Silent Observation of Strange Nepalese Political Drama

Dwarika N. Dhungel*

In response to a call from a friend and against the wish of my family, I came out from my home and went to the main road in Baneshwor on the evening of April 21 in defiance of the curfew imposed by the government headed by King Gyanendra. And for more than one hour I found myself in the midst of see of human waves, most of whom holding tree branches, shouting against the King's rule, calling for his abdication and leaving the country. Despite the fact that the crowd looked exhausted and thirsty, their vigour and zeal seemed to be prepared to face any consequence, even death. As a gesture of solidarity and sympathy, we brought buckets and jars of water for the crowd to help them quench their thirst. At that time, I thought and still think that I was contributing to a cause.

It may be recalled that if that night of April 21 King Gyanendra had not conceded to relinquish his direct rule and made a call to the agitating Seven Party Alliance ( SPA) for the recommendation of name for the post of Prime Minister, the next day the country would probably have had a republican system of government. The King, again, was compelled by the national forces with the support of the international actors to concede more and had to make another proclamation within seventy two hours (April 24) and agree not only to surrender all the powers by reinstating the dissolved House of Representatives (HOR) but also to accept the road map of the agitating SPA for the resolution of on going conflict.

Along with these developments, we have observed the revival of the dissolved House of Representatives, the formation of the SPA Government, ceasefire between the fighting forces, coming of the Maoist leaders over ground, adoption of resolutions by the HoR that brought about fundamental changes in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990, signing of eight points agreement between the SPA and CPN Maoists and formation of the interim constitution drafting committee.

Above all the most important development that took place was humbling King Gyanendra from all powerful monarch to an almost non-entity and persona-non-grata for most of the people. As a result of these fast developments, the country, for all practical purpose, has turned into a republican system with a monarch with practically no functions left to perform. For limited functions, whether Nepal can afford to keep the institution of King is a matter of debate.

As a result of all these developments people of Nepal had expected that the main political actors had learned the lessons from the past and the county was going to have the lasting and sustainable peace since the insurgents had joined the hands with the SPA to solve the country's problem. But the way the SPA is behaving within the House of Representatives and in the cabinet; and the different tunes the leaders are playing show that the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. Looking at the way the law and order situation is deteriorating day by day and the recent petroleum farce, one really wonders whether there is machinery and a towering personality within the country to row the state towards destination in the current turbulent sea.

Similarly the way the interim constitution drafting committee projected themselves but submitted incomplete work to the SPA and CPN Maoists, one could feel nothing but baffled as to what is happening in the country. Similarly, from the presumably growing difference between the important factions of the SPA and the CPN Maoists, one could ask who is making the other fool. If the palace was still the hindrance to the Loktantra, instead of making noises in the floors of the House, the SPA could have abolished the monarchy and declared the country a republic which would not only satisfy the demands of the Maoists but pave the way for the election to the constituent assembly without much problem.

Likewise, if the CPN Maoists are having second opinion of joining the hands with the SPA or feeling trapped at the hands of the international forces which helped them to enter into an alliance with the seven party alliance, they should have thought twice before joining the hands with the SPA alliance.

At one time we thought that friends of Nepal who wanted King Gyanendra to surrender the power and for this purpose had motivated, helped and blessed the alliance between the SPA and CPN Maoists, would pursue these forces to lead the country to the logical end. But now they too are playing different tunes. So the question arises whether they were really interested to have a sustainable peace in the country.

From all these, it is very difficult to say what Nautanki (Eunuch drama) we are playing at the cost of the people and country. If that was not the case, is it then the curse of the Sati that once again has come as an obstruction to the end of on going conflict and establishment of a sustainable peace. So the big question is 'whether this yarning for sustainable peace by everybody is eluding the people of Nepal once again'.

The end

Kathamandu
August 26, 2006



* Views in this article are the personal views of the author and they have nothing to do with the present position the contributor holds now.

This article has been send to the Himalayan Times ( National News daily of Nepal ) for publication on August 27, 2006