In depth Analysis

Political crisis steps up

Kathmandu: At time of writing, business has yet to begin in House of Representatives. At time of writing again, it is unlikely that the opposition will allow parliament to take up business. At least, this is what is suggested by UML General Secretary Madhav Nepal when he tells the public that there is no alternative to Prime Minister Girija's resignation. This is, moreover, hardly a strategy. Crowding the well at the parliament may stop parliamentary business. To get the Prime Minister to resign on this account alone calls for imagination. The Prime Minister can resign if his majority in parliament is challenged by non-passage of the bills introduced by government. But for this the business inside the parliament has to resume. This is where things have been made unclear by the opposition.

It is not surprising then that the Speaker of the Lower House Taranath Bhat now sees democracy readily threatened. To boot, Speaker of the National Assembly Mohammad Mohsin calls for the King to define and assume his responsibilities in such a situation. And, again, rounds of talks take place among the political forces opposed to Girija Prasad Koirala to dislodge the Prime Minister. While, then, street action and agitation for the purpose is now predictable, what it says to democracy and parliamentary recourse is hardly congenial.

Adding to the situation is the general appearance of apathy in the congress. A large section of the congress in the House awaits opposition action and a Girija resignation. The other section is confident that its majority will carry it through. The fact is that the Nepali Congress has a majority in parliament. But the congress parliamentary leader, the party chairman and the Prime Minister all three of which is assumed by Girija Prasad Koirala does not seem to hold a real majority. This is regardless of his Pokhara mandate.

And so if a paralyzed parliament is one option in the course ahead, the other option is a paralyzed street. Perhaps emboldened by the manner, with which Philippine President Estrada was dislodged by the streets, the opposition parties in parliament and outside are preparing for civic action to demonstrate the strength of people power.

What next is any body's guess?

Of course, the Maoists' threat remains. It is every body's conclusion that the insurgency awaits definitive surfacing in the capital city. The extreme upsurge of violence during the Hritik Roshan issue is said to be one demonstration of Maoists presence here. Another is the manner with which the valley's roads were emptied in course of the strike of the public vehicle owners. The campuses are once again on the verge of closure. Clearly, politics is heating up. But toward which direction is, again, any body's guess.

And then there is the much-talked about Royal tour of China. The timing is in itself significant. Royal action is being carefully watched. His Majesty is the chief guest at the China launched Asia Forum in which Kirti Nidhi Bista is a delegate. What the King says there becomes in these circumstances as important as what is contained in his democracy day message. People watch and try to find meaning at how His Majesty purposely awaits the Prime Minister and talks to him prior to resuming his cavalcade after the democracy day celebrations at Tundikhel. Watchers also attach significance to the manner with which the King listened to the Chief Justice who, one presumes was recounting his recent near escape from a Maoist ambush. Much meaning is being given to the series of consultations the King has been having with Parliamentarians on the citizenship bill.

It is even the citizenship bill, which has brought the King to yet another constitutional crisis. The fact that it was included in the Finance bill is not the sole problem. The fact is that out constitution inhibits such bills regarding citizenship. This calls for constitutional amendments on its own. Again, there is the fact that the King can't reject the Finance bill passed by the Lower House. One ready option for the King is to keep the bill on hold even this will be politicized.

Battle of 'Waterloo' in Nepali parliament; UML lawmaker hospitalised

Kathmandu: Deliberate or otherwise the nation is definitely being pushed towards the brink.

The adamancy exhibited by the ruling and the opposition parties over their declared stands have stunned the nation and the ongoing regular business in the house of representatives have come to a grinding halt.

Add to this Monday's bizarre incident inside the parliament that forced the UML lawmaker Rajendra Pandey to get him hospitalized only tells the sorry tale of the ongoing scheme of political things in Nepal and her "nascent" democracy. Eyewitnesses revealed that the parliament suddenly turned into a battleground and each lawmaker contributed his mite to make it more ugly to the extent possible. A sort of free for all RUGY match lasted for full "unlucky" thirteen minutes, thanks to our lawmakers. The disgusting scene reminded the watchers very much of the battle of Waterloo or Panipat.

The end result was that many lawmakers complained that their ribs were broken and some talked about their having serious head injuries.

Congress minister Omkar Shrestha created the ugly scene inside the parliament, confirm media reports.

Undoubtedly, the confidence with which the entire opposition has stuck to their one-point agenda for the resignation of Prime Minister Koirala and the subsequent turmoil inside the parliament and the would be programs that are yet to follow as a retaliatory measure against Koirala and his government apparently give the impression that the opposition this round will continue their agitation until Koirala voluntarily steps down from the current chair.

The opposition, to recall, has already declared that they will come to the open and seek the people's support for the ouster of Prime Minister Koirala.

This means that a sort of hurricane or say a cyclone will grip the Nepali politics soon. The opposition parties, however, yet to decide the dates for the beginning of their street actions against Koirala.

Undoubtedly, the street agitation will be cashed in on by the radical Maoists. Add to this that the minor nine left parties too have only the other day announced that they too would join the opposition move for Koirala's summary ouster.

Fortunately, the regional party-the NSP, is siding with Koirala for obvious reasons. Yet sources in the NSP say that the party remains divided on whether to continue its support to Koirala or join the bands of the opposition and demand the resignation of the Prime Minister.

NSP Supremo, Gajendra Narayan Singh reportedly under pressure from some influencial quarters and has been clearly told to extend support to Koirala or face consequences. However, which force on earth has dared to "brain-wash" Gajju babau is yet to be substantiated. Sources close to G.N.Singh say that the NSP Supremo is obliged to support Koirala for it was Koirala's tacit support that elevated Singh to the National Assembly.

The fact is that apart from the declared opposition currently being made by the Opposition parties for his ouster, the real opposition emanates from his own house that is the congress party.

A contingent of anti-Koirala congressmen have apparently joined the Opposition mainstream and wish to get rid of they describe as Koirala-menace. Clearly, Deuba-the arch rival of Koirala leads this group to which the Party president is well aware of.

This clearly means that a substantial amount of pressure is already there in the party itself which is adding to the strength of the opposition parties for the ouster of the Prime Minister. Enemy from within is in essence more dangerous that the declared enemies. So goes an old Nepali proverb.

Reliable sources confirm that some vocal congressmen at Monday's congress committee meeting point blank suggested Prime Minister Koirala to resign and facilitate some other competent party man to assume the Premiership of the nation.

"After all the opposition has only demanded Koirala's ouster and hence Koirala should ease the deteriorating situation by resigning from the post", said a congressman who has close links with key men in the Deuba camp.

However, the other side of the story is different. Prime Minister Koirala rejected the call of the opposition and said at the Congress CC meeting Monday that "I will not resign under pressure from any quarters come what may".

This apart, Prime Minister Koirala also hinted his CC members that should the opposition push him to the wall he might throw the country for yet another mid term polls.

Analysing Koirala's utterances what could be concluded at this juncture is that he will face the opposition threat till the end caring little about the consequences that were yet to follow.

On the other hand, the opposition remains undeterred in its stand. UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari says that with the attack on their MP by a congress minister, the entire opposition will not settle for less that Koirala's resignation. "Our determination has doubled", commented Adhikari.

Horrifying but yet true is the fact that the people too have been pouring their sympathies for the opposition demand. This is not surely out of love for the opposition but as a mark of protest against the prevalence of corruption at higher political echelons.

Speakers' Bhat and Mohsin see national situation differently!

Kathmandu: Speaker of the lower house of the representatives, Tara Nath Rana Bhat sees threat to democracy if the present stalemate in the parliament were not sorted out amicably at the earliest.

Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Mohammad Mohsin has tentatively concluded that the ailments that have gripped the nation of late demanded constitutional monarch's due role in controlling the situation and that such Royal move should not be taken as otherwise.

Speaker Rana Bhat told only recently that he sensed threat to this order from some quarters. However, Speaker Bhat did not divulge as to which quarter could pose a threat or so to this democratic order.

He also said that the threat to the system could be avoided if the current crisis in the parliament were allowed to settle amicably through dialogues between the ruling party and the fire brand opposition parties.

Not very surprisingly, Speaker Rana Bhat has talked sense in the sense that the vast majority of the people too feel the Speakers' way. However, the people sense a threat to democratic order not because the system were unsuitable for Nepal but because of the total neglect of the norms and the established values of the system by those who man it. The corrupt practices in which the leaders have engaged themselves in could invite intervention of some quarters if things remain as it stands today. The people have become sick of their leaders with which they have been steering the system.

The people subscribe to the views of Speaker Rana Bhat. Perform or perish opine majority of the lay men.

When a seasoned leader of the sort of Dr. Mohsin opines that it is only the constitutional monarch who can bring normalcy in the country then one has to give due thought to his opinions.

The national population indirectly subscribe to Speaker Mohsin's view but question as to what would happen if the monarch proceeds with His own scheme of political things after bringing back the normalcy in the country?

Yet another question could be asked to Dr. Mohsin that where lay the constitutional provision for the monarch to come to the rescue of the national population and the country?

Thirdly, if the monarch accepted Dr. Mohsin's plea, will not that tantamount to a sort of coup de' etat.

And finally, how to guess the monarch's mind whether he wishes to come to the rescue of the nation as suggested by Dr. Mohsin or prefers to remain above from petty national politics?

Be that as it may, the fresh sentiments of the two Nepali distinguished leaders provoke thinking by all and sundry more so by the nation's scholars.

The two statements though have come from two diametrically opposite quarters, but yet assume importance in the sense that both hint that the political health of the nation at the moment were not sound and some sort of "arrangements" had to be brought at the earliest to save the system and the country..

However, the difference in the two statements is that while the first urges the political leaders to patch up their differences and thus give life to the system, the other wishes the King's mediation in arriving at a solution to the present imbroglio.

Clearly, both the statements carry a hidden message and that being that the country had become shaky and politically unstable and that any untoward event could happen any time.

Canadian student studying Bhutanese Refugee issue

Kathmandu: For the first time perhaps a student from the developed West opted to study the reasons behind the mass exodus of the Southern Bhutanese of Nepalese origin into Nepal that began some twelve years ago.

Ms. Sarrah Oppenheim, a Canadian national, at the moment is in Nepal to conduct a research on the Bhutanese refugee issue.

She arrived Kathmandu early February.

Talking to this scribe Sarrah described that she was a student of the American University based in Washington D.C.

"I'm conducting an independent study on the Refugee issue and a part of the fund for the research has been provided by the university where at the moment I study", said Sarrah Oppenheim.

She is a final year student of International relations at the American University.

"Since I'm interested in the issues related with Human Rights and the issue of refugees in particular, hence I decided to land in Nepal to study your problems", added Sarrah.

According to Sarrah, not so many people in the United States or for that matter in her own country know about Nepal's refugee problem.

"However, I learnt about this issue only recently but yet I concluded to submit my thesis on this topic", said a beaming Sarrah.

The Canadian national expressed her profound happiness over the initiation of the verification process of the Bhutanese nationals languishing in Nepali camps for well over a decade or so which would, added Sarrah, speed up the repatriation process much to the advantage of the host country.

She hopes to submit her report on the refugee problem by May this year.

Radisson brings Great Kebab Factory in town

Kathmandu: The Radisson, one of the fastest growing Hotels in Kathmandu will now serve to its customers KEBABS of various sorts at its restaurants.

At a demonstration program organized specially for the Nepalese journalists at its premises Monday evening, the recently opened Great Kebab Factory served delicious dishes of Kebabs to the attending media men round after round.

The Great Kebab Factory is a renowned outlet of Radisson Delhi, which has come Kathmandu as well.

Chef Gyan Pandey explained about the preparations of various sorts of Kebabs and divulged that people of all sorts in Delhi have appreciated this new addition there.

Chef Gyan Pandey originally hails from Baglung, Nepal, and has been there since eight years or do.

" My stint at Radisson Delhi is only for one and a half year", adds Pandey.

The media men enjoyed Galauti Kebab, Barrah Kabab, Murgh Tikka Lazeez and Sheekh Kabab Lahori.

The whole range of Kebab at the Radisson costs only Rs. 999 only.

Nepali press meet Eric Valli and Thinley

Kathmandu: The French Ambassador to Nepal, Mr. Claude Ambrosini, Tuesday evening arranged a brief ceremony to introduce Thinley and Eric Valli-the widely acclaimed actor and the internationally recognized director of the film CARAVAN, at his official residence in Bishalnagar.

The film Caravan bagged international acclaim for its story, photography and the presentation style.

The shooting of the film took place in Nepal's Dolpo region and tells the life style of the people of that very region.

In a way this film offered the international film watchers, and filmmakers to understand the majestic beauty of this Himalayan Kingdom.

Actor Thinley has recently been the talk of the town as many institutions have duly honored the actor for his brilliant acting in the world famous film, Caravan.

Director Erric Valli only last week came Kathmandu to witness this event.

APF bill awaits defeat in Upper house

Kathmandu: The government sponsored controversial citizenship bill has yet to get Royal approval.

Instantly after the bill was sent for the Royal approval at the Palace, scores of Nepali leaders indirectly hinted the constitutional monarch not to give his assent to the bill as they feared that if the bill received Royal sanction would facilitate alien nationals to easily acquire Nepali citizenship. Some leaders even accepted their blunder in having supported the government in getting the bill through the parliament.

Considering the popular sentiment perhaps, the constitutional monarch preferred to read the minds of various leaders of the Nepali political life prior to giving assent to the bill.

In the process King Birendra met with Madhav Nepal, S.B.Thapa, Bam Dev Gautam and NSP leader Gajendra Narayan Singh and a hosts of others as well.

What transpired between the King and the leaders who met the monarch regarding the citizenship bill is not known. But what is in Katmandu's air is that the monarch presumably has decided not to offer his seal to the bill as per the supposed suggestions of a cross section of Nepal's prominent leaders.

However, as per the constitution 1990, the monarch at best can return the bill for further consideration by the house. Ultimately the King is bound by the constitution to offer his assent to any such bills sent second time by the government for the monarch's approval.

However, in this case the King deserves the right to seek advice of the apex court.

Likewise, the fate of the bill brought through the Royal Ordinance pertaining to the formation of the Armed Police Force too appears bleak.

The bill to get through needs the clearance from both houses of the parliament. However, since the congress lacks majority in the National Assembly, the bill in question is almost sure to go to the dogs.

Intellectuals opine that if the government sponsored bills get defeated one way or the other would embolden the opposition to the extent that they would summarily demand the resignation of the government.

Yet another embarrassment to the government indeed.

| National | 5 Question  | Editorial | 2nd Impression | International | Past |