The Nepali People are being taunted and made fools of by the Communist Party of Nepal – Maoist and its Youth Communist League (YCL). While the campaigning for the scheduled 10th April CA election is now supposed to be well underway, every day brings new reports of the YCL preventing candidates from other parties from campaigning in their constituencies. This blatant breach of the Election Code of Conduct has affected the entire gamut of political parties – Nepali Congress, UML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Rastriya Janata Party, and more. All the while, we are supposed to be headed for a “peaceful, democratic New Nepal”.
The case of the YCL attack, and almost assassination, of NC leader Dilendra Prasad Badu in Darchula on 5th February is a case in point. Along with Badu, three other NC cadres and six policemen were also injured in the attack. The all-party commission formed to investigate the incident came out recently with its findings. The Maoists/YCL were the culprits. Then the commission made its ludicrous recommendation: the Government was not to take any action and the Maoists were to censure/reprimand/ whatever the ruffians involved. This, in a nutshell, is the state of Law and Order in Nepal today. The YCL must be held accountable for their actions and the Maoist leadership must take full responsibility for what their cadres have done. The People, that is you and me, have to rise as one voice to protest this threat to our long-awaited chance for peace and democracy and an end to the oligarchic unelected government which we have had for the past two years.
With the pervasive breakdown of law and order across the country, the Home Ministry remains silent. Its minister KP Sitaula, a NC politician, has been accused of being a Maoist stooge for a long time. Yet he remains in the cabinet and the blessings of his boss, Prime Minister Girija Koirala, continue to be showered upon him. One wanders why. Perhaps the Maoists have put the fear of God (what irony!) into the PM and, as he loses his party colleagues every day to the Madhesh parties and as his own party seriously doubts his leadership, he has nowhere to cling to but to the comrades.
Here in the capital, and certainly elsewhere too, we see large hoardings exhorting all to give the “laal salaam” (red salute) to Comrade Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is supposedly going to be the first President of Nepal. This is also a breach of the Election Code of Conduct. But, to fight fire with fire, why does only Comrade Dahal’s picture stare down at us? Do not the other parties have materials for signs? Maybe they cannot think of adequate slogans? Or are their leaders just too shy or too afraid to project their image and their party’s platform? With no chance of more than 10-15% of the CA seats being occupied by Maoists, should there really be a fair and free election, these hoardings are jokes. To you and me they may be jokes, but to the unaware public who do not know what a communist party is, they are a part of a skillful public relations campaign being waged by the Maoists. This charade is only a means to justify blaming others when the CA election does not take place as scheduled. Given established communist operating procedures, the Maoists will not settle for anything less than a sweeping victory in the election.
They will not accept to be partners in a coalition government, because they cannot achieve any of their outdated Marxist-Leninist goals in that manner. But as long as the common voter sees these hoardings, they will believe that someone really is going to be President. Since no other political leader’s face stares down on them, Comrade Dahal must be the man.
When the election does not take place on 10th April, the SPA government immediately loses its legitimacy and credibility. It will have to go. We have waited two years. Enough is enough! The only alternative is a Government of National Unity led by a non-SPA leader, but with an open invitation to the SPA leaders to be included. Should any SPA party resort to arms, the sole remaining option is for it/them to be crushed militarily. The Nepal Army will then have to earn its keep. The Police and Armed Police Force cannot do this alone. Lessons will have to be taken from, say, the then Malaya in the 1950s/60s or Peru more recently. Let us all – the NA primarily as well as we the People – be ready for this eventuality. As the saying goes, hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
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8 comments:
If election does take place amidst such scenario, no power in the world can call it free and fair. So why are we still going through with it when everyone knows that Girija P. Koirala led alliance has misreably failed the Nation and her people. Now he is hanging on to the that single thread of power hoping to go down in the History books as the PM who held CA polls in Nepal.I'd like to tell Girijau that this will leave behind nothing- no peace, no unity , no development only trail of bloody mess that even waters of Holy River Ganges can't wash off. Then Mr. Prime Minister how you will be potrayed by our historians will make not only your soul but souls of your 7 pustas (generation, some of whom have done commedable job in keeping this Nation together)above and after you to cringe in shame, sadness and utter despair.
Then comes the souls of us the breathing , eating, living Nepali of today, talk we can, write we can, but save our Nation we cannot, we ask how? so Mr. P.M. some assurance... our souls will be there with yours ...........
I am glad to see the latest in Nepali Perspectives about the Maoist antics. I got a message that said the nonsense being done by the Maoists in Gorka and Jumla has to be seen to be believed. Where are the EUroids or the UN while all this is going on? The US Embassy? The Indians?
Anonymous (4:45 PM),
Seriously. What alternative do you propose to elections? Free or fair isn't a concern for the ruling coalition because at all costs, they HAVE to remain in power. And, it is not issues for the non-ruling parties because they are insignificant. Also, for the general people, they don't know anything about how the CA works - for them, it all comes down to the act of voting for whoever doles out more money.
I don't think there are any alternatives to elections at this time.
Anurag, you epitomize the unfortunate complacency that Nepalis are famous for. Wake up! I don't know your age, but 45% of Nepalis are under the age of 35. These youths are owed a FUTURE. The SPA cannot give them that. The 'insignificant' political parties you mention are also, I agree, seemingly impotent. What remains? I fully agree with Mr. Joshi's alternative - a Government of National Unity leading the Nepal Army!
It is not enough is enough. It is just casting. The real scences will be seen before half time i.e. till CA election and climax will starts after half time i.e. after CA election.
Mess, mess and mess nothing more with these changes...
Horatio, if you're trying to save the King with your talk about "national unity," I'm afraid you're too late.
There may be pleanty of people with affection for the institution but there are more people with complete hatred for Gyanendra.
Nepal will disintegrate before a national unity government ever takes shape. Look at the Madhesis - one nod from the Indians and everything was solved! Look at the Maoists - one nod from the Indians and they came running into the government.
As far as I know, there is already a government of national unity. The unity is forged against the Monarch.
Enough of banter, I say. In light of impending, at any cost shove down election, disaster brought on by overzeal to prove their worth in salt to their masters (foreign), SPAM is selling short a nation and Nepali- don't we know it but can we act against, can we?? I rest my case.
I beleive in constitutional Monarchy- here I have said it. It has its own unique importance and majority of true Nepali believe as such- polls after polls prove. Few on the payroll of foreign special interest group, south block and media that hangs loose on defination of biasness, balace reporting and are in state of shock of apparatus that Lainchour Darbar pulls on advertising funds, if print is anything against India. So you have it- rather than beating up on to those who have bad intentions and undercutting our sovereignty- media go beserk on Monarchy which by all account is an essence of Nepal- prove me otherwise. Argument such as "why the hell Prithivi Narayan made Nepal" a topic on one those seminar by special groups does not fly with me.
It is not enough till Indian embassador and Bihari rule Nepal directly by using their puppets and slaves GPK, MKN, Prachanda.
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