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Stage is set for restoration of Democracy in Nepal

Panna Lal Chowdhury - 5/19/2006

The Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal was in severe political crisis last month. The streets of its capital Kathmandu were flooded with thousands of demonstrators shouting slogans for restoration of democratic system of government in Nepal. Every day the number of demonstrators was increasing. On April 20, 2006, around hundred thousand people came out in the streets of its capital. Even the shoot at sight orders issued by the authorities could not prevent them. As a result three demonstrators died in police firing on that day. Starting from the capital Kathmandu pro-democracy and anti-monarchy protest rallies were spreading throughout Nepal. For the common people in Nepal it was a serious crisis affecting their day to day life. Further, it is heart breaking to see that in the past Nepal was a very peaceful country and the people in Nepal had tremendous respect for their monarchy. Many of them used to think that the king is an ambassador from God. But now with the present King Gyanendra the situation has turned upside down. Because he failed to handle the current political problems there, in an efficient and affective manner.

Under the multi-party democratic system in Nepal its parliament and government is elected by the people. However like Britain, there is a constitutional monarchy where the King is the head of the state.

The present political crisis in the Kingdom of Nepal started since the first week of February 2005, when the King by an imperial order dissolved the national parliament and dismissed the prime minister and his cabinet. It was just a palace coup. The main reason specified for this Royal action is that the prime minister and his cabinet have failed to tackle the growing problem of Maoist rebel uprising. During last ten years the Maoist guerilla campaign is growing up there. The violent Maoist insurgency has already left over 13000 dead during last one decade. The monarch also accused that some cabinet ministers were inefficient and corrupt as such they were unable to solve various problems faced by his country.

Democratic environment in Nepal suffered a serious set back as the monarch imposed emergency rules in February 2005. Important political leaders and Human rights activists were put under detention. News Medias brought under sever government control. Violation of Human rights in various forms continued with the tightening of undue government control on democratic institutions and social environment. All these actions by the monarch culminated in serious protest from Nepal’s major donor countries like India, Britain and the USA.

However, as against all these drastic steps there was also good promises from the King saying that he will take suitable initiative in future to bring back the normalcy in Nepal including restoration of its democratic system.

Over last few hundred years Nepal is ruled by a strong monarchy. It was never under any colonial rule. The People of Nepal feel that erstwhile western colonial powers who ruled the Indian subcontinent for about two hundred years, did not dare to occupy and rule their country, because it is a land of brave people. Nepal is a Hindu kingdom and also the birth place great Lord Buddha. With its beautiful mountains and hills the country is an attractive travel area for the western tourists. Nepal’s tourist business is the important source of its foreign currency earning. Further, the Governments of Britain and India still employing the brave Nepalese Gurkha personnel for their armed forces.

Nepal is a land locked country bordering two Asian giants China and India. As such outsiders may not like to take much interest at the present crisis there. But if the Maoist campaign is able to replace the democratic government in Nepal, it will add to an adverse scenario for the whole region of South Asia. Anti-democratic military regime is already in power in the neighboring Myanmar. A lot of international pressure from USA, European Union, ASEAN and others has failed to create any positive outcome for introducing democratic system there. Pakistan, the major US ally for global anti terrorist campaign is still ruled by a military General. The General has already made a lot of promises to make gradual reform in his present system for establishing democracy in Pakistan. But in spite of these promises progress in this respect is not enough so far, for making Pakistan a real democratic state.

US President George W. Bush during his visit to India in March 2006 urged that democratic system should be established in Nepal and Myanmar. Later during his visit to Pakistan he said that ---- one of the aims of his visit there was to see the progress of the promised reform measures to establish a democratic system of government in Pakistan. Friends of democracy around the world are worried about these adverse developments concerning the fate of democracy in Myanmar, Pakistan and Nepal.

As already stated the Maoist insurgency problem faced by Nepal is potentially dangerous for Nepal and also for the whole region of South Asia.

Maoists are already infiltrating into a few states (provinces) of India. India is the largest democracy in the world. As such there is no reason to think that such infiltration may overtake the strong and established democratic set up of India. But it shows that the Maoists do infiltrate, deliver arms and create different kind of problems to enhance their campaign and to disturb the smooth political environment in some small areas there. During the recent months (April- May 2006) there are State assembly elections in the Indian state of West Bengal. But the Maoist campaigners there warned the common voters not to cast their votes since Maoist to do not support any democratic system. Maoists believe in armed struggle to establish people’s rules. However, it is heartening to note that in spite of this Maoist warning more than seventy percent of the voters there casted their votes, which can be compared well with the last election there, held before five years.

Nepal relies on international donor aid and loans for more than half of its development budget to prop up an economy already devastated by the Maoist insurgency.

Immediately after the Palace coup last year, the kingdom faced sanctions from its aid givers and donors. India and Britain cut off military aid to the kingdom. Its ill-equipped army depends heavily on such help to fight the Maoist rebels who are fighting to install a communist regime. The World Bank said it was freezing the release of more aid to Nepal while it assessed events there, including the protection of human rights. However, during last one year the pressure of such sanctions is being eased out gradually by the donors themselves considering the underdeveloped economic condition of Nepal.

It may be noted here that the King dissolved the parliament and terminated the elected government in February 2005, without introducing any suitable alternative for it. The monarch perhaps thought that instead of restoring democracy with an affective plan he may administer the country like the military rulers in Myanmar.

During last one year political parties and other democratic forces in Nepal had lot of peaceful protests meetings urging the monarch to install a democratic government there and also to withdraw the curbs imposed on human rights. The people in general waited to see that the monarch will come up with some positive action steps in this respect. But all these were in vain. There was no action step from the Royal palace. The anti democratic rules imposed by the King in February 2005 have only deteriorated the political and economic situation in Nepal. The Maoists continued with their violent campaign. Due to uncertainty and lack of political stability the inflow of foreign tourist has declined.

During last one year the frustration of the people in general was accumulating since nothing was coming up to meet their expectation for a democratic system of government, human rights and a rising economy. In view of all these developments the situation turned to be burning one and the country was boiling in crisis in April 2006.

Seven mainstream political parties formed an alliance in 2005 to carry out the political movements for restoration of democracy there. These prominent parties launched the recent pro-democracy movements throughout the country which the monarch could not ignore. Because unless he takes positive and creative steps the situation may turn violent and move out of his control. As such he invited these political parties for talks and also asked them to propose the name of a new prime minister. But the political parties and the people in general did not accept this offer. They considered this invitation as an attempt of the monarch to divert their attention from the real issue of restoration of democracy including the rules to ensure human rights.

However, in his next offer the monarch agreed to reconvene the parliament which he dissolved last year. The Seven party alliance gladly accepted this offer as they consider this as a victory for their pro-democracy movement. They also suggested the name of Mr. G. P. Koirala as the new prime Minister. Mr. G. P. Koirala of the Nepalese Congress party is an old and experienced politician who was elected and worked as a prime minister several times in the past also.

After his appointment the new prime minister has formed a cabinet. The mainstream political parties are now preparing for elections to an assembly to write a new constitution and decide the future of the monarchy. In the face of mass protests last month the monarch was forced to hand over the power back to the political parties who represent the democratic forces of the country.

The Maoist group was the born enemy of the mainstream political parties. But in November 2005 the Maoist and political parties entered into a loose deal against King Gyanendra who imposed absolute power early last year.

Though the Maoists have been fighting since 1996 to set up one-party communist rule in the Himalayan kingdom there is some change in their attitude now. They now say they will accept the outcome of the election to the special assembly. They have welcomed a government ceasefire offer and said they are ready to enter peace talks.

A statement from the Maoist rebel leader called the indefinite truce offer by the government a "positive step". The rebels announced their own three-month ceasefire last week. "We hope that the peace talks will not fail this time," he said. Because such peace talks broke down in 2001 and 2003. The date and venue for fresh talks and the negotiators have not been decided yet.

He further said --- We are entering into a dialogue process, feeling deep responsibility for people's aspirations towards democracy and peace. He also said that a code of conduct had already been presented to the government. He said he hoped the government would "sincerely implement it". Of course he did not elaborate the details of this code of conduct.

He said that the talks would be aimed at clearing the way for elections to a constituent assembly, which, it is planned, will draft a new constitution and decide the future role of the monarchy.

It is remarkable to note that in the wake of popular protests the king has now discontinued his direct rule from the palace and also handed over the power to the parliament. Next important issue is to see how far the Maoist rebels do really participate in the scheduled peace process including its democratic system so that violence in Nepal is discontinued once and for all, new election take place and new constitution is written through the mutual cooperation of all the relevant parties.

The victory of the democratic forces in Nepal is appreciable and unique. People around the globe are already asking why there is no such positive development in Myanmar, Pakistan or in the Arab countries where democracy is always crushed by the military rulers and dictators. It is because inherent strength of the democratic and political forces is not same in all the countries around the world. The analysis of the historical background including the degree of maturity of democratic forces of each country will be able to reveal this fact. Let us hope that the democracy in Nepal will continue to shine more and more during the coming days.