How To Move Towards A Common Minimum Program?

First you identify the players. I see these:

1. Congress
2. Congress (D)
3. UML
4. RPP
5. RJP
6. Jana Morcha
7. Sadbhavana
8. Sadbhavana (A)
9. Maoist
10. Monarchist

Then you seek a representative from each. If not, you seek out their public statements. Then you come up with a Common Minimum Program (CMP). All except number 10 agree on one thing: February 1 needs to be reversed, all those detained released, and all fundamental rights restored.

So that is your CMP. Then you start playing with that CMP. It is important to keep all deliberations public.

Another major CMP has been to invite UN human rights monitoring. That was a big step. That is the only CMP that brings all 1-10 together. So far.

Then you attempt a ceasefire. You have 1-8. But 9 and 10 are not with you. So it is upto 1-8 to work on a platform that will forge a strong Unity of the Willing.

Then you try and suggest an all-party government to replace the current one. You might get 1-8 but not 9 and 10 again. And since 10 holds key here, you end up nowhere. But to enhance chances, it is important for 1-8 to suggest a complete list of the proposed cabinet. And make that list public so as to keep up the pressure.

What about the CMP of a Constituent Assembly? You have 3, 6,8, and 9. Work should be done to bring 1,2,4,5 and 7 along. If 1-9 can come together on this one, there will be enormous pressure on 10 to comply. Also, this CMP will, for the first time, provide some concrete common ground between 1-8 and 9. And so the exercise is worth it in its own right.

I think the fastest would be for 1-9 to move towards this: Shortcut To A New Constitution, Shortcut To Peace. It brings in full democracy. It brings peace. And this is the only strategy that does not depend on compliance from 10.

The key for 1-8 is relentless, public dialogue. That is the only way to drown out the guns of 9 and 10. That also is the democratic way. The democratic way is not where one person makes the pronouncement and everyone else falls in line.

Are you for a Constituent Assembly? Why? Why not? Why are you for a Constitutional Monarchy? At what point will you stop being for it? What would be your tipping point? What are the issues we can agree on? What do we disagree on? Can we put aside the issues we disagree on for now, and focus on those we agree on?

The second key is organization. The democratic process does not have to equal disorganization. Can the democrats launch effective protests? Can this be made possible: eDemocracy, 4S Campaign, 24/7 Vigil For Democracy: Take Over Tundikhel ?

The Nepali Diaspora Contradiction: Would You Like Some Tea?

If I were to offer you tea, and you said, no, thanks, what are my options? Do I keep repeating my offer? Or should I exhibit some manners and take you at your word?

Today my attention has been drawn to an article - Democratic Middle Ground In Nepal - collectively authored by numerous smart Nepalis living abroad, supposedly after two months of internal discussions, with contributions from many Kathmandu-based intellectual-types. I quote below from the article extensively.

The tea is the idea of a constitutional monarchy, and you are the king, and I am the democrats who are ideologically committed to the idea of a constitutional monarchy. The democrats need to stop fooling themselves. The democrats are not in a position to "offer" the king such a thing. Nepal is not in a position to offer a billion dollars in foreign aid to America. The concept is similar.

But I don't think it is a sense of affection for the king, or a deep understanding of the need for such an institution as the monarchy that these Nepalis keep offering tea. I think the reason is much closer to home: it is self-interest. The mental lethargy of these Nepalis to move beyond their social prejudices along caste, religion, gender and region lines is what keeps them gravitating towards "tea."

Only yesterday I was reading an article online - Women’s Leadership and the Revolution in Nepal - by some Comrade Parvati, and I was so impressed. I have never heard any such thing from any Nepali man or woman ever. During the course of my studies, I have had the opportunity to delve into gender issues, and I must say what she has to say stands with some of the best articles I have ever read on women's rights issues, and that is saying a lot.

My point being, we should be able to look at what the Maoists have to say. We can not be outright dismissive. I don't agree with the gun. But then if you don't agree with the gun, the way to deal with the "gun" is to accord the Maoists some respect with regard to their political and social agenda. I think the so-called democrats are more offended by the social progressive agenda of the Maoists than by their guns, because the gun never reaches them, it is not their family members that are dying, but the social progressive thought strands do reach all who care to click around online, and the challenge goes unappreciated. You want me to look at women as equals? No, thanks. It is that "regression" that is preventing resolution.

We would like to have a parliament and elections, but we would rather not disturb the social hierarchy that makes sure when I show up at an Association of the Nepalis in the Americas (ANA) convention somewhere in the US, although Madhesis are half of Nepal, I see less than 2% faces that are Madhesi. The social filter keeps the rest back at ground level.

I think the reason many in the democratic camp can not entertain the idea of a Nepal without a monarchy is because these democrats are prisoners to the Nepali Speaking High Caste Male hegemony concept. They don't love the king, they love their own narrow selves.

There might also be another explanation. The abused end up with an emotional dependence upon the abuser in many cases, psychologists say, pertaining to cases of child abuse and spouse abuse. This might be one such case.

My question to all the political parties - Congress, Congress (D), UML, RPP, RJP, Jana Morcha, Sadbhavana, Sadbhavana (A) - is, why did you all not gather around the idea of a Constituent Assembly a few years back when you had a chance to provide a soft landing to the Maoist insurgency? How can any democrat be against the idea of a Constituent Assembly?

It pains me no ends to see the civil war go on. But I don't blame the Maoist hardliners. They are who they are. I don't blame the Monarchists. They are very clear about where they stand. But I do blame the democrats. Because it is only when the democrats can muster the courage to come around a progressive political platform that the Maoists will be pre-empted and the Monarchists will be shown the door. Until then the war will go on, blood will spill, and the democrats will have blood on their hands.

I urge all democrats to gather around this common platform: Shortcut To A New Constitution, Shortcut To Peace. The document is nothing but an extrapolation of the basic conept of one person one vote. That concept is the litmus test. Either you are a democrat, or you are not.

In The News

• Nepal in Mind: A Perspective from American Nepali Diaspora United We Blog, Nepal ...... to a large degree, political instability and crises seen in Nepal since 1996 are direct or indirect offshoots of the decision taken by the Maoists to collapse Nepal’s post-1990 political order through an armed insurgency ...... the widespread perception among the educated general public as well as in the institutional memory of political parties that the monarchy and its associates have historically not been in favor of allowing democracy the space or opportunity to succeed ....... Pluralist democratic systems have shown an ability to self-correct over time without infringing on the fundamental rights of citizens ...... potential for transforming socio-political structures and relationships unchanged for centuries ..... solution is possible only when the parties in conflict, monarch, Maoists and parliamentary parties, choose to move to the middle ground ...... A solution to the present conflict cannot be found without reinstating full democracy ..... Presently, a vast majority of Nepali people do not support abolishing the monarchy and establishment of a republican state .....February 1 must be reversed immediately ...... Peace and progress in Nepal can be achieved only through more democracy not less ..... requires all contending political forces to shift slightly their presently held positions; however there appears to be no need for a major ideological shift ...... Parties in Nepal represent the most moderate elements of the political spectrum, and without them Nepal drifts to the extremes ...... operation of the parties lack transparency and democracy within themselves. Younger members of political parties often complain that party bosses run the party like a fiefdom. Party finances are not audited. ....... Nepal is a country where the public perception is that there is routine, massive, and pervasive corruption at all levels of the state ...... Responsibility without financial resources is a recipe for failure ....... recognizing, adopting and adhering to the middle path takes much vision and courage ..... requires friend and foe to migrate sufficiently towards each other so that the peoples’ business can move forward and flourish. We urge all political forces in Nepal to recognize that great achievements in the affairs of nations have come about when leaders practiced the art of compromise...... Dharma Acharya, Ph.D.; Ambika Adhikari, Ph.D.; Roger Adhikari; Gaury Adhikary, MD; Pramod Aryal, Ph.D.; Alok K. Bohara, Ph.D.; Girija Gautam; Shiva Gautam, Ph.D.; Madhu Ghimire, MD; Naresh Koirala; Shambhu Lama; Anup Pahari, Ph.D.; Mallika Shakya; Arun Sharma; Vijaya Sharma, Ph.D.; Puru Subedi; Sharda Jung Thapa; and Suman Timsina.
• Ram Sharan Mahat, Pradip Nepal, Pashupati Rana, Minendra Rijal, Pari Thapa ....the October 4 action and subsequent developments have given validity to the Maoist theory that the "people-based sovereignty" enshrined in the present constitution is just an illusion, and that the ultimate power remains with the King as long as the army is under his effective control ..... the insurgency and regression have re-enforced each other ..... The country must be prepared for a radical political solution including election for a constitutional assembly ..... One reason why there may be less violence against civilians is because the Maoists have deliberately stopped harming the cadres of the political parties in an attempt to entice them to their side....... People are now listening to Maoists- run FM radios for news not reported by the censored media...... A coalition government must be formed, enveloping all parties represented in the dissolved parliament. Only such a government can have a meaningful dialogue with the rebels ..... The alternative was to change the Prime Minister or to try another multi-party coalition....... The constitution visualises an emergency under multi-party norms, not without those norms. It has changed all equations. If a compromise is not brought about, the consequences are inconceivable....... An inter-party common minimum program .... The Maoist’s resorting to violence has weakened the roots of democracy and has created a space for the King’s ambition to rule the country directly....... the political parties can, based on their common minimum program, enter into negotiation with the King to end his direct rule and establish interim government with full executive and legislative authority....... The Royal proclamation of February 1 has deeply shattered the basic elements of the 1991 Constitution ..... Political parties should accept responsibilities for their rigid adherence to few procedural phraseologies ignoring the weights of the multi-cultural identities within the country. National Peoples’ Front takes a pro-republican stance, but emphasizes on a common minimum ground .... February 1 move was not only totally unnecessary but also futile ..... Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) ..... In their rivalry to win the King’s support to stick to the power politics, they remained negligent and reluctant in institutional as well as structural strengthening of democracy ..... the Maoists, they were in favor of the dissolution of the parliament, nullification of the 1991 Constitution, and eventually to the collapse of the multi-party democratic system..... served the dark interests of the King and other regressive elements. These two interests came together to assemble a nexus, which turned out to be a fatal one to the democratic system in Nepal....... in favor of a republican state through the election of constituent assembly ...... what is important is not the individual standpoint of a party but the political power constellation of the country. There should be a minimum common consensus ...... the concerns for national security are not the business of a handful of people or the ruling elites. These elements alone cannot save the nation and provide security; this is the concern of all peace and justice-loving masses of people.
• US Senator Leahy Resolution On Nepal INSN .....despite condemnation of the King’s actions and the suspension of military aid to Nepal by India and Great Britain, and similar steps by the United States, the King has refused to restore constitutional liberties and democracy ...... King Gyanendra has said that he intends to pursue a military strategy against the Maoists ...... an effective strategy to counter the Maoists also requires a political process ...... it is the Sense of the Senate that King Gyanendra should immediately release all political detainees, restore constitutional liberties, and undertake good faith negotiations with the leaders of Nepal’s political parties to restore democracy
• UML Democracy Bulletin 5 INSN
• Nepal’s king wants foreign support to grab power Daily Times, Pakistan
• Nepal Calls Maoist Win Prediction 'Day Dreaming' Swissinfo
• Nepal's Ousted Prime Minister Rejects Corruption Panel Summons Bloomberg
• Top News ; Deuba named in graft deals, refuses summons: Keralanext
• Nepal close to being a failed state, says NYT report : 123Bharath.com
• Nepalese hero’s son accused of graft The Statesman
• At least 22 Maoists killed in Nepal clashes Sify, India
• Nepal army: 22 rebels, 3 troops killed Boston Globe
• NEPAL: Interview with Dennis McNamara, UN internal displacement ... Reuters AlertNet, UK
• Nepal Rhinos Dwindling Because of Poaching Reuters
• SAFMA appeals to journalists to support press freedom in Nepal PakTribune.com, Pakistan
• Nepal-China friendship helps regional peace Xinhua, China
• Unrest hits LGBT communities in Nepal Gay.com, CA