Political parties rigid: King’s tone mild

March 31, 2004
5 MIN READ
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Kathmandu: The stage is set for a two-way fight.

The wrestlers, needless to say, are from the two diametrically opposite camps. While the government represents the first camp, the other is by the coalition of the five parties.

Both intend to make this fight a final one.

Moreover, there is yet another political wrestler who is invisible physically but very efficiently adding fuel to the tussle in between the previous two fighters.

This means that every one is fighting with the other to extract greater political mileage in its favor.

The King continues to differ with the stances of the political parties and apparently gives the impression that he would not budge from his declared stance until he handover the power to an duly elected government come what may.

The political parties for varied reasons plead that they will not settle for less this time until they force the King to yield and correct his past constitutional blunders. In order to press the King to the wall, they have already declared that beginning tomorrow they will create a havoc in the country which in all likelihood would press the King to follow to their demands in toto.

The Maoists too have their own strategies to secure extra political benefits from the ongoing tussle in between the two forces that till today remain committed to the constitution and the system. To recall, the insurgents take 1990 constitution as a mere piece of paper and conclude that the system in place can in no way address to their genuine demands and hence demand a constituent assembly which will later write an altogether different constitution hoping that the new one will be in their greater interest which will provide some meaning to their insurgency.

The agitating political parties are in a fix as to whether it would be opportune to seek the Maoists support to bend the King or the time for that had not yet come?

The King apparently understands that the political parties will not go closer to the insurgents at this juncture and hence remains confident that finally the agitators will come to see him and seek a sort of compromise that will bring the constitutional derailment in order. The King also remains confident that since he is completely under the limits prescribed to him by the constitution and hence nothing to panic.

The Maoists have been cashing in from each and every political flaws emanating from the two political forces.

The King was mild in his tone and content in Pokhara speech. However, to subside the agitation, he presumably has used his election card hoping that the announcement of the elections might prompt the agitators to think on the electioneering process and thereby the tempo of the agitation will automatically come to a halt.

The King could be mistaken. It might be other way as well.

By default, the political parties now in agitation are being indirectly supported by the Western democracies. A good number of Nepal’s donors have been ventilating that elections are a basic for the system but not all hinting that under the prevailing chaotic security situation, a sort of free and fair elections can’t be imagined. Such expressions certainly go in favor of those who oppose the idea of election. Should this mean that they are negative to the King’s announcements of the elections?

The donor community, as is understood, prefers polls only after the security situation becomes better and when the two guns become silent. Implied is that unless the Maoists are brought to the table and a ceasefire announced, elections can’t be held or should not be held. Unknowingly though, such statements press the government to go in for talks to which the Maoists appear willing albeit under the aegis of the UN. The donors also express their surprise over the government’s blunt NO to UN offer for mediation in between the two warring rivals. ( See interview with Danish diplomat)

Nevertheless, there is some point hidden in the King’s Pokhara speech. Analysts say that King’s announcement provide full one year for the next election to happen. Is it that the King hopes that well within that space the Maoists will have come to the table, agreed for a ceasefire and assure that they will participate in the elections if their demands were met with?

The fact is also that Prachanda’s fervent appeal for UN mediation does indicate that he is willing for talks. However, comes in the way government’s rejection to the UN mediation. Then how things should proceed? It is baffling indeed.

Summing up it all, what comes to the fore is that how the King will react to the agitation that is to begin from tomorrow? How the King’s speech will have its impact on the agitators on count of the elections? How the government will react to the agitation ? Add to this how the international community will have assessed the obtaining situation in the country well after the agitation in its earnest begins? Equally true is how the insurgents will take up the issues that have surfaced of late?