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Pro-Democracy Move Wants More:KING OFFERS RETURN OF DEMOCRACY, Anil Kamboj,25 April 2006 Print E-mail

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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