns harping the points of disunity, senior vice chairman and veteran politician Dr. Giri urged leaders of political parties to begin the negotiations based on the points of agreement. From activating the present constitution to safeguarding the national interest and promoting the freedom of individual, the King and the leaders of political parties have many commonalities. The differences between them are the procedures, which is very marginal.

Dr. Giri: Points of Agreement

Seven parties alliance led by Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala wants to activate the constitution through reinstatement of House of Representatives and King Gyanendra in his roadmap stresses elections for the House to reactivate the constitution. The King and political forces have common stand on core issues like democracy and freedom.  If they have so many fundamental agreements on the basic issue, it is not impossible to have reconciliation.

Unlike other vice chairman of the government, Dr. Giri, a person with unique political style, candidly says what he wants to say by citing various newspapers clippings and quotations of various authors to elucidate his point.

One may have likes and dislikes on personal style of Dr. Giri, but one of the positive sides of his statements is that he proposed the agenda for negotiations with legitimate political parties on the areas of points of agreement.

“First we need to work under the areas of agreement. The areas of disagreement can be discussed later,” said Dr. Giri. “The government is always ready for reconciliation with political parties. We are ready to sit to find out meeting points between us. Under the leadership of King, this government is ready to reconcile with political forces but reconciliation means there has to be some give and takes.”

In presence of his colleague and second vice-chairman Kirti Nidhi Bista, Dr. Giri did not hesitate to express his open displeasure with western countries particularly the United States and the European Union. Strangely, these western powers, like Dr. Giri, are also stressing the need for reconciliation between the monarchy and the legitimate political parties.

As usual, there are many ifs and buts in his statement. However, the positive and important side of his statement is that he repeatedly called for reconciliation with political parties in reasonable and rational conditions. “We are ready to start dialogue with political parties but it must be on certain basis. How can one start a dialogue when the first clause of the agenda is related to abolishing the legitimate and stable institution of the country?” he asked referring to the recent 12-point understanding between the parties and the Maoists.

He began his jam-packed press meet by saying that every citizen has right to express his or her viewpoints but it should be fair. “I am here to exercise my freedom and you are here to exercise your freedom but you must be fair in exercising your freedom,” said Dr. Giri.

When country’s major political parties are threatening to boycott the forthcoming municipal elections, the country seems to be heading towards more confrontation. “Everyone has right to boycott the elections and one can organize meeting and oppose the elections in peaceful manner but nobody has the right to physically obstruct the rights of others. In that case, it is the duty of the government to protect the universal human rights of its citizen,” said Dr. Giri. “Not only political parties, a powerful external force also wants to obstruct the elections,” he added.

One can look at Dr. Giri’s press meet from various angles but the positive side remains that he requested the legitimate political forces to begin the dialogue on the basis of the points of agreement. When the political parties and the Maoists could search and identify the points of agreement, it is not impossible to start negotiations between two constitutional forces, which have very few points of disagreement.