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NEPAL: Political parties should provide a road map to the King to meet the constitutional crisis; Update 45.
by Dr. S. Chandrasekhara.
On May 3, 2004 in an unexpected move, the Thapa government arrested the CPN-UML General Secretary, Madhav Nepal and another senior leader Bam Dev Gautam from their residences in Kathmandu. The Nepali Congress leader G.P.Koirala was similarly arrested.
These arrests were made as a pre-emptive move to prevent the leaders in defying the government and demonstrating before the palace. When the situation demanded a conciliatory move on the part of the government to handle the agitation with care lest the agitation goes into lawless hands, the move of the Thapa government was totally provocative and unnecessary. This move certainly gives the imprint of King Gyanendra but the continued detention of the leaders would have irreversibly moved the country to a situation similar to the1990 agitation.
Luckily, good sense prevailed. Not only were all the political leaders released, the prohibitory orders declared in Kathmandu and Lalitpur that were the immediate cause for intensifying the agitation were withdrawn unconditionally. Though the agitation against regression is continuing, this action of the Thapa government should now pave the way for a meaningful dialogue between the agitating political parties and the King. In the past the dialogue between the King and the political leaders since October 4, 2002 had not made any progress as both the parties were vague and neither made any concrete proposal
Since last week, the King has been meeting various political leaders that included former Prime Ministers like Kirtinidi Bista, Lokendra Bahadur Chand and Marichman Singh These Prime ministers are of no relevance in the current political situation and their opinion may count with the Palace but not with the people or the agitating parties.
Reports indicate that the King wanted to meet the leaders of agitating parties, individually and not collectively, whereas the leaders initially said that they wanted to meet the King only collectively. There is some confusion amongst the parties as to what they want and what they should do or seek in the event of being invited for talks by the King.
G.P.Koirala is said to have declared that he would meet the King if the leaders languishing in jail are released unconditionally and the prohibitory orders lifted. These have been done, but he appears to have changed his stand and is reluctant to meet the King!
On the other hand, Madhav Nepal of UML in his interview with Kantipur post on May 1, 2004 said that the five party alliance now agitating will meet the King only after the resignation of Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa and that too only after a consensus is reached. This is a tall order that will never be accepted by any self respecting person leave alone the present King Gyanendra!
But will the agitating political parties reach a consensus? It is doubtful.
In our last update 44, a suggestion was made that Sher Bahadur Deuba could be reinstated as Prime minister as a first step as that would meet one of the two issues on which the movement against October 4 regression of 2002 started. A similar view was also expressed by a senior leader K.P.Oli of UML. In an interaction programme in Kathmandu on 27 April, he said that his party would support Deuba as Prime Minister, if his government that was sacked on October 4, 2002 was reinstated. Similar views were also expressed privately by the UML leader Madhav Nepal also.
But G.P.Koirala is said to be opposed to the appointment of Deuba as Prime Minister once again. Some problems have also emerged in the proposed unity moves between the two factions of the Nepali Congress. While Koirala had indicated that the members of Deuba?s group ( Nepali Congress- democratic) could join them, he is said to be wary of committing himself fully to status quo ante which is the minimum demanded. by Deuba?s group. On the other hand some elements in Deuba?s group would prefer an association of the two parties rather than a merger.
To us, it appears that the differences between the two groups of Nepali Congress are not irreconcilable, but there have been no sincere attempts on the part of both sides to come to an agreement to unite. They should do it in the interest of the country.
The political parties should first come together and make out a proper and specific proposal to the King for moving ahead. If they do not like Deuba, let them elect another leader acceptable to all the former members of the dissolved parliament and agree on a cabinet of ministers representing all parties for the specific purpose of creating the right atmosphere for conducting the elections. The King had also indicated in his speeches that his objective is also to have a representative form of government according to international norms with a multi party democracy and elections to be held before April 2005.
The political parties and G.P.Koirala particularly should realise that uncertain political conditions favour both the Maoists and the King. The latter has the reputation of looking up to his late father King Mahendra as his role model and it is well-known how democracy was snuffed out in eighteen months and party less Panchayat system introduced in the sixties. His detractors say that he (King Gyanendra) is no admirer of democracy!
What is important is that the political parties should take the initiative and make concrete proposals for a representative government to meet the three dangers- law and order, political, and economic issues facing Nepal today. This is not the time to seek commitment to the eighteen point agenda proposed by the Nepali Congress or the seven point agenda proposed by the King for good governance. (Appendix I & II) These could be discussed later.
Release of the leaders and unconditional withdrawal of prohibitory orders in Kathmandu gives the agitating parties an opening to have a meaningful dialogue with the King. They should use this opportunity instead of continuing with the agitation.
Appendix1
18-point common agenda
1) Referendum.
2) Secularism.
3) Abrogation of the Raj Sabha Standing Committee.
4) Limiting royal title to king, queen and crown prince. Hierarchy of PM would jump up to 4th position, from current 13th.
5) Put an end to practice of constitutional monarch to enact laws as part of royal discretion.
6) Put functioning of Royal Palace under domain of Ministry of Royal Palace.
7) Publicising property owned by reigning monarch at regular intervals.
8) RNA will be put strictly under command of government.
9) Change national anthem, which will reflect pride, national unity and patriotism.
10) Parliament will be evolved along strong lines with huge powers.
11) Parliament will be deemed to be automatically revived just in case elections can't be held.
12) Drastic measures to bring about socio-economic transformation by suggesting, among others, dealing with Maoist insurgency.
13) Measures be taken to ameliorate lot of women, Dalits, members of ethnic communities and those who have contributed to task of nation-building.
14) Following non-aligned and UN friendly foreign policy. .
15) Decentralisation of governance.
16) Addressing issues linked with issuance of citizenship certificates.
17) Restructure National Assembly to broaden ethnic, caste and regional representation.
18) Make bureaucracy transparent and to effectively control corruption.
Appendix2.
7-point Agenda by King Gyanendra on January 6,2004
1) National consensus
2) Peace and security
3) Corruption control
4) People-oriented administration
5) National solidarity
6) Free and fair election
7) An all-party government
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