 |
|
| Kathmandu, Friday July 12, 2002 Ashadh 28, 2059. |
|
Lion or mouse ?
Like most Nepalis I am not sure what to think
of Sher Bahadur Deuba’s dissolving of the parliament. On one hand I am happy that
someone finally stood up against the "most destructive personality" of the last
12 years in Nepali politics. And on the other hand, I am concerned that the Constitution
may be rendered defunct if the elections fail to take place. While I have some sympathy to
Deuba, in no way I support him whole-heartedly. His actions in the next six months will
decide whether he will be another Bam Dev Gautam or not. A leader of a failed breakaway
faction or a leader which can really take charge and lead Nepal to a less bleak future
(Mind you, I am not very demanding here and hope for a "bright" future...
"less bleak" is good enough for now).
PM Deuba should not capitalise on the growing
anti-Girija feelings for too long. People know that as long as he is in the stranglehold
of the likes of Khum Bahadur Khadga, the party he heads will not really be the party that
people will throw their support to. The reason Nepali Congress (NC) was unsuccessful in
the last 12 years was: Lack of democratic culture within the party and vision in its
leadership. Deuba has a wonderful opportunity to build a solid career for himself, if he
creates a party which has everything the mother party doesn’t have. A democratic
culture, a party that stands for principle rather than money/power. Even if he loses this
election, he will certainly get a chance to lead the country again, in the future.
However, if he gets power hungry and resorts to election fraud and follows in the
footsteps of his former mentor Girija Prasad Koirala, then he will be put in the dustbin
of history just like almost every other Prime Minister of Nepal has been (Bhimsen Thapa is
an exception in my opinion). Also, he should not count on the international support he is
so proud of, if he doesn’t pay attention to the writing on the wall regarding the
human right abuses. Having said that, I believe UML will win majority in the next
election. I don’t think they are perfect examples, but at least they have a culture
of debate in that party.
Prakash Bhandari
Kathmandu |
