Kathmandu: Better late than never, the constitutional monarch has spoken his mind on how the politics of the country should move and that under what conditions he would wish the Maoists to join the political mainstream.

King Gyanendra’s remarks have come at a time when the Nepali academia, the political parties, the media and even the Maoists in the jungles had been demanding a sort of clear message from the monarch on certain matters related to the constitutional monarchy and the idea of going to constituent assembly elections.

The King has opened his mind clearly in that he now has spoken the basic elements that he would need in and for the country in order to even satisfy some of the key demands of the rebels.

The politicians and the Maoists have yet to comment on the monarch’s fresh call, which he made on the eve of the 15th constitution day, Monday.

What is clear from the King’s statement is that the system, now and later, should be based within the limits of a constitutional monarchy and a multi-party order in the country. In saying so the King also pushes his idea that he will not settle for less than the key fundamentals stated above. Hidden in the same message is that he would by all means continue to remain as a constitutional monarch under all circumstances. This message is perhaps for those who claim that the King in the recent years had crossed the limits stipulated in the 1990 constitution for him.

Yet another point that the King has preferred to air for public consumption and also for the rebels is regarding his views vis-à-vis the constitution. Significantly, the King summarizes his view on the constitution, the present one or any other constitution that the people would wish to draft in the future, by saying that “any constitution were a means and not an end in itself. In saying so the King implies that even if Nepal as a nation state resolves to go in for a new constitution in order to satisfy the overall population, the new constitution thus drafted might be criticized by some and could have the same fate as what has been with the 1990 constitution. Academicians are quick to extract yet another message from the King’s views on the constitution that he would go in for greater reforms in the existing constitution instead of drafting an altogether a new constitution as demanded by some political forces including the Maoists. What is also clear from the King’s remarks is that no constitution on earth is bad. In saying so he wishes to imply that it is not the constitution that does injustice to the laymen but it is those who implement it in practice. This means that the King charges the politicians and the men in governments to have twisted the constitution that suited to their political interests and that he in no way could be charged for having trampled the constitution.

That the King is not happy with the managers of the system who ruled the country for all along the past fourteen years gets reflected from his saying, “the 1990 constitution had been promulgated with the objective of ensuring social, political and economic justice for the people”. In saying so the King clearly hints that nothing of those sorts were achieved for the people and that the objectives of the 1990 constitution remained a day-dream for the common people. The hidden message is that it is not the monarchy but the politicians that have denied the people their guaranteed political, social and economic prosperity. This means that the King still is unhappy with the political parties and its leaders and brushes aside all the allegations that it is the monarchy that has been a stumbling block for the upliftment of the Nepalese people.

Most pleasingly, the King too wants permanent peace restored in the Kingdom when he says that the people can’t remain under the chaotic circumstances and that violence has got to be contained and peace maintained for all time to come. This means that the King is in favor of talks with the Maoists for the restoration of peace.

Summing it up what could be concluded is that the King is in favor of peace; bring the Maoists to the table; he would not mind in going even for a constituent assembly provided the Maoists tolerate constitutional monarchy and a multi-party order; that he is yet to reconcile with the political parties and the leaders; he sees the constitution not doing justice to the people and that any new constitution remains prone to criticisms from certain interested quarters; that he has never crossed his constitutional limits and thus debunks the allegations that he has acted unconstitutionally more often than not; and that he was ready to cooperate with the political parties if Nepal as a nation state were to march ahead in the path of progress together with the Maoists.

Now what remains to be seen is how the political parties and the insurgents react to the King’s constitution day message. It would be more interesting to listen to how the insurgents comment on King’s statement.