Commitments
Galore
As the election for the Constituent Assembly (CA) is less than one month away, the political parties have intensified their campaigns. One after another, the bigger political parties have released their election manifestoes. Since stakes are higher this time than in the previous parliamentary elections, the parties have also adjusted their manifestoes by expressing their views regarding fundamental elements and structure of state. In an environment still filled with unease, the parties have tried to assure the voters that this time they are dead serious about the election. From political transformation to economic miracle, the parties have made tall commitments to entice the voters.
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
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UML leaders(right))and Maoist leaders presenting their respective manifestoes:Promising the sky |
Following a sudden turn-around of Madhesi agitation, which was withdrawn after the signing of the eight-point pact with the government, the entire country is witnessing the gradual build-up of election atmosphere. Parties have started girding up their loins and launching headstrong their electoral rallies and campaigns across the country.
In a matter of one week, major political parties have started releasing election manifestoes. From Maoists to UML and from RPP to other smaller parties, all have brought out their manifestoes. The only remaining big party Nepali Congress (NC), too, has said that it will make its manifesto public within this week.
In their manifestoes, most parties – except the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP-Nepal) – have sought to usher in republic with some (RPP, RJP) choosing to remain silent on the issue.
Congress Question
Although the Nepali Congress (NC) had not released its manifesto till this story went to press (Tuesday, March 11 morning), a senior leader of the party had said that the document will follow what was decided by the Maha Samiti meeting held a few months ago.
"The party manifesto will be based on the decision of the Maha Samiti," said Dr. Minendra Rijal.
The Maha Samiti had decided that the Congress will advocate democratic republic. Following the Maha Samiti, which also united two Congress parties, its only founding leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai had resigned from the party saying he was dissatisfied with the decision to opt for republic – which he said was against the traditional ideal of the six-decades-old party.
As Dr. Rijal said the NC will be proposing democratic republic and federalism as well as advocating liberal economy.
Maoist Plan
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| PM Koirala: Focused on CA |
The Maoists have proposed to make their party chairman Prachanda as the first president of republican Nepal.
Unveiling their official campaigning for the forthcoming April election, the Maoists released their 39-page manifesto which promises a 'federal republic under presidential system.'
The Maoists have proposed 11 autonomous provinces and two sub-provinces with right to self-determination.
Along with a redrawn map of Nepal dividing the country into federal units based on ethnicity and geography, the manifesto intends to appoint an interim President and a new transitional government after the election.
"New leadership is needed to implement new thought and to build new Nepal," clarified Dr. Baburam Bhattarai.
Dr. Bhattarai elaborated the economic policies of the party saying that new transitional economic policy should be adopted to develop the domestic industrial capitalism.
"To develop the national industrial capitalism, a new transitional economy is required, which, if implemented will increase the per capita income from $ 300 to $3000 in ten years and to $10,000 in twenty years and in forty years, Nepal will be counted among one of the most prosperous countries in the world," claimed Bhattarai, who was the chief of the team that drafted the manifesto.
He added that the party has a policy to promote public-private partnership.The Maoist manifesto says 10,000 megawatt hydroelectricity will be generated in the next 10 years, and drinking water will be made available to the entire population in within five years period.
Likewise, the party has set another major target: ending illiteracy in just five years. The manifesto also suggests that basic health care will be available to everybody if the party makes it to the power.
Republican Nepal will be a secular state with self-sufficient economy while the country's relation with India and China will be based on panchasheel, the manifesto says. The party has also vowed to strictly regulate the border with India and end the tradition of recruiting Nepali youths in foreign army, and annul the Nepal-India friendship treaty 1950.
In the manifesto, the Maoists have expressed commitment to respecting internationally accepted human rights laws and guaranteeing fundamental rights of the citizens.
UML Angle
The Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) has also stressed on democratic republic in its manifesto. The party general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said establishing 'federal democratic republic' and building of strong and prosperous Nepal is the main focus of their manifesto.
"The main thing is to settle the issue of 240-years-old monarchy. We must defeat all monarchists," Nepal said.
In its manifesto, the party has said that the Prime Minister should be directly elected by the people and be checked by elected parliament. "The president will be titular head of state," he said. Earlier, the Maoists had forwarded manifesto, which stated that president will be the executive chief.
"The UML will go for federal units, which will be divided based on concentration/density of language, ethnic group, region, history and socio-economic status. We think that the actual number of such federal units should be decided after wider consultations and through the State Restructuring Committee," he said.
On the economy, the UML general secretary said that they will strengthen public, private and cooperative sectors as pillars of economy. He also said that the party will give adequate attention to development education, health, tourism, and water resources.
"We have already published Vision Nepal document, which elaborates our 20 year perspective plan for economic development," he said.
Others' Concerns
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NC workers: Election fever running high |
Apart from the big fishes, other parties have also started releasing their manifestoes. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), fringe leftist outfits and others have started the process.
The RPP has said it favors restructuring of the state with guarantee of 'inclusive multiparty democracy'. The RPP manifesto also stresses that the state be restructured by ensuring fair representation of ethnic communities, Madhesis and people from different regions in the proposed 'state restructuring commission'.
The party of former Panchayati leaders has said that the fate of monarchy should be decided by the people and not by the parties, and described the declaration of the republic prior to the CA polls as an autocratic move of the seven-party alliance.
The Madhesi parties including Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) and Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) are yet to release their manifestoes.
However, they have made it amply clear during the recent agitation that they will be proposing Madhes province with the right to self determination and decentralization of power to the province.
Similarities And Dissimilarities
The manifestoes of major parties have numerous points of similarities as well as dissimilarities. The two largest communist parties – UML and Maoists – differ on the major point of what kind of head of state they prefer.
While the Maoists have backed presidential form of governance, the UML has supported making prime minister as the chief executive with president just acting as titular head. The NC is said to have proposed prime ministerial system of governance.
On the issue of restructuring of state also, the major parties have put forth different positions.
The Maoists have gone to the extent of actually dividing up the federal units. The UML has said that the number and nature of such units will have to be decided following wider understanding and through the proposed State Restructuring Commission. The NC has also said it favors federalism but has not clarified much.
That apart, the parties have also put forth wide ranging economic policies making tall promises. As the clock ticks on, the parties have hit the road running holding election rallies across the country appearing confident of the certainty of the CA election. Will they be third time lucky? The answer is anybody's guess.
CA ELECTIONS
Deteriorating Law and Order
Election Commission points out the need to improve the law and order situation before holding the election for CA
By A CORRESPONDENT
Minister without portfolio, Sujata Koirala reportedly complained to prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala about the deteriorating law and order situation in her constituency in Sunsari 5 where armed outfits are roaming around threatening her voters.
"Despite all these irritants, I have been in door to door campaign in my constituency," said Koirala. "I am assuring my voters that there will be peace and nobody can stop them from voting."
Former home minister Govinda Raj Joshi, a candidate from Tanahu Constituency no 1 is facing another kind of problem as Maoist cadres have been threatening his voters saying that they will be severely punished in case they go to polling booths.
Joshi, who has been working in the district for last 35 years, has been launching his election campaign. "I have been working now to remove the fear from the minds of voters created by Maoists in the last twelve years," said Joshi.
Acting president of Nepal Congress Sushi Koirala complained that Maoist cadres and armed outfits are threatening the voters in his constituency in Banke district. “ The Maoist should immediately stop disrupting electoral campaigns of other political parties,” said Koirala in Banke. People are enthusiastic about the polls despite poor security situation and pressure form the Maoists.”
Similar is the situation faced by many other party candidates. Maoist cadres barred RPP leader Pashupati Sumsher Rana from visiting his constituency in Sindhupalchowk district from where he is contesting this election. A group of
Maoist cadres tried to physically attack him recently.
"I was barred by Maoist cadres who came there with guns and Khukuri," said Rana at a press conference. "If we are not allowed to visit our constituency, there is no sense of holding the election."
On Tuesday, Maoist cadres barred workers of Surya Bahadur Thapa-led Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) from entering into Dhankuta district where they were headed to campaign in favor of their party leader. The Maoist cadres looted them and threatened them not to set their feet in the district in future.
After receiving a series of complaints from various candidates, the Election Commission issued a notice to the government asking it to maintain law and order situation in the country.
"The government needs to ensure the law and order situation in the country," said the spokesman of Election Commission. "We feel there is a need to provide more security to the candidates and voters."
Prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala and home minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula however have their own version. "You won't have complete security like in the past," said home minister Sitaula. "The government has to work in a very limited resources and manpower."
At a time when candidates of other parties have been talking about the need to improve the law and order situation, RPP-Nepal president Kamal Thapa, leader of country’s only party which is openly advocating constitutional monarchy and Hindu Kingdom, unveiled his party manifesto.
“Whatever circumstances may come, we are ready to face the elections. Our vision is clear on the forms of government as we want to see constitutional monarchy in the country.” If we are allowed to campaign, we will go to the voters with our ideology.”
As candidates in southern plains are frequently receiving life threats and facing abductions while Maoist cadres are still threatening others in hill areas, the challenge for the forthcoming election on security front is still huge.
