NEPAL: LOKTANTRA’S ACHIEVEMENTS AND FAILURES
TGW
Kathmandu: The advent of what is called the Loktantra, a copied name for democracy, in Nepal is already one year old now.
Analysts here wish to analyze the achievements and the accompanying failures that “we the people” witnessed during the past one year.
Kathmandu: The advent of what is called the Loktantra, a copied name for democracy, in Nepal is already one year old now.
Analysts here wish to analyze the achievements and the accompanying failures that “we the people” witnessed during the past one year.
Let’s go first to record some of the positive points of Loktantra which is visible.
Firstly, the King who was considered to be an autocratic ruler has been sidelined. In doing so the Loktantric leaders presume that the King will now not dare to stage a comeback. They conclude that the King’s wings have been cut once and for all. Some even say that he has been suspended. Other enthusiasts claim that the monarchy stands as a defunct institution. In what form or state the institution of the monarchy is in the country, let it be a matter of food-stuff for the intellectual debate. But then yet the fact is that King is not in politics and not even is seen in the Idiot box as he used to be in the not so distant past.
Firstly, the King who was considered to be an autocratic ruler has been sidelined. In doing so the Loktantric leaders presume that the King will now not dare to stage a comeback. They conclude that the King’s wings have been cut once and for all. Some even say that he has been suspended. Other enthusiasts claim that the monarchy stands as a defunct institution. In what form or state the institution of the monarchy is in the country, let it be a matter of food-stuff for the intellectual debate. But then yet the fact is that King is not in politics and not even is seen in the Idiot box as he used to be in the not so distant past.
Secondly, the Seven Party Alliances brought, or at least claim to have done so, the Jungle dwellers to the mainstream politics. Good omen indeed. However, it is an altogether a different matter that the Maoists just claim otherwise. They beamingly claim that it is not the SPA who brought them to the mainstream politics of the nation but instead they brought the SPA to their “republican” fold. This Maoist’s claim some what is identical to what the US Ambassador James F. Moriarty said February 15, 2006 at a Rotary Club ceremony. He has hinted that the SPA went to the Maoists fold. Any way, let’s give plus point to the advent of Loktantra that it some how or the other brought the tigers of the Nepali jungles to Kathmandu.
Thirdly, the SPA’s untiring efforts made in the mean time tied the Maoists through the use of several peace agreements which to behave in a democratic manner. This was no less an achievement indeed. Here again, how mush weight the Maoists give to those scores of agreements in due course of time is a different matter indeed. But then this was a political gain bagged by the Loktantra system.
Fourthly, the indomitable Maoists were brought into the interim parliament and that too in a quite sizeable chunk. Whether the seats allocated to the Maoists at one stretch in the parliament was more than desirable or not would come to the open in a matter of months if not days. Nevertheless, the Maoists smooth entrance into the Parliament provided the impression that the Maoists will now act as per the norms and the values of a democratic system. It is altogether a different matter that the Maoists parliamentarians have been disrupting the house proceedings since a couple of days and that too in series. Nevertheless, with passing time, let’s hope they will correct the political aberrations seen aplenty in them.
Fourthly, the indomitable Maoists were brought into the interim parliament and that too in a quite sizeable chunk. Whether the seats allocated to the Maoists at one stretch in the parliament was more than desirable or not would come to the open in a matter of months if not days. Nevertheless, the Maoists smooth entrance into the Parliament provided the impression that the Maoists will now act as per the norms and the values of a democratic system. It is altogether a different matter that the Maoists parliamentarians have been disrupting the house proceedings since a couple of days and that too in series. Nevertheless, with passing time, let’s hope they will correct the political aberrations seen aplenty in them.
Fifthly, the most valuable achievement that the Loktantra bagged for the system itself was the “grand” induction of the erstwhile erratic terrorists-turned democrats into the interim government. It is again a different matter that such an induction into the interim government took place on the great “April Fool’s day”. Whether the said induction of the Maoists on that very day would benefit the Loktantra or would be otherwise will have to be watched. Any way, this was the most notable event that the system bagged during the last year. However, the process though was long for the Maoists to get inducted in the cabinet, better late than never, they entered into the cabinet.
Sixthly, the advent of Loktantra in Nepal invited congratulatory messages from across the entire world wherein it has been hoped that the new system would act for the welfare of the people. Whether this new system acts as per the wishes of the people or at best remains hostage to the whims of the corrupt leaders that they are will have to be watched.
Seventhly, the new system allowed the oppressed and the rejected ones plus those who had been denied their due participation in the system of governance in the past to open up which was a most welcome move. They at least could put their grievances in front of the government. The healthy debate is on which must be hailed.
Now let’s ponder over the negative points.
Firstly, the advent of Loktantra established a sort of “dictatorial” pattern.
Secondly, the Loktantra what we have today in the country remains unfortunately in the “pockets” of the SPA alliances and more freshly of the Maoists.
Thirdly, the Loktantra and its leaders have been treating the other political parties, not in the alliances, as “untouchables” which contravention of the universally accepted and adopted democratic norms and practices.
Fourthly, the ushering in of Loktantra opened the Pandora’s box which if not managed on time and with proper finesse might become the reasons for its demise as well.
Various sects, tribes, groups, communities, the dalits, the women folks, the Janjatis, the Madheshis, and the Chure-Bhawar locales all came to the streets at a time giving no space for the establishment even to breathe.
Fifthly, the dawn of Loktantra was interpreted by the leaders that suited to their political benefits.
Sixthly, the new system even paved the way for spreading communal discord among the population which was unprecedented in this country in the past.
Seventhly, the advent of Loktantra unfortunately allowed some self-proclaimed messiah of certain tribes and groups to take the laws in their own hands and create panic and chaos in the country.
Eighthly, Gaur carnage could be cited as the best and number one abject failure of the new system.
Ninthly, the entrance of the Loktantra very unfortunately facilitated India and some other countries to directly intervene into our most exclusive “internal matters”.
Tenthly, the Loktantra interim constitution has a provision of ousting the King by a 2/3rds majority if the King dares to play politics against the system. However, what the liberal Loktantrik leaders forgot that the same point could boomerang on them should the overwhelming majority of the REDS so desire? They can thus easily sack Koirala from his current post. The REDS possess the needed and the required numerical strength in the parliament which could be used for the ouster of Koirala. The congress must understand as to why the REDS are coming closer.
Firstly, the advent of Loktantra established a sort of “dictatorial” pattern.
Secondly, the Loktantra what we have today in the country remains unfortunately in the “pockets” of the SPA alliances and more freshly of the Maoists.
Thirdly, the Loktantra and its leaders have been treating the other political parties, not in the alliances, as “untouchables” which contravention of the universally accepted and adopted democratic norms and practices.
Fourthly, the ushering in of Loktantra opened the Pandora’s box which if not managed on time and with proper finesse might become the reasons for its demise as well.
Various sects, tribes, groups, communities, the dalits, the women folks, the Janjatis, the Madheshis, and the Chure-Bhawar locales all came to the streets at a time giving no space for the establishment even to breathe.
Fifthly, the dawn of Loktantra was interpreted by the leaders that suited to their political benefits.
Sixthly, the new system even paved the way for spreading communal discord among the population which was unprecedented in this country in the past.
Seventhly, the advent of Loktantra unfortunately allowed some self-proclaimed messiah of certain tribes and groups to take the laws in their own hands and create panic and chaos in the country.
Eighthly, Gaur carnage could be cited as the best and number one abject failure of the new system.
Ninthly, the entrance of the Loktantra very unfortunately facilitated India and some other countries to directly intervene into our most exclusive “internal matters”.
Tenthly, the Loktantra interim constitution has a provision of ousting the King by a 2/3rds majority if the King dares to play politics against the system. However, what the liberal Loktantrik leaders forgot that the same point could boomerang on them should the overwhelming majority of the REDS so desire? They can thus easily sack Koirala from his current post. The REDS possess the needed and the required numerical strength in the parliament which could be used for the ouster of Koirala. The congress must understand as to why the REDS are coming closer.
Source: Telegraph Nepal Weekly, April 25, 2007
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