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Forces of Instability: King's Inevitable Reemergence in Nepal

By Bishal Shah

On behalf of all patriots outside and inside Nepal, the Nepali Nationalists Organization (NNO), USA, expresses its heartfelt condolence to the families who lost their kids following the fatal bus accident in Chitwan, Nepal where about two dozen children lost their precious lives.

In recent days, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the leaders of other parties in government, Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav, UML Secretary General Jhala Nath Khanal, Madhav Nepal and opposition leaders, NC President Girija Prasad Koirala, Sher Bahadur Deuba, RJP President Surya Bahadur Thapa, RPP President Pashupati SJB Rana - all are crying foul and not looking at the degrees of misery that Nepali people are having. All of them are trying to create an unstable Nepal for their own sake. Everybody is seeing something fishy about Nepal's fluid political evolution.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is trying to play a trump card to save his own position. The Prime Minister is openly talking in favor of a people's revolt applying the same methods that he and his ultra left comrades used in the jungles for the change they sought. This is nothing more than a gambit to inject fear in the minds of people. Because that fear might pressure the political parties' recent assertive role to unseat the Maoists from the government.

It appears that PM Dahal is threatening the political parties that if he is unseated no one will be able to run the state and the constitution-making process will be dropped. The responsibility of this definitely befalls upon the parties who pull PM Dahal out of his chair. Without the help of the Maoists, the constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic Nepal is impossible.

PM Dahal's blunt remark might have come at India's instigation. A recent trip to Nepal by Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee might have played a major role in PM Dahal's dangerous speech. The leaders of Nepali Political Parties- Girija Prasad Koirala, Surya Bahadur Thapa, Pashupati SJB Rana, Jhala Nath Khanal, Madhav Nepal, KP Oli - all have become assertive since the Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee's Nepal trip. India is very good at playing Nepali leaders against each other. Whichever party rules India benefits from the instability of Nepal. Such instability provides a bargaining chip to India. They can promote their business interests. An Indian election is nearing. The big parties need big money and the money comes from the business sector. By pressuring the Nepal Government in favor of Indian business community, the Indian parties in power accumulate a large portion of money to help tackle their jumbo election expenses.

One more thing is possible, the Maoists are used to guns. PM Dahal may think it is easier for revolutionaries to reach their ultimate goal of establishing the People's Republic by carrying guns and killing innocent people than by using the machinery of government.

It is an irony; the King talks about democracy and nationalism, happiness of the people and the development of Nepal, but still, the King is considered an outcast. If we look at the conditions in Nepal, whether we like or dislike the King, Nepal and Nepalese people are very safe if King is there to accept our guardianship. We, Nepalese have to bring him back to His place for our own sake. National integrity is what we all should consider with topmost priority.

There are so many countries in Europe where Monarchs still reign. In Belgium, the Monarch is highly respected. Norway and Denmark have Monarchs. Sweden and England have Monarchs, too. They are better with Monarchs. With this institution, Nepal can be better, too.

Nepal's King asked for just three years to correct the degrading tendencies in Nepalese politics. He conducted the Municipality elections. It was not his fault that parties did not take part. The King would have conducted parliamentary elections, too.

During the recent period with the King in charge, corruption was almost zero. Once he heard bad things about Dan Bahadur Shahi (Home Minister), he was out of job. King Gyanendra was listening to the people. The opposition got scared and thought if they take part in a parliamentary elections conducted by the Royal Regime, the King's image would be doubled.

They all said conduction of elections was impossible, even for Municipal elections. They would have been shown to be liars in front of the people. However, following the enforcement of the Federal Democratic Republic Nepal, a path to People's Republic, the faces of the leaders of different political parties have been exposed badly.

Nepal has never been in such a state of instability and insecurity. Not just the lives of citizens are at peril but the existence of the sovereign nation itself is at a vanishing point. Nepalese people are slowly realizing their blunders by making repeated mistakes trusting the corrupt, immoral, vision-less political leaders.

It seems to me, that examining the recent political developments, the forces of instability - the larger political parties and their leaders - pitted against the people's desire for safe and secured lives could result in the reemergence of the Monarchy, even before the constitution for Federal Democratic Republic Nepal is inked. Instead, that ink will be used to write the New Constitution providing Monarchy to take charge of its guardianship.

Perhaps the dream of establishing a 'New Nepal' might take place only after King Gyanendra's third innings as Monarch.

Bishal Shah,
Chairman, Nepali Nationalists Organization (NNO), USA.