Corruption has been the main game of politics of multiparty democracy in Nepal

-Birendra Bahadur Shrestha

Mr. Birendra Bahadur Shrestha is a familiar name in the Nepalese academic sector. Shrestha could be seen actively participating in Kathmandu seminars. He raises strong points that are inevitably loaded with preservation of Nepal's genuine national interests. He is considered among his fellow colleagues as one who will never compromise his integrity and that way he is some times seen by his friends as vocal and aggressive as well.

He is highly qualified intellectual. He did his Bachelor of Commerce with International Trade and Transport as optional at the Tribhuvan University. He has also completed courses on Small Industrial management organized by Small Industries Services, SISI, New Delhi. Birendra Shrestha has participated in dozens of seminars held within and without. He was attached to the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce; Nepal Hosiery Manufacturers Association; All India Director's Club; served as senator of the JCI, Florida, USA; acted as a trainer for JCI Asia-Pacific National Officers Training School, Colombo; and was also the National President of Nepal Junior Chamber of the Jaycees. Scholar Shrestha also had the honor to head the prestigious institution the Nepal Council of World Affairs from 1987 till 1990. He is also one of the members of Nepal-Israel Friendship Society.

He was the leader of the Nepalese Youth delegation to Indian Ocean regional Youth Workshop held in Kathmandu. He also attended World Congress of the JCI held in Manila as back as in 1978. Led a delegation of the World Council to Tashkent to celebrate the first anniversary of the Delhi Declaration.

Mr. Shrestha has received scores of awards and recognitions among them notably from the JCI as Chairman Outstanding Participation Award and Highest Delegation and Theme Award.

Uring his NCWA Presidency, he hosted lecture programs of Henry Kssinger, Brezenski, Narsimha rao and President Zia-ul-Haq of Pakistan.

Last week, at a Kathmandu seminar the Telegraph approached Shrestha for an exclusive interview on contemporary national topics. The results are as follows-Chief Editor

TGQ1: Mr. Shrestha, how you evaluate the current political and the economic sitiation of this nation? We are told that the economy is approaching a total collapse, which is, however, being denied by the rulers of the nation. Is it that all was not that bad as is being given to understand. Your exclusive comments please.

Shrestha: Yes. We have witnessed that every political parties once they are in the helm of nation’s affairs they denies that political and economic situations are collapsing rather claims as sound and improving.  But, also, adds that while they came to power they inherited the economy in virtual state of bankruptcy, securities in disorder and politics in disarrays from previous govt.  And, charges previous govt. for gross mismanagement of economies and blatant violations of democratic political norms and promoting corruption.  Further, they proclaim that they have “ resurrected” the situations.  Hence, do we need to evaluate?  In a way, common citizens has been accustomed with such usual “Ritualistic” pronouncements of actors of multiparty democracy to prove doldrums state of politics and economic conditions as normal affairs and as that’s the best they can deliver.  After all politicians are “clever” breeds.  Why they pronounce the “state of

collapse” --- that’s the end of their own business. Of course, we must accept that situation is not as bad as      “bad” should be so far loans and grants from World Bank, IMF and ADB and friendly

countries keeps providing with smile.

TGQ2: A section of the intellectuals say that though the people of this nation were made sovereign after the 1990 constitution, do you feel that the people have really been enjoying this abstract honor. Given the fact that the people, the governed ones, have no say in the policies and the decisions that are being made by the ruling parties in the name of the people. More so allegations are that external factors dictate our policy and the decisions makers to which for obvious reasons the Nepali rulers can't outrightly reject? Do you think that these were happening in our case.

Shrestha: The Constitution of 1990 proclaims the Citizens of country-THE SOVEREIGN.  The multi party politicians cleverly made them to be sovereign only during “elections” time for votes to bless their fate. The Citizens became “vote-sovereign”-which is no different status than during panchayat adult franchise elections.  In practice, it is democracy for multi parties not for citizens. The “CRACY” only belongs to across parties and their leaders.  Even junior leaders, activist and workers have yet to be accepted as “DEMO” least to talk of common citizen. Till now only political leaders and their favorites are “DEMO”. The voices and concern of party members and activist are of least concern.  Parties do not run on democratic norms. The   "external" factors that you referred are main components of decisions making process of all parties. That’s the one of the major reason “peoples” became non-concern factor for policy formation and in decision making process.

Basically, our leaders lack positive “self esteem”. Lack seriously the leadership qualities other than rhetoricism and street sloganeering. Their mind set is too obsessed with externalities.    Without external components input they can't feel of themselves. Hence, they are more responsible for external factors than external sources itself. And, common citizens believes that this is the “obvious” reasons leaders to be in seat of power hobnobs with externalities.

TGQ3: Rampant corruption at the highest levels including the ruling political sector, is considered to be eating up the economic vitality of the nation. This is a factor the donors too appear to be pretty worried of. Is there any effective mechanism to control and finally eradicate the menace of corruption from the country's political and economic scene? Comparatively speaking, could you tell us the former panchayati or the current leaders were more corrupt?

Shrestha: The CORRUPTION has been the main game of politics of multiparty democracy in Nepal.  We shouldn’t be surprised in future if last decade of second millennium of Nepal’s second time restored democracy is recorded as CORRUPTOCRATS CORRUPTIONCRACY IN THE CORRUPTIONDOM AT THE LAP OF MAJESTIC HIMALAYA.  The leaders of all parties openly accepts that the corruption money has been the main sources of party fund for politics and mobilizing party workers and electioneering besides providing “essential” modern luxuries to socialist and Marxist-Leninist die-hards. The donors have lately raised the concern about corruption though they too are partly responsible in accelerating the speed of corruption practices in quantity and quality. The effective control of corruption of all nature will be a reality only in character based and integrity conscious individuals society. So to effect control of corruption we have develop two track strategies.  The first track will be futuristic and long-term .In this track the young citizen will be educated about the ills of corruption and inculcate hate attitude towards corruption and filthy wealths.   Also, will educate and promote holistic life.  The second track will be of immediate term in which one approach will be donors' strategies and the next political system based strategies. In the donors strategies the  loans and grants  will be made available only on the fulfilling conditions of  transparent and peopled involved  

decision  making process; international standard  transparent  finance and account system  and public body appointed auditing; regular performance auditing. And, the accountability of leaders, administrative staff and other people involved.  Finally, making donors and govt. negotiations public and transparent.

The second strategies will be to have in –built mechanism within the political system. That will be

Ø       Define legally and technically corruption's of all nature in all aspects of human activities and its Consequences and nature of penalties in legal and technical terms.

Ø       Incorporation of all pervasive laws and inactment of necessary act empowering the authorities of corruption and abuse of power supervisory and controlling  Autonomous  Public  Authorities.

Ø       The Autonomous Public body shall be completely independent in financial, administrative and in decision making process from National Political Authorities.

Ø       Establishment of Broad based international standard Charter Accountants and Performance Auditing Public body.

Ø       Making  Parties, INGO,NGO   financial and account  public and transparent  a   mandatory and   public body auditing 

Ø       Leaders, public servants and other public personalities Financial and property status must be made public and transparent at regular intervals.

Ø       Defaulters and corrupts must be made public and duly penalized. Irrespective of their political and social status.

Ø       Right to call back elected representatives in case of corruption, misuse and abuse of power and non-performance should be a constitutional provision.

Ø       The election of PM be direct from all Nepal constituency allowing to form his cabinet from non elected personalities of knowledge and of integrity from party and from different communities with  screening and approval by parliamentary committee.

The elected parliamentarians be constitutionally be barred from taking berth in cabinet post.  And should remain as Lawmakers only whole of his elected term. Mr. Upadhyay, your reference to whether Panchas or current leaders are more corrupt, one can specifically say that had Panchas not been corrupt the people then would not  have supported en-masse  simply for multi party  front.  The corruption, abuse of power and misuse of power made people anti-panchayat.  And, surprisingly Multi party democratic leaders are proving more multi dimensional and multi nefarious in corruption, abuse and misuse of power.  The parliament debate, press reporting and recent international agency report proves the fact.

TGQ4: Media reports have it that the congress party is in trouble. The two political giants of the congress appear to be heading for a collision course. Mind it the fact that the tussle in the congress has come at a time when the UML is hell bent upon pressing the government to yield to their demands. The situation thus has become more volatile and the common men have become merely an onlooker of the grand Tamasha. How you would comment on these developments?

Shrestha: Well, the “collision” is the gene that make-up Congress Party. Without collision they have not learnt to exist.   Till they face externalities to the Party they collide in unison with externalities like Panchayat or Communist fronts. Once that is over their “gene” keeps them active in inter party collision even without any serious issues. It seems that enhances sense of being seasoned politicians to them. And hardly matter to them whatever be the consequences. Yet, it seems, they have to learn the lessons from bad consequences.   They get so occupied with collision Tamasha that they forget that their business is people-issues. And your reference to UML being “hell bent upon pressing the Govt to yield their demand” is a usual sort of business of Bhattarai govt. as they are very much aware of instinctive character of fellow politicians.

TGQ5: Mr. Shrestha, How have you taken up the events in Pakistan and the causes that prompted the rulers in Pakistan to go in for a coup. Back home, reportedly, sections of the population have been urging the King to roll back the system and take up the emerging system in his command. Will it be possible for the King to go anti democratic wave. Given the existing politically fluid conditions in the country, what you suggest the present leaders of the nation so that the worst could be averted. Also please enlighten our readers as to what should be the role of the Nepali media in such circumstances.

Shrestha: The events in Pakistan a “ counter coup” as claimed by Military leader now in the helm of national affairs seems a snowballing effect of  what  elected by humping majority leader Mr. Nawaj   Sharif 

govt. ,being charged with, have done in dismantling  democratic institutions, interfering in judiciary, dislocating bureaucratic  systems, promoting nepotism and large scale corruptions and finally   attempting

murder and assaulting  military systems.  If the charges are true and proves by court then the actions taken by Military leader will prove politically correct in the context of Pakistan.   To the out side observers like us, it is more interesting to note that thumping majority who voted Mr. Nawaj Sherif did not show any protest rather, as shown in electronic media, expressed sense of relief. This should be the subject of serious concern to all of us.   This makes me recollects write ups of western political scientist that the Third wave of Democracy that swept third world countries may not be able to sustain to the state of mature system due to lack of knowledge of governance, lack of democratic political culture among the leaders specifically and in general  with common citizen,   paucities of capital and technical  and human resources, weak and insufficient   agro and industrial productions, higher expectation of people from democratic systems  and in return slow or in adequate delivery of products and services  to people even in higher costs and finally highhandedness of political authorities breeding nepotism and rampant corruption. Back home in Nepal the sporadic street  rallies   of peoples calling  to roll back the systems  to The King should be viewed from broad spectrum  and

consider as a  common phenomena   in a  plural society under multi party system.   We should better try to understand from our constitutional perspective and global trend , specifically techno revolution aspect.

The Constitution of l990 is the sole product of  the agreements of  The King, the Congress Party and  United Communist Fronts.  As all the multiparty democrats and parties do have their role in nation building and

prosperity of common citizens  so has the King   of protecting and enhancing  the interest of The sovereign   citizens ,issues of  national interest  and Strengthening National institutions  including multiparty democratic party systems. The King is the symbol of unity and security of The Sovereign. If we look at the developing patterns globally trend in Super High way  info technology, we have to have futuristic out look   be wide open and flexible. The present pattern of multi party system is in debate in the countries where it originated and flourished along other countries where it has been in practice since long period to make it more of futuristic systems. Only solution will be Electronic –Democracy. 

E-democracy as will make The Sovereign as real sovereignty exercising, they will be able to utilize ethnic, local and national institutions of tradition and modern to enhance their  civic , human rights, community or

group interest, national interest of all sorts  and optimize the strengths. Hence, the institution of “kingship” will have new role to play.  Till past The Kings are utilizing the people for their and country interest.  Now,

it will be people  to utilize the institute of “kingship” to the benefit of large sovereign populace, to strength the democratic systems and enhance  national interest. To be wide open and flexible will be the best  to accommodate the future. Our Political leaders too should be futuristic and rise above petty interest and be above partisan and the democracy, nation and people should be their sole concern. Lastly, Nepali media should be more futuristic and rise above partisan interest and stand for impartial and factual information  of the issues so that  pluralism, democracy , National institutions and national interest can be strengthened. 

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