National 8 (Spotlight Weekly)

People And The King

By AJAY P. NATH

February 1st, 2005, the day of decision for 25 million people of Nepal. Nepal once again entered a new and challenging phase of its chequered history. A challenge and decision which none else could take although the people were desperately waiting for someone who could venture to take bold steps and drastic actions in order to fulfill the desires of the people who have suffered untold damages, destructions, deaths and plunders, particularly in the last nine years. This was the direct result of misrule, mismanagement, misappropriation, misconduct and mischief of those who were expected to establish and institutionalize the rule of law, set examples as clean, committed, competent, courageous and credible political leaders so that Nepalese can enjoy political stability, economic prosperity and pluralistic social order. Nepalese aim and objective being to maintain, consolidate and further strengthen the traditional, historical and unique characteristics of unity in diversity. Even these characteristics of Nepalese strength and integrity were being broken and split. All hopes and expectations were dashed down to the ditch. In these unforeseen midst of uncertainty, chaos, and confusion and political and terrorist intrigues, King Gyanendra came forward risking his traditional and historical throne in order to save and protect his people and country from falling into the abyss. This is in accordance with the glorious traditions of the Nepalese Shah Kings. When every thing fails, the king comes to the rescue.

King Gyanendra has amply proven to be a man of patience and principles. He waited for too long for the politicians to do something in order to establish peace and order and start parliamentarian rule in the country. A committed die-hard democrat, a strong believer of competitive-political system and free market economy, an ardent advocate of human rights and champion of disciplined freedom of expression and transparency, King Gyanendra possesses immense and immeasurable patience and tolerance. He gave all the humanly possible opportunities to the democratic political institutions to establish a semblance of law and order and deal with terrorist groups but instead of trying to do something for the people they kept on fighting each other to grab power and position and engaged to break railings, demolish walls, burn cars and tires and instigate students and innocents which encouraged external elements to meddle in our domestic affairs.

The King exercised all the options available to him through the existing constitution. When then elected Prime Minister Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba dissolved the parliament and recommended with all party's consensus to postpone the election, an unconstitutional step, the king had to act constitutionally to dismiss the government in order to give opportunities to democratic political parties to form an all party government. He gave them one full week to come out with a common candidate for the Prime Ministership, which they failed. Under the circumstances, the king was compelled to form a government of likely acceptable prime minister who chose his cabinet. This government got embroiled in political intrigues, lost the opportunity of bringing the Maoist in the national mainstream due to unhealthy personality-clash between the ministers and fell into the terrorist's trap and thereby lost public confidence. This government was useless to the nation and harmless to the enemy and therefore could not live up to the public and international expectation. The King did not have a choice except to look for alternatives and for that again he called for a common candidate of consensus which again the politicians failed to produce. As a result, Surya Bahadur Thapa government was installed with a mandate of forming all party government and bringing the Maoist in the national political mainstream through negotiation. This government could not muster the support of the political parties, including its own, and also failed to keep the Maoist in the negotiating table. The king again invited all the political parties to present a common candidate to head a new government after the Thapa government failed. The political leaders kept on fighting and struggling to maneuver for the personal support but failed to produce a common candidate. Instead they pleaded the king in their private audience to marginalize and boycott each other. As a last resort, the king again asked Mr. Deuba to form a government, which was able to muster the support of four parties and was mandated to negotiate peace with Maoist and hold elections. In course of time this government started behaving like a bunch of hooligans blaming each other, aping contradicting statements and presenting to the public as an unruly crowd. No responsibility, no accountability and there was no public sympathy and support. They became like cartoons and fools in the public. They did not respect the constitution under which they took an oath. The ministers boycotted the ceremony attended by the head of state for which they allocated budget. They became a stock of laughter all around and the Maoist rejected to talk to them.

Now, as a national guardian, to preserve and protect the constitution keeping in view the best interest and welfare of the people of Nepal, the king was left with no other option but to act. He cannot let down his people by being a silent observer and bystander! To restore peace and security in the country someone has to take the burden of leadership during national crisis, curtail some of the constitutional rights for a certain period of time. The king has again and again committed himself to competitive political system, constitutional monarchy, fundamental human rights and he is determined to restore peace and security by bringing to an end the ongoing violence and political chaos. In this the people are with the king.

It is surprising that some of ours neighbors and friends pretend to remain ignorant about the mess that was created by selfish political leaders and terrorists in the name of the people. This is Nepal's internal problem, a purely domestic affair and we want them to keep their hands off. If they are particular about personal liberty, individual freedom, universal justice, and democratic political parties in Nepal what stops them from being equally nosy and pokey to display their concern in their backyard in Bhutan? What measures have they taken against the tyranny and cruelty that caused to drive more than a hundred thousand innocent citizens out of seven hundred thousand total population? Can people exercise democratic and fundamental rights in Bhutan? Why the major powers including ICRC, Amnesty International and mushrooming human rights organizations are so quiet about the rights and liberties in Maldives, UAE, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and in so many other countries? Why this dubious and double standard? Why Amnesty International, Human Rights Groups, ICRC, the champions of democracy do not raise their voice against the rulers and tyrants of these countries? The problem in Nepal is not the problem of democracy, it is terrorist and extremists. Will our neighbours and friends want Nepal to be ruled by terrorists or by a Monarchy, which is committed to democratic institutions and human rights? The Nepalese political leaders and our friends including INGOs, global community has to decide on which side they want to stand? On the side of the terrorists or on the side of the state? Make a decision. Do you want a crumbled, disintegrated Nepal ruled by terrorists like Pol Pot or by a democratic institution with constitutional Monarchy? Do not push to the corner to effect survival instinct. Now people and king stand together. Instead of helping and sheltering the terrorists and opponents of the king's action, we can help the king to fight terrorists in order to bring them to the democratic fold and put pressure on the political leadership to join hands with the king for a stable, prosperous and peaceful Nepal. This will be a great asset to us.