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Nepal: One step Forward But Two Back

Bhuwan Thapaliya - 12/3/2007

"As a man sows, so shall he reap," is a biblical lesson that really means something in the politics too, where sustainability critically depends upon the conversion of promises into real and concrete people friendly actions. One party in Nepal, however, knows far better than most what it is to reap the whirlwind.

A year ago, Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) Maoists, were arguably Nepal’s most controversial political party, praised by those who see a future of people’s friendly ground root policy, and damned by others who consider them promoters of democratic destruction. Under siege from anti- Maoists West, Maoists found temporary shelter under the roof of seven party alliances (SPA), an alliance formed to topple the royal regime and establish a lasting democracy in Nepal.

Maoists joined the government and silenced its critics but they showed the world that they are not a force to count on especially after the YCL’s (Young Communist League) atrocities all over Nepal and their pull out from the government citing various reasons, the main being to pressurize the government to declare Nepal a republic from the parliament and adoption of a fully proportional electoral system instead of what they had previously agreed.

As a consequence, political uncertainty has deepened in Nepal and the Constituent Assembly (CA) election and the republic stance have been shrouded under the clouds of uncertainties. To put it bluntly, whole peace process has been defeated and the nation is moving towards uncertainty. What has this done? This has done more harm than good. Now, even monarchy has received an extra lease of life. So, who are to blame? All major political parties are to blame but the lion’s share goes to the Maoists.

Why the polls have been postponed second time is not a mystery in Nepal. Everybody knows the answer- it’s because of the Maoists. And this tactics of Maoists is hard to decipher at the moment because Maoists have been advocating a Constituent Assembly election since the beginning of their "People’s War", that ended after consuming over 14,000 lives.

Let us go back a little further and analyze this dilemma yet again. When the Nation was on the verge of CA election, then out of the blue Maoist put forth two confusing preconditions. The first being the proclamation of a republic by the interim parliament and the second being a fully proportional representation based electoral system for the CA polls. These two preconditions blocked the road leading to the CA polls, and as a consequence it was cancelled, much to the dismay of the Nepalese. The prime dilemma however is this: what to expect from the Maoists in the future? Who knows if it won’t be a new census before the polls or the declaration of communist republic? This is a crunch time for Nepal. Nepal is seems is caught between the devil and the deep sea.

Ok. Enough of the Maoist bashing, and they deserve this bashing cause of their dubious policies but let us look at the crisis from different perspective too. Are Maoists the sole cause of the political uncertainties in Nepal? Maoists are the catalysts of the political uncertainties in Nepal but not its solitary cause. Hence, what are the other factors? Frequent strikes, protests, communal violence, and the deterioration of law and order across the nation, especially in the southern Terai region are also some of the other factors. Communal harmony is being tested and we have seen the horrors of communal discord in Nepalgunj, Gaur, and in Kapilvastu.

And then who are to blame for these factors. The ready made answer is, of course, the political parties. But the question is what about the role of the civic society. Aren’t they supposed to improve the security situation and maintain law and order and stimulate a feeling of security and communal harmony? But political parties, mainly the Maoists and their leaders are the main culprits. Even in these situations, CA polls could have happened, if it was not for the Maoists stance. But by postponing the polls again, our parties and our leaders proved yet again their imbecility before the whole world. They demonstrated that they and their policies are simply incapable of dealing with the complexities of the bona fide Nepali state of affairs.

But it’s not wise to blame them often because we too are the part of the society and the Political party’s role cannot be redeemed in a democracy. Considering this, what we are having in Nepal is a political problem so it should be solved politically. There should be a political way out, so taking this into account, if the old methods of reaching the consensus have failed, try something new. We need a new understanding, a new approach, and a new beginning to reach a much needed Nepalese consensus.

A country like Nepal needs something different, and by definition different is different. It needs an exceptional way to solve exceptional problems. The more the country strengthens, the less it needs foreign advices, and the less it needs someone like Girija Prasad Koirala or Prachanda. Mr. Koirala, then, is he the exceptional man to solve the exceptional problem at the exceptional time. Majority of the Nepalese, though they supported him in the beginning are now skeptical of him. Mr. Koirala, they say, is too old, rigid and to slow and is buying the time for himself to prolong his Prime- Ministerial ascendancy.

Most Nepalese, however, take a more measured view. The prime minister, they think, is a hardliner who backs his words with his deeds- and persuades others to do the same. With Mr. Koirala at the helm, they argue, Nepal can set a course for the future; without him the country may never be rebuilt. The "Switzerland of the South Asia" will be reminiscence for the old folks and just a myth for their grand children.

But Mr. Koirala is the political baron to have risen with the benefit of family connection. Indeed, Koirala is almost a caricature of the nepotism and favoritism. According to undenied rumor, his daughter Sujata Koirala has earned millions from the Koirala connection. Such riches and such connections would command respect in Nepal at the best of times, let alone the worst. Even so, many publicly sneer at Koirala. All he has is corrupt bunches working under him for their own benefits, they say. They are being unfair. He has an ideology and has been generous beyond narrow political purpose. He is trying and trying hard to solve the riddle of Nepalese politics. But time is certainly running away for him and he has to make the best use of it, if he is to embroider his name with the letters of gold in the Nepalese History.

Nonetheless, there is one leader in Nepal, who is worth bashing more than Mr. Koirala - that leader is none other the Chairman of the Maoist, Mr. Prachanda. Prachanda’s lack of political savvy has produced both a withering critique of Maoists and a failed vision for how to move ahead. For example, in a country renowned for consensus, radical views have become political assets. Mr. Prachanda strikes a nationalist pose. He defies both America and India. But common Nepalese are not in a mood to support these kinds of talks. Demoralized by decades of economic gloom, they long for strong relationship between these nations and move ahead. Mr. Prachanda must understand this and stop playing with the people’s emotion. When shall the Maoists understand this and abstain away from their politics of treachery?

Furthermore, Mr. Prachanda neither looks nor behaves like a polished politician. The Maoist leader fits the stereotype of the confused preacher, rushing to give the same old lectures again and again with his ironed coat and combed hair. What he says in his public addresses also runs contrary to the Maoists deeds in the field. Considering this, whether out of a willful desire to act rigid or a simple ignorance of political calculations and geopolitics, Prachanda has repeatedly violated the decorum of mainstream political consensus. And in the process he has done more than perhaps any other leaders to wither away the possibility of the CA election.

Meanwhile, at times it feels that both Mr. Koirala and Mr. Prachanda have failed to live up to the people’s expectation. One is just lingering on, while the other is busy blackmailing the nation. As a consequence, life in Nepal has become less and less like what Nepalese dreamed of building. But there is no point being pessimist because every Nation goes through these phases and Nepal too is going through one of the most dramatic periods of its social development and political maturing.

For most Nepalese, it would seem arrogant enough to see foreigners handing out prescriptions as to what to do or not to do in this particular situation. They are giving us advices because we are weak and disunited. Let us don’t let them dictate us because no matter what Mr. X says, or no matter what Mr. Y says, hardly anyone except for the Nepalese themselves will be able to find feasible solutions to Nepal’s current unresolved issues.

However, having said that, it appears very important for all Nepal’s political players to display common sense and impartially re-evaluate all "assets and liabilities" of the remaining political system in order to defend and exploit the entire positive points and overcome all the challenges standing presently in their way to consensus, so that long lasting peace and prosperity would ultimately prevail in the country.