June 10, 2005

As Nepali Congress leaders are undermining national reconciliation propounded by B.P. Koirala, Nepal’s foreign friends are reminding the same to them

By KESHAB POUDEL

Koirala : Softened Stand

If recent political developments are any indications, it shows that major players of country’s organized heterogeneous political forces are realizing the importance of national reconciliation. Just before leaving for New Delhi , India for his health check up, Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala unexpectedly avoided harsh statements against monarchy and the Royal Nepalese Army.

“I am going to India for health check up. When I meet Indian leaders, I will just request them for their moral support to restore democracy in Nepal ,” said Koirala avoiding all harsh comments. “We can restore democracy on our own and there is no need for any interference from our friends. Supplying arms to Nepalese Army is bilateral matter between India and Nepal . My concern is that the weapons given to fight insurgency should not be used to suppress democracy.”

The change of tone in 82-years-old Koirala’s statement shows that there is a certain shift from his earlier confrontational stands. On the other hand, by sending a senior Embassy official Jyoti Prasad Adhikary to receive Koirala at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi , the government, too, seems to be trying to give a message (of reconciliation). Although the recent message of Congress leader Koirala is definitely soft, nobody can predict how long he will remain sober in his choice of words.

Ignored by Nepalese political leaders, the agenda of national reconciliation – which was propounded by visionary Nepali Congress leader B.P. Koirala – is championed by Nepal ’s friends including the United States . Even officials of Nepal ’s southern neighbor echo that multi-party democracy and Constitutional monarchy are two pillars of Nepal ’s political stability in line with national reconciliation.

At a time when the country’s oldest party Nepali Congress – whose visionary leader B.P. Koirala championed national reconciliation to prevent major crisis in the country – and its leaders seem to have given up national reconciliation, foreign friends have reminded the same to them.

Whether the US assistant secretary of state for South Asia Christina Rocca or American Ambassador to Nepal James Moriarty, they are chanting the word reconciliation whenever they get the opportunity to speak.

As an echo of the voices for reconciliation, Speaker of House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat – who has been cornered by his political colleagues for his stand for constitutional role – also openly came out in favor of reconciliation. "There is no role for extremists on either sides and the King and the political forces need to come together to settle the present political crisis."

“In each meeting, I expressed my government’s firm belief that reconciliation between the government and the political parties is crucial if Nepal is to move towards functioning democracy and to address the brutal Maoist insurgency,” said Rocca. (See Spotlight May 20-26)

In his recent interview, US Ambassador Moriarty also stressed the need for reconciliation. “In order to reach reconciliation, both the parties and the Palace would need to give and take,” Moriarty told Kantipur daily. 

Whether Nepalese political leaders like it or not, national reconciliation propounded by B.P. Koirala is still valid as it was three decades ago. The King’s stress on patriotism and organized political forces' stress on representative democracy are not directed against each other as both patriotism and democracy can go hand in hand. Unfortunately, there are certain powerful elements on both sides who are trying to convince that patriotism and democracy are issues hostile against each other.

“When Nepal ’s political leaders are giving up national reconciliation coined by their own leader, it has attracted many including American ambassador to Nepal James Moriarty. It is a shame for Nepali Congress,” said a political analyst. "There are many points of agreement between the King and the country’s organized political forces and there are ways to reconcile.”

Compared to the present global context and the wave of liberalization, the situation in 1976 was different. When B.P. Koirala’s returned from political exile in 1976, the situation was bleaker than now as India was under the state of emergency imposed by Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and there were hardliners like Dr. Tulsi Giri as prime minister in Nepal - Dr. Giri is currently vice chairman of the Council of Ministers. There were virtually no political and other freedoms. In the international level, world’s two major super power Soviet Union and the United States of America were competing with each other. Following the declaration of independence by Bangladesh and merger of Sikkim with India , the situation was very difficult in the whole of the south Asian neighborhood.

Despite bleak internal and external situation, B.P. Koirala ignored all the challenges and threats to pursue reconciliation. Thanks to B.P.’s persuasion of national reconciliation, Nepalese political situation opened up.

Amid free press and open society and global wave of liberalization and democratization, G.P. Koirala, B.P. Koirala’s brother, however, is yet to be convinced that national reconciliation will finally change the political course. Though Dr. Tulsi Giri is a vice chairman now, he is in no position to put the country in completely dark like he had done in the past.

If two bitter rivals like India and Pakistan - who have fought three major wars - and India and China - who have fought one war - can sit together and discuss matters of mutual interest, why not the King and the leaders of organized political forces – who have so many points of agreements - sit together?

With minimum of political differences, there are enough possibility for reconciliation among the King and the heterogeneous organized political forces. When Nepal’s friends in Washington can understand the importance of reconciliation, it will not be surprising for Nepalese political leaders including Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala to follow the course propounded by his own leader and brother B.P. Koirala.