Deepened Crisis in Nepal

(Courtesy: Prakash Gnyawali)

Peace and democratization process of Nepal has come to a critical mode by the quit of CPN (Maoist) from the interim government on 18 September 2007. Questions surrounding the proposed elections to Constituent Assembly and the success of peace process has been turmoil after this move of the Maoists. It has caused a state of confusion and misunderstanding among the major political stakeholders in Nepal's peace process and democratic governance.

Couple of weeks ago the Maoist Supremo Prachanda had lauded that the CA elections are not possible in November this year and proposed it for May-June next year. That news covered the country with an extensive reaction from civil society and political parties. The very next day, the scenario reversed. Then came the same leader with a piece of paper of statement and told in that he was misinterpreted by the media.

After a few days of such controversy, Maoists presented 22-point demands to the government and now vowing that these are the basic criteria to determine the fate of the elections in November. That demands led them to depart from the government.

People have hope that these demands do not repeat the history of 40-point demands of 1995-96 which had led to an armed conflict triggering the country with deep devastations. It is to be noted here that the capacity to holding fire until the set deadline for meeting the demands was not maintained by the Maoists in 1996. They had waged war earlier the ultimatum given to the government.

Current political dialogue has also come to a critical mode where the overall peace process and elections to the CA in November have become uncertain.

Strategically, Maoists' fear of having fewer seats in the CA if they go for that in November is a key challenge. This is a major reason why they departed from the government. More serious is that they are loosing their political credibility, which was gained after a 12-point understanding with the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) in November 2005 when the SPA was launching movement against an autocratic regime of the king. Fear of end of the overall peace process is looming with the latest political subversion.

It is worthy to note that the blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy while discussing about irony of uncertainty of the CA elections in our country. It is for around six decades that the agenda of CA has been coming into the political surpass but with hard times to make it happen. So the demands are that always entangle in a cloud of internal pondering of the political forces.

Now the time has come when the Maoists' arguments are mudding in a black lake that has created the irony of elections as well as peace in the country.

We could question to the Maoists in reference to its double-standards on various political agenda. It was in the government for more than five months. During this time it proposed elections for November when that was not possible in June. Again, the Maoists caused an amendment in the Interim Constitution to have a provision that the parliament can oust the king whenever it thinks that the king is doing wrong. Now the parliament can do that if the king tries to come to the political activism.

The CA election is the most appropriate to overthrow the monarchy so that there will be people's consent to do so. Otherwise, there will be a question of legacy if the parliament abruptly does it. Since there is no any such issue that the parliament can bring to the agenda of having the king being involved against democracy openly. At this situation, Maoist's departure from the government has reflected their immaturity in politics.

There was a formal end to the decade-long armed conflict between the state and the Maoists in November last year. We are not that far to commemorate one year of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) but how do we recall it is a matter of concern.

Trying to have a civilian perspective on the implementation of the CPA and commitments of all the actors, mainly the government, seven political parties and the Maoists and their whole structures is the area that has to be looked in. Where do we find ourselves if the Maoists do not come up with a clear political decision to make sure that the elections happen on the set time since the Maoists have quit the government already.

It is a culture in Nepal that the political parties do not stand on their stand for long. Quite often, they loose their points, jump to an uneven agenda and come to fore by having stressful moves.

Peaceful means to establish a sustainable and just peace are the best options that can be possible mainly by negotiation. We dare to negotiate but escape from standing on our own valid points. Otherwise, Maoists could have not come to the street again. Rather they could have pushed their agenda being in the government.

There could have a broader consensus in setting political restructuring before the CA and ensuring people's participation in all the processes. Now, these agenda have to be fuelled with the activities of political parties and civil society at the ground. Otherwise there will be a gap even in the agenda themselves that the political parties are discussing about at the centre and at the margin.

There is a culture of protesting everything in our cities. We protest for the shake of protest many times. So is the Maoists behaviour. The political instability created by Maoists this time seems to be a matter of benefit for the regressive forces, in particular the monarchy. Sometimes blood doesn't listen to mind and can call any action that is done as a result of blood not a mind. Where the space for heart surrounded by nerves of the blood is, has always been a question. When will we start making our minds active and legs and hands disciplined? That is what we all anticipate. The day of CA elections and sustainable peace having truth, justice and reconciliation at the core are the answers at a larger extent that could test our principles, decisions and public statements on the one hand, and our behaviour on the other.

How long we try to put ourselves in the iron cave of uncertainty? It is urgent for all concerned stakeholders to realize that we have to go miles before we sleep. Honest political determination could encourage us to keep the promises.

(The writer is a human rights defender and can be reached at pgnyawali@yahoo.com)

Related Posts:

April's Sizzle and February's Chill in Kathmandu
http://nepaliperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/06/aprils-sizzle-and-februarys-chill-in.html

Nepali Political Sorcery: Secularism's Ritual Kingship and Communism's Bourgeois Democracy
http://nepaliperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/07/nepali-political-sorcery-secularisms.html

Peace or Appease Process?
http://nepaliperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/07/peace-or-appease-process.html

Thank You Daniela - But Nepal is Already on "Plan B
"http://nepaliperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/05/thank-you-daniela-but-nepal-is-already.html