Open Minds for Open Door

April 22, 2006
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Rajesh B. Shrestha
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The Seven Party Alliance has a careful balancing act. Reconciliation is the key to save the country from anarchy

By Rajesh B. Shrestha

The proclamation of the King on the evening of April 21st is a welcome move. By publicly relinquishing the sovereignty of the nation to the people, the King has bowed to People Power and opened the door for dialogue with the Seven Party Alliance (SPA).

However, the proclamation does fall short of people’s expectations and the demands of the alliance. The SPA insisted on the complete restoration of democracy, not just a new government with everything else status quo. The restoration of the Parliament is the common starting point of the SPA’s vision for peace that includes the Maoists. Without the Parliament, the King retains the powers he claimed using Article 127 of the Constitution which predicates that the Orders of the King shall be laid before the Parliament but makes no mention of the Council of Ministers.

It must be noted that the King exercised Article 127 of the Constitution over the years in the absence of the Parliament. The (reinstated) Parliament would provide the minimum safeguard against any future constitutional adventurism of the King. Additionally, Parliament would impart further accountability of the new SPA government and proffer space for much of the street motions back on the House floor.

With the sovereignty vested in the people, the SPA can negotiate from a position of strength. The SPA needs to immediately form a team to initiate dialogue with the King even before finding the new Prime Minister which can take weeks. The Constitution does not provide for the Prime Minister to re-instate the Parliament, so it has to be done as a political act. Re-activating the Parliament would be seen as a clear manifestation of the sovereignty of the people. For the King, it will be an opportunity to prove the sovereignty of the people in action, not just in words.

a) The (reinstated) Parliament would provide the minimum safeguard against any future constitutional adventurism of the King. Additionally, Parliament would impart further accountability of the new SPA government and proffer space for much of the street motions back on the House floor.
Additionally, the SPA and the King together must take the following steps during the transition phase:

1. Call an end to the curfews to guarantee people’s democratic right of peaceful assembly

2. Call off the general strike so as to provide relief to the people running their day-to-day lives

3. Release all political prisoners including suspected Maoists as a sign of goodwill

b) The SPA and the King together must take the following steps during the transition phase:
1. Call an end to the curfews to guarantee people’s democratic right of peaceful assembly.

2. Call off the general strike so as to provide relief to the people running their day-to-day lives.

3. Release all political prisoners including suspected Maoists as a sign of goodwill.

The SPA has a careful balancing act. To accept the King’s words as-is could be considered betrayal by some people. To reject it in its entirety would be irresponsible. Reconciliation is the key to save the country from anarchy. Reconciliation calls for magnanimity and open minds among all players, including the SPA and the Maoists. Rather than trying to boil the ocean, the SPA must act a step at a time with people’s aspirations for peace in mind. The challenge is to keep the Maoists engaged and call on them to announce a permanent ceasefire as an incentive to participate in the all-party government and chart the course leading to the constituent assembly, if necessary.

The Maoists too cannot refute the power of the people demonstrated against autocracy. The Maoists must now realize that the pursuit of political ends through peaceful means is possible and ultimately more powerful. After the restoration of the new government and the subsequent international recognition, both development and military aid is sure to follow.

Arguably, the King has not opened the door to democracy ajar, but there is room to pry it fully open. The sacrifice of the martyrs and the untold hardships long suffered by the people demands courage and open minds at this crucial juncture to prevent the country from dipping into further chaos.

(Currently based in the UK, Shrestha is one of the organisers of London Chhalphal (www.london-chhalphal.org). Please send your comments to [email protected] or [email protected].)

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