Democracy For Nepal: The King Is Nowhere Close To Seeing The Light

Sunday, February 19, 2006

The King Is Nowhere Close To Seeing The Light

Beloved Countrymen,

As we celebrate the 56th National Democracy Day today, we pay homage to our august grandfather His late Majesty King Tribhuvan and all the brave souls who laid down their lives for the cause of democracy.

To ensure that an exercise in democracy is meaningful and sustainable, the people�s right to elect representatives of their choice must be recognised as sacrosanct. The Nepalese people have demonstrated their faith in the power of the ballot during the recently held municipal elections. In spite of the apparently adverse environment, the courage shown by them is indeed commendable. The commitment of the people has led to the victory of democracy. The Nepalese people have been encouraged by this success to install all representative bodies through election and sustainable peace.

Peace and democracy are the aspirations of all. The nation, therefore, seeks solidarity amongst all who have faith in multiparty democracy. This solidarity must be achieved at the earliest so as to formulate a mechanism which ensures that peace and democracy are never again jeopardised. In the coming days as well, democracy can be reenergised with the activation of all representative bodies through the electoral process. Our continued interaction with the people has led us to believe that the time has come for all those who believe in these ideals to chart a course ahead, with the welfare of the nation uppermost. We, therefore, call on all willing political parties to come forth to fully activate, at the earliest, the stalled democratic process in the greater interest of the nation. Let us listen to others, put across our views, do away with discord and enhance mutual understanding; let us consolidate peace and democracy.

Inspired by our glorious tradition of patriotism, those who have been misguided should, without further delay, enter the mainstream of peace and multiparty democracy, eschewing the path of violence and destruction.

We are committed to upholding and safeguarding the Constitution in the greater interest and progress of the Nepalese people. It will do well to remember that democracy will be secure only when the rule of law is upheld and the Constitution alone forms the basis of rule of law.

May this day inspire us to activate a democratic process dedicated to sustainable peace and welfare of the country as well as initiate a new chapter of understanding amongst us all. May those who sacrificed their lives to usher in democracy and all those who place the dignity and glory of the nation above all else inspire us in achieving these noble objectives.

May Lord Pashupatinath bless us all !
Jaya Nepal !

Nepal's king invites parties for talks Reuters AlertNet, UK

This misleading headline from Reuters threw me off balance for just a little bit. I furiously looked for the full text of the speech. The Rising Nepal is the only place I found it. The text cured me of any momentary illusions.

This guy is absolutely, totally nowhere close to seeing the light. He does not intend to see the light.

The democrats have consistently made the mistake of thinking maybe they will jack up the movement one notch and that will be enough, the king will invite the parties for talks, like Birendra did. I just don't see that happening. There is something about this guy that leads me to believe he just will not go for that. He just does not have that kind of a makeup.

It is time for the international powers to impose sanctions and for the seven party alliance to wage a decisive round of protests.

Krishna Prasad Bhattarai

Bhattarai call for unity addressing some two dozen leaders and political analysts in his residence, Bhattarai said that executive power should be hand over to the people...... He however objected to the reinstatement of the House of Representatives...... urged the leaders of Nepali Congress (NC) and Nepali Congress-Democratic (NC-D) to work for unification of the party at this critical political situation........ asked NC President Girija Prasad Koirala and NC-D President Sher Bahadur Deuba to initiate the process of party unification. ..... Soon after the release on Monday, Deuba in a press meet said that he was in favour of an honourable unification of the party.

I am glad Bhattarai has come out opposing the idea of House revival. The 1990 constitution allows for neither House revival, nor a constituent assembly. But a political decision has to be made to go for a constituent assembly. But if you revive the House, you resurrect the dead 1990 constitution, and when you do that, you are in the trap that the 1990 constitution does not allow for a constituent assembly. That means if you were to magically revive the House, you will also have to magically dissolve that same House and kill the dead and revived 1990 constitution to go for a constituent assembly. Why would you want to revive a House that can not be revived only to have to dissolve it soon after? The very idea of a constituent assembly is to give the country a new constitution. Why do you want to resurrect a dead constitution if you want to give the country a new constitution?

Girija, Deuba, Gyanendra, Gagan

If Girija only had issues with Gyanendra, I would think it is because one is an autocrat, another a democrat. But he also has issues with Deuba, with Gagan, with Krishna Prasad Bhattarai himself.

Girija tried to run the government through remote control when Deuba was Prime Minister. Debua did not like it, and I don't blame him. Girija pushed Deuba into dissolving the House. That is the political perspective.

Deuba has time and again expressed his commitment to an honorable unification of the two Congress factions, but Koirala has to rub Deuba's nose in the dust.

Gagan is up and coming. 62 of the 75 district chiefs of the Nepal Students Union support him, but Koirala goes and appoints someone else.

Now that Koirala is for House revival, and Bhattarai against it, the two honchos need to hold a summit where they talk it out. By the time the summit is over, they should have only one stand on this issue of House revival. Hum tum ek kamre mein bund ho aur chabhi kho jaye.

The king came out for an all party government several times. But Koirala would have none of it.

It would be wonderful to have a House. It would symbolize democracy. But sometimes you have to let go of the fantassy. There has to be some give and take.

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