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Are We Rightly Prepared For the Nepal Polls?

Amit Pyakurel - 7/3/2007

After lots of political hassles, blame games and suspicions, Nepal finally seems to be destined for the Constituent Assembly (CA) election in coming November, regarding the latest decision of the government with a gaudy hope bestowed to the people. Decisions of the government, the hopes given to the people, and ultimately one or the other occurrence that the government and policy makers failed to abide by such hopes, has become a regular phenomenon in Nepali politics. It was then in the pre-Janaandolan II government and also vividly evident in the eight-party government established after the April movement.

Though the latest decision of the government to hold the CA election in November bears a lot of expectation and significance, people are still bound to get strike by the previous example when they, habitually as in the past, were once again flouted as the government simply failed to hold the election in June as it had promised. Nevertheless, the latest announcement of the government has incited a sense of relief in the general people, despite some amount of suspicion and anxiousness still prowling back of their heads.

Holding of the CA polls could be termed as the first ever practice in the country, which is hoped to give Nepalese their full sovereignty for the first time. It's also a rare political event in the world, concerning the Maoists, who were determined to overthrow the "feudalistic" political system merely through armed resistance, have now opted for peaceful means towards their strategy. But on the flipside, one may still have an inkling whether they have completely abandoned the hard-line political rhetoric of one-party totalitarian communist republic and, though without arms, if they are yet hoping to usurp power one way or the other.

Communist totalitarianism in some world states, despite having its various goodwill overtures for underprivileged ones and poor proletariats, didn't endure because of its inherent theory of "absolute one-party rule" where dissonances were not allowed. The assumption of the "flawless rule and indisputably wise leaders" in such absolutism (which is indeed not true for any party or belief), thus completely obstructing other contradicting ideas and beliefs to seek in, could be the main drawback of the system that couldn't undyingly sustain its grip in the history of world politics.

However, regarding our country, we could aspirate some hope amid suspicion, given the Maoist leaderships' frequent claim that they are determined to take part in multiparty politics and respect the democratic rights of individuals. Their verbal non-allegiance to the "outdated" version of communism in Nepal, as in the case of the former Soviet rule, would however reach its full legitimacy if the words meet actions in due course. Maoists should make clear what would be their ultimate adaptation on economic and political strategy when or if they come to power, in order to subside the lingering suspicion against them from various fronts.

Yet, the utter prejudices regarding the Maoists' ultimate intention may not fully justify for the time being, as the people are yet to see the success of a "free and fair" CA election, and they are yet to see how the former rebels, alongside other political factions and suspected groups, will abide by the election's consequences. Let's be clear, once and for all, that people didn't accepted the king's tyranny, and neither will they accept any other form of tyranny or totalitarianism, be it of the Maoists or others. Meanwhile, as all the prominent political players, including the Maoists, seem unreservedly ready to accept the outcome of the CA polls, let's summon our optimism for this very circumstance, though the significance of letting the CA polls to take place freely, fairly, and impartially never deserve to be compromised.

While the people directly suffered and opposed the king's autocratic rule, they also had been fed-up with the selfish power game and corruption of the so-called democratic parties, and been glaringly displeased by the violent means of the former rebels added with the indiscriminate retaliation of the state forces, resulting in number of civilian deaths from both sides. So they demanded all this to end in the April movement, which is the basic legitimate foundation for the value and importance of the planned CA election.

One of the significant aspects that need to be sorted out before the CA polls is the ignorance in the general masses about the election itself. One of my mentors had mentioned about an interesting yet unimpressive instance, regarding the knowledge pursued by the ordinary rural Nepali populace. The knowledge, here, refers to the understanding of specific cause and consequences of elections these ordinary, illiterate lots happen to take part in. It's about an incident in one of our rural vicinities when a group of women were told to mark on the "eye" (an election symbol) to cast their votes to a specified party. But, what was paradoxically incongruous was that these uneducated women folks marked on their own eyes instead of the symbol in the ballot sheets.

This instance would simply draw an indispensable need of properly educating the ignorant rural populace about the election, prior to it, which would indeed enable them to choose their right candidate and right system of governance in their right presence of mind. Meaning, this would ensure their genuine participation in the election. Enough awareness about the CA election, its process and its significance, is mandatory for the majority of the Nepalese, which would ensure their brainy participation in the election rather than a mechanical or an idiotic one like the instance above.

Similarly, a conducive environment for the election equally holds vital for its success. A peaceful environment is undeniably important for the people to cast their votes fearlessly, for which not only security but assurance of security to the voters is crucial. Before the election, it's vital for the government to sort out the legitimate demands and qualms raised by many ethnic, tribal, and Madhesi communities agitating in nooks and corners of the country, thus creating daily havoc and disturbance, including the unfortunate killings in some instances. At the same time, the government should also heed and examine and act accordingly if the agitation as such is solely intended to obstruct the CA polls, eventually the expected reform, peace, and stability. The ultimate aim of the proposed CA election, such as assurance of right to every cast, tribe, race, ethnicity, indigenous and women groups, should remain intact, as it's only the basis and significance of the election.

The election to be conducted in free and fair manner, the rhetoric that has been frequently puffed up by the prominent political stakeholders reigning currently, is requisite at any cost. Any party or group trying to play foul game or score their goal unilaterally in the upcoming election would not be valued by the major international allies, moreover it won't ensure a sustainable peace and fruitful democratic change to the people of Nepal who have been holding their breaths, despite discrimination and agony, to experience a new dawn of rewarding reform and political stability in the country.