By Jan Sharma
Jan Sharma
The Nepalese people have always been marginalized when it comes to decide their political and economic destiny. Extraneous forces have always played a decisive role.
Ironically, Nepal has always zealously guarded her independence when much of the world was under colonial rule. Yet, Nepal’s fate is being decided in New Delhi and Geneva.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is presently in New Delhi at the start of a six-nation tour that does not include Nepal but recent political developments is expected to come up for discussion.
The visit, first by Rice to the region since assuming the new responsibilities, is mainly to prepare for President George W. Bush’s visit to India.
Washington’s position on Nepal is different than India and Britain’s even as they have been coordinating their Nepal policy since the Maoists began attacking the Royal Nepalese Army in November 2001.
During a “working” visit to New Delhi early this month, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ramesh Nath Pandey met his Indian counterpart Natwar Singh but was refused interview with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
There has been no change in the official Indian position first announced on 1 February. However, what New Delhi says is different from what it does, and what it does is not always what it says.
It would not be a surprise if New Delhi publicly supports “return to democracy” but privately backs a “return to authoritarian regime” if it stands to gain on security and resource sharing arrangements.
Note three developments since Pandey returned from New Delhi. First, ousted Premier Sher Bahadur Deuba was released from house arrest and subsequently held a press conference.
Second, prime ministerial aspirant Surya Bahadur Thapa split from the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party publicly launched his new Rashtriya Janashakti Party to work for “inclusive democracy.”
The third development is even more exciting. According to the Royal Nepalese Army, Baburam Bhattarai and his wife Hisila Yami, politburo members of the outlawed Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), have been expelled from the party.
The Maoists promptly refuted the news reports but it is hard not to believe the story. It comes from the army sources. Why would it do it knowing the news if not true will only cost its credibility?
Minister Pandey is currently in Geneva defending the Royal move but has not made much gain in convincing the delegates on the progress made, if any, on implementing the Royal mandates.
Bern is reportedly sponsoring a move on Nepal, demanding a complete restoration of basic human rights and an immediate return to democracy. Much of the groundwork for the resolution has been done, according to diplomatic sources, by New Delhi-based Asian Center for Human Rights with”support” from Nepalese human rights activists.
The Asian Center for Human Rights, it should be noted, had urged the international community to suspend “all humanitarian aid to Nepal.” The sixty-first session of the Commission will continue until April.
The 1 February Royal proclamation, undoubtedly rich in rhetoric, had identified return to peace and order and transfer of power to elected representatives as the main goals of the takeover.
Common people, euphoric on the developments, largely welcomed the Royal move with the expectation that things will improve for the better. The progress, if there is any, has been frustratingly slow.
The choice of two veteran politicians, who had never crossed the adult franchise hurdle, for the job of vice chairmen of the council of ministers headed by the King, was a disappointment to many.
Both Kirtinidhi Bista and Tulsi Giri are largely perceived as spent force. They will lose whatever sympathy they have if people do not understand what they are doing or constraints, if any, they are facing.
It would also be prudent on the part of present political masters to focus on enhancing their own performance rather than wasting their time and energy on criticizing political parties for their mistakes.
It is wrong on the part of both the Royal government and the political parties to seek outside support to cling to power. Ultimately, it is the people and their happiness, which matters most.
The people factor is sadly being ignored. That was the mistake being made since 1951 when both sides of the divide bowed down to the wishes of New Delhi. It refuses to stay in the dust bin of history.