ELECTIONS
There Is No Option Other Than
The Middle Way
With the announcement to hold elections for the House of Representatives, King Gyanendra has opened a new political course so as to transfer power back to the people. Although initial response by organized political parties was harsh, conditions laid down by them still have rooms for agreement. The time has come now for the King and the leadership of organized political forces to show that they sincerely believe in the judgment of vast majority of people. Despite domination of extremists in establishment and opposition sides, who can sabotage the elections at any time, there is no middle way to break the long-running political impasse other than going back to the people
By KESHAB POUDEL
King Gyanendra chose Dashain holidays to declare his decision to hold elections for the House of Representatives by April 2007. The timing of announcement was well thought as the King may have wanted to avoid instant reactions from opposition parties. The festive mood of the nation and about a fortnight long tranquility in political situation must have given an opportunity for the people, particularly the organized political forces, to think coolly and react.
Though the initial reaction by former premier and Nepali Congress leader, Girija Prasad Koirala, upon his arrival to Kathmandu from Biratnagar seemed harsh, his statement still had some room for reconciliation. As expected, reactions of the members of his leftist allies including CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and leaders of other radical communists parties were stronger and harsher calling for outright rejections of elections.
“We will not participate in the elections conducted by the royal government but we will utilize elections as yet another way of agitation,” said Koirala – hinting that his party could participate in the polls if a `conducive environment’ was created for polls.
Unlike other leaders of communist parties, Rastriya Jana Shakti Party leader and former premier Surya Bahadur Thapa shared views with NC leader Koirala. “Election for the House of Representatives is the best option. The government needs to create a conducive environment for it. The hurdles must be cleared to allow all major political parties to take part in the elections,” he added.
Initially, political parties responded to the King’s announcement half-heartedly but the mood seems to be shifting gradually. Ram Chandra Poudel, one of the senior leaders and general secretary of Nepali Congress, disclosed that his party will register as per the call of the Elections Commission. “If we don’t register, our symbol could be misused by others. So, we will register in the EC to secure our election symbol,” he said.
The news itself is a gesture of willingness for negotiations. This may induce the King or persuade him to the extent of taking another positive step towards building a situation of trust among political forces.
Although Poudel’s statement is a very small gesture, a great deal has to be done from both the sides to conduct the elections and reactivate the present constitution.
Interestingly, small radical communists parties continue to press big political parties to boycott the elections. The stand taken by ultra-communist leaders like Amik Sherchan, Narayan Man Bijukcche, C. P. Mainali and non-communist Hridayesh Tripathi is understandable as they will lose the privilege and prestige enjoyed equally by them as soon as fresh elections are held. “We will not only call to boycott the elections but also actively oppose any move of the government to hold it. If it is necessary, we will seek support of the Maoists,” said Amik Sherchan, chairman of the Jana Morcha Nepal.
There are also rightist extremists in monarch’s side who are making every effort to sabotage elections or to postpone it indefinitely.
Some of the recent actions indicated their intentions. At a time when King Gyanendra called for negotiations, a so-called group terming as a die-hard follower of monarch was seen trying to sabotage the King’s wish to hand over power to the people.
Even if Nepali Congress and other parties officially boycott the elections, they will be compelled to support some dummy candidates. As incapable and indecisive they appear, their past activities during Panchayat days might be repeated once again. The rank and files of the party would not have their party candidate but they would be compelled to promote the candidatures of persons of various outlooks or leanings. Instinctively, these persons who had experience of several elections know how people will be mobilized for voting even if they call for an active boycott.
“Election is an all-involving democratic exercise where people choose their political servants to form the government and enact legislations. The organized political forces have again an opportunity to go to the people and get their ideas and programs endorsed through ballots,” said a political analyst.
Bigger parties have bigger stakes. Therefore they could not react so harsh and bluntly as leaders of smaller leftists parties. Smaller radical communist political parties and a small rightists extremist group supporting the King, however, have certain commonalities, as both the groups will lose their privilege after the elections are held.
“Agitating political parties, who have invited foreigners against national interest, should not be allowed to take part in the elections,” said Satchit Shumsher Rana, former chief of army staff and member of Raj Parishad Standing Committee. There are many others like Rana in the monarch’s side. The way Rana is speaking in the media is neither serving the interest of monarchy nor that of the country. His and other so-called monarchists’ statements often put Nepal’s important institution under controversy and odd position.
At a time when major opposition political parties are raising the question of fairness of elections, recent action taken against Kantipur FM and statements by the so-called die-hard supporters of monarchy have helped to support arguments of the opposition. The announcement of media amendment ordinance has put all good intentions of the present government in question (See: A separate story).
It seems that not only in the side of the opposition, a vested group within the establishment seems to be working overtime to sabotage the genuine call of monarchy to hold the elections and transfer power to the elected representatives. Once the elections are held and power is transferred to the people, most of the non-accountable persons surrounding the King will lose their privilege and prestige.
“Elections should be held but there is a need to create a credible environment to conduct it,” said Speaker of the dissolved House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat. “As a democrat, I can accept elections as a democratic exercise.”
Elections or No Elections
Following the announcement by King Gyanendra to hold elections for the House of Representatives by mid-April 2007, political course has taken a new turn giving rise to questions whether proposed elections will bring any political solution or will create further problems.
Provided a conducive environment is created and understanding developed between the country’s major political forces, the elections will transfer power to the people to choose their representatives and renew their faith to the programs of political parties.
“There is a need to narrow down differences between the King and political parties before holding the elections. If elections are held without addressing genuine concerns of major political parties, it will create more problems in the country,” said Surya Prasad Shrestha, former Chief Election Commissioner.
As debate over the future of elections continue, Election Commission has already announced date for municipal elections and has invited political parties for registration.
“After several rounds of meeting with security personnel, we are now in a position to hold the municipal elections in a single day. Holding the free and fair elections is the duty of the Election Commission. We will also invite international observer groups to monitor the elections,” said Keshabraj Rajbhandari, Chief Election Commissioner. “I hope, all political parties will take part in the elections.”
Following the announcement of elections by the King, all rumors regarding reverting back the democratic process and promulgating an authoritarian model of constitution have disappeared. The King has shown that he still adheres to the basic tenets of the constitution. As a defender of the constitution, he has rightly decided to allow people to decide their own fate.
Politics of Mistrust
But there have been a lot of mistrust, which have been inflated and abbreviated by actions and reactions of both the sides- the king and organized political parties.
“King’s recent actions showed that his proposal to hold the elections is just a ploy. How can you believe that the elections will be free and fair when the government has brought an ordinance curbing the right to free expression,” said CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal.
The actions and reactions over the last few years have already created huge mistrust among organized political forces as there is a need for sincere steps to make a breakthrough.
“What matters much in politics is not trust and mistrust but the wisdom to understand one’s interests correctly. A realistic assessment of one’s strength and fixing the target in accordance with the capacity is essential to reach into a realistic and correct approach. One has to find out his or her raw interest as well as that of his adversary,” said a political analyst.
The basic interest of the King is very obvious - to see the perpetuation of the monarchy as well as maintaining the stability of the country to keep monarchy safe. The concern for the stability in the country is, hence, in its own institutional interest. That makes the monarchy emotionally attached with the people who again have the supreme interest in the stability in the nation.
Political leadership -which evolves from the people and is energized by the popular support of the people - is natural ally in favor of national interest. That way a popular leadership has its vested interest in the independence of the nation. There can be no contradictions between the King and the popular leadership.
The other aspect of conflict could be the exercise of power – which the King too needs as an instrument. So long as there is no conflict on the common interest of the nation, it can be hoped that the King may not go for unpopular or unrepresentative instrument.
Unfortunately, the politics of a small country like Nepal is not a game between the King and the people only. Modern states with vast resources and powerful network have ways to infiltrate and manipulate in between the people and the King.
At any point of difference that external power is inclined to serve its own interest by creating further dissension and disruptions because such countries have also their own interests to fulfill. Wise politicians remain careful towards that and avoid any kind of decisive manipulation. Unfortunately, that quality has been rare at present.
Half done is well done. Declaration for elections now has generated another core related issue that is about the credible arrangements in the governance. That could be done in the present situation by no other means but by the royal appointment.
In the message, the king has given a significant hint by saying that there could not be any matter, which could not be settled by the negotiations. He may also be hinting to the armed rebels.
Now it is up to the wisdom and skill of the politicians of all sides to create a congenial atmosphere to dialogue and create an environment in which various sets of ideologies and opinion could participate in elections with confidence and dignity.
Organized political parties need to respond positively to the call of the monarch to hold free and fair elections for the House of Representatives. If political parties respond by one step, the King may be compelled to take another positive step to build a conducive environment.
Police Assault On KantipurMedia Under Threat
Although they surrounded the building for a whole day, police raided the station of Kantipur F. M. – a leading private sector radio station-- at around midnight Friday seizing the radio equipment to uplink its transmission through satellite to its Bhedetar station in eastern Nepal.
The mid-night police raid defied the rule of law and the very notion of media freedom in the country. “It is a total violation of rule of law,” said Hemraj Gyawali, chairman of Kantipur Publications—that owns the F.M. station Along with media personnel, political parties also condemned the police action against Kantipur F. M. “We never imagined that the state could take such actions,” they said.
At a time when King Gyanendra is trying to create conducive atmosphere to hold elections, a certain sections of vested interests seem to be making efforts to foil the atmosphere.
The mid-night police action in Kantipur is against the spirit of the King’s willingness. It was a conspiracy to foil the atmosphere. After the King expressed his desire to hold the general elections for parliament in less than two years, a most unexpected and unpopular incident has become the number one headline of news media: The police action against Kantipur establishment.
The amended media act has already scared the press people. Perhaps, that was not sufficient to create mass hysteria against the present government. Therefore, the brutal police action has been launched as a fuel to the fire.
Is it a coincidence or a design of some unseen elements to create hostility and distrust between the King and political forces? It is difficult to believe that the King would in any way conspire against his own positive step towards the elections, which is crucial to reactivate the constitution. The fact is very bitter that the King either could not perceive the troublemakers in the administration or he alone is helpless to foil their misdeeds. If he really wants to promote his positive desires to reactivate the constitution, he needs to take a drastic step to get rid of miscreants around him and join hands with popular political forces- framers of the present constitution.
What and how could it be done in this direction? There are several ways and means through direct or indirect channels. Of course, the mid-night police raid is not new in Nepali politics. Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba permitted to raid houses of civil servants a few years ago when police under the guidance of populist media including Kantipur raided the houses of 52 civil servants at mid night. Early this year, a royal-appointed commission also raided Deuba’s house in mid-night and arrested him in a filmy style.
The mid-night raid of those civil servants was prominently and enthusiastically justified by most of the media arguing that the freedom of those civil servants did not matter. Now the time has changed and it seems it does matter.
One cannot justify the mid-night raid by police in any case whether it is against the powerful media house or common citizens. The government must respect the freedom and rights of the people.
