The Election Dilemma

Dr. TILAK RAWAL

In the annual Dashain message this year, HM the king has reiterated his commitment to hold parliamentary elections well before the three year period the monarch wanted to rule directly to restore normalcy and hold elections. This declaration has put to rest speculation and apprehension of some that democracy has been snatched away and the palace was on the verge of giving a new constitution. Contrary to this thinking, it seems the message given on the auspicious day of Dashami has further cemented King’s oft- repeated commitment to parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. Small wonder, a person who desired ouster of several governments in the past on account of their inability to hold elections, restoring peace to the extent possible, could not deviate from his numerous public commitments to democratic fundamentals. Throwing into dustbin the present constitution by a person hell-bent on activating it through holding of parliamentary and local elections is, therefore, simply out of question.

The declaration to hold polls, however, has not been received positively by the seven agitating parties. They have made up their minds not to partake and also actively boycott the elections. Sporadic negative remarks on the polls made by leaders of seven parties have been formalized at a meeting which decided to actively boycott the polls as well as initiate dialogue with the Maoists for peace. Any effort made by any quarter to restore normalcy, preferably through non- lethal ways, in this conflict-torn country would be heartily received by Nepalese who desperately want peace. Nepalese are willing to cooperate with anyone, be it the monarch or a common man on the street, genuinely interested in peace. Anyone giving lasting peace will be worshipped in this country. Our foreign friends can definitely give their inputs, of course, without seeming to dictate. A fact worthy of mention in this context is Ambassador Bloomfield’s observations in Dhangadi, Surkhet, Nepalgunj and other places that Nepalese need peace more than anything else at the present point of time. Could not agree more with H.E on this issue. Bloomfield is also heard giving advices to party people on election. As far as giving advice to the agitating parties on the issue of election is concerned, he seems to have maintained a position of equidistance between boycott of and participation in the polls. Quite understandable, how could anyone expect the representative of a great nation that has given independence\ democracy to dozens of countries over time and is still actively involved in overseeing the transition to democracy of many states, to talk against participation in the forthcoming polls? UK representative is also reported suggesting involvement of a third party to mediate for restoring peace. Ambassador’s suggestion should be taken seriously because UK’s tireless efforts have led to the recent successful decommissioning of stockpiled arms by IRA and the resultant cessation of bloody conflict: hope it is not temporary as apprehended by some. Let us benefit from their experience.

Indeed, no one can seriously doubt the resolve on elections of King Gyanendra who dissolved the House of Representatives for fresh polls on the recommendation of then prime minister and has been observed giving serious advice on election to each successive prime minister thereafter? This is what the Nepalese have understood. If something other than these had transpired privately between the King and different prime ministers, Nepalese reserve the right to be apprised by their representatives . Those dealing with the people should not only understand but also learn to practically respect their feelings. It seems Nepalese now will not allow anyone to use them with ease whenever required and throw them with comfort whenever their utility is over.

As each government’s resolve to hold election in the past was countered by parties on the street, their number ranging from 5 to 7 over these years, the current dispensation’s declaration on polls has also met with strong resistance. Mud slinging and accusations trading on other issues in the past have been relegated to secondary place now by exchange of threat, pertaining to polls, between stalwarts of current regime and that of seven parties. While seven parties have decided to actively boycott the polls, those running the affairs of the government have made it clear that boycott threat is no deterrent as there would be more than hundred parties in the fray (Mandal) and it has also been suggested that the entire blame will fall on party leaders in the event of polls being held in party less fashion (Mainali). Come what may, it seems the government is determined to have municipal polls and then parliamentary polls before mid-April 2007 as desired by the king. Accordingly, the Election Commission has also accelerated preparatory work to actualize this resolve of government. With leaders of RPP, Sadbhavana, Samata and a host of other parties seen in favor of polls, the chances of polls being held in a party less manner are very slim. One would not be surprised to see even in case of seven parties serious inter and intra party differences on election issues. Polls in Nepal can be held with adequate participation of parties and a reasonable turnout level as it has happened in other trouble spots like Iran, Afghanistan and several times in conflict- shattered Sri-Lanka. The issue in Nepal, therefore, is not whether the government would succeed in holding polls achieving acceptable level of turnout and maintaining quality and fairness comparable with polls held in other conflict-torn nations, the concern is mainly about meaningfulness of this much awaited exercise. Many of us would like to see the polls held encompassing also the seven parties, if not the Maoists. The parliament has to be in place, sooner the better, preferably through the constitutional process of polls because the idea of resurrection of the legally dissolved body, whose regular tenure of five years expired long ago, does not hold much currency in present time. Even if the monarch is persuaded into reinstating the non- existent body, there will be no dearth of people leveling it as one more unlawful step of the so called unconstitutional government. Some political heavyweights such as Mr. Thapa of Janashakti Party sounded apprehensive about successful holding of polls in the existing set up and similar was the concern of Mr. Shrestha, former Chief Election Commissioner who even suggested that formation of an interim government of the kind constituted after the 1990 popular movement is essential to ensure free and fair elections. Thapa’s vast experience of Nepalese polite and his emphatic suggestion that the widening gap between the palace and the political parties has to be narrowed down to deal in a meaningful way with the rebels need to be given due consideration by the concerned quarters. To achieve broader participation in polls, the problem has to be approached without any prejudice by people on either side of the fence showing maximum flexibility and accommodativeness on issues of national interest. Charting a head-on collision course by the concerned people is going to harm the common Nepalese more than the top brass of the warring fractions: the injury inflicted by on-going conflict on the low income people and occasional thrashing of agitated party workers by security people on the street of Kathmandu has adequately demonstrated this. Conciliatory approach to problem resolution is, therefore, the need of the time. This kind of view has been expressed by us Nepalese and also by representatives in Nepal of different friendly countries most of whom, however, have astonishingly maintained silence on the election issue. Unlike in the past, it may be mentioned that the election declared this time is not likely to end in a fiasco because the person who had a ceremonial role in the past has now full executive authority to make sure that he does not fail like previous governments in delivering the goods. Fully recognizing the determination of current dispensation to hold polls, it may be advised that the government also showed maximum flexibility so that the monarch is not accused of ignoring the grievances of the political parties. We can simply hope that the Narayanhiti doors are not closed, as is alleged by some, on any party leader, big or small, wanting fruitful dialogue aimed at resolving the stalemate at this crucial moment of time. Political extremism is not the need of the hour. Notwithstanding the old age and weakened limbs of N C president Koirala, he is still expected to play a major role in demystifying the fog of confusion and instability that has engulfed the nation. It may be mentioned that Koirala’s popularity with the mass bears an inverse relationship with his handling of state affairs. People tend to listen to him sympathetically and seriously when he is not exercising state powers. More than any other leader of the agitating parties, the responsibility of clearing the existing confusion lies on his shoulder. Indeed, to utter something in a manner of speaking is something but can the country afford to do away with the fundamentals of our constitution, constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, is the question that each and every citizen has to pay serious attention to. Nepalese do not want to be confused by G.P.’s inexplicably erratic observations on monarchy at a time when the octogenarian leader is expected not to let his party workers do/utter anything unconstitutional under an impulse. Nepalese definitely are confused by the ever changing views of political leaders on monarchy, alliance with the Maoists and foreign interference. Is foreign interference/intervention, be it American or any other, required only to isolate the current regime from the rest of the world? Are we not rolling out a red carpet to external involvement in our affairs or has it been voluntary? These are some of the questions that a common man would like to ask their leaders. Dislocated and financially ruined political workers, who have to take to the street intermittently on order of their party bosses for eventual punishment by security people, are finding precision, clarity and firmness utterly lacking in their leader’s observations. They have also started wandering about the source and cause of the aberrations. Give them at least stable thoughts and stop confusing them if you leaders intend to command in a meaningful way the genuine respect of this suffering lot. Notwithstanding the not so frustrating economic fundamentals, let us not forget that a large section of the Nepalese community, basically farmers and daily wage earners, is steadily sliding into a state of destitution: root cause being the decade-old conflict. To stop mass deprivation, normalcy has to return and to achieve normalcy\peace, forces active in Nepal have to genuinely cooperate and contribute showing maximum flexibility and an encompassing attitude. Perpetuation of this uneasy situation will help none in the long run and that people’s heart can be won not by violence, lies and confusion - let us not forget.

(Rawal is former governor of Nepal Rastra Bank)