The Interim Parliament’s Second Amendment to the Constitution

(Courtesy: Roop Joshi)

Today’s news hearkens that the draft of the second amendment to the constitution providing “for removing the monarchy by 2/3 majority of the parliament, if the proposal is tabled by the cabinet” has been approved by the Interim Parliament. Is this a joke? What right does a parliament which essentially has been appointed, not least with the support of communist guns, have to take a decision of this magnitude?

Over two centuries of the monarchy cannot be washed away like left-over food. King Prihivi Narayan Shah, the promulgator of the present Shah dynasty, created Nepal through blood and guts and the nimble mind of a superb military strategist. Yet this Interim Government had the gall not to celebrate Prithivi Jayanti this year, signifying its total disregard for national unity and sovereignty.

Agreed, there were many weak monarchs who succeeded Prithivi Narayan, but national integrity and sovereignty were maintained throughout the period of the British Raj in South Asia. King Tribhuvan led the ending of 104 years of Rana oligarchy and brought in the dawn of Democracy, with B.P. Koirala as the first elected Prime minister of Nepal. That democracy was further re-confirmed by King Birendra in 1990. It is not an exaggeration or royalist propaganda to affirm that the monarchy in Nepal has served as a pivot to the political evolution of this country.

The present interim Parliament is composed of individuals who last ran for elections almost a decade ago. They are not accountable to their constituencies, i.e. the People. To make matters worse, the Maoist rebels, who precipitated over 13,000 Nepali deaths over the past decade, have been made partners in the government. Without firing a single bullet against state security forces in Kathmandu, they have achieved participation in government – not elected by a single Nepali. The Seven Party coalition has appeased the Maoists to gain a momentary fleeting peace; the ghost of Neville Chamberlain arises now in Nepal.

Were the parliament to proceed with a vote on the monarchy, firstly, it is almost certain that a two-thirds majority to abolish the monarchy would not be achieved. Secondly, were it to be achieved, the Nepali people will not be taken for granted by a bunch of opportunist power-hungry politicians with hues from red to pink. They will arise and demand to have a say in the future of the monarchy. They will demand for a referendum.

These are demands that cannot be ignored by the government. Should the demand be ignored, who is to say that appropriate action to protect our time-honoured institution – which still serves the needs of Nepal – is not justified?

The YCL and the Madhesis have shown us what “appropriate action” means to them. The people of Nepal will therefore show all and sundry what appropriate action they will take to stop a handful of unelected politicians from making fools out of them.

The common Nepali is seen as a docile individual bending readily to authority. From the common Nepali milieu, there have also been historical figures like Balbhadra Kunwar and Amar Singh Thapa who have not shrunk from fighting to preserve the sovereignty and national unity of their beloved country. Let us also not forget the legendary bravery of the Gurkha regiments who have fought for the British and the Indians. Nepalis are not loathe to fight for what is right. They will not be cowered by anachronistic philosophies or power-drunk politicians. Let there be no doubt about that.

Instead of playing political games with the constitution, it behooves the Interim Government to proceed swiftly and efficiently towards ensuring fair and secure elections for the Constituent Assembly in Mangsir (by end November 2007).

Democracy in Nepal cannot be safeguarded without these elections. There are two important aspects here: the political awareness of the voters and their security at the polling booth. Voters must know what they are voting for, not just who they are voting for. The parties’ platforms must be made clear to the voting public. Hand in hand, the government security apparatus including especially the Nepal Army must ensure that every voter who wishes to vote can do so freely and without intimidation.

The brevity of this writing is a reflection on the need to stop beating around the bush and tackle the priority issues. Time is running out. Empty words will never replace timely action. The time for action is here. It is now.