Tasks before Nepal leadership

Tushar Charan

After reducing the King to a virtual non-entity the next and crucial phase of the democratic movement in Nepal is an election to elect the constituent assembly. When the election commission in Nepal expressed its inability to hold the elections on June 20, as agreed to by major parties, the Maoists, who had agreed to give up their 10-year-old violent struggle for a Republic, reacted angrily. They suspected the wily King of continuing to manipulate internal developments as the country also witnessed more bloodshed, this time in the name of ethnic violence in the Terai plains. The dreaded possibility of a return to the old days of violence loomed large.

So, it must be a big relief for the Nepalese that the seven ‘mainstream’ political parties and the Maoists, as also the Election Commission, all have now agreed that the polls should be held by November this year. The Prime Minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, has suggested November 26, but all the parties have to give their consent for the date.

India too must be relieved because unrest in Nepal affects this country more directly. India will be watching the post-poll scene in Nepal with more interest. New Delhi was believed to be against the abolition of the monarchy in Nepal but later it adopted a ‘neutral’ stance on that vital issue. How the new set of rulers in Nepal eventually shape their policy towards India, often an unjust target of Nepalese politicians, will become clear only after the polls.

From the start the Maoists protestations against ‘delaying’ the polls looked unreasonable because a poll conducted in a hurry (about two months when June 20 was suggested) would not have looked free and fair and, thus, lacked credibility. A poll is not conducted merely on the strength of the political will but it also requires completion of certain technical pre-requisites, including the all-important job of an up-to-date voters’ list, probably last revised more than eight years ago. And the country needs a modicum of peace too for the polls to be a meaningful exercise.

The underlying causes for the unrest among a section of the Nepalese have not been addressed. The plains people, mostly people of Indian origin, want a better deal. Also more representatives in Parliament for their region. Ethnic violence has rocked Nepal for weeks and new armed groups have surfaced. At the last count nine insurgent groups have become active, though many are off-shoots of the Maoist campaign.

It is quite possible that in the next four or five months those who are now running the affairs of Nepal would be able to keep the country peaceful, at least in comparative terms, so that the polls in November are conducted under ‘normal’ circumstances. A factor that needs to be watched in the run up to the polls is the ability of the new ruling class to coexist. The Maoists, still struggling to get rid of their fondness for the gun, violence and strong-armed tactics, and the motley crowd in the seven party alliance (SPA), a group of political parties with a record of both inter-and intra-party feuds, often talk and act like adversaries.

A problem in the SPA is that many of its leaders are too old and too steeped in the tradition of bad politics to encourage optimism. The Maoists have proved to be more forward looking as they have given representation to the sections that have remained neglected in Nepal for long. About a third of Maoists members of the interim parliament are women and the Maoists have also nominated many Dalits as members of the national assembly.

This record would have been more impressive had the Maoists shown some keenness to accommodate the Madhesis, the plains people of Indian origin. More so since they were first to support the Maoists even before they became a nation-wide phenomenon. The fact is that even the top most Maoist leader, Prachanda, has used abusive terms for these disfranchised people.

The seven or eight key players who decide Nepal’s destiny these days also have to be more clear about their goals and the means to achieve them. The Maoists have been showing an unjustified anxiety over the issue of the fate of the monarchy; the SAP seems quite content with the status quo.

If some of the recent Maoist rhetoric is to be believed their main purpose in giving up arms that brought an end to the insurgency that had claimed 13,000 lives in 10 years is to banish the king to some jungle from where he cannot return. Some comrades are not averse to the idea of doing something more drastic. But the Maoists roadmap, or priorities, after the end of the 240-year-old institution of monarchy is not clear. The Maoists have to discipline their armed cadre or run the risk of taking Nepal back to the bloody days.

King Gyanendra has to be blamed most for the curtains down on the monarchy. He greedily usurped all powers because of his personal disdain for politicians and he showed no hesitation in donning the role of an autocrat at a time when a popular movement against his rule was building up. He drew his strength from the loyal army forgetting that the army is more likely to back the ‘powerful’ rather than the totally ‘powerless’ as he well might become very soon. However, it will be a bigger mistake if the politicians who have laid exclusive claim to ruling Nepal do not draw some lessons from the fate of King Gyanendra.

The prime minister today seems to enjoy all the powers that the King had and that can be very dangerous in a country which is yet to evolve strong democratic institutions. Nepal cannot walk further if large sections remain alienated, without some of the fundamental rights. Above all, the problem of poverty and development has to be tackled on an urgent basis.

Tasks like these should leave no room for petty quarrels among politicians and the urge to reach for the gun by some of those who are calling the shots today. The constituent assembly has its task cut when it drafts a new constitution to declare Nepal is a Republic.

Source: Asian Tribune, June 2, 2007

Path of construction

I n the past few days, consultations among the leaders of major constituents of the eight-party alliance (EPA) have taken an upswing on how best to carry out the mandate of Jana Andolan-2. The focus of all these has been to further strengthen the EPA unity. This is an encouraging sign. Recent tentative attempts at forging Left unity have not gathered steam. The idea of forming a front of the centrist and rightist forces has proved to be a non-starter, as it would go against the spirit of Jana Andolan 2. The two-hour-long meeting on Sunday between PM Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chairman Prachanda ended with a renewed emphasis on EPA unity, besides helping end the bitterness in their ties that came out in the open over Sitaram Prasain, accused of irregularities amounting to Rs.280 million, when the Young Communist League (YCL) took him into custody on June 3 and then handed him over to the police the next day.

The idea of Left unity was floated because the Leftists suspected the Koirala-led Nepali Congress of trying to retain monarchy in some form. There was also talk of a Republican Front, fed by similar suspicions. This is not the time for the EPA constituents to go in different directions. The best is to make the alliance even stronger and more united. For this, they need to go head over heels to evolve a consensus on the remaining important contentious issues. On Sunday, Koirala reportedly told Prachanda that the NC would like to institutionalise a republic through the constituent assembly (CA) polls. He also urged Prachanda, with some justification, not to press too hard on other issues but to concentrate on the CA polls, the nation’s paramount agenda at this point in time.

If they meant what they said, it is likely to form a sound basis for a new understanding between the two sides in an atmosphere otherwise charged with mutual distrust after the CA polls, slated for this June, were postponed. In such a situation, the Maoists may not press hard their case for a republic through a two-thirds parliamentary majority — a provision to that effect is being incorporated in the Interim Constitution (IC)— provided that the monarchy stays clear of all serious controversies. The recent hurdles to political momentum were caused by the indifference to implementing the various agreements in full. The two leaders covered a wide range of topics — such as release of prisoners, disclosing the status of the disappeared people, relief and treatment for the conflict victims, return of the seized property, cantonment management and allowance for the PLA combatants, and YCL activities. The talks were billed ‘positive’. It was no less important that they reached an understanding that mudslinging should be stopped and discussions allowed to resolve any differences. Any major rift in the EPA is bound to embolden the forces of regression. The EPA should stay united, at least until the CA polls and promulgation of a new statute, to carry out the people’s mandate. The constituents need to expand their area of agreement, particularly on vital and contentious issues like the monarchy.

Source: The Himalayan Times, June 12, 2007

Crucial Parley

PRIME Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the CPN (Maoist) leader Prachanda held consultations Sunday and established rapport to address key impending issues. The leaders were able to sort out differences and agreed to facilitate the process to ensure passage of laws and regulations pertaining to election to constituent assembly. The two leaders held similarity of views on the need for endorsement of the amendment bill to the interim constitution and banish obstacles, if any, for the polls to the constituent assembly. The parley between the key leaders of the Nepali politics yielded two immediate outcomes that is calling off the indefinite Bandh in Kapilvastu district called by the Maoists and early start of the second phase verification process of the PLA combatants lodged in different cantonment in the country. These developments have dawned fresh hopes in the otherwise stalled process of political negotiation and stalemate creating problems and despair in the country. The leaders recognized the fact that the impending political issues can be resolved only through dialogue and negotiation.

Last week, political and civil society leaders had also asked the parties to hold consultations to break the deadlock . Needless to say that the creation of the legal framework for polls to constituent assembly has been overdue and the subject needs to be taken up sooner .A small delay in the enactment of legal regime would create barriers to the election to the constituent assembly. It should be taken into consideration that apex level talks held at different times have been able to create fresh grounds to resolve difficult issues. What should not be overlooked also is the fact that the peace and democracy building process in the country is very crucial, and this can taken to new level only through mutual understanding and reciprocity. More important in today's context has been the need to assure an atmosphere of peace and harmony so that people can discuss issues relating to the constituent assembly in a free and fearless environment. It is expected that talks held between the Prime Minister and the Maoist leader will make important contribution to address the issues that have stood on the way of achieving new speed in peace building process

Source: The Rising Nepal, June 12, 2007

Employing Politics For Development

M. Rijal

Politics gives ideas and energy for change and development. Built in and integrated to politics is an urge for going forward, not backwards. However, sometimes politics can be misused for serving narrow sectarian and partisan ends. It is often used for sending society into regression and stagnation. It is employed as a pretence for driving a wedge or division in social cohesion and unity. As a result, society is split into factions and groups. And thus civic capital based on trust and cooperation is destroyed. In many developing societies, simmering conflicts and tensions are the consequence of the misappropriation and exploitation of politics for parochial motives. But, in Nepal politics has always been a tool and process for forward looking changes and progress. It has given direction and hope for progress and social modernization.

Outcome

The democratic change of 1990, post?Jan Andolan II accomplished last year and the epoch making changes unfurled one after the other in the country during contemporary times have been the outcome of politics. The unity and understanding among political parties have been the key factor in ushering a big political change in the country.

Imbued and enshrined in politics indeed is a motivation to give new options and alternatives to develop and propel societies to progress. Politics derives and also provides fuel from a sense of competition and innovation inherent among humans. Whether it is the Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) or the CPN (Maoist), the political parties are always at work to find new ways and invent novel options for social change and development. They are often seen competing with each other for new ideas and innovation to win popular support in one's own favour. At the same time, they are working in concurrence with each other to achieve legitimate development outcomes for larger and wider benefit of the society. An understanding and sense of unison among political parties at the district and village level can make a huge difference in finalizing and implementing development schemes for the benefit of the community. Here, an example from Arghakhanchi district is referred to indicate that political unity and common perspectives are critically important to identify and implement village and district based development schemes. The political parties in the district worked out a list of development projects and discussed them at the district council meeting held recently. The development projects were negotiated, contested and finalized in the council according to the provision of the local self governance act.

As the elections for local bodies has not been held for the last seven years, they are run by the government bureaucracy. However, an all party consultative mechanism has been in place for last one year to assist and guide the district development committee in allocating development projects consistent to local needs and priorities. Accordingly, the projects relevant to roads, drinking water, electrification, communications, education have been identified, consolidated and documented . The Arghakhanchi district development committee has committed to fund and carry out several projects as per the endorsement of the council Several other projects have also been agreed upon in the meeting and documented .These projects fall beyond the capacity of the local body to fund and implement from financial and technical point of view. Billed as central projects, the development schemes include roads from Saljhandi via Sandhikharka to Dhorepatan, Sandhikharka to Pyuthan, upgrading of the district hospital, medium sized drinking water project for different VDCs in the district. What is noteworthy in this context has been that a joint team of all political parties came all the way from the district to the capital and apprised the needs of the district to central authorities and ministers . The delegation presented the case of the projects and asked the ministers and secretaries to allocate funds for executing the projects. The team included Dr. Dilli Raj Khanal , Dila Ram Acharya - both members of the legislative parliament, Mr. Top Bahadur Raymajhi - central leader of CPN(Maoist), former minister Mr Man Bahadur Biswakarma , Mr. Pitambar Bhusal, former DDC president, NC district committee leaders, NCP(Masal) leaders, NCP( pro- unity) leaders and social leaders. It displayed a strong sense of unity and solidarity among political and social stakeholders for the development of the district.

The solidarity of the political leaders for development received positive and appreciative assessment from central ministers including Ram Chandra Paudel, Dev Gurung, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki and so on. The team discussed with Minister for Water Resources Gyanendra Bahadur Karki about the possibility of proposed Naumure hydropower project which is estimated to generate over two hundred megawatt energy at relatively low cost. The proposed hydropower project will benefit both Arghakhanchi and Kapilvastu districts in terms of revenue and power generation.As they are fully united and convinced on carrying out need- based development of the district, political parties in Arghakhanchi are working with the DDC to construct a new large capacity meeting hall in the district headquarters. This will meet the long felt need of a facility to convene large scale meetings and conferences in the district.

Development

It needs to be pointed out that the district has progressed much in terms of transportation .And almost all VDCs have been networked through fair weather road. Given that the spirit of mutual cooperation and understanding among political and social stakeholders continues to exist and sustain, the district can take a new leap forward with tangible development outcomes.

Source: The Rising Nepal, June 12, 2007

Electoral Reforms : Begin From EC

Yuba Nath Lamsal

Unless otherwise decided, we have to assume that the election to a constituent assembly would be held by November this year. The eight parties have already reached a consensus to hold the constituent assembly election by November 2007 and they have left it to the government to announce the convenient dates for the polls after making due preparation and consultation with the Election Commission and other stakeholders.

Decision

As the saying goes 'once bitten twice shy', people are skeptical about the elections even in November. It is because the parties have once betrayed the people and breached their promises. The eight parties had earlier decided to hold the election by mid-June this year, which was also written clearly in the interim constitution. In fact, early constituent election was the main basis for unity between the seven-party alliance and the Maoists. However, they failed to meet that deadline and hold the election in June. There was enough time to hold the election, if the parties and the government had been serious and accordingly done the homework for the polls. The mandate of the Jana Andolan II was also to institutionalize the peace and democratic process and restructure the state through the constituent assembly election. But the government and the eight parties miserably failed in their objective.Since the election could not be held in mid-June, there is sufficient room to doubt over the sincerity of the eight parties.. Unless the dates for the election were formally announced, people may not believe that election would be held in time. The early announcement of the election dates are now necessary to allay the doubt and fear of the people about the ongoing political and peace process.

Assuming that constituent assembly election would be held in November this year, the government and the Election Commission (EC) have to complete the necessary home work for the polls. If the elections are delayed once again, political parties would lose their credibility among the people and also in the international arena. Thus, election must be held in the rescheduled time.Free and fair election is a soul of democracy. Holding election for the shake of election alone would not serve the purpose. Election should genuinely reflect the people's sentiment and voice. Election should be free, fair and fearless. For this, perfect law and order and security arrangement should be maintained so that people can cast their ballot and give their verdict without fear.Secondly, voters should be adequately educated about the constituent assembly and its election pattern. It has so far been agreed for the mixed system of election?half on the basis of majoritarian system and half on the basis of proportional representation. Even parties and leaders are not clear about the proportional representation system, let alone the general people. The voters' turn out would depend on security arrangement and good voter education. If the people are assured of the security and properly educated about the importance of constituent assembly election and voting system, the voters' turn out would be definitely high. Also there is a question of quality of voting. It has to be ensured that voters give their verdict perfectly without any mistake.

Election not only involves the people in the political and democratic process but also ensures that only genuine people become the representatives of the people. But the past experiences have shown that the corrupt, dacoits, goons and goondas were also elected by vote rigging and influencing the voters and officials by their money and muscle power. The cases of vote rigging, booth capturing and intimidating the voters had often been reported in several places during the last two general elections and two local elections. In several cases, genuine representatives of the people were defeated and others declared elected. All political parties are part of this unfair game. But the party in power during the election was ahead in the race of electoral malpractice. It is the reason why political party or parties are so keen to control the Home Ministry during the election. The Election Commission did not appear to have been more proactive to control the electoral malpractice. There are few instances of cancellation of election results even if complaints were registered with due evidence of such irregularities. In some cases of malpractice, election officials themselves had been found involved. Moreover, the procedure of the appointment of chief election commissioners and election commissioners has been on partisan lines. In the past, the party in power usually appointed the commissioners on the basis of their loyalty to the ruling party or parties rather than their competence and qualification. Now system of parliamentary hearing before the formal appointment of the commissioners has changed the situation. But it is still not adequate. Even the present team in the Election Commission was chosen on the basis of the share of the political parties in the government. This has always raised the question of impartiality and neutrality of the Election Commission.

Although the Election Commission is an independent body, it has always remained under the shadow of the ruling party or government. If the electoral process has to be made fair and impartial, the Election Commission needs to be made fully independent both in principle and practice. To ensure independence of the Election Commission, the laws and procedures for the appointment of the election commissioners should be changed. It would be better if laws are changed to ensure that the chief election commissioners and other commissioners are appointed directly by the parliament.Thus, the Election Commission must be proactive to ensure that election is held in a genuinely free and fair manner. There are many aspects associated with the process for ensuring free, fair and fearless election. It needs adequate budget, perfect security and competent staff. The security system has always been the prime concern of the Election Commission during the election. Even in the present context, the Election Commission is not fully assured of the security arrangement. During the election, a high-level security committee headed by one of the commissioners in the Election Commission and comprising senior security officers of all security organs of the government should be formed so that it would oversee all the security arrangement. It would create better coordination for security during the election period.

Coordination

If people do not feel fully secured, they may not actively participate in the electoral process. This would cause low voters' turn out which may raise question of legitimacy. Since the constituent assembly election is a historic process to write a new constitution, there must be maximum participation of the people in the electoral process. Besides law and order, the education and awareness also play crucial role in ensuring and increasing the participation of the people in the entire electoral process. We must realize the fact that only informed and educated voter can give his/her quality verdict. Thus, the massive voters' education is a must to ensure more voters' turn out and quality of voting. It can be done in perfect coordination among the Election Commission, political parties and the civil society.

Source: The Rising Nepal, June 12, 2007

Political bond

The NC-Maoist tête-à-tête the other day reverberated a good message across the country. The meeting yielded some tangible result as it patched up the mounting political differences between the two major political parties and cleared Maoists' misgivings over the southern neighbor, India. The one-time bonhomie between the Nepali Congress and the CPN (Maoist) had turned sour immediately after the former rebels joined the interim government. The war of words between the prime minister and a Maoist minister culminated in badmouth. The prime minister dubbed the Maoists' youth wing, Young Communist League (YCL) a criminal group. And Maoist chairman Prachanda retorted by terming the prime minister as a protector of criminals.

In the face of vitriolic attack due to YCL's excesses, Prachanda got on his nerve's end when media reported that the Southern neighbor advised visiting UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal to forge a strong alliance with the Nepali Congress. Edgy Prachanda vented venom against India and accused it of interfering in Nepal's internal affairs. The NC-Maoist differences hit the roadblock raising apprehension over the holding of Constituent Assembly (CA) polls -- the only hope to institutionalize democratic republic. Although the ruling eight-party alliance has agreed to defer the CA polls, it is possible only if the parties work in unison. The NC-Maoists have agreed not to make public remarks over any dispute between them. Prime Minister Koirala and Maoist chairman Prachanda decided to settle their scores through a dialogue. The Post commends the sagacity expressed by both the leaders. It helps create a healthy relationship between the parties. The understanding between the top leaders will also discipline the YCL cadres making them more responsible towards democracy and human rights. YCL can play a crucial role—both negative and positive—in holding the free and fair CA polls.

Similar understanding is a must among all the ruling coalition partners to fulfill the aspirations of the people expressed during the Jana Aandolan-II. Any crack between the parties within the eight-party coalition will provide enough space for reactionary forces to play hell with the peace process. As Prime Minister Koirala during the meeting reiterated his commitment to institutionalize democratic republic through the CA polls, all the political parties should work to hold the CA polls in November. Any political differences within the eight-party alliance will only jeopardize the holding of CA polls. Such differences may push the country again into the hands of regressive forces.

Source: The Kathmandu Post, June 12, 2007