Put The House In Order

Ritu Raj Subedi

The continued disruption of the legislative-parliament has further complicated the ongoing political deadlock that emerged following the failure of the coalition government to conduct the constituent assembly (CA) polls as per the interim statute. The current interim parliament is an outcome of the popular April movement, which set the loktantrik process in motion. The House of Representatives, restored after the movement, made some landmark announcements, including the curtailing of the King's sweeping powers and establishing full-fledged democracy in the country. Although the present parliament contains most of old faces from the major political parties, it has, for the first time, been represented by a considerable number of Maoist lawmakers. All of them have not been there through a fresh mandate of the people, but they have a vital role in taking the nation towards sustainable peace by instructing the government, and formulating laws and regulations in line with the spirit of loktantra.

Protracted impasse

However, the importance of the parliament has been overlooked by none other than the lawmakers of the ruling parties. It has been in a limbo for more than a month. In the beginning when the Maoists were not inducted in the government, they halted the regular proceeding of the parliament, demanding the formation of a new government that included them. After a brief interval, they continued to create pandemonium in the House following the Gaur carnage and deferral of the CA polls. Then after, the Madhesi lawmakers from all the political parties represented in the parliament joined the fray to press the government into fulfilling their demands. More recently, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party has also joined the agitation in the House only to protract the impasse. One of the interesting features of the protest scenario is that all the Madhesi MPs are up in arms to meet their demands, giving birth to factionalism in the parliament on communal lines. They have threatened to defy the whips of their respective parties if they are told not to raise their demands in the House. Their postures have raised some questions: Why do these MPs fail to channelise their demands through their parties? Why are the major political parties represented in the House mere spectators to this scenario?

By continuously disrupting the parliamentary session, the Madhesi MPs have challenged the leadership of their respective parties in sorting out the problem. While they are unilaterally calling on the parliament to heed to their demands, reports of instigation of communal feelings in the Terai are trickling in. People hailing from the hills have been constantly under threat and intimidation there. Some armed outfits operating in the Terai belt are targeting the Pahade communities. The government employees of hill origin live in fear as Madhesi militant groups are out to displace them from the administration and other government bodies. This tension has been further intensified after a minister representing the Terai sparked a controversy by saying that the region should be led by Madhesi leaders, not by people of hill origin. Is it just a coincidence or is there a link between the House obstructions and the rising tension in the Terai? The century-old social and cultural harmony existing among the various castes and communities have been alarmingly disturbed, thanks to the Maoists who launched political slogans on racial, communal and geographical lines during their people's war some 11 years ago. They floated ideas of the right to self-determination for the Madhesi, ethnic and indigenous people to muster support for their insurgency. They succeeded in their mission, but it has left behind a dangerous legacy as reflected in the Terai movement and in the activities of the Terai outfits.

These activities have threatened the territorial integrity of Nepal created by Prithvi Narayan Shah who unified small principalities into a single state nation 237 years ago. The popular movement last year did not envisage a divided nation. It had a mandate for building a new Nepal wherein all the Nepalese irrespective of class, colour and caste would realise their aspirations. The April movement aimed at establishing a democratic state that cannot be achieved when the nation is torn, and social harmony is ruffled. In response to the Terai uprising, the government approved the federal structure of governance and agreed on restructuring the state, whose modalities will be fixed by the CA polls. The parliament should work to stop the disturbing activities in the Terai. The parliament is a place where the nation's burning problems are solved. By holding it hostage, the situation will only worsen. The House deadlock will definitely disrupt the process of the CA polls as some major laws are yet to be enacted. The CA polls offer an opportunity for all, including the Madhesi people, to have their demands fulfilled. This fact should be realised by the agitating MPs.

Sensible way

Speaker Subash Chandra Nemwang launched a series of consultations with different political parties to end the impasse but was unsuccessful. Frustrated with the continued obstruction in the House, Prime Minister Koirala even went to the extent of saying that the government might be forced to take harsh measures if the lawmakers failed to cooperate with the government for the smooth running of the parliament. People do not want any autocratic government. They want the eight-party leaders to find a sensible way to solve the impasse in the House and avert the looming danger that has surfaced in the Terai.

Source: The Rising Nepal, May 19, 2007