Agenda-18 expresses anger against the Monarchy and the Army

July 9, 2003
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Kathmandu: The five agitating parties appear to move ahead with their so-called “movement” come what may.

In the process, they have drawn up an eighteen point common agenda which they claim to bring into effect should they bounce back to power.

No wonder, most of the agenda charted by the five agitating parliamentary parties revolve round the people’s problems which unfortunately when in power they all neglected deliberately for obvious reasons.

But then yet again presumably to extract people’s support, which they lack miserably this time around, to their agitation, the agitating parties have once again tried to seduce the common men by providing lolly-pops.

It is altogether a different matter as to how the disgraced, and highly neglected lot takes up the agitating parties’ offer in the paper.

No wonder, again, the agenda-18 has made its target the monarchy and the Royal Nepal Army. A close analysis of the points which deals with the army and the monarchy could reveal the agitating parties’ anger for the two institutions e.g the army and the monarchy.

Not very surprisingly then the agenda-18 wishes to curtail even the remaining powers of the King which clearly aims at cutting down the size of the King so that the latter in no way could dampen their political overtures, good or bad, should they come to power either through the elections or through the reinstatement of the now dissolved parliament.

One point in the agenda talks of curtailing the special prerogatives of the crown. According to the constitution, the King is allowed to manage the affairs of the affairs of the Palace on its own. This also the political parties wish to bring under the ministry that takes care for the affairs of the Palace. This in other words, it is a move to restrict the actions of the King even inside the Palace on matters relating to the finance, appointments and the management of the palace staffs and the likes.

How the King reacts to these is yet to be seen.

Clearly, some points that relate to the King does hint that Koirala, the commander of the agitation-sans people’s support, and Madhav Nepal appear to have seduced their other colleagues in the said coalition to act according to their advice and hence the agenda contains agenda that might not please the Palace.

For instance, the agenda-18 talks of the army to function under the parliament. Similarly, the King is told to limit his role and not to meddle in the politics of the nation which according to the agitating-five fall exclusively under their political domain.

The manner the monarch has functioned since last October does give a slight hint that suggest that he would not settle for less. The King clearly wishes some critical role for himself to meet the political exigencies even while functioning as a constitutional monarch. This the political parties understand.

Thus there is a clear tussle in between the monarch and the agitating-5. While the former would wish to weild more powers, the latter would wish to see the King becoming a titular head.

Now comes the point that talks of the army. The Nepali army has ever since the formation of Nepal as a nation-state remained loyal to the Nepali monarchy and that too unconditionally. However, the army under the present constitution can be mobilised through the dictates of a security council. The political parties now in agitation conclude that the Nepal’s traditional army will never obey to the instructions of the government until and unless it is whole-sole brought under the control of the parliament.

To recall, Koirala once tried to mobilise the army in Holeri against the Maoists but apparently failed because the military reportedly did not obey to his instructions. Since then Koirala has been vocal and wishes that the RNA must oblige when the nation’s Prime Minister instruct the army to come out of the barracks.

How the Military reacts to this point contained in the agenda released recently by the agitating-5 remains to be seen.

At yet another point the agenda talks of the King but in an indirect fashion. The agenda, among others, talks of drafting of a new national anthem that highlights the glory of the country and the likes but not of the personal glory of the monarch.

The fact is that the current Nepali national anthem does speak of the King’s personal valor and grandeur and praise.

Finally, a jocular point is also contained in the agenda. The agenda talks of curbing the acts of corruption and that too effectively.

What the agenda, however, lacks is the total absence of words that should have condemned the acts of land encroachment and the inundation caused by the dams made in close proximity of the Nepali territories by “friendly” and “traditional” friend, India.

Presumably, the political parties now in agitation do not wish to antagonize their common friend across the borders. Here lies the politics. It then means that Mahakali treaty; Kalapani issue and Mahali Sagar Bund and the likes will have to be left to the mercy of the Almighty.

This is Nepali politics.