Nepali politicians are trying to take
political advantage of the Maoists' insurgency
-Ms. Indu Acharya (Regmi)
Ms. Indu Acharya-Regmi is at the moment Lecturer at the Padma Kanya Campus and teaches
Political Science since May 1997. Her sphere of special interest is Modern Political
Analysis and Political theories. She taught Nepal Parichaya at the Nepal Law Campus from
1989 June to 1997 April.
She originally hails from Dharan, a comparatively small town in the foothills close to
Biratnagar.
The lists of her social engagements are rather long. Among them include Secretary, POLSAN;
Chair at the Voluntary Initiatives for Community Empowerment-VOICE; member, Women
Rehabilitation Center; executive member of 'Aincho-Paincho saving and credit cooperative',
and member of Nepal Progressive Teachers' Association.
Ms. Indu has to her credit several research initiatives and publication as well. Her
research papers include; "Strategic intervention to increase women's participation in
local governance" and 'Tharu culture and life in Hansposa VDC of Sunsari district'.
She has authored a religious book on the philosophy of "Sri Krishna Pranami
Dharma".
Her other professional involvements include working as a freelance Nepali Language Trainer
with various language training centers. Add to this her assuming the post of
administrative assistant at the Nepal Bureau of Standards.
Ms. Acharya-Regmi has enriched her knowledge through the participation in various national
and international level seminars and conferences. In the process she has already visited
India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Phillipines, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore.
She is married and has a sweet small daughter.
Last week, we approached this intellectual for an exclusive tete-a-tete to which she
agreed. Below the results: Chief editor.
TGQ1: As a student of political science and having long experience in teaching
political theories to the students, how you Ms. Indu assess the overall functioning of the
new system what we have today? Do you think that the nation has progressed to the extent
what had been assured by the then champions of the democratic movement prior to the advent
of this order or is it just the otherwise? Your exclusive comments please.
Ms. Indu: First of all thank you very much for this opportunity to express my
views over the contemporary political issues of the country.
Yes! This is the question, which is currently in the minds of every conscious citizen of
this country. In my opinion, the democratic movement was an effort to overthrow the
Panchayat system and restore democracy in the country and nothing more. Regarding the
progress, if you are indicating towards the 'progress in strengthening democracy' in the
country, we have to consider many aspects such as developing democratic norms and values
across various institutions, establishment of good governance at various levels. Yes, the
progress is slow. They say, the outcome of the people's movement came too early so we had
very little transition period which is not sufficient to orient ourselves in democratic
cultures which we people had faced several constitutional exercises with good and bad
experiences. But in my opinion, we are in a process of democratizing our democracy, which
is undoubtedly a completely new practice for us. So there might be some illusions of
regression which is not real or which is just a temporary phenomenon.
TGQ2: One American scholar of international standing, Samuel P. Huntington has
said that the third wave democracies might see a "reversal due to the sheer follies
of those statesmen, leaders and the politicians who in essence remained instrumental in
the restoration of the democratic order". To what extent you agree to this view? Or
you totally disagree with his version. Do you see any such possibility of
"reversal" of the system in Nepal given Huntington's prediction mentioned above?
How do you react to it?
Ms. Indu: As I told you, earlier we had no transition period. The current time is
our transition phase, and so our democracy is at its early days yet where there is no
question of reversal. The only speculation of reversal, if any, would be to think of
'retaliation in favor of panchayat' by reactionary forces. But I do not predict such
'reversals'. Nepali people would not allow anybody to tamper with the foundation of
democracy. So you can also think that I do not agree without Huntington's view rather I do
not think that it is currently applicable to the political enrichment of Nepal, unless and
until the so-called political leader(s) change and improve and arrest the menace of
corruption etc in the country. I agree with your view to some extent but not up to the
extent that reversal actually means restoration of Panchayat democracy. I don't see such
kind of reversal.
TGQ3: We have been talking a lot about the need of a vibrant civil society; good
governance and effective decentralization for achieving progress in the country. Premier
Koirala too advanced his avowal that he would provide good governance, better law and
order situation and eradicating the menace of corruption. All these proclamations apart,
how you assess the net result and the existing situation in all the aspects mentioned
above? What in your opinion is retarding the progress of this country? Who is the real
villain?
Ms. Indu: The real villain is the idealistic attitude among the political leaders
of this country. It is quite sad to see that those leaders who were known for their
simplicity, honesty, and dedication for the mission are now held under suspect of
corruption and materialistic life. It looks like they have changed their image from
popular leader to political bureaucrats. The expressions of PM Girija are just a political
slogan to justify his efforts to over-throw Mr. Bhattarai. There has been no progress (in
fact the situation in all 3 areas of Prime minister Koirala's declared agenda has become
more worse) in all areas of his declarations prior to assuming the prestigious seat of the
nation's Prime minister. Our country has passed through a race of polarization during
first five years of democracy. Everything was branded as ' congress' or 'communist', so
the country badly lack 'independent citizens' who would have been the source for the
inception of civil society. Sorry to say but it is the unfortunate reality of the country
that there is nothing without politics and party in the country.
TGQ4: The Maoists' insurgency has spread to almost thirty districts of the country
over these five years. Many politicians interpret this insurgency suiting to their
political affiliations. Some say it is terrorist activity warranting stringent action by
the State. Others feel comfortable in calling it as a political issue. How you see it Ms.
Acharya? How it should be tackled any way?
Ms. Indu: I don't confer any activities with violence and killing. I do not agree
that the people's revolution approach of Mao of 70 years back is appropriate for 21st
century. I do not see that the Maoist are following the guiding principles set by comrade
Mao during his peoples revolution. Nepal needs massive social reformation at the very
structural level but that is only possible through the peaceful process of social economic
reformation at the grass-root level.
However, most of the politicians are apparently trying to take the advantage of the Maoist
activities/insurgency. The advantage is much more attractive for some people and
institutions of the government but not for the general citizen of the country
TGQ5: What role the media of a 'nascent democracy' should play to enlighten the
citizenry? Do you think that the Nepalese media have been playing their due role? Your
suggestions and comments please.
Ms. Indu: Partly I have answered this question in your third question itself.
Free, fair and frank media are one of the nurturing agents for 'democracy' but the moot
question is do we have our media with us and have they been doing their jobs honestly?
Most of the print media are not known by their names and their strict adherence to the
ethics of journalism, but they are known by their political affiliation(s) with one or
other political party. What we read in the media is not the true picture and independent
analysis of the situation but manipulated views of some particular political
interpretations of political parties. |
