Where is the Mandate?

A decision without public debate and people's mandate is not acceptable. Democracy also means not bowing to terror and violence. Compromising with violence in the name of peace does not solve the problem, let alone bring peace. It is like appeasing a wild tiger with a few morsels of meat. It will come for more and more.

By Tilak B. Shrestha

It is sad to watch political events and erosion of hard-earned democracy in Nepal. It seems our politicians are agreeing to every demand of every violent group. However, where is the people's mandate to do that? Democracy means each political issue must be first peacefully and openly discussed, people's mandate must be honoured, and violence must not be allowed to dictate.

Nepal is to be divided and made federal. Where are discussions and the mandate? The only Hindu country Nepal has been declared secular. Where are discussions and the mandate? Maoists are inducted into parliament. Is there no difference between bullets and ballots?

The issue is not which opinion you hold; but capitulating to violence and undemocratic way is. There must be rational and peaceful discussions on pros and cons of any policy, as in the long term, it will affect us all. All the views and interests must be set forth openly. And people should make collective decision through some kind of peaceful democratic system. The actual modality may be suited to the ground condition. A decision without public debate and people's mandate is not acceptable. Democracy also means not bowing to terror and violence. Compromising with violence in the name of peace does not solve the problem, let alone bring peace. It is like appeasing a wild tiger with a few morsels of meat. It will come for more and more. Then hyenas and lions will also demand their share. Violence leads the civic society to a totally different political trajectory. The core problem will be obfuscated and the outcome will be undesirable for both parties, let alone for whole nation. Because, the motivating factor will no more be inclusive nationalism, but fear and anger.

We must develop the core constituency of peaceful hard working citizens as the backbone of our nation. Let us respect the voice of the silent majority. Yes, let us think of people who do not do 'chakka jam' (vehicular strike), but get stuck in it or are affected by it. Are their silent voices to be drowned out by violence? The first job of any government is security of the nation. The second job is law and order in the country, where peaceful deliberation and livelihood can take place. How will appeasing every violent group bring peace and prosperity? It will make Nepal only another Afghanistan and Somalia. What happened to our legendary brave army?

What about the interests of excluded minorities? Yes, the opinion and interests of minorities must be respected. However, we must have correct identifications and solutions of the problem. For example, recently the issue of Madhesi and Pahadi has been raised, as if our only problem is a struggle between Pahadi and Madhesi people. In which year Madhes invaded Pahad or vice versa? How about between 'Nak chhuche' vs. 'Nak thepche' people? This is what many Rais, Gurungs, Tamangs etc. like to believe. How about high caste and Dalits within Terai? Men and women? Maithili Bahuns and Kumai Bahuns? The problem is with the feudal system, where Shah, Pandey, Thapa, Rana, Jamindar, Jimuwal lords doling out to individuals for their loyalties and services; and the evolution of elite in the capital, and their culture defining national norms. The formation of elite is based upon the proximity to the power center, not ethnicity-based.

Taking 1990 as the watershed year when the feudal system was superseded by the democratic system, our political process must also reflect the paradigm shift. That is, the analysis of our problems must be done by looking at people as citizens with different attributes, not a faceless member of a subgroup. For example: Person 'A' - madhesi, male, dalit, Bhojpuri language. Person 'B' - Gurung, female, educated, Gurung language. Person 'C' - Newar, male, farmer, Nepal bhasha. Person 'D' - Bahun, female, educated, Nepali language. Then determine which sub groups and attributes are doing better and worse. Then identify the reasons. If we have the correct facts, the solutions also would become obvious.

What about the historical injustices? There are a few factors we must be clear. First, almost all subgroups feel they are exploited. To put it only as a single dichotomy, for example Pahadi vs. Madhesi, is not correct. All the sources of friction must be addressed. That is, we also must address the issues of 'Nak chhuche vs. Nak thepche' in hills and 'High caste vs. Dalit' in Madhes. The 'strategy' must be designed to uplift bottom groups, i.e. it must not be about group retribution. A recorded injustice must be taken as a legal issue, not political. The strategy must have robust political support, i.e. the majority of citizens should agree to it. The application of the national resource to address such inequities must be targeted and cost effective, i.e. a Madhesi Jamindar should not benefit by pointing to the plight of a Dalit woman in Terai. It must be scientific and free from ideological prejudice, i.e. a male, Yadav, school teacher, Maithili speaker and living in Janakpur must be exactly that - a Yadav, a male, a school teacher, a Maithili speaker, and from Janakpur; not a bourgeois or a capitalist. Societal problems like caste and ethnicity, and lowbrow jokes like 'Pakhe, Madhise, Kathe, Dhero' must be addressed through education, cultural inclusiveness and social leaderships, i.e. it must not be made national political issues.

Maoists are proposing the ethnic division of Nepal, as if it will solve our problems. And a few one-book intellectuals have subscribed to that. This is nothing but hypocrisy in their lust for power. How ethnicity fits in their ‘proletariat vs. capitalist class struggle’ model? It is nothing more than a ploy to use ‘Janajatis’ to weaken the democratically elected government. Let us look at the facts in the ground. How many ‘Janajatis’ died in the struggle vs. so called high caste? How many corrupt ministers, officers, and royalists were brought to Maoist justice? Which area is economically devastated? We really need to think through the consequences of such ethnicity-based division. It will benefit neither ‘Janajatis’, nor Nepal. We, especially ‘Janajatis,’ will be left with bigger problems. It will benefit only a few local petty chiefs. Do you really think Maoists believe in decentralisation, democratic decision making, respect for cultural differences, and real economic development? Look around the world for facts and think again.

In my opinion all these problems of exclusion and pockets of under-developments must be addressed keeping in view a) It must be within the framework of progress of all the subgroups in Nepal. We must do it by soul-searching the future vision of Nepal and b) It must not fossilise the issue of ethnic tensions for future generations.

Perhaps it can be addressed through following techniques:

1. Political technique of decentralisation by geographic grouping, not by ethnic division. We have more than 100 ethnic groups. Will a federation of 100 plus states develop Nepal? How about Damai group living within the proposed Magarat state? Will we have a Damai sub-state within Magarat state, within Nepal? How about another Damai sub-state in another proposed Limbuwan state? How about a Damai state where all the Magars, Limbus, Chhetris, Bahuns, Madhesis and Newars living? Let us think through the ethnic tensions, resource allocations, riparian rights, power devolution, economy of state, leadership formation and all the attendant issues. The ethnic division is the biggest blunder we will be committing as a nation.

2. Bolstering the concept of 'unity in diversity' by cultural zoning, grouped by ethnicity, language etc.

3. Targeted development strategy by allocating resource in promoting jobs and education to the bottom sub-groups. The definition of marginalisation must be family income and education, not ethnicity.

4. Promoting inclusion by political participation of all the subgroups. All the political parties must be sensitive to ethnic interests. However, it is not a good idea to have political parties based on ethnicity. It can be done by promoting caucuses of different issues within all the political parties including ethnicity and language. Let the parties compete in national inclusiveness. Nepal is a conglomerate of many ethnic groups. The perceived exclusiveness of any party will render it automatically bankrupt. The goal has to be the inculcation of national statesmen, not petty ethnic leaders. It will have same desired effect without developing unnecessary division and tensions.

5. Let us consider two more related issues: economy and integrity. Most of our current problems are due to the slow economic growth and the perceived lack of integrity in our leaders. The resultant hopelessness and frustration have created pockets of anger and revolts. Since we are between two giants India and China, we must calibrate our economic policies with theirs. One economic model both countries have successfully applied is to invite foreign investments and promote industrialisation using local disciplined labour. We must learn it and replicate in Nepal. The jobs and economic progress will take care of most of the frustrations. In theory, the political parties are supposed to present their economic and social vision, and compete for people's mandate. However, in Nepal such paradigm is secondary. The primary problem is the corruption in the political leadership. Therefore, our civic body must air this issue in all the public forums and demand integrity from our politicians. The integrity must be the first sacrosanct demand to be followed by other political issues.

Let us stand up and refuse any system thrust upon us through violence. Let us remember all the blood split for democracy. We must demand peaceful discussion and referendum on any of the important national issues including a) federal system vs. united Nepal; b) Hindu state vs secular state, and c) joining parliament through violence. Last but not the least; let us remember who are responsible for dividing our nation, and express our ‘hurt silence’ through our donation and the vote. Virtue defended, will defend us - "Dharmo raxati, raxate."

(Dr. Shrestha, Ph. D., is a Research Scientist and is working in Birmingham, Alabama , USA and can be reached at tilakbs@hotmail.com)

(Editor’s Note: Nepalis, wherever they live, as well as friends of Nepal around the globe are requested to contribute their views/opinions/recollections etc. on issues concerning present day Nepal to the Guest Column of Nepalnews. Length of the article should not be more than 1,000 words and may be edited for the purpose of clarity and space. Relevant photos as well as photo of the author may also be sent along with the article. Please send your write-ups to editors@mos.com.np)

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