The reinstated House has tasks cut out for it, which are no less daunting from any yardsticks.

By Pratibedan Baidya

Deserted Look: House of Representatives building at Singha Durbar

As the popular movement of seven political parties was getting to new height, His Majesty King Gyanendra announced the reinstatement of the dissolved House of Representative (HoR) on late Monday as per the demand of the seven political parties. Now, the question looming large is:: What next?

The country has faced various ups and downs following the dissolution of the House of Representatives on May 22, 2002, that was elected in 1999. As the country witnessed three handpicked Prime Ministers and the 14 month long direct rule of the King, the political and economic problems became more complicated.

The seven political parties—who worked reached in to a 12-point understanding with the Maoists in last November– had been demanding reinstatement of the HoR as an entry point to try to resolve complex political and constitutional problems facing the country. “The reinstatement of the House alone will solve half of the problems facing the country,” said Girija Prasad Koirala, who had been championing the cause ever since his disciple-turned- rival Sher Bahadur Deuba recommended dissolution of the parliament almost four years ago.

The first meeting of the SPA after the King reinstated the HoR on Tuesday said top priority would be accorded to the election of the constituent assembly to draft a new constitution that will decide the fate of the monarchy, among others, in the country. The alliance expressed hope that the rebels would also join the interim government after the date for elections to the constituent assembly were announced.

Spokesman of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) party, Dr. Minendra Rijal, says the reinstated parliament will move ahead as per the “roadmap” charted out by the seven political parties.

“Since the King cited people’s movement 2006 as the reason behind the reinstatement, it was not necessary for him to cite any article of the constitution.” — Former minister Nilamber Acharya

“The first and foremost job of the reinstated House is to create conducive environment for the elections of the constituent assembly and, thereby, bring the Maoist rebels into the peaceful political mainstream,” Dr. Rijal told Nepalnews. “We must recollect that the Maoists have agreed to lay down their arms if the election for the constituent assembly is held,” he added.

“Though the SPA is yet to decide about the tenure of the SPA, I think it will not convene for a long time as facilitating the constituent assembly elections environment is the main agenda of the present HoR,” Rijal added.

“Since the SPA is ready to hold elections for the constituent assembly, the Maoists should be ready to discuss issues including ceasefire and management of weapons before announcing the dates of the election of the constituent assembly and forming an interim government with the participation of the Maoists,” Rijal added.

One of the drafters of the 1990 constitution and law minister of the interim government formed after popular movement of 1990, Nilamber Acharya said that the reinstatement of the HoR was an outcome of the people’s movement as cited by the King in the royal proclamation.

According to Acharya, the reinstated House can amend the constitution so as to go for elections for the constituent assembly and bring Maoists into the interim government prior to holding elections for the constituent assembly.

When asked why HM the King did not cite any article in the 1990 constitution while proclaiming the reinstatement of the House, Acharya said since the King cited people’s movement 2006 as the reason behind the reinstatement, it was not necessary for him to cite any article of the constitution.

A member of the reinstated HoR and leader of People’s Front Nepal, Lilamani Pokhrel, too, agrees that the main duty of the reinstated HoR is to hold elections for the constituent assembly.

The firebrand leftist leader, however, is not totally satisfied. “We suspect that the latest move of the King might be a ploy on part of the monarchy to diffuse peoples’ aspirations towards constituent assembly and democratic republic, but we have taken it as an achievement of the people’s movement and will move accordingly,” he added.

According to Pokhrel, tenure of the incumbent parliament would depend on how soon the aforementioned agenda is completed.

Senior advocate and member of the Upper House of the parliament, Radheshyam Adhikari, too believes that since the reinstatement of the dissolved HoR was a political decision, there was no need to be limited within any article of the constitution. “It is a political decision taken as a result of the people’s movement,” he said.

According to Adhikari, there is no need to go for an interim constitution for the election of the constituent assembly and including Maoists in the interim government to be formed for holding the elections for the constituent assembly.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Maoists rejected the royal proclamation and urged people to continue their peaceful protest programmes unless elections for the constituent assembly is announced.

This means that the Seven Party Alliance—including its leader GP Koirala—are going to have a tough time ahead to strike a balance between people’s aspirations for peace and stable democracy in the country and a fairly complicated political process that would seek to mainstream the Maoist rebels that have been waging the armed rebellion for the last one decade.

And, deciding the fate of monarchy in “New Nepal” will be no less a daunting challenge. nepalnews.com Apr 25 06