National 1 (Spotlight Weekly)

In Search Of Settlement

Prime Minister Chand's reluctant offer to resign and toned-down statements by political leaders indicate that reconciliation may not be far off

By KESHAB POUDEL

With the dramatic moves under way toward normalization of diplomatic relations between archrivals India and Pakistan, South Asia, which was on the edge of war two years ago, seems to be transforming itself from a zone of confrontation to one of reconciliation.

Nepal addressing the meet : Tough posture

Coincidentally, the political forces in Nepal - the monarch and political parties - that were heading toward a confrontational course, are showing some signs of compromise at the same time. Although they have not shown any sign of reconciliation publicly, there are indications of an impending reconciliation between the constitutional forces.

Till Friday evening (May 2, 2003), the capital witnessed unprecedented and tense scenes amid heavy deployment of security forces and anti-monarchy rhetoric of leaders of the five major political parties preparing to launch a popular movement against the palace. By Sunday evening, when the five parties announced a week of protests, things had eased.

In a provocative speech, Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand reluctantly indicated the possibility of his resignation to pave the way for a political settlement." I don't want to be prime minister for life. If the country's wish for peace and normalcy can prevail, I am ready to resign from the prime minsiterhship," declared Chand in a national broadcast to the nation.

Although the reduction in tensions in another part of South Asia would take time in impacting events back home, the major political forces abiding by the existing constitutional process have an opportunity to avert confrontation and start a new political course for the country.

Mass meeting : Another round of agitation

Nepal has been passing through an extended phase without elected representatives accountable to the people. The country cannot continue to be run through ordinances, with the constitutional monarch making and unmaking governments. King Gyanendra, moreover, cannot afford to continue taking all responsibility for the Chand government's performance.

As political parties have already forwarded two options, King Gyanendra can choose the least harmful and controversial one, paving the way for the elections of the House of Representatives. The sooner the elections are announced, the better for the future of the monarchy.

As soon as an accountable government is formed through fresh elections, the institution of monarchy can pull itself out of controversy and regain its constitutional dignity. Instead of indulging in a war of words against the monarchy, the major parties would be skirmishing within the political arena. The monarchy, for its part, can play a major role in settling disputes among political forces through the constitution.

As all political parties want to have their own share in the interim election government, finding a way out would prove to be difficult. The political forces will question the modus operandi of the process of formation of an all-party government in absence of the elected representatives. Some argue whether the Maoists, who have been demanding the constituent assembly, will accept elections under the existing constitution.

When Badri Prasad Mandal who burned the constitution of Kingdom of Nepal four years ago demanding amendments could become deputy prime minister holding the portfolio of home ministry, nothing is impossible.

The other faction of Mandal's Nepal Sadbhavana Party, the United People's Front and Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, followers of constituent assembly, are joining in a political front with the two main parties that oppose any move to scrap the present constitution. This alliance indicates the possibility of testing the strength of the political parties in the forthcoming elections. "In the elections, political forces can place their own demands and take their agenda to the people. If the party advocating the constituent assembly secures a majority, it can amend the constitution on its own," said a political analyst.

Political workers : bhind their leaders

Choosing representatives for the all-party government would be a big challenge for the King. At a time when every party has its own demand for all-party government and representation, any decision taken by the King is bound to be controversial. "The King can choose the less controversial way of reviving the dissolved House of Representatives. If the House is revived, it will take all its responsibility to form interim government," said another analyst.

Others do not see the revival of the house as the solution. "A dead parliament cannot be revived. I don't think it will end the political crisis," said a former minister, who was dismissed recently, on condition of anonymity. "The King does not want to listen to this proposal, but he may agree to hold elections under a neutral caretaker government."

Political Agitation

On Sunday, May 4, the Open Theater at Tundikhel recorded many unprecedented events in Nepalese politics. Communist parties that used the open theater to condemn and launch agitation against Nepali Congress leader and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala invited him as the lead speaker.

Koirala, whose tenure as premier was always disrupted by these same communists groups, seemed to take pride in sitting in front of the communist flag as the supreme leader of the joint political agitation.

The transformation of Koirala from a victim of campaigns of political destabilization to the leader of one was itself new. The new political alliance seemed to be neither inconvenient nor unusual for Nepalese politicians.

"Each political leader who used all kinds of words against the monarch will become staunch monarchist once he is appointed prime minister," said a political analyst. "They will see the monarchy as a symbol of God and a force of political stability."

The prime minister's radio and TV address is being debated within that context. "Prime Minister Chand's address has given a way out of our current political problems," said Rastriya Prajatantra Party president Pashupati Sumsher Rana, addressing party workers in his home district of Sindhupalchowk.

Despite their ideological differences, four political parties, too, have certain compulsions to press King Gyanendra for a political way out. At a time when few see the possibility of general elections any time soon, political forces cannot afford to remain idle without sharing power.

In the four-hour program at the open theater, leaders of major political parties demanded a way out of the present crisis. "If the King gives a way out and corrects his constitutional mistakes, we are ready to withdraw the political agitation. We cannot remain spectators to the violation of the constitution by the King," said Koirala. Some of his harsh words went on to contradict statements he was making until a few years ago.

Some of the criticism labeled by the political leaders against the monarchy are reasonable. "The assessment done by the King on October 4, 2002† and prioritization of task assigned to the Chand ministry to hold the elections has not been achievable at all. His prime minister has proved to be incompetent to fulfill them," thundered CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal.

In such circumstances, the anger of political parties is understandable. King Gyanendra, who dismissed prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's government for its inability to hold the elections within six months of the dissolution of parliament as required under the constitution, has shown little concern when his own appointed premier has failed to do so.

Maintaining their anti-monarchy rhetoric, leaders at the mass meeting demanded the formation of an all-party election government or the revival of the House of Representatives as a pre-requisite to call off what has been christened "People's Movement II".

"As long as the King continues to involve himself in picking up people on his own for the post of prime minister, he will remain the target of political controversy. In absence of parliament to perform its own business of electing the prime minister and passing bills, the King will have to face much criticism," said a political analyst.

As long as elected representatives shielded the King, no foreign media or political leader had expressed any derogatory remarks against the institution of monarchy. "No newspapers from India had ever written editorials urging the King to contest the elections when the parliament was in active, since popularly elected leaders condemned such moves. Although small parties issued certain statements, they don't have any credibility and public acceptance," said a political analyst.

Until the King regains the shield of elected representatives, he will have to face direct criticism. "Instead of forming an all-party government, the King should revive the House of Representatives and allow political parties to play politics on their own. This will safeguard the monarchy and give plenty of room for him to play active politics without coming to controversy," said the political analyst.

"If the monarchy continues to involve itself in day-to-day affairs through the appointment of prime minister and ministers, it will not be in the long-term interest of the institution of monarchy," he added.

At a time when the Maoists are at the negotiating table with the government, elections will provide the opportunity to test their demands. "Had the King simply announced the election date, the agitation of political parties would have been diverted to the campaign," the analyst said.

Tense Situation

The political tensions that erupted on May 2 lasted for two days, until the mass rally announced a weeklong program - consisting of power blackouts, blocking entrance of government offices and stopping government vehicles - to press their demands. With the deployment of army and armed police in many parts of the city and drastic increase of security, normal life was paralyzed in the valley with rumors of all kinds floating.

According to one rumor, Prime Minister Chand addressed the nation reading a ready-made statement using cheap words condemning political leaders of five political parties terming them power hungry but simply forget to mention his own failure as a coalition premier within these past 12 years.

But there were more ominous questions as well. Why did he choose to make such a provocative statement on the eve of a political agitation? Why did he chose to instigate the political leaders by branding them anti-peace, inefficient and responsible for the present mess?

Newspapers headlines and statements of political leaders mirrored the tense situation. City dwellers were reminded of the violent demonstrations political parties had organized in the past. However, the mass meeting ended in a peaceful manner, despite the low-grade words used by the political leaders.

From Chand to Koirala to Nepal, no one seems to have that vital reservoir of respectful and decent language. Unfortunately, in countering Chand, the political leaders attacked the monarch with disrespectful words in the presence of tens of thousand of party workers.

Although political tensions appear to have subsided - at least below the surface -† they could erupt again unless a political way out is announced soon. As soon as the election date is announced and all political forces are accommodated, the country can hope to begin the process of emerging from what has been a damaging phase of confrontation.