CA Election : Crisis Of Confidence Is The Obstacle

Vijaya Chalise

The Nepal Communist Party - Maoist (NCP-Maoist) is organising a round table conference to discuss ways of making the Constituent Assembly (CA) polls meaningful। The Maoist party in its 22-point demand had asked the government to organise a round table conference to decide on the issue of declaring a republican state and holding the CA election using the proportionate system. The Maoist leaders think the right conditions for the CA polls cannot be created by ignoring their demands.

Ultimatum

The party had formally given an ultimatum to the government, threatening to leave the interim government and launch a massive people's movement if their demands are not met by mid-September. Senior Maoist leader C. P. Gajurel claims that the CA election would not mean much and would fail to yield the desired results unless their 22-point demands, including announcement of a republic before the polls, is not met. He says their demands would help to build an atmosphere for the election. Obviously, the Maoist claim cannot be ignored as some incidents clearly indicate trouble by the feudal forces that do not want the CA election.The Maoist's ultimatum and the other political parties' hesitancy in preparing for the election have shed doubt as to whether the election would be held on the declared date. The Election Commission (EC) alone seems prepared for the polls. It has urged the political parties to get into the spirit of the elections. However, apart from the Nepal Communist Party (United Marxist-Leninist), many of the major political parties are not enthusiastic about electoral contribution. As a result, the people and, perhaps, the authorities concerned, are not fully convinced that the polls will take place on November 22. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala time and again has been reiterating his commitment to holding the elections on schedule; however, his own party has not given the impression that it is prepared for the election as its priority, i.e., party unification, is yet to be fulfilled. The Nepali Congress - Democratic (NC-D) is also giving priority to unification. Besides, the Mahasamiti of the Nepali Congress has yet to endorse the party's decision of going for a federal democratic republic.

Then again, the Nepal Communist Party - Maoist's threat of a mass movement has also created uncertainty about the CA polls. The Maoists have given the government until September 17 to address their demands. These are the issues that must be discussed and sorted out by the eight-party coalition. Obviously, the Maoists, who claim that the CA is their agenda, should not, and would not, turn their back on the polls. Since they have expressed their commitment by signing the peace accord, one can hope that they will not be missing form the election. But the seven-party leadership, too, should urgently turn their attention to the 22-point pressing demands and discuss them by calling a meeting of the eight-party leadership. Obviously, the CA is a platform to address all kinds of problems as said by Prime Minister Koirala. However, if there is a possibility of using this platform by unwanted forces, it will be wise to bar that possibility. The Maoists reasonably think that if the CA election is held without declaring Nepal a republic, there is a danger of using it by those regressive forces. Maoist Party Chairman Prachanda says that an election conducted without fulfilling the prerequisites will only make the regressive forces more powerful. Their doubts are backed by the incidents in the Terai and a series of explosions in Kathmandu.

An alliance led by Hindu fundamentalists to contest the CA election with the common goal of safeguarding monarchy and reverting Nepal to a Hindu state seems to back the Maoist thinking. News reports affirm that at least 19 small and newly registered parties have formed a "Nepal Democratic Alliance" that will jointly contest the CA election. News reports say several other parties, which are not in the alliance, are also going to the polls with a pro-Hindu and monarchist agenda. This shows that polarisation is inevitable between secular Republicans and Hindu monarchists. In this context, those parties favouring the people's aspirations of a new republican Nepal, obviously, should think of the Maoist's proposal seriously. Either the eight parties must go to the poll with a common commitment to a federal republic or fulfil the Maoist's demand of declaring Nepal a republican state prior to the CA elections. It is not impossible now as the Nepali Congress has decided to go for a democratic republic. Even some parties considered close to the monarchy will be pressured to go for a democratic republic because it will be almost impossible for them to go to the people in support of a ceremonial or constitutional monarchy. The present state of confusion as to whether the CA election would be held on November 22 should be ended as soon as possible as the nation has formally entered into the election process. No doubt, the country will have to face dangerous consequences should the CA election fail to be held on November 22 or if the Maoists are forced to leave the government to join an agitation. Therefore, frequent meetings are needed to build up the election mood in the country and address the agitators' demands, including those of the Maoists, to remove obstacles to the elections.

Consultations and discussions are urgently required to realise the prime minister's election commitment. Because he is a responsible leader of the government as well as the eight-party alliance, he himself should take the initiative to build an environment for regular meetings and consultations. Unfortunately, an eight-party meeting has not been called yet. Without the eight parties meeting, the issues raised by the Maoists and other agitating groups cannot be discussed, and differences between the major political parties cannot be settled. People want strong eight-party unity to fulfil their aspirations of building a new Nepal where all citizens will exercise equal rights and opportunities, and will be able to build a peaceful and prosperous Nepal. Conversely, the political parties and their leaders are ignoring the broader national interests and people's aspiration, remaining a prisoner of individual and narrow party interests.

Instability

All should honour the people by going to the polls, keeping the eight-party unity. Perceptibly, if the Maoists leave the government and are forced to go on an agitation, the country would have to face serious consequences. It could invite instability that will only help the regressive forces. Therefore, leaders of all the responsible parties should give proper attention to building confidence among them through frequent meetings and consultations.

Source: The Rising Nepal, September 15, 2007