Nepal: Search for lesser evil begins

N. P. Upadhyaya Nepali

Kathmandu: Candidly speaking, panic prevails. People remain in an alarmed state considering what was in the store for them in the days ahead.

Warning sign of the upcoming possible dark-cloudy days have traumatized even the bold Nepali souls. The general intuition among the people is that a political bedlam of an unmatched scale and measurement is in the making which may punch Nepal with a big-bang if the continuing shakeup of all possible sorts that have gripped the nation doesn’t reconciled much ahead of May 27, 2012  CA deadline.

As the days are approaching fast, accordingly the fear is also escalating.

In effect, though the political leaders and the parties now told to rule the nation, which is nothing more than a monopolized syndicate of some three to four leaders, each day claim that they were inching towards a consensus, however, the multiplicity of demands that have concurrently come to the fore do suggest that Nepali politics will not settle for less than, God forbid, a Civil War of a different sort. (They have reached a consensus which is being challenged though).

Unfortunately, the leaders who should have advised the people to refrain from spreading communal hatred were themselves encouraging a section of the agitators to capture the streets and create pandemonium in order to establish their demands. In a way, the stage is being set for a violent confrontation, deliberately or otherwise, as people across the country have begun demanding even the absurd. The beauty of democracy that it is.

The inhabitants of each and every segment of the country apparently prefer now a separate and indivisible State for their portion of the land their present day territories occupy and thus no wonder that apart from the myriad of demands already on the board, a fresh separate indivisible Mid-West and Koshi River East separate State has been floated by the inhabitants of those areas.

In one way or the other as the political trend suggests, analysts hope that such more demands remain in the cylinder.

But why such demands have been pouring in at a time when the Constituent Assembly is set to die its natural death? Which forces were behind all these “damage Nepal” crusade?

But will those who set ablaze this country could protect themselves from the sparks of the fire that will inevitably approach their own homes? The message must be clear that the Nepal fire will damage them equally and even with greater intensity. This is for sure. Rest assured. It may take some time but the sure shot eventuality can’t be avoided. The symptoms have become already visible. 

Yet let’s talk of our own house which has first to be kept in order. But who will discipline the already undisciplined order that prevails at the moment?

This is a very tricky question as per the emerging state of affairs.

With limited answers, analysts here have dared to locate three institutions to tame the country from going to bananas, if provided a try.

The first naturally is the office of the Nepal Presidency. If the things begin to worsen then in the name of preserving the nation-state from going to the threshold, the President can declare a state of emergency with the support of the Nepal Army, if need be.

The second option though is an awkward and unpleasing one for some could be the straight take over the rule of the nation by the Nepal Army itself and continue with the charge of the nation until normalcy is restored and general elections held.

The third option though appears distant and remote, will be to invite the now sidelined King to take over the command of the realm. However, this option very much demands the will of the majority of the population to which HE has been longing for, analysts have been told. It is up to the people to decide.

With these three possible options, let’s now analyze how the things may move ahead if and when the options in series come into existence.

The imposition of the Presidential emergency orders are likely to be ignored by the parties summarily and even by the general population as the population which ignored the King’s emergency, to recall, will certainly oppose this option.

Then come the second option of the Military occupation. Not bad if such a takeover brings normalcy in the territory and saves the nation from avoiding several vertical and horizontal splits that appear round the corner. Yet the fear will remain in the minds of the people as regards the pious intent of the Nepal Army. Ambitious Military generals are nowhere trusted, by the way.

South Asia has a tradition that as and when the Army jumps into the political scene, the institution remains glued over the center of power for decades and decades. A military rule is not taken in good taste by the population who has tasted its rule in some neighboring countries.

But Nepali military generals may not prefer to remain glued in the power Chair and thus analysts hope that this option could be one fitting option provided the nation-state is saved.

The third option is the bouncing back of the sidelined King which much depends upon the will of the majority of the population. The laymen have yet not decided as to which option could be the best for them and their country. The search for lesser evil continues.

The people definitely remain in a frustrated state with the political changes of 2005-6 in the manner they were treated by the elevated and made revolutionaries and the way the new Nepal leaders enriched their private coffers.

To sum up, the limited options are there. It is up to the people now to vote for as to which option could be in the larger interest of the nation. The choice is ours. That’s all. 

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