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Thanks, But No Thanks! Dawn of a New Nepal?

By Shashi P.B.B. Malla

Have The People of Nepal reason to feel euphoric about the "peace talks" culminating in the "historic agreement" between the seven-party government and the 'former' Maoist terrorists? Far from it. Let's call a spade, a spade.

The current government with absolutely no political mandate has sacrificed vital national interests at the altar of a dastardly appeasement policy to placate the Maoists. This has come about in the main because of intense pressure tactics from the sole super-power America and the regional power India. This is part of the big game to contain China, the upcoming economic and political giant and prospective super-power.

There is to be a comprehensive peace accord by 16 November. What else remains to be negotiated at all? This craven government has conceded all points to the Maoists on a silver platter. The Maoists now have total run of the country. PM Koirala is under the illusion that he has succeeded in riding the tiger, but all indications point to him being devoured sooner or later.

Why not declare 'dear Leader' Pushpa Kamal Dahal, aka "Prachanda" be the President ad interim by popular demand! Last Friday when the Maoists celebrated their 'victory' in the centre of Kathmandu they gave us a taste of things to come. Comrade Janardan Sharma, aka "Prabhakar" and reputedly the Deputy Commander of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) stated quite unabashedly: "We have agreed to lock up our arms in our camps on the condition that we will keep the keys. We can take them up whenever we feel that a conspiracy (read: the people of Nepal dare to give the Maoists a send-off in the upcoming elections) is being hatched against the peace process"! Has the cat not been let out of the bag? The Nepalese people in general and the international community at large are being entertained to a colossal political scam. That the UN accepted a verifying role in this approach to 'arms management' sheds a sad light on this organization - just imagine this kind of arms management applied to post Gulf War 1 Iraq! Ian Martin and his team from the United Nations can pack their bags and go home.

A self-styled "Interim Constitution" is to be rammed down the people's throats by 21st November. By what right has "The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, 1990" been suspended? Various democratic elections were held under this Constitution, and therefore, although not confirmed by a referendum, it has been sanctioned by this very fact. Even the current parliament is still functioning because of this Constitution. There is no justification for the procedure of putting together 'laws and regulations' by a coterie of unqualified "experts" and giving it the exalted name of "Interim Constitution". Where is the mandate for such a course of action?

A so-called "Interim Parliament" is to be established by 26th November.

There is no rationale for such a move. This could only have come about through the convoluted thinking of wheeler-dealers of the various political parties. This is illustrated by the proposed total membership and also the size of representation of the various parties. Now, just for the sake of argument, the United States with a population of 290.8 million has a membership 435 in the house of Representatives, and India with 1064.4 million has 543 members in the Lok Sabha. Puny Nepal with only 24.7 million should have 330 seats in a 'legislature'? This ostensible 'legislature' will be a major burden on the national exchequer and one cannot help raising one's eyebrows at such a display of nepotism.

Then there is the matter of which party is represented by how many seats. It seems that in absentia of any kind public consultation the negotiators seem to have thought of a number and doubled it. Why should the Maoists be represented with 73 seats? Why is the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party to be represented with only 8 seats and the Nepal Janshakti Party and others not represented at all? Establishing a democratic body by decree does not make it democratic. The esteemed reader may wish to recall that the constitution of all former states of the Warsaw Pact defined the role of a parliament - which did not make the parliaments of these states democratic in any way. Thus, on all counts this must be rejected in toto.

Finally, the elections to the "Constituent Assembly" are to be held by the end of June 2007. Why so late? Because by then our beloved leaders will have accomplished their nefarious designs, i.e. achieved a fait accompli in the direction of "state re-structuring". Also they will have avoided what politicians fear most: Being judged by results and being held accountable for them by the voters. They are quite aware that they cannot deliver the economic recovery and development that they are now promising to the Nepali people. This could not be achieved with the available means in the stipulated timeframe even - in Maoist terms - after a dozen or so 'great leaps forward'.

Moreover, the butchers of nearly twenty - thousand Nepalese brothers and sisters will have entered the "mainstream" and gotten off scot-free! Other uncounted thousands are still homeless. Without an effort of reconciliation, delivery of justice and compensation the new constitution will rest on a foundation of injustice and therefore will carry the seed of the next insurgency. Further, there has been no redress for these People's War - afflicted victims. The elections cannot be 'free and fair' and will take place under the shadow of massive Maoist intimidation. Again the Maoist leaders claim to be inspired by the 'gang of four' - this kind of ideologic heritage does not afford fair elections a high importance.

That the fate of the monarchy should be decided in the first meeting of the professed "Constituent Assembly" illustrates the utter arrogant attitude of the current political leaders. The question of the monarchy is vital for the existence of the Nepalese nation and can only be decided by the totality of the Nepalese people in a truly democratic referendum monitored by the international community. The time is now ripe for serious and determined resistance to these so-called "Loktantrics" taking us on the road to perfidy and damnation. The manifestations of the 'arrogance of power' must soon have an untimely end, if the Nepalese people are to enjoy 'larger freedoms' and 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'. A cabal brought to political power by an unholy alliance of rabble-rousers, terrorists and foreign interests can very well also be dispatched to the dustbin of history by a concerted action of dedicated nationalists.

alan@newsblaze.com