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VOL. 03, NO. 03, July 01, 2009 (Ashadh 17 2066) |
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‘We Want To Restore Faith In The Government’
--Shanker Pokharel
Minister of Information and Communications, SHANKER POKHAREL is powerful second generation leader of the CPN-UML. Pokharel was appointed as a minister in the second expansion of the cabinet by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal. While the country is passing through a serious crisis, the Maoists continue to block the parliamentary session and the law and order situation has further deteriorated. The spokesman of the government, Pokharel, spoke to KESHAB POUDEL and SAROJ DAHAL on challenges before the government at his office in Singha Durbar. Excerpts:
Minister of Information and Communications, SHANKER POKHAREL is powerful second generation leader of the CPN-UML. Pokharel was appointed as a minister in the second expansion of the cabinet by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal. While the country is passing through a serious crisis, the Maoists continue to block the parliamentary session and the law and order situation has further deteriorated. The spokesman of the government, Pokharel, spoke to KESHAB POUDEL and SAROJ DAHAL on challenges before the government at his office in Singha Durbar. Excerpts:
How does the government plan to meet the challenges?
We have two main priorities now. The first priority is to end the political deadlock with the Maoist and second priority is to maintain law and order and assure the people that there is a state to protect their interests. Maintaining law and order is the responsibility of all civil society members, political parties and common people as well.
When abductions, extortion and other crimes are rampant should not the security situation be the top priority of the government?
I am not saying that law and order is not our priority. What I mean is that there needs to be an end to the political deadlock with Maoist to accelerate the drive against criminal elements. Of course, impunity is growing and people have lost the faith in state, we want to restore that faith.
As the Maoists are in the opposition and have already made it clear that they intend to capture the street, parliament and state, how do you seek their support?
Had they intended to do so, they would not have started dialogue with the prime minister. I don’t want to read into what their public statements say, what I want to see is good gestures. If the law and order situation breaks down and criminals are allowed a free reign, nobody will be safe. I don’t think the Maoists will oppose any move of this government to restore the law and order situation.
But one has not seen any visible change so far, that your government has made a difference?
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has already directed the concerned authorities to take the necessary actions to reduce the crime rate and punish those who are involved in such activities. You may be aware that even during the time when our party held the Home Ministry in the last government we were demanding strict actions against criminals. Since our party is leading the government now, we will definitely improve the law and order situation.
Nepalese have heard such verbal assurances in the past but nothing has changed. If I were to believe you, how long would I have to wait?
You cannot bring the situation back to normal overnight. It will take time but I assure you that there will be a definite change in a certain period. The Home Minister is making all out efforts to bring back normalcy in the country. We cannot write a constitution without bringing normalcy to the country.
It is often reported that most of the persons involved in the criminal activities are in some way backed by political parties and the police are pressured to release such criminals.
After twelve year- long bloody insurgency, we are finally in the peace process. There is not unusual to see some cadres from certain political parties involved in violent crime. Generally, no political party will dare back criminals. Since our common minimum program also gives the highest priority to law and order, Maoists will too support us in this regard.
How can expect their support when all the top ranking Maoist leaders including Prachanda have been accusing Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal of being a puppet of external forces. ?
First of all, this is a very regrettable statement that undermines the sovereign will of people and the Constituent Assembly. Everyone knows that this government has the support of CA members of 22 political parties and that Nepal was elected unopposed following the resignation of Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda from the post of Prime Minister. The Maoists’ statements have minimized their own position and the will of the people.
If that is the case, why few are criticizing the Maoists?
No sane people go with such statements of the Maoists. What I can say is that the Maoists have been exposing themselves by chanting such a cheap slogan.
How can you expect the Maoists to start a dialogue with ‘a puppet’?
In political terms, there is no way other than to start negotiations to end the deadlock. This is the reason Maoist leader Prachanda and the Prime Minister met recently at Godavari. They are in close contact.
You are hopeful that political the deadlock will end soon?
If they continue to obstruct the session of the Legislature Parliament, it will invite another major political deadlock. If the situation gets out of hand, even the Maoists will lose. I am hopeful that Maoist leaders will work to end any political deadlock.
How do you see the recent statements of your party leaders particularly President Jhalnath Khanal against this government?
I don’t believe what has been reported in the media. So far as party president Jhalnath Khanal is concerned, he is the person who opposed the Maoist move against the Nepal Army and supported the process to get Nepal appointed as prime minister.
If there is no dispute, why are statements of your leaders reported in the newspapers?
I believe in the actions of our leaders not their statements reported here and there. I want to reiterate that the party president Khanal and all party leaders are solidly backing Prime Minister Nepal. After the intervention by the Maoists in the Nepal Army, there was a clear possibility of division in the army. At that crucial time party president Khanal himself requested president Dr. Ram Baran Yadav to stop the Maoist move.
If that is the case, why is your party president reportedly saying that some elements don’t want to see the CPN-UML and Maoist coming together?
All of us know, Khanal initiated whole process to prevent the Maoist move and save the country from going to the brink. I don’t see that our leaders would make any immature statements. If you look at our party's formal position and party President’s role, party has not changed its stand.
How could one believe you?
If you go to finance ministry, you can see a big crowd of people. Hundreds of party sympathizers and party workers gather at the Finance Ministry to demand something for their own districts. It indicates the support of our party workers.
In case of deteriorating law and order, do you see any possibility of Prime Minister Nepal taking strong action?
Prime minister Nepal is a person with a long history of accommodation and reconciliation. I don’t think he will do anything to undermine democracy and democratic ideals. He is a man of compromise and persuasion.
Will the prime minister resign if the situation goes out of his control?
That is a hypothetical question I would not want to answer. |I am confident that Prime Minister Nepal will restore normal situation through persuasion and accommodation.
One month has already passed since the formation of the government, how do you see the performance of last one month?
This government was formed after CPN-Maoist had made efforts to derail the country. The foremost important job of this government was to overcome the major political setback for democracy. After the formation of this government, there is reason to be assured that there will be no reversal in the democratic system. With the decisions of the Maoist to try and undermine the Nepal Army the peace process was also under a threat. Maoist leadership’s efforts to attack the sensitivity of Nepal Army threatened the peace process. In this sense, we have been able to rescue the peace process from going to the brink.
In your words, you have been unable to do anything other than to prevent the derailment of peace process?
No. That is our priority work and there was a need to form a new government to complete that task. For that we were able to unite all the political parties in some form. All 22 political parties are united now for the cause of protection of democracy. Even they are asking the Maoists to join the government. The unity among all political parties to transform the Maoists is a good thing. Despite Maoist insistence to hold the parliamentary session and streets to the ransom, the government and Maoists have already opened a dialogue to find a political solution. The beginning of this dialogue and the possibility to find out a solution through dialogue is itself is good news. We are in the process of finalization of government policies and programs and new budget. Once the Maoists end the deadlock, we are in the position to announce the policies and programs. It took a certain time to expand the cabinet but the government is now almost complete.
You just admitted that the cabinet is still incomplete. To add to the problem and the support given by political parties seems very shaky.
This is a complete government. Of course, we still want to accommodate all political parties. The Maoists too are gradually showing flexibility.
