Getting Published In Republica: Thoughts On Federalism

Image by paramendra via Flickr

Thoughts on federalism

PARAMENDRA BHAGAT

Nepal achieved democracy, secularism, a republican setup and federalism in principle faster than most people thought it was possible. Lawlessness still prevails but if all parties were to come together on the issue like they did for the 2006 April Revolution, law and order situation can be improved swiftly. Right now, drafting the constitution feels like a huge task, and it is, but once we have the document, we are going to face the stark reality that the constitution is but a framework—the real work is to bring about an economic revolution that would last for decades. But the work on the constitution comes first and the knottiest issue there is likely to be federalism.

Do we need federalism? Yes, we do. We have already answered that question as a people. Now we have to do the hard work of figuring out what shape and form that federalism will take. There are a lot of people who hold the view that we should not divide the country along ethnic lines. We haven’t done a disservice to humanity by being a separate country. Similarly, ethnic federalism will not weaken our country. In fact, the opposite is true.

Image by paramendra via Flickr

Neither the CPN-UML nor the Nepali Congress went to the people in April 2008 with maps on how federal Nepal would look like. The Maoists did and the Madhesi parties talked of One Madhes, One Pradesh. But, for the fact that the Maoists at least went to the people with a map, that map can be a good starting point as to the shape of federal Nepal.

I am a Madhesi from Janakpur. It is but natural that I will come to the federalism question from an angle that I feel speaks of the aspirations of my so-far oppressed people. Of all the maps I have seen so far, the one I like the most is the original Maoist map with modifications. You are looking at eight states: Madhes, Tharuwan, Khasan, Magarat, Tamuwan, Tamang, Newa and Kirat. I do understand that the Maoists have modified their map and now talk of about 15 states. I still like the eight-state map better.

As for the Tarai, I believe there are only two options. We can turn all of Tarai either into one state or two states. West of Rapti, we can have Tharuwan. Rapti to Mechi can be Madhes.

But the real knotty issue is not how we divide the states but rather how power will be distributed between the center and the states.

Of course, all the major highways in the country, all the big hydroelectricity projects will still be under the purview of the central government. But the states will have their own parliaments and wield major power.

The distribution of power between the center and the states has to be based on the one person, one vote principle. Because that is the democratic way. A directly-elected president would thus be good, although by now even the Maoists have abandoned the idea. The lower house could be shaped like the constituent assembly now.

Image by paramendra via Flickr

Too many people from the hitherto ruling classes still fantasize about federalism ending up like King Birendra’s so-called five development regions. Those five regions were unscientific, ad hoc and against the spirit of federalism. Ethnic federalism, taking other issues into consideration, is going to be a good thing that will strengthen our national unity. The Nepali identity will get a new life

Published on 2009-08-03 06:36:49


The article that was submitted:

Federalism: The Final Unresolved Knot
by Paramendra Bhagat

Nepal has achieved secularism, democracy, a republican setup and
federalism in principle faster than most thought possible. Lawlessness
still prevails, but if all parties were to come together on the issue
like they did for the April Revolution 2006, law and order can be
brought about swiftly. Right now the work on the constitution feels
like a huge task, and it is, but once we have the document we are
going to face the reality that the constitution is but a framework,
the real work is to do with delivering an economic revolution for the
country to last decades. But the work on the constitution comes first,
and the knottiest issue there is likely to be federalism.

Do we need federalism? Yes, we do. We have already answered that
question as a people. Now we have to bang heads as to what shape and
form that federalism will take. You don't see too many from the ruling
class and castes arguing for the Desi identity and an assimilation of
Nepal into India or professing a larger lover for all of humanity, and
turning both Nepal and India into far away states of America. But the
same people are nervous that we might end up with ethnic federalism.
We don't do a disservice to humanity by being a separate country.
Ethnic federalism will not similarly weaken the country Nepal. The
opposite will be true.

Neither the UML, nor the Congress went to the people in April 2008
with maps for federalism. The Maoists did, and the Madhesi parties
talked of Ek Madhes, Ek Prades. But for the fact that the Maoists at
least went to the people with a map, that map can be a good starting
point as to the shape of federalism.

I am a Madhesi from Janakpur. It is but natural that I will come to
the federalism question from an angle that I feel speaks to the
aspirations of my so far oppressed people. Of all the maps I have seen
so far, the one I have liked the most is the original Maoist map with
modifications. You are looking at eight states: Madhes, Tharuwan,
Khasan, Magarat, Tamuwan, Tamang, Newa, and Kirat. I do understand the
Maoists have modified their map and now talk of about 15 states. I
still like the eight states map better.

As for the Terai, I believe there are only two options. Either you
turn all of Terai into one state, or you turn all of Terai into two
states, west or Rapti you have Tharuwan, and Rapti to Mechi you have
Madhes. Rapti to Mechi rivers will still be an embodiment of the Ek
Madhes, Ek Prades aspiration.

But the real knotty issue is not how you draw the map for federalism,
but rather how power will be distributed between the center and the
states.

There will of course still be a federal government. All the major
highways in the country, all the big hydroelectricity projects will
still be the purview of the central government. But the states will
have their own parliaments and major power.

The distribution of power between the center and the states has to be
based on the one person one vote principle. Because that is the
democratic way. A directly elected president would thus be a good
idea, although by now even the Maoists have abandoned the idea. The
lower house could be shaped like the constituent assembly now. You
would have half of the first past the post seats in the Terai. And you
would have directly proportional elections for seats to the upper
house. You would have seat reservations for the DaMaJaMa that all
parties would have to obey.

Too many people from the hitherto ruling classes still fantasize about
federalism ending up being like King Birendra's so-called five
development regions. Those five regions were unscientific, ad hoc and
against the spirit of federalism. Ethnic federalism taking other
issues into consideration is going to be a good thing that will
strengthen national unity. The Nepali identity will get a new life.

Federalism will make an economic revolution possible, the next item on
our agenda.

(The writer is a tech entrepreneur based out of NYC -
http://jyoticonnect.net - and regularly blogs about Nepal at
http://demrepubnepal.blogspot.com)

Thanks Republica for publishing.