Absolute monarchy is now an anachronism: Ms Bloch
Former US ambassador to Nepal, Ms Julia Chang Bloch, has said absolute monarchy is now an anachronism and that 2005 is not 1960.
Addressing a group of journalists from Washington D. C. through a digitized video-conference on Monday, Ms Bloch was referring to the dismissal of the first popularly elected parliament by late King Mahendra 45 years ago. What we need is the sovereignty of the people, not that of king’s. “Asking the people to choose between him and the Maoists is actually a Hobson’s choice,’ she added.
Ms. Bloch—who was a American envoy during the tumultuous period of 1989-93 that ushered Nepal into a multiparty democracy through a peaceful ‘jana andolan’—said though political parties did not equip themselves well (over this period), it was no reason to dismiss a democratically elected government. Nepal’s development index during the 12 years of democracy shows it made tremendous progress on many fronts.
Ms. Bloch further said seven months after the royal takeover, monarchy was faring no better. She warned that Nepal was in the process of becoming a failed state as a result of the royal takeover of February 1. She said Nepal government had been isolated in the international community after the royal move. “King Gyanendra not attending the UN General Assembly is an indication that Nepali government today is isolated.
She urged the Nepalese monarch and political parties to reconcile while there was still time. “Nepal was not yet ready to move ahead without the King. The political parties, however, have abandoned constitutional monarchy, so the situation is changing,” she said.
“The King needs to restore multiparty democracy, civil liberties and release political detainees. There would be no better time now for the King to show his commitment,” she added.
Ms. Bloch also advised King Gyanendra to listen to people’s aspirations. “I don’t know who the King is listening to. If the palace could be more open and listen to more people, the King would be better able to make decision,” she said. She warned that the monarchy would lose everything in the long run as the position of international community was disheartening against the King.
Responding to a query why United States had not yet commented on unilateral ceasefire declared by the Maoists for three months, Bloch said she could only guess that there had been ceasefires even in the past and probably US was observing if this was a legitimate one. On the possibility of United Nation’s role as intermediary to resolve the Nepal conflict, Ms. Bloch said if all parties in Nepal agreed, the UN could play a vital role. “There can’t be a military solution to the Maoist insurgency,” she added.
The programme was organised by The American Center in Kathmandu. nepalnews.com by Sep 20 05
