Political Crisis at its Brink

-Rabindra Khanal

Introduction

Since the restoration of multi-party democracy in 1990, several socio-economic and political problems have surfaced. The restoration itself was an outcome of a compromise among the various sections involved in the mass uprising. The interim government’s failure to deal with the culprits who were engaged in suppressing the mass movement left many enthusiasts of change dissatisfied. The constitution promulgated thereafter, may have been one of the best in the constitutional history of Nepal, could not include the interest of every section of the society. The Nepali Congress government made after the first general election failed to foster democratic values and ignored people’s aspiration for a better change. The working style of the new government antagonized not only the opposition but also its own party members. As a result, the country had to bear the cost of a mid-term election.

The mid-term poll changed the total power equation in the Parliament creating more chaos and confusion in the political situation. Lack of political tolerance and patience among the political parties, displacement of some political parties in the parliament, greed for power, corruption, irrational handling of the administration and so on flared up the already existing frustration among the people. The five different government within a short span of time and their game of hide and seek weakened the democratic values, administrative machinery and the political morale of the people.  Those who believed in democracy took it as the fault of transitional period and hoped for a gradual recovery but the others found no way to wait and see.

United People’s Front (Samyukta Jana Morcha) was one of the non-believers in bourgeoisie democracy, had participated in the system with the hope of capturing state power through parliamentary method. It had managed to capture 9 seats in the first parliament but was reduced to zero in the second one. Here, Khruschev’s principle of capturing state power through parliamentary method in the third world countries failed and they forged ahead with Mao Tse-tung’s revolutionary method. A section of the United People’s Front led by Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai joined the underground force of Puspa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda and began to fish in the trouble water in the name of Maoist.

Movement in Action: Maoist movement in the name of People’s war began in February 1996 and has completed its four years. During this period nearly two thousand people have been killed including the political workers, policemen, so-called Maoists and the ordinary people. The official figure given so far is 1,215 among which 879 rebels, 146 police personnel and 190 civilians. The Maoist movement has multiplied tremendously and has reached to the remote areas of several districts where they even run their own local government. Government machinery and the local government system have failed to function in many Maoist affected areas either for fear of Maoists or the local support to them. The Maoists as well as the police are victimizing the local people. As a result, people are migrating to the safer places. The local leaders are not living in their villages any more. In fact the villagers in those areas are living in a state of terror and they have no one to look forward to for any kind of help.

It is certainly amazing how the Maoists have been able to sustain their movement for so long, where do they get the firearms and financial support and who are behind them. They are sometime said to be affiliated with the deposed reactionary forces of the country and sometime with long distanced revolutionary forces like Shining Path. But these are mostly the speculations without any solid proof and still a matter of great concern without which the root cause of the problem can not be traced out. However, they have certain beliefs and grudges against the present system through which they carry on their revolutionary movement.

Theoretically, the Maoists consider that the present system of government creates more gap between the rich and poor and suppresses the interest of the working class. It does not provide the representation of every section of society in the state power. It works only to promote the interest of few bourgeoisie elements. To avoid this situation the regional and racial as well as tribal representation is necessary. At the local level CDO, police, forest office, banks, revenue offices, NGOs and INGOs are the people’s enemy who help to promote the interest of the national bourgeoisie. Therefore, the local organizations like these should be eliminated before commanding power at the center. They also talk about creating guerrilla zone in the interior and slowly converting them into base areas. The whole activities of the Maoists movement runs under these presumptions.

The Maoist operation for the past four years have been concentrated mostly on the above mentioned areas. They have looted the banks and burn down the revenue offices. Small farmer’s development programs in different districts have been targeted. NGO and INGO personnel have been assaulted and the political workers belonging to the major political parties have been killed either as the reactionaries or as the informers. They have also intensified their attacks on the local police stations killing police personnel and taking away their arms and ammunitions. The Maoist attack in one of the police station in Rolpa on February 18 killed 16 policemen including one police inspector. This probably was one of the biggest operations they have had against the police force in the past four years.

On the other hand, the role of the government is further aggravating. Its failure to recognize the gravity of Maoist problem has further intensified their movement. It is still not clear whether the movement is a terrorist activity or the political movement. It should be identified as one or the other and should be dealt accordingly. If it is the terrorist activity, the government should not hesitate to use the armed force and crush it but if it is a political movement, the solution should be sought at the political level. The government should not try to get away for long by calling everyone who challenges their monopoly as the terrorists, when the latter is driven by unbearable alienation to desperate acts of violence.

The government so far has heavily depended on the police force in handling the Maoist problem. As one can see the police in Nepal is poorly equipped to deal with the problems like this. They are supposed to maintain the law and order, give protection to those who are in need. They need to be trained in the humanitarian line and encourage protecting the life, liberty and property of the weaker section of the society. But the reality is different. The newspaper reports coming from time to time gives the clear evidence of the police brutality against the local people. People are arrested and tortured merely by suspicion and some have even lost from the police custody. Police action in Khare village development committee of Rukum district in February of this year provides the evidence of their revengeful attitude. The killing of police in such a large number was certainly a great tragedy but taking revenge by the police is unthinkable.

Another side of the problem is the sinking morale of the police force itself. After the February 18th incident, it has been clear that the existing police force is incapable of handling the Maoist insurgency. They claim that their weapons are much inferiors to that of the Maoists. They cannot defend themselves in the present situation and threatened the government to tender mass resignation if the situation is not improved.  Realizing the possible mutiny in the police force, Ministry of Home Affairs is seriously thinking of creating a para-military type of police force with better training and providing automatic weaponry to them. The Former Home Minister in the State Management Committee of the Parliament disclosed this sometimes earlier. It may be good to strengthen the police force for the maintenance of law and order but the possibility of civil war increases with this action of the government. The police force may turn to be more brutal and tyrannical with powerful firearms in their hand.

In regards to the use of military force, the stand of the government is not clear yet. The other political parties are also opposed to this idea. Some even say that the army is loyal to the king and inviting them to suppress the Maoist movement would mean the return of royal power and weakening of democracy. This kind of thinking has no logic in it. In every democratic country the army is under the Ministry of Defense and if the government wants they have to act upon it. There is no tradition of Military Junta in Nepal. But the use of the army needs the identification of the problem. If the Maoist movement is a political and social problem then the use of army is out of question. If it is a terrorist act, then the army should be involved because the civil police are not capable of fighting the terrorists anywhere in the world. Thus, it is very important for the government to make its stand clear before it takes any kind of armed action against the Maoists.

Now the situation has changed a bit. The government is having a hard time and it seems that the Maoists are also tired and divided in carrying out the operation further. Positive indications are coming from the Maoist to begin the talk for the solution of the problem. During the time of Bhattarai government, the General Secretary of the Maoists informed the government that they were ready to come to the table for talk if the government creates viable condition for it. They even authorized Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Mohan Vaidya and C.P.Gajurel for the talk. They also disclosed that they had been communicating with the government for quite some time. The government seemed positive to the Maoist gesture and authorized the committee formed under former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to hold talks with them. The coming back of Girija Prasad Koirala as the Prime Minister seemed to have disrupted the process once again. But some change has come in the new government’s attitude recently. The Prime Minister has asked Mr. Deuba to continue the process and has even increased the term of the Committee. This has brought the hope and possibility for the negotiation between the government and the Maoist insurgency.

Short Term Strategy for the Negotiation

- Maoist movement should be recognized as a sociopolitical problem.

- The government as well as the Maoists should issue statements to stop all kind of armed operations immediately.

- Both sides should name the negotiators with full authorization.

- Prepare and exchange the agenda for the talk. Narrow down the agenda mutually before the talks formally begin.

- Assure one another’s security during the negotiation period.

- Choose the venue for talk.

- Involve the International agencies like International Committee of Red Cross or Amnesty International for the mediation, security and the maintenance of Geneva Convention.

- Keep the talk confidential until it reaches to the concluding point.

- Disarm the insurgents under the supervision of the International agencies like

  ICRC and Amnesty International if the negotiation is successful.

- Rehabilitate the insurgents with dignity providing security, immediate employment and an opportunity to participate in main stream national life.

- Prevent the situation for any kind of revenge in future.

- Start implementing the negotiated terms into practice honestly.

Long Term Strategies for the Negotiation

- Study the socio-economic and political conditions in the Maoist affected areas and prepare long term and short term plans for the development of those areas.

- Rehabilitate the displaced people.

- Introduce free and compulsory education up to High School level providing

  necessary educational materials.

- Provide financial aid to the Maoist affected families to begin their normal life indiscriminately.

- Establish the infrastructures for development in the war footing.

- Encourage the International investors to invest their money in those areas.

- Revise the financial policy of the government to provide national resources equally to every part of the country.

- Initiate land reform and ensure tiller’s right more effectively.

- Clean up the politics and administration from corruption. Formulate new laws to punish the corrupt officials severely.

- Initiate programs for self employment in all districts and if possible in every Village Development Committee.

- Monitor and evaluate the development projects throughout the country more effectively.

Conclusion

The violence associated with the Maoist movement is assuming an alarming scale. Indiscriminate killing by the police as well as the Maoist is making a mockery of humanity and human rights in Nepal. If this situation is not ended immediately, we may probably face a long lasting civil war in the country. This may even invite an external interference in our internal affairs. Lack of information about the Maoist activities and the police action on them has further complicated the situation. Now it is high time for both the Maoists and the government to come to an understanding to end this violence and leave the people in peace once again. 

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