CA Polls: Ball In Parties' Court

Prem N. Kakkar

IT is 89 days for the Constituent Assembly (CA) election. There have been some activities in the direction of meeting the deadline. In this, the Election Commission has been making the necessary preparations. It is also worried that the political parties that are the major players in the polls are not seriously taking up the issue. In fact, it is they who did the needful to announce the date for the polls. Now, they themselves are not hitting the campaign trail.

Differences

It is true that there are some differences among the eight-party members. Each have their own path carved out, yet they insist on unity. They do not want to break the unity, but they seem to be drifting away from the announced agreement. This is rather unfortunate.Due to the differences, the cabinet and the eight-party meetings have been far and few in between. In the past, there was great zeal, and the eight-party meetings were held on a regular basis. It is no longer the case. This has once again bewildered the people in general. The people had believed that once the date for the CA polls was announced, the political parties would shed their differences for a while and embark on the election trail. Despite reports of some parties sending their leaders to the villages and districts, the progress has been slow.In this connection, no party has so far come up with their election manifestos. Some leaders have said that their manifesto, to be focused on the political agenda, would be ready and out within 24 hours. But it is not as easy as said. It is not only the manifesto that counts, the people, too, have to be made aware of the importance of the constituent assembly.

Moreover, confusion still remains on how the voting process is to be done. The voters just do not have a clue as to how the election is to be conducted and how they would be casting their votes. It is the task of the political parties, concerned agencies and even the media to propagate the message.Looking at the present scenario, even the voters in the urban areas do not have much idea about how the votes need to be cast. The problem is further complicated in the rural areas. The majority still have the notion that the CA polls will be like the previous general elections. Though there has been tall talk, educating the voters and creating awareness about the CA is still a far cry. This seems quite a paradox when the country is heading for one of the greatest events in its political history.Instead of the political parties nudging the Election Commission to speed up the election preparation process, just the opposite is happening. The commission says that it has made the necessary preparations, including the placement of voting booths, but the political parties are not listening. It seems that the eight parties are only sorting out minor issues. Meanwhile, the Maoists have come up with their 22-point programme. It also states they are forgoing their peaceful movement. Coming as it does at this juncture, it seems rather unnatural. They may have their own priorities for doing so, yet as far as the agreement with the other seven parties is concerned, there has to be some adjustment. In fact, the present developments seem more like a conundrum, which the ordinary people cannot understand.

Moreover, the Election Commission has also made public the Code of Conduct and the election programme. So what are the political parties waiting for? No one seems to know except the concerned political party leaders.

Assurances

Once again, it rests on the political parties to untie the knot so that the people can rest assured that this time around there will be no backing away from the scheduled date for the CA polls. The party leaders have to be resolute in expressing their commitment for the polls. If they do not, then the days ahead will be quite difficult and will only give the regressive forces the opportunity that they are looking forward to.

Source: The Rising Nepal, August 24, 2007

Maoist 22-Point Demand : Way To The Future

Vijaya Chalise

Following the Communist Party of Nepal-Moist (CPN-Maoist) protest programmes to press for its 22-point demand put at the eight-party meeting, some of the political leaders are saying that it could have an adverse impact on the peace process. The 22-point proposal to ensure that the CA polls are held on November 22 includes, among others, the declaration of a republican set up, proportional election system, round table conference with the different interest groups and implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement.

Pressing demands

One can presume that two of the demands are particularly pressing - declaration of a republic and a fully proportional election system. The party wants the proclamation of a republic by the Interim legislative parliament prior to the CA elections as it sees the monarchy as the main hindrance to the CA polls. Similarly, the Maoists believe that the state should first address the issue of the various indigenous, ethnic and Madhesi groups, and a round table conference alone could address their demands. Obviously, a round table conference might be a suitable way of assuring full representation of the oppressed ethnic and indigenous nationalities, women, dalits and Madhesis. The statement issued by the CPN-Maoist states that in the past, the party had shown flexibility over its demands for a republican set up and a federal structure for the country as well as proportional election system so as not to disrupt the peace process. However, the events following the developments in Madhes have shown that the CA poll is not possible unless the proportional representation of all the marginalised classes, castes, regions, communities and genders and civil society is ensured, the statement says.

However, some leaders from different parties argue that it was not necessary to come up with the demands as the eight parties have agreed to carve the country's political set up after the CA polls. They fear if the demands are not fulfilled it might have an adverse impact on the peace process, including the Constituent Assembly election. They even accuse the Maoist party of trying to stall the CA election by launching the protest program. But as the credit for declaring the Constitution Assembly elections and high people's awareness about it goes mainly to the CPN-Maoist and its long people's movement against feudal regimes in the past, doubts about their stance on the CA polls are irrational.Although the Constitution Assembly polls are now just 89 days away, most of the political parties do not seem to be mentally prepared for them. They have not prepared their election manifesto, although the CPN (UML) has formed a committee to prepare one. The Nepali Congress has not even formed a committee to draft the party's manifesto as they are waiting their unification. The Nepali Congress and Nepali Congress (Democratic) want unification prior to the polls as they think the NC will not wield enough influence if they go separate ways.

The Maoists, on the other hand, have reached a conclusion that the CA poll could face many hurdles until there is the existence of a conservative feudal institution, which sounds realistic. For this reason, the Maoist party has demanded the proclamation of a republican state. Obviously, until there is a power that is always creating obstacles against radical changes in the country, there cannot be a favourable environment for the CA polls.Undeniably, not only Maoists but all the people, including the political parties, should be aware of the reactionary forces that are busy conspiring to foil the achievements of the people's movement-2. Though the May 18 (2006) historic declaration of the House of Representatives (HoR) has confirmed the supremacy of the Nepali people, by giving a permanent structure of a republican federal democracy, the people are not fully assured.Thus, the need to bid farewell to the authoritarian elements from the national political arena cannot be denied. Therefore, as soon as the major political parties realise this objective reality, the aspiration expressed by the people through the historic Jana Andolan last year can be fulfilled. No one should, therefore, be hesitant about proclaiming the country a republic prior to the CA polls.

The need of the hour is not a verbal commitment. The need is of creating an honest environment that is favourable for holding the elections successfully. As time is running short, the political parties should realise that they have not yet been able to inform and educate the general mass about the importance of the CA poll from the political perspective. The parties and leaders must work hard to make the people aware about the importance of the Constituent Assembly elections. The CA polls are the main entrance for epochal changes and in the creation of a new Nepal. Obviously, there is no alternative to a republican democratic system. The current scenario presents evidences that conservative feudal forces led by pro-palace factions have been instigating different elements to derail the polls and create anarchism in the country.

Lasting Solution

This provides an opportunity for foreign forces to convert Nepal into a playing ground. Keeping this in mind, it is time for the political parties to come out with their manifestos so as to intensify the debates and discussions on the future of the Nepali state under a new republican constitution. It is a high time to seek a lasting political solution, as people are pinning high hopes on the success of the peace process, with all the political forces of the country, including the Maoists, expressing flexibility in their past stances. One hopes the meeting of the eight-party leadership will sort out their differences and stand united to fulfill the people's aspirations.

Source: The Rising Nepal, August 24, 2007

Hindu righteousness

Not this king, but India’s religious right still wants the monarchyc

Prashant Jha

India’s Hindu right which has been traditionally sympathetic to the monarchy and opposed to Nepal going secular is split about Nepal policy. There are differences in approach between the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). about the political approach to Nepal. The RSS is reassessing its past policy on the future of the monarchy and say putting all their eggs in the royal basket was not a wise move. Besides being a Hindu king, they believed only the king could fight the Maoists. Now, senior RSS leaders admit the erosion of the king’s credibility in Nepal has damaged them as well.

We depended on proximity with the king for our influence, now with the king gone we have lost our strength on the ground,” one senior RSS leader told us. Despite this, the RSS would like the institution of monarchy to remain. While more radical groups in the Vishwa Hindu Parishad still hope for an active monarchy, most in the Hindu right in India know that the days of an assertive king are gone.

"We would be quite happy if the institution remains, it is a symbol of unity and is the only Hindu monarchy in the world. We know Gyanendra and Paras are unacceptable but then the grandson formula could work,” says an RSS leader who has tracked Nepal for decades. BJP leaders, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, have said they will not actively push for retention of monarchy, and will decide on their stance based on the public mood in Nepal. The rightwing in India has kept the channels of communication open with king Gyanendra who has met three intermediaries in the past few months: a former minister from Tamil Nadu close to the RSS, a journalist with a Delhi-based pro-BJP paper, and a former intelligence official. All have returned with the impression that the king is relatively calm but at a loss about what steps to take. It appears he has been advised that a four month retreat, possibly a pilgrimage to India, would be in his interest as this would take the sting off criticism that he is obstructing elections.

More than saving the monarchy, the RSS wants to contain and curb Maoist influence and begin a political campaign in favour of reverting to a Hindu state. It is on these two issues they are willing to invest energy and capital, not on the monarchy. Utterly convinced of Maoist insincerity, the Indian right is, contrary to popular perception, keen on constituent assembly elections. The RSS is convinced that the Maoists would fare miserably and see the polls as the right way to expose them. They believe that Maoists are keen on derailing polls and using the ensuing uncertainty to organise violent street agitations. Like many others in India, the RSS was happy with the madhesi movement because it eroded Maoist support along the border. On the ground, especially in Raxaul and Gorakhpur, some RSS activists provided support (political, logistical, and possibly, limited financial help) during the movement through the Seema Jagaran Manch, a front organisation. Upendra Yadav has met senior BJP leaders in Delhi through RSS interlocutors.

But this support is limited and they neither have the will nor capacity to drive the movement. “We realise there is limited benefit for us out of the madhesi agitation. There is a crisis of leadership. Upendra Yadav is playing too many games with too many people and can’t be trusted. No madhesi group is willing to boldly say they are for a Hindu state. "What’s in it for us?” asks an RSS activist. The RSS’ opponents tend to over-estimate its strength, and even the RSS leaders know their capacity to influence domestic politics in Nepal is limited. But its leaders are aware there is strong sentiment in Nepal opposed to secularism. For now, the Hindu right in India is waiting for a strong anti-Maoist leader with a popular base who can publicly declare he is for a Hindu rastra.

Source: Nepali Times, Issue No. 363, August 24-30, 2007