ROUND THE WORLD
New Delhi, 25 April 2006
Pro-Democracy Move
Wants More
KING OFFERS RETURN
OF DEMOCRACY
By Anil Kamboj
Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses
While India
decided to break with its long standing policy of non-interference in the
internal affairs of other sovereign states and to an extent, successfully lobbied with the United States and European Union to
put pressure on the King for
restoration of democracy. Dr. Karan Singh, the Prime Minister’s special envoy
to Nepal, had reportedly
told King Gyanendra to have genuine dialogue with the political parties and
expressed India’s
readiness to support all efforts to
restore multi-party democracy in Nepal
in order to overcome the crisis that Nepal is currently faced with.
India had suggested a formation of
interim government with sufficient executive powers to hold elections, a
constituent assembly to draft a new
constitution and that Monarch to be ceremonial head. The King was also informed
that for its own security imperatives if the chaos spiralled out of control, India may be
forced to take some drastic steps. It was not only the US and India
but even China,
had called for restoring democracy. King Gyanendra had been absolutely
isolated. Under both internal and external pressure,
the monarch at last cave in on 21 April and announced on Nepal television that
he was ready to return the executive powers of the country to the people and
that the seven party alliance to recommend the name of the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister would further form his cabinet and run
the Government. The King would remain as the Constitutional head. The King,
however, did not say anything on the formation of a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution. The Congress Party of Nepal has not accepted the announcement.
India has been largely instrumental in
bringing the political parties and the Maoist insurgents together to restore
the multi-party democracy. Though wary of the Maoists, India has noted that they have desisted from
violence since the crisis in Nepal
snow- balled from April 6. India
had even asked the King not to use the Maoists as a trump card.
The seven political parties and the Maoists had signed a 12-point
Memorandum of Understanding on November 22 last, to work for common goals of
restoring peace and democracy in the Himalayan kingdom and remove King from
power. Maoist had announced an indefinite ceasefire in Kathmandu and wanted
peaceful solution to the problems besetting Nepal.
The US
and some western countries had, in fact, wanted to keep Maoists out and had
called on the political parties to call off the pact. But, without the support
of the Maoists, the mass movement in
the country was also not feasible. It was only due to their call that the
people in the rural areas of Nepal
also joined the agitation. India
has to be also very careful that Maoists should not come to power in Nepal. This
could fuel a claim by them for a revision of 1815 Treaty of Sagauli signed with
British India. Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai
had stated in May last year, that Nepal would never be able to
develop until the territories lost by the Treaty of 1815 were restored to it.
He meant territories of Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal,
Sikkim and Darjeeling.
The extreme situation had developed, as the monarchy grossly undervalued and underestimated the strong
commitment of the Nepalese people to democracy. Besides this, the Nepali Congress in particular can also be blamed for the failure
of democratic experiment by its constant internal bickerings and squabbling,
with top leadership seeking to impose a dynasty upon the party. Government of India had short-sighted
judgement and is also to be responsible at the initial stages. It also paved
the way for Pakistan and China, especially the latter, to step into the
vacuum created by India.
The King had taken over the power last year, as he said that
the Government was unable to tackle the Maoist menace but, unfortunately, the
Royal Nepal Army also failed to control the insurgency effectively. Moreover,
it is said the top echelon of the RNA is corrupt and arrogant. Their role model
is Pakistan Army, while the King’s model was Myanmar military leadership and
wanted to carry on with a heavy hand, totally regardless
of the society.
The King is considered as the religious and spiritual head
of Nepal,
but the present situation made him as the most hated person in the country. He
lost all self-respect and some section of the society may not even want him to
be Constitutional head of the state. The idea that Nepal could be returned to
the 1960s – resurrecting King Mahendra model of Palace-guided Panchayat
democracy “suited to Nepal’s soil” – smacked more of farce. Attacking graft
while his own Cabinet was tainted by corruption set the tone.
But the King’s coterie of the Panchayat-era-advisers blinded
themselves to the transformation of Nepali society over the last decades and
pressed on with their plan to return
the clock back. Time is not far off when the political parties may demand that
Royal Nepal Army be under the civil, constitutionally-elected government. If
this happens, then who would protect the King in case he has to take such
drastic actions in future?
With the pro-democracy movement spreading all over Nepal and the severe action taken by the
security forces in the border districts with India,
has been triggered a mass exodus
from Jhapa to Kishanganj district in Bihar.
The panicky and jittery Terai people are gradually streaming into Bihar. Thousands of Nepalese have taken shelter along the
border areas in different villages in Bihar,
Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal. The Nepalese Police in remote areas have
abandoned the Thanas and those who are making a feeble attempt of imposing
authority, do not know as how long could they hold on. If all goes well in
coming days in Kathmandu, there may be some
respite to these policemen.
The overall picture of Nepal at present is very grim, the
unemployment is touching 42 per cent, the fragile economic condition in the
country is close to catastrophe, and its GDP forecast for 2006 has shrunk to 2
per cent. Seeing the present economic crisis of Nepal,
India
has pledged a big economic package for that country but only after King Gyanandra
transfers power to the multi-party democratic alliance.
There is heavy responsibility on the head of Seven Party
Alliance. They have to stay united and the Maoists allow the new government to
function till fresh elections are conducted. Can India claim a moral victory for the
hard work it put in lately? Time has come for grand re-conciliation between the
King, SPA and the Maoists. Meanwhile, India will have to carefully
monitor the situation and encourage a smooth transfer of power.
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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