Girija: A Ceremonial Monarch Wannabe

Girija Koirala is against the idea of a republic. He is a conservative. He is a status quoist. After having spent months under house arrest after the king's coup, he was still not for a constituent assembly. He is not exactly known for his intellectual curiosities.

But in a democracy, he has a right to whatever political views. The problem is he has not been following democtatic norms inside his own party on this question. Where is the debate in his party's central committee on this question?

Ram Chandra Poudel is a staunch republican. Poudel is the most likely successor to Koirala in the Koirala faction of the Congress.

The Deuba Congress is already for a federal republic. The most obvious casualty of Koirala's republican stance is any possibility that the two Congress factions will become one. And that is the way it should be.

It is not healthy for Nepal's democracy for the two Congress factions to unify. It is Koirala's autocratic ways that split the Congress in the first place. He has not changed one bit.

Girija Koirala should retire. He is past retirement age.

Or the second generation in his party should come forth and revolt. That revolt will make it possible for the two factions to unify.

The two Congress factions should unfiy around the slogan of a federal republic.

I smell foul play. I smell money. It is entirely possible the monarchists are pumping money into this talk of republic or not. Koirala is in need of opaque eletion money. It is with that money that he buys the blind loyalty of his MPs. If you go against Koirala, you might not get a ticket to contest elections. Or you might not get plentiful election money.

I am worried about Congress money. I am worried about Maoist money.

There is a need to put a strong provision in the interim constitution to make all party finances transparent. That is as important as arms management.

Girija's Options

The Nepali Congress, as two factions or as one party, may go for a ceremonial monarchy. But that decision is going to have to be taken by a party convention. Anything else is illegitimate.

That party's last convention said it is now neutral on the monarchy question. What that means is that party may not go for a ceremonial monarchy. To go for a ceremonial monarchy is not to be neutral on the monarchy question. Not even Girija Koirala is above the party. He may not go against what is his party's number one decision during its last convention.

Girija Can Not Claim Credit For The April Revolution

A democratic republic is the clear mandate of the April Revolution. Girija does not get it. How can he claim any credit for the April Revolution?

Girija Koirala is the ceremonial monarch born out of the April Revolution. He acts like a monarch inside his party. His solo utterances in Biratnagar are party policy. Party policy does not get decided through discussions in the central committee. This is unfortunate. This can not be tolerated.

In The News

Maoists to go ahead with Republican Front plan despite Koirala's rejection NepalNews Koirala's assertion that his party "will not be a part of any Front for Republic" ..... Dev Gurung –a member of Maoist talks team – said that such a front is necessary to overthrow monarchy. .... Nepali Congress (Democratic) has also disagreed to join such front. ..... The Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) has not given its official viewpoint about the front idea. "We have not demanded for such a front but we are not opposed to it also," said Jhal Nath Khanal ....... Deputy Prime Minister and president of People's Front Nepal (PFN) Amik Sherchan had recently urged PM Koirala to lead such a republican front. ..... Koirala had said that since NC is a democratic party, it will go to the elections of Constituent Assembly with a separate manifesto ..... Maoists have been saying that they would be willing to show maximum flexibility in the management of their arms and armies if the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), including NC, agrees to join a united republican front to establish republic through the CA or referendum. Senior Maoist leaders have gone on record saying that they would accept making Koirala even the first president of the country.
Government ready to talk with JTMM Hridayesh Tripathy, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, has said that the government has no qualms for holding dialogue with the JTMM. Talking to journalists in Dhobidhara of Saptari, he, however, said that since there were two factions of JTMM, the government is still unclear about how to go about with the peace talks with them. ..... Tripathy's comments came in response to offer for peace talks made by Jai Krishna Goit-led JTMM. Recently, Jwala Singh had floated a separate faction of JTMM. Both are active in Siraha and Saptari district. ....
PM says NC not for republic Koirala has said the Nepali Congress would not be part of the broader republican alliance including the Maoists, which many members of the current Seven Party Alliance have been stressing on. .... Koirala said Nepali Congress, principally, does not believe in republic Nepal. ..... "Republic is not the agenda and policy of the Nepali Congress and it will not be involved in such fronts at any cost," he said. ... He also said unification between the Nepali Congress and Nepali Congress (Democratic) will be completed before the elections to the constituent assembly and the unified congress will have the same agenda during the polls .......
People start retaliating Maoist excesses; seven injured Irate by the continuous excesses of the Maoists, local people of Sarlahi vandalized two barriers at Ranijung area of the district put by the Maoists for collecting taxes from the vehicles plying at the street. ..... The locals also warned Maoists not to collect any form of taxes in the area and also warned of dire consequences if they did not obey. ..... villagers protesting the Maoist atrocities clashed with the Maoists in eastern Jhapa district ..... Three locals and four Maoists were injured, when a group of 15 Maoists attacked locals, who were protesting against Maoist excesses ..... local people of Situwa bazaar of Dhankuta district organized Situwa bazaar bandh (Shut-down) and also blocked the Koshi highway protesting the Maoist excesses.
Policemen and Maoists engage in minor scuffle; Maoists impose traffic blockade this morning
PM Koirala confident about success of peace talks, says it takes time
Nepal's position improved in press freedom index; stands at 159th position
Breaking Deadlock on Arms Management the government and the Maoists want CA elections for different reasons: the government with an aim to disarm the Maoists and resolve the Maoist insurgency problem, whereas, the Maoists with an aim to establish a republic Nepal. ..... Koirala is plotting a so-called “grand design” to maintain the status quo by saving Nepal’s monarchy ..... the Maoists cannot be a part of Nepal’s government so long as the Maoist Party has a separate military wing. ....... Given its long tradition of loyalty to the monarchy, it is a wishful thinking to believe that Nepal Army is now fully under the control of current civilian government. ..... “We are not ready to lay down arms unless a democratic army is formed. The effort to make us lay down arms unilaterally will only derail the peace process.” ....... the UN cannot do much unless both the SPA and the Maoists agree on the modality of arms management. ...... (1) downsize Nepal Army by providing a package for retirement for those who have served more than 15 years or more; (2) Hold the army fully accountable by taking strong actions against those who have been involved in gross human rights violations including disappearance and torture; and (3) Commit fully to implement the findings of the Rayamajhi Commission and punish those to be found guilty of unlawful killings during the April protests. ......... (1) Create a new ministry to oversee the Maoist Army and their expenditure. During the interim period, assign this ministry to a leader from the Maoist Party; (2) Put both Nepal Army and the Maoist Army under the control of National Security Council chaired by the Prime Minister but the Council’s decision should be approved by the interim parliament; (3) Agree that the Security Council will serve as the integrated headquarter of both armies. With the help of UN experts, the Council will develop a plan for merging two armies within next four months or so and the plan will have to be approved by the cabinet and the parliament. The merging will start immediately after the CA elections; and (4) Agree that the access to the arms and armies, will be limited to the UN representatives and the Security Council

Lasting peace to be established in Nepal: PM People's Daily Online, China
Nepal urges all not to favour monarchy Kantipur Online, Nepal Nepal’s remarks have come at a time when Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is saying that his party wouldn’t favour republican setup in the upcoming election to the constituent assembly ......
Maoist Leader Sees NC, NC (D) as Most Regressive Himalayan Times The five left parties are ready to go for a democratic republic with a federal system and ethnic autonomy, the CPN-UML is still unclear and the democrats are still not convinced about doing away with the monarchy ...... the two parties also will have to go for a republic as most of their cadres now support the republican thoughts. ..... "If 'surrenderism' continues, the third round of people's movement will follow. Nobody, not even the army, will be able to prevent another revolution from taking place" ....... We are ready even to lock up 40 per cent of our arms if the government locks 25 per cent of arms belonging to the army ...... So long as the monarchy exists in any form, there is a threat to the seven-party government of a royal coup. ...... "The Newars have contributed for thousands of years to make Nepal a civilised country but still they are not in the state, they have to live like internal refugees." ..... Damannath Dhungana, urged all the parties favouring referendum on monarchy to think over it twice because it would only make the regressive forces active. ...... Chairperson of the Manka Khala Padma Ratna Tuladhar demanded that, like other historic announcements, the House or Representatives declare Nepal Sambat the national calendar.
Nepal Army Reiterates Loyalty to Government Nepal human Rights News, Nepal
Five Hurt as Leftover Bomb Explodes in West Nepal Nepal human Rights News, Nepal
Maoists halt vehicular movement in Nepal capital Zee News, India
Two-Hour Strike Hinders Life in Nepal OhmyNews International, South Korea

‘Goit ordered me to bomb Kantipur office’ Kantipur Jyoti Jha, Morang district coordinator of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM), Monday disclosed that Jaykrishna Goit, the central coordinator of JTMM, had ordered him to bomb the eastern regional office building of the Kantipur Publications in Biratnagar in broad daylight. ...... Goit had called Jha to Birpur of India and instructed him to carry out the plan, which, according to Jha, was in retaliation for the publication not covering JTMM's activities but only publishing "false" news about the Morcha. ...... Jha, whom Maoists had taken into control some three weeks ago from Kankalini temple at Bhardaha in Saptari district, revealed details of the plan while talking to journalists at a press meet held inside a Maoist security post at Bharadaha. ..... Goit had pressurized him to do so arguing that such actions would create propaganda and make the Morcha famous among the masses. He also stated he was detained while trying to carry out the plan. ...... Jha also revealed that the JTMM had no plan to murder MP Krishnacharan Shrestha. "However, issuing a statement, Goit falsely owned up to killing Shrestha claiming that it (taking responsibility for the killing of someone renowned) would add to the popularity of the party among the Madhesi communities," Jha said. He further maintained that JTMM cadres had no hand in the killing.