Governance is a serious business even in best of times and more effective one during the transition is critical to successful CA elections, new constitution and progressive political exit.
By Dr. Som P Pudasaini
Confidence and consistency is largely a product of three more Cs: clarity, courage and commitment. Clarity of goal and a roadmap to get there is a precondition for confidence. Without courage to pursue it relentlessly in the face of expected and unexpected odds clarity will be orphaned. Only rock-solid commitment will prevent clarity from being blurred and courage dwindled during the march to the destination. Clarity is not one shot setting up a destination but a continuous adjustment as the environment changes without overlooking the essence of the original goal. Courage means not pursuance of foolhardy violence but calculated and rational use of force and “indomitable will” that no peril can shake.
Political capital earned through long struggle and sharp vision is necessary to translate the confidence into reality. Successful leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Pandit Nehru, Chairman Mao or Abraham Lincoln were able to utilize their confidence and consistency, political capital and vision to lift their respective nations in time of crisis. Destiny has now brought Prachanda and Girijababu to a tumultuous moment in Nepal’s history to steer the country out of political and socio-economic mess.
Octogenarian Girijababu is a towering figure now with decades of political struggle and experiences of five time premiership. Prachanda, dynamic and untested in the art of governance, has accumulated massive political capital and unexpected political height in a decade with struggle and a vision of a restructured and inclusive nation. His dream has willing buyers, reluctant acceptors and vocal opponents given socio-economic inequalities, uncertainty, feudalistic mindset, the pains of autocratic rule and democratic experiment led by greedy and visionless politicians in the past. His tactical and strategic maneuvering and some genuine moderation to suit the ground realities inside and outside have enhanced acceptability of his roadmap.
Prachanda has been emphasizing on a “republican setup”, radical restructuring and inclusive polity through interim government and CA elections. Girijababu lacks persistence on space for monarchy, extent and nature of restructuring, interim constitution and legislature etc. He and SPA have reached understanding with the Maoists without adequate home work, bended under pressure and failed to pursue pro-active negotiations with confidence. The Maoists’ home work and pressurization appears exemplary.
After the 5-day long central committee meeting in Kamidada, Kavre, the Maoists declared on 2 September 2006 that there was no possibility of arms management, including confinement of their army in camps, before “completely” resolving political issues based on an “overall political package” that includes interim statute, interim parliament, interim government and arms management. Abolition of monarchy and restructured army was declared pre-conditions for laying down arms and ensuring “lasting democracy”. Maoist offices are to be opened in district headquarters to facilitate return of “seized properties” and the displaced. Unleashing of powerful “uprising” was threatened if political package fails to materialize. With offices in district headquarters, existing village units, people’s court, people’s army and taxation or donations, a “soft” parallel government appears virtually in sight.
Prachanda and his group are showing better confidence and preparations, will you continue to be confused and vacillating Girijababu and SPA?
Formation of a 10-member high level talk team under Prachanda is a smart move. Interestingly, the team is largely representative in ethnicity, geographic coverage and gender. Importantly, it includes key military strategists, Ram Bahadur Thapa”Badal” and Nanda Kishore Pun “Pasang”. SPA’s proximity to “regressive forces” and “serious” deviations from the mandate of Janaandolan-II was smartly and sharply brought to media focus. The government also raised its pitch in castigating the Maoists on abductions, forced donations and non-return of seized property. Pradip Gyawali, a minister, termed Maoists threat to mass uprising as “hollow”.
Prachanda challenged the government and “some” foreign powers plotting to “chase” them away that they will not “leave” rather throw the old system and feudal lords out. Some skirmishes between NA and Janaena are now in the news. The Maoists and the government both are complaining of unwarranted army mobilization in the capital by each other lately. Interestingly, the king is rumored to be consulting with politicians and journalists close to him and plans to broaden the interactions in the future .UN office opened under the leadership of Ian Martin is unable to streamline its unclear mandate, including arms management, as per the 5-point requests in the contentious milieu.
The high pitched Maoists utterances and the government’s reactions could be partly bluff and partly ominous. Blatantly open pressures from key powers to the Prime Minister not to move the political process forward until the Maoists’ disarm and his poor handling of the interactions with them is signaling questionable independence and capacity of our leaderships. Our foreign friends, however, have undeniably constructive role to play in the negotiating process and building a post-conflict Nepal. But they should observe a diplomatic Rubicon in these sensitive hours.
Coordination within SPA and congress’s unity rhetoric is far from inspiring. No one with a grain of wisdom claims the challenges confronting coordination, unity efforts, politics or peace is miniscule for our leadership to resolve. However, people have every right to expect better preparations, consistency, confidence and delivery from the PM and SPA catapulted to power through the “blood and tears” of masses or else must ease out. The Maoists and the SPA must responsibly handle the drafting of interim statute at political level. Interim legislature and government must be formed on merit and to reflect prevailing power balance not to distribute power to their cronies. Governance is a serious business even in best of times and more effective one during the transition is critical to successful CA elections, new constitution and progressive political exit.
The prevalent situation is not yet unmanageable. However, escalation of conflict may not be ruled out completely. Girijababu and the SPA must better prepare rising above partisan interests and focus on key political and arms issues to handle emerging situations better. De-emphasis on violence and threats, more pragmatic economic and foreign affairs agenda, and focus on competitive politics must be further pursued by the Maoists. Powers inside or outside must help deal with the Maoists with tact, patience and fairness to mainstream them as it is in every one’s interest. Prachanda and his group are showing better confidence and preparations, will you continue to be confused and vacillating Girijababu and SPA?
Dr Pudasaini has served with the United Nations in Sri Lanka, Yemen and Maldives and can be reached at [email protected]
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