Take Back the Leadership

April 20, 2006
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– By Abhishek Basnyat

Following the SPA’s movement and the king’s possible address to the nation, the issue of parliamentary elections (or House reinstatement) has taken on added urgency. In a bid to influence the palace, the leader of the SPA, GP Koirala, had emphatically reiterated his stance against parliamentary elections in an interview right before the movement took off. The announcement of elections would be a “big accident” he had warned. Major newspapers had followed suit with one cautioning that it would be a “colossal blunder”. The “big accident” seems to be playing itself out now, but it is not quite the “biggest accident” for Nepal. The bigger accident for Nepal has been the casting of the parliamentary elections as a weapon in the king’s arsenal against democracy.

The king may have many weapons against the political parties, but election is not one of them. Elections belong to the people. It is the people’s weapon against tyranny of any kind, from anyone. It is the responsibility of the leaders of the nation to attend to this weapon, and wield it for the people. Sadly, our leaders faltered in this respect. The cold-shouldering of the parliamentary elections since the dissolution of parliament in 2002 has been the biggest accident that our political wagon has gone through in recent times.

No one has illusions about the situation that existed in 2002. Given the Maoists’ threats, normal elections would have been impossible. However, the very quality that distinguishes leaders (from ordinary people) is their ability to come up with creative solutions to difficult problems, and pull us through daunting times. Our leaders’ reaction to this formidable challenge, however, was hardly one befitting those entrusted with the tough responsibilities of nurturing a nascent democracy. In fatalistically accepting the impossibility of elections, our leaders contributed in driving us to this accident. It is high time now to correct this mistake, and the opportunity is available to do so.

The people of any modern state are entitled to some basic rights. Along with the rights to express ourselves, to dissent, to assemble peacefully, and to form associations, we also have the right to vote for the people entrusted with ensuring these rights. Under the leadership of the parties and various organizations, the people of Nepal have gallantly stood up for the protection of some of our fundamental rights in the past one-year. It is tragic, however, that the right to elect our own government never received the kind of patronage our other rights did. In the absence of patrons, this specific right has now even degenerated to the ignoble status of being an arrow in a dictator’s quiver. Parliamentary elections, it is said, will legitimize autocracy. The only way out is to go for a constituent assembly!

The fact is parliamentary elections do not preclude us from making necessary changes to our polity, not even to the constitution. Contrary to popular belief, parliamentary elections will not bring the current struggle for change to a halt, but instead legitimize and strengthen it. The struggle can move from the streets to the parliament. A legitimate government will clear a lot of the current confusion and turmoil, and give fewer excuses for foreigners to intervene. Most of all, it will improve the morale of peace-loving Nepalese the world over, and instill faith in peaceful and legitimate methods of effecting political change.

On the other hand, going directly for a constituent assembly would mean outright victory to the Maoists. It would legitimize the use of violence for the attainment of political goals, and set a bad precedent for the future.

Reinstating the parliament is a good idea. But it will not highlight the parties’ failure to stand up to the Maoists when they first obstructed the elections. It would again give implicit victory to violence, and let the parties’ slip-by without realizing their responsibility to defend the people’s right to elect their leaders. If we are to lay the groundwork of a strong democracy, it is imperative that the parties realize this past “mistake,” and prove they’ve changed.

Most importantly, however, going for parliamentary elections is necessary for the parties’ own good. A regime may be brought down on the basis of slogans and demonstrations, but a country cannot be built upon the same. Campaigning for elections will give the parties much needed time for necessary reflection and planning. It will force the parties to firm up their ideologies and policies for a new Nepal. Whether they reveal it fully or not, the Maoists have a well-thought out plan for Nepal with strong ideological basis. The same cannot be said of the parties. If we went directly for a constituent assembly, it is not inconceivable that the Maoists would easily gain over the parties who remain in ideological nebulae.

The big thorn on this path to parliamentary elections, of course, is the notion that doing so would be bowing down to the king’s autocracy. This is a matter of attitude. It is the sad accident that we have gotten into.

However, a unique opportunity is now open to undo this unfortunate accident. From being trapped in between the two extreme forces, the parties are now in a position to draw both sides onto their “path of peace”. Building upon their 12-point pact with the Maoists, and based on the success of their current movement, the parties should now convince the Maoists to declare a ceasefire during parliamentary polls. Continuing their call for end of direct rule, they should establish an interim government for the same. Such demands put both the extreme forces’ commitment to democracy to an open test, and put the parties back in the driver’s seat to restore democracy in the country. In creating the conditions for re-establishment of a freely and fairly elected parliament, the parties will have proved that they are the true adherents of the principle of people’s sovereignty.

This movement, after all, has thrived on the participation of ordinary, non-political people. It would be false if it were hijacked for the furtherance of short-term political goals of any political actor. We have before us a unique opportunity to forever etch into our history books, that in our country, it is the parliament, not the palace, nor the insurgents, nor even the parties that is supreme. If the country’s constitution is rewritten it should be because the people of this country willed, through their representatives in parliament, to do so; not because of fear of guerillas, fury against policemen, or frustration with the status quo. This will be the ideal way to step into the new millennium, and a new chapter in our history, and the parties now have the opportunity to lead the way to it.

Clearly, this is a tall order, and it will be difficult for the parties to take it up. The media, intelligentsia, civil society, professionals’ organizations, and every citizen of the nation should put their weight behind this agenda, and weaning the parties away from their current destructive path, push them onto this constructive one. Strengthening democracy, after all, is more than toppling a regime; it is demanding better leadership from our leaders.

(The author works for an international organization in Washington DC. Please send your comments to [email protected] and [email protected]).

(Editor’s Note: Nepalis, wherever they live, as well as friends of Nepal around the globe are requested to contribute their views/opinions/recollections etc. on issues concerning present day Nepal to the Guest Column of Nepalnews. Length of the article should not be more than 1,000 words and may be edited for the purpose of clarity and space. Relevant photos as well as photo of the author may also be sent along with the article. Please send your write-ups to [email protected])