Nepali Times
Editorial
If not now, then when?



MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA

If Nepal's political process were not so distressingly moribund, it would make for great satire. Entertainers would be hard-pressed to improve on the comedy of errors that is the Nepal ship of state.

More than five months after the CA was dissolved, that ship is leaking and rudderless, drifting into uncharted waters with a lameduck prime minister, caretaker government, no parliament, no constitution, no general or local elections, and now, no budget.

The parties that were elected in 2008 to take the peace process forward, write a new constitution, and ensure stable government and economic development are hopelessly tangled in a zero-sum game. In trying to keep rival parties and rivals within parties out of the power equation, the current cast of political characters cancel each other out. They had the holidays to strike a deal in informal meetings, they squandered that too.

Had successive heads of government behaved more like statesmen, instead of petty party bosses, we might not have got bogged down in this morass. If the opposition parties had publicly acknowledged, even indirectly, that it was their malgovernance over the years that contributed to the current crisis, and if they had fielded untainted, younger and more dynamic leaders, we wouldn't have hit rock bottom.

The only way out of the current crisis, as we keep saying here every week, is to go for fresh elections. What is holding things up is that just about every political party and their discredited leadership are terrified of facing voters.

Hence the hand-wringing, the delay tactics, elaborate legalistic excuses, and using the budget as a bargaining chip as everyone jostles for advantage to be incumbent in an election government. That is what it has always been about: since no one is prepared to face free and fair elections, they all want to be where there is power and money, to gain an unfair advantage.

The Maoists have not given up their goal of a one-party state. This is not fear-mongering, they've repeatedly said so themselves. The strategy is to wait till they are sure they can command a two-thirds majority in the next CA or parliament by using money, state security, coercion, and identity politics. No doubt, political exclusion of marginalised ethnicities needs to be addressed, but only fools would trust centralist Maoist communists with that agenda. The Maoists would have gone for elections by now had the party not split, seriously undermining their chance of gaining a two-third.

All political parties want power, that's a given, they would all love to have a two-thirds majority. But the Maoists are not just any other party. They may be de-listed terrorists, but they still espouse an ideology that belongs in a mausoleum. We haven't yet seen demonstrable evidence of them having given up on violence, confrontation, and an ambition to create a one-party people's republic. In government, they become thugs, blatantly bleeding the treasury.
There is a lot of chest-beating among pundits about this prolonged political 'deadlock', and a tendency to heap equal blame on the Maoists as well as on the NC or UML. But the stalemate is actually evidence of the ability of the parties with democratic values to keep those without from monopolising power.

True, the NC and UML leadership leaves much to be desired. Their methods are crude, their disunity disheartening, they are the same old faces, and they seem not to be able to say anything more inspiring than repeatedly demanding the prime minister's ouster. But at least they espouse the universal values of democracy, pluralism, and non-violence. And that is what it has come down to: a lowest-common-denominator struggle between those who aim to create a one-party state, and those who want to preserve an open society.

And, no, contrary to assertions of crony apologists of the Maoists, this has nothing to do with protecting the status quo. The lies, hypocrisy, and doublespeak have caught up with the Maoists, and they know it.

All the more reason for the democratic parties to finally wake up from their slumber. If not now, then when? The NC's Basantpur 'show of force' was a show of farce, with the party chief bursting into a silly song. The UML is showing slightly more gumption, but also seriously lacks statesmanship and focus.

The least harmful way forward now is for the opposition to join an election government, let Prime Minister Bhattarai continue if need be, and let a general and local election in May untangle this mess.



1. Jit
I am no great fan of Baburam, he reminds me of Pol Pot. At least Prachanda is corrupt and can be bought. Nevertheless, it does seem to be like the only way to end this deadlock is to keep Baburam as PM and let the Nepali Congress and UML divide up the government and announce elections. The Congress can't even come up with an agreed candidate for prime minister, how will they run the country? If we don't do this, we may still be sitting here one year from now.


2. K. K. Sharma

Things that have transpired, are the makings of all the big parties.
This is the result of the " opposition" following the Maoist agenda since 2005..

 Now the Maoist / Madhisi coalition is a formidable force, for the so-called opposition to dismantle. It could as well be that the Maoist are allowing the "opposition" to rave and rant, only for foreign consumption, rather than the "opposition's" ability to keep the Maoists from turning Nepal into a one-party State.  Legalities or Constitutionality, are actually impotent in the face of capacity. At this time, the Maoist / Madhesi collition does not need any election. 

Only thing that the " opposition"  can possibly do is the go to Delhi and beg for their brand of "democracy " as in 2004.  Who knows, the masters of our political parties in New Delhi may just condescend to oblige.


3. Sri Dhar Sharma
K K Sharma has hit the nail on the head ! Without the Blessings of the Indian Masters in New Delhi, nothing really happens or changes in Nepali political circles. What a pity ! What a shame or what a sham ! Without elected officials and Parliament, Nepal is bragging about its democracy ! I am always surprised that no one has emerged in the last 20 years to lead Nepal.  This domination by India cannot last forever ! Nepalis each day are becoming more aware, case in point, Dahal was slapped hard by a maoist cadre. Another revolution may be brewing. I would support a revolution that could bring any change to get rid for the corrupted men and restore the dignity of Nepalis. People should understand that its not only Nepal that needs India, BUT, India also needs Nepal, badly.  By taking unfair and undue advantage of idiotic Nepali leaders, India may be creating a group of Nepalis that would be wiiling to take drastic actions and reactions to bring justice to the 28 million Nepalis. Just like Nepal needs to wipe the slate clean with politicians, India needs to rethink its 50s mentality towards Nepal. Jai Nepal. 

4. Bhaicha
Instead of the controversial fascist  Baburam,let a  Madhesi
lead the government during the election( chunabi sarcar).
 The election will be more impartial and fair as it is headed by a small party.
 If such proposal is floated  the present dead lock or impasse can also be broken.  The Maoist can be brought to their size. It can be headed by Gachhedar or Mahanta. or Upendra.;far better than the egoist called Baburam who is doing pork-barrel politics all the time.


5. Shyam Sunder Lall
No need for  Baburam to continue. Why not Gachhedar, a Tharu  a Tribal (Janajati) and a  Madhesi by residence from the east, Morang . This will break the impasse, the deadlock and make way to proceed ahead.
N C and U M L leadership must at this stage show political acumen and                                                                                                                                                     tact   and statesmanship if they are politically fighting the cunning Maoist strategists.


6. Gheo Chaku Naran
#4 Bhaicha.
Gachhedar is a better choice. He is a Tharu ,a Janjati.
 Mahanta Thakur  is a Brahmin.
 Upendra Yadhav is a Khetriya.
Both are so called high caste, so at this stage of flux and bitter wrangling this will be a solution , a sage advice and can be a boon in the long run.


7. Sri Ranga Nath
The Opposition Party leaders ( NC/ UML), who are against the Maoist, are cowards and incompetent fools. Idiots in another word. Both Bhattrai and Dahal have held Nepal hostage for so long and no can do anything or wishes to do anything.  Lets face it, from Surya Bahadur Thapa to Baburam Bhattarai, the Nepali PMs are unethical, corrupted men, that put perosnal ambition and priorities before the need of the people and the Nation. Mr. Padam Kunwar is a true Nepali hero for he has the guts to slap an uncouth man like Dahal. Nepal needs educated and financially independent men to lead. The leaders that have come before us were all beggars and they had only one idea in mind, how to steal the wealth of Nepalis for their own personal use. If Nepalis cannot find a way to wipe out the vile and filthy communists, then Nepalis deserve the fate they are dealt with. How can disgraced men, slapped in public be respected???????  The Nepali gang of 4 Parties must be destroyed before we can move ahead. The writing is clearly written on the wall, but no one seems to be reading it.      

8. Birendra Pradhan
If China gains more influence than India in Nepal, that would be a great boon for Nepalis. China can build the Nepali economy with a focus on a strong middle class. What have Nepalis really gained by bowing down to India wishes and demands. All the confusion and problems in Nepal is the creation of India. Its time to really say, screw you, to the evil Indians that live in New Delhi as well as in Lainchaur. If the Indian tilt has failed, time and again, its time to try a new path, lets tilt towards China. I hope the Chinese Ambaasador gets to read my comment.   

9. kamana thapa
Now that the government has declared the new date for the polls, Bhattarai and his gang have a free pass to rule until April-May 2013 just like the articles recommends. But who is to say that the elections won't be postponed again just like the CA was postponed five times before it was finally killed? And isn't anyone worried that by allowing Bhattarai to lead till next elections we are helping him build the stage for a one-party or one-man autocratic rule? 

10. DG
#8 Birendra Pradhan
Yes. China must take more interest in Nepal,s affairs from now on.it does not mean playing China card though.
 China also compete with the Indian Ambassador( Viceroy as we call in the elite circle) in throwing goodies ;in making school building , road building in the north connecting with Tibetan towns, in agriculture , tourism,water resources development  etc etc.


11. Ken Thapa
To Shyam Sunder Lal and Gheo Chaku Naran:

Everyone please note that Gachhedar is more corrupt than Khum Bahadur Khadka, Govinda Joshi, JP Gupta and Wagle. This guy is also a murderer. He was in jail during Panchayat era when there was a rule of law for murdering a student in Morang Campus. After he murdered the student he was chased by students and beat the heck out of him and they destroyed his one eye. This guy deserves jail just like his friends who are in jail. He cannot be  prime minister. Of course, in Nepal mass murderers such as Baburam and Prachanda are the prime ministers and rulers. These guys need to be taken to Hague for crimes against humanity.


12. Danny Birch
Does no one see that the multiparty system is not good for Nepal. Late King Mahendra knew that all of these parties were just a kind of organised criminal enterprises. That's why he banned them all, arrested so many and sent others to exile in India. Bringing back the monarchy is the only chance for preserving a unified country where parties are not allowed.

LATEST ISSUE
638
(11 JAN 2013 - 17 JAN 2013)


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