Slow motion show

King Gyanendra’s puja at Dakshinkali temple on Loktantra Diwas — when the civil society representatives and political leaders were writing off the monarchy in their speeches at Basantapur — has kicked up a public fuss, particularly because a customary salute was offered to him and the old national anthem glorifying the monarchy was played in his honour. Some senior political leaders, including ministers, condemned both these incidents as going against the letter and spirit of Jana Andolan II and the Interim Constitution (IC). Their contention is based on the fact that King Gyanendra is no longer the head of state, nor is he the supreme commander or just commander of the Nepal Army. All his former roles as head of state have devolved on the Prime Minister under the IC. Perhaps because of this that Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala asked the journalists in New Delhi recently to call not King Gyanendra, but just Gyanendra.

Many political and civil society leaders have made a strong objection to some of the actions and utterances of King Gyanendra in recent months as running counter to the spirit of the times and the IC — for instance, his Democracy Day message to the nation and the palace’s alleged involvement in activities aimed at obstructing the constituent assembly (CA) elections. Indeed, the IC has kept the monarchy in a state of suspended animation pending the elections to the CA, the first meeting of which is to clinch the monarchy v republic issue. But particularly after the deferred CA polls, Prime Minister Koirala is coming under increasing pressure from many quarters, all the more so from his own eight-party alliance partners, such as the CPN-Maoist, the CPN-UML and Janamorcha Nepal that either the interim parliament should proclaim Nepal a republic by a two-thirds majority or the government should hold a referendum on the monarchy soon before fixing a new date for the CA elections.

If the eight parties so agree, any of the three options — the CA verdict, parliamentary proclamation and referendum — could be adopted as viable. But pending such a decision, the status of the monarchy, how it should be treated, including the playing of the national anthem and firing of a gun salute, should be decided by the government. It cannot afford to remain vague or indecisive on such sensitive matters. Once it does, it should enforce it strictly, and the government should have the courage to take action against anybody who dares defy its decisions or orders. Otherwise, the lack of clarity on its part will only breed more confusion and suspicions about its intent. Public suspicion and fury have arisen because of the Koirala government’s failure to implement many of the points covered in the historic Declaration of Parliament, provisions of the IC, and the government’s decisions, including reducing the size of the security personnel deployed in the royal palace, cutting the royal palace staff and bringing them under the government’s general administration, and nationalising the property belonging to the late King Birendra’s family. The Prime Minister should waste no more time in ending all this confusion.

People's Aspirations

People should decide on vital issues

MINISTER for Information and Communications Krishna Bahadur Mahara has said that the present government is working seriously and sincerely to resolve the country's outstanding problems and fulfill the aspirations of the people. During a meeting with a Swiss delegation in Kathmandu on Wednesday, Minister Mahara, who is also the spokesperson of the government, called upon all sectors, including the international community, to provide strong and meaningful support for creating a new Nepal in which the people are fully sovereign. The priority of the present government, which came to power on the strength of Jana Andolan II, is to institutionalise the peace process and achievements of the people's movement. The peace process and democratic transformation and state restructuring are directly linked with the election to a constituent assembly. The eight political parties had earlier agreed to hold the constituent assembly election in June so that the people's representatives could write a new constitution that would put all political and other disputes and debates to an end.

But the constituent assembly election is not going to be held in June as the Election Commission has already said that it cannot hold the election within the stipulated timeframe. The announcement of the Election Commission has valid justification as there little time left and a lot of work has to be done before announcing the dates for the election. Moreover, the constituent assembly election is a new experience for Nepal, and plenty of time is necessary to educate the people about it. Without properly educating the people about the constituent assembly, people cannot make the informed choice. The government and eight political parties are still committed to holding the constituent assembly election and accomplishing the mandate given by the Jana Andolan. Now, the political parties need to stop the blame game, and all partners of the government must take collective responsibility for both the credit and discredit. This is the spirit of the coalition culture, and the parties need to learn this culture. This coalition culture alone will consolidate the unity of the eight parties. As the nation is in transition, the unity of the eight parties is highly necessary to complete the job of fully institutionalising the achievements of Jana Andolan II. The parties must keep the unity intact until the constituent assembly election is held. Now the political parties must sit together and assess the situation and announce the dates for the constituent assembly election. It is the time to rise above partisan interests and work for the greater interest of the nation. This alone would fulfill the aspirations of the people.

Source: The Rising Nepal, April 27, 2007

Collective Spirit A Must

Prem N. Kakkar

THE enthusiasm and commitment with which the first anniversary of the April revolution was marked as Loktantra Day was quite encouraging. It gave the political leaders, the civil society and the people in general an opportunity to evaluate the gains that had been made in the past one year and the shortcomings as well. What was interesting was that the political leaders came up with clear ideas for further steps to be taken in the run up to the constituent assembly (CA) election.

CA polls

The focus in the recent times and on Loktantra Day as well dwelt on the CA elections. The commitment of all is there, but the delay has been quite pressing on the eight political parties that are represented on the interim government. It is true that the transition phase is characterised by many problems. And this is the reason why the date for the CA polls has not been declared so far. In principle, the leaders of the eight political parties had agreed on June 20, but the Election Commission's statement that it needs 110 days to hold the election set in motion the uncertainty.Meanwhile, the meting of the eight political parties, too, has not taken place in recent times to thrash out various issues including, predominantly, the date for the polls. This is quite disconcerting, given that the eight parties want to maintain unity all along. So far there is broad agreement on working together though now and then minor issues do crop up. This is not unusual with parties that have different ideologies. This calls for compromises. They all realise that this is crucial for achieving the objectives set forth.

Herein, it may be important to mention that all the leaders talk of the mandate of the people in high flying rhetoric. Yes, the people had given the mandate by participating in such great numbers during Jana Andolan II, the success of which has led to the present times and the political situation. Even now the focus is on the CA polls as it will elect the representatives to frame a new all-inclusive constitution to take the country forward. In it the dream of a new Nepal is ever present. But on the question of creating a new Nepal, very little information seems to be coming from the leaders concerned. First of all, the need for sincerity must be there among all the parties. To say one thing during a meeting and then go out on an assault later on at mass meetings do not behoove well on their part.In recent times, the blame game, too, is picking up, with mud slinging in full swing. This is not good for the times that the country is passing through. It is true that every person has the right to put forth his or her viewpoints or ideas. This truly calls for discussion. This is a time when new ideas must come up, and the stakeholders must discuss them thoroughly. For the moment, the Maoists have decided to declare a republic from the legislature parliament. At the same time, the CPN-UML wants a referendum to decide the fate of the monarchy.

They are suggestions, but they carry weight. This calls for full debate and discussions. On the issue of monarchy, the Nepali Congress has always maintained that the CA will decide on its fate. Here lies the bone of contention among the parties that are in the government.The government is there, but it works only on the direction of the eight parties. So blaming the government for something may not seem appropriate. It is the top leaders of the eight parties that decide on the future course of action. This necessarily means that the eight political parties are responsible for everything that is taking place in the political front. As for the announcement of the date for the CA polls, it is up to the leaders of the eight political parties to decide. They should make it their foremost agenda and hold the meet as fast as possible to remove doubts and confusion among the people.

Foundation

Instead of stalling the proceedings of the legislature parliament, the leaders of the eight political parties must come up with definite plans to resolve the various issues that have surfaced. It needs collective effort from all. In this, blaming this or that person for whatever has happened is not appropriate. A collective effort is most important at the moment. In this rests the foundation on which the CA polls will be held in all earnest.

Source: The Rising Nepal, April 27, 2007

Diplomacy In The Nepali Context

Madhavji Shrestha

The common concern of diplomats and diplomatic performance is seen and interpreted by various governments according to their set standard and values. However, in Nepal, forgetting the essential of what must be done in representing the country and its interests abroad, each aspirant for the position of ambassador or envoy runs after the authority in power to fulfill his desire.

Criteria for appointment

Undeniably, the person in question may have been lured by the glamour and comfort of life once appointed as the highest diplomatic agent abroad. In our context, the aspirant never thinks of his capability and suitability. The decision-makers, too, never imagine if they have been doing the right thing in sending someone who is linked with a political party or familial and other unspecified ties.

This mode of appointing ambassadors and envoys had developed in the past, and a similar trend is happening at present. This has happened because no criteria have been set as of now, nor have rulebooks been made to develop the much-needed diplomatic service. Under no circumstance will this evolution be restrained unless some great disaster of far-fetched impact takes place.Evidently, it has been more than five decades that Nepal started getting exposed to the external world. Despite such a long span of time, no convincing step has been taken to develop the Foreign Service. The conscious people have greatly felt the void, but no real progress seems on the way to organise the service. Mere passing of the Foreign Service Act is not sufficient to make it effective and responsive unless it is supported and strengthened by regular and timebound practices and orientations to present a good image of Nepal abroad. The conspicuous absence of an appropriate training and research institute in Nepal is also taking a toll in ensuring a constant supply of good personnel required for the country to promote its national interest abroad. Nor do we have any good faculty under any recognised university in Nepal to impart a fair knowledge of international affairs to those who desire to join the Foreign Service and work as competent diplomats. Still bewailing is the fact that the national political parties, which are either set or prepared to take over state power, do not have any mechanism of their own to conduct diplomacy, thus, depriving themselves of diplomatic capabilities and skills.

Meanwhile, one very important point to note is that the diplomatic domain, which was until a few decades ago confined to the government circle alone, is now visibly being pushed to the people and people-oriented arena. Previously, a diplomat was considered to represent his government in the country where he is accredited. This concept and consideration have now undergone changes, and as a result, the scope and activities of a diplomat have gone far and wide to reach and cover the spheres of people and people-concerned interests in the highly interdependent world today. Government-concerned diplomacy alone is no solution now. Some broader approach and style of working are unmistakably on the card now. If one is just concerned with the government-to-government diplomacy, one can hardly become a successful diplomat in the newly emerging situation. The diplomat in question needs to embrace the stream of public diplomacy to reach out to the people and the related organisations to win their opinion and affection for the country he represents abroad. If done sensitively and assiduously, this modern practice and behavior would do greater service to the country. To materialise the success of public diplomacy, both extensive ability and knowledge are highly required. These qualities are immensely important to mingle and get entrenched in the society of the country of his residence and other places.

The changes in the international scenario and the ever-expanding facilities to get information have now led to the evolution of the diplomatic concept toward the newer field. If diplomacy was formerly considered an art, it has now become an accepted craft. Everyone knows that art is a concern of taking up a theme of one's own selection, but a craft is a subject to work with the material available, with the correct application of one's own method and style of actions and dealings. In a modern sense, diplomatic craftsmanship has appeared more significant in view of the existing linkages and issues between and among nations of the concerned relationship, which can be taken as given materials to make diplomatic venture an object of craftsmanship. Hence, for this craftsmanship to flourish in a more satisfactory way, deeper knowledge of and closer intimacy with materials of relationship remain as overriding concern for any improvement. The method of bettering diplomatic performance, if well versed with this craftsmanship, could be safely ensured to get along with the recent trend. Efficacy and unbounded choice come up as heightened concerns in the performance of his duties.

Construing a reliable trajectory for public diplomacy to reinforce official diplomacy and embracing modern diplomacy more as a craft than as an art would pave the way towards the success of diplomatic activities and moves because these basic things remain at the root of success. But these important things are not easy to master. Intelligence and devotion remain in great demand.However, in Nepal, those indispensable elements are yet to be taken up with seriousness and gravity. Diplomatic activities attached with assignments are not carried in a way befitting the position and responsibility. The culture of appointments for important diplomatic places has not yet changed for the better. Unquestionably, its style and substance that have come down from the time of the Rana autocracy even to a now transformed Nepal, are, regrettably, not changed. Only the hands have changed, and the core contents have not because political patronage and political linkage remain at the same obsolete fashioned strata. Decision-makers need to go a long way to get well acquainted with their intent and practice.

National interest

Undoubtedly, ambassadors and envoys are sent abroad not for any particular party interest but to promote national interest. Modern diplomats are also not meant for the limited government duties alone. They serve as representatives of the entire country and as official agents of the entire population. Representation of any political party at any place, whether important or non-important, cannot be considered as national representation. This concern is indeed vital to national interest.Finally, what is most needed is that ambassadors and envoys must be adept at handling public diplomacy along with the dexterity to use diplomacy as a craft to ensure success. Will the decision-makers have the time and mind to heed this concern of national importance?

Source: The Rising Nepal, April 27, 2007

Absorptive capacity

Most Nepali people think that we do not have enough resources to support development activities. They believe that our bridges and roads are not being built because we do not have money. Surprisingly, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat has been burdened with Rs 17 billion as reserves, having no clue as to how and where to spend that much money. The mid-term budget review by the Finance Ministry predicts that the country would be able to spend only Rs 97 billion out of appropriated Rs 143 billion, by the end of this fiscal year. The minister sought proposals from government agencies to utilize the swollen reserves, and altogether they showed capability to absorb a mere 2 billion rupees. Interestingly, our government is not in a position to be delighted to have achieved the revenue target set by the budget. This year it is kind of worried about overshooting revenue target because of lack of a capacity to spend it.

Why is Nepal's absorptive capacity so low? Obviously, the bureaucrats would be loathed for their lack of competence to spend money properly. More than competence, it is said that the lack of initiative among the concerned authorities is a bigger impediment. The absorptive capacity is also intrinsically related to infrastructure, skilled labor force, macroeconomic balance and other economic factors. The low absorptive capacity also repels the donors from providing financial assistance to Nepal. In fact, the donors calculate the absorptive capacity of a country and aid-effectiveness before sanctioning new support. As per international practice, absorptive capacity is the ability to use additional aid without pronounced inefficiency of public spending and without induced adverse effects. Unfortunately, in our case we have been losing installments of the sanctioned aid for failing to provide a report of the preceding work.

Lack of initiative on the part of the bureaucrats is definitely the crucial area to be improved to enhance our spending capacity. If any officer is worried that he might be penalized for the work he accomplishes, with the change of the minister or the party in the government, he/she would not take any initiative. Also the infrastructure and skilled labor force are pertinent issues. Our failure in the development of roads, bridges, energy, education etc. have severely hampered our capacity to spend more. Similarly, we do not have enough manpower to execute the projects. Moreover, due to the 11-year long insurgency, there are not even enough unskilled laborers to work in the projects, not to talk about skilled ones. So, the absorptive capacity is not only an economic problem, it is also a political issue. Until and unless our political parties agree on common minimum economic issues, we will always be facing these and other issues as impediments, always forcing us to remain under poverty and deprivation.

Source: The Kathmandu Post, April 27, 2007