Nepal Maoists prolonging peace process to remain in power

Chitra Bahadur K. C

Chairman, Rastriya Jan Morcha, Nepal

TGQ1: We have been told that you were recently threatened by some unidentified person(s) over telephone for having engaged yourself against the adoption of the federal order in the country. What is the truth? Also tell us whether you remember the number from which the threatening call emanated? Or the caller was just kidding? What say you Mr. K. C?

Mr. K. C: Yes! I received a threatening call. It was just this Sunday, January 8, 2012, at around 5 O’ Clock in the morning and it was my time to go to the toilet. The phone bell rang and I received the call. The caller then said to me, “Comrade! A Red Salute to you”. I thought that someone from the communist camp may have called me and thus I too returned my Red Salute to the caller. Then he talked to me straight and told me point blank, “Comrade, you have been keeping the people in delusion for long as regards the adoption of a republican order in the country and so you have now to openly admit at the Constituent Assembly body’s rostrum that I made some blunders by speaking against the federal order and seek unconditional apology from the population. Or else… He was talking so but since I had to rush to the toilet, so I entered the wash room. It was urgent for me. Later, he made a second call to me again. Since I was inside the wash room and so there was no question of picking up his call.

Yes. The phone had number but only four seven (7777) could be seen. I recall faintly that he was calling himself Jwala Singh or…

As far as frivolity is concerned, no sane person can make such calls in an early morning that it was. That was a planned affair. Moreover, the way he put his things while threatening me over phone was not at all close which could be taken as a kidding affair.

TGQ2: So you may now drop your tirade against federalism? After all it is a matter of saving your life! You must have been in a scared situation now because it is a matter associated with your life. Isn’t it so? Will you now change your stance and tones and demand apology as suggested by the caller? But isn’t the country as a whole in favor of federal order? What are your comments?

Mr. K. C: It is not a matter of life and death. One has to stick to his or her adhered ideologies. One has ever to work for the betterment of the nation keeping the matters of life and death aside. One has to die once which is for sure. I don’t fear death. I will continue to speak in favor of the country and its people. A political party should have the right to express its feelings and views. Isn’t it so?

No! I will not yield to pressures and threats come what may. Because the issue that we have raised or have been raising is the concern of the people itself. You told just now that the entire country is in favor of a federal order in the country. This is not true. Instead, the entire country, though in a silent mood, stands against the adoption of federal order in Nepal. People may not have talked freely but they accept internally that the federal order was not a good proposition for this country. Look, the manner the country is being divided on communal lines, the demand for a separate regional state and community based military is the path to proceed towards becoming Nigeria, Ethiopia and Rwanda. And the manner conflicts have gripped these countries will also grip Nepal sooner than later which eventually would do away with Nepali sovereignty and territorial integrity. These things have already been assessed by Nepali politicians and thinkers as well. But for some selfish reasons, they do not speak their inner minds. The common men may not have much knowledge about the federal order but the intellectuals very much understand now that the country will disintegrate for sure if there is the federal order in place in Nepal. So this should mean that the people are not in favor of a federal system.

Why should I apologize? No chance. I am ready even to embrace death for my political ideology and beliefs which I very much adhere to. Why not to embrace death if I want to stick to my ideologies?

TGQ3: Isn’t it that the federal order benefits those who have remained in a marginalized and neglected situation for long? Or you say that the slogan of the federal order is the creation of some interested INGOs? Your remarks please.

Mr. K. C: No! It could be a handsome proposition for those countries that are matured enough for the adoption of this order. Yes! Indeed the federal order has become a success story in those countries which have a strong economic base, for example, Switzerland, Australia, and the United States. These countries possess lesser diversities. In addition to these the countries have two to four communities and languages and they have abundant economic prosperity, thus the federal order is thriving in these countries. That’s why we do not stand against the federal system of governance, for example, some forty percent of the world population has adored federal order and the rest sixty percent live still under the unitary system. We have just said that Nepal is not at the moment a suitable country to embrace this system of governance. What we mean to say is that this order in no way should be adopted in this country. The constitution has not yet been drafted but yet the country on a sentimental basis has already been divided on federal lines. It has already disintegrated. Today in Nepal efforts are being made to split this country in the name of caste, religion, community, and on regional basis as well. Especially, some INGOs are trying very hard to disintegrate this nation on communal lines by pouring in an astronomical amount. It is because of this the future of this nation is proceeding towards a dark tunnel. The party which is in the government, the Maoists, are themselves talking of having community based States. The ruling party has already made agreements on making community based military. Thus the nation is sentimentally in the process of disintegration. If we have the federal order, then the disintegration will be a complete affair. Rest assured.

No! No! It is not that. Some countries thought that if federal order is embraced then the nation can progress on social, economic and political lines. They expect that upon embracing this order, an overall development of the country could be made possible. They have been honestly thinking on these lines. They have accepted this reality. Their intentions are not that bad. But in politics, result becomes more important that the intent. Thus they may have talked in favor of federal order with no bad intentions. But this order is not suitable for this country as the country has already been in a disintegrated state much ahead of the adoption of the federal order through the promulgation of the constitution.

TGQ4: You have been criticizing the adoption of the federal order. But the people suspect whether or not the constitution could be drafted on time upon the completion of the peace process. Don’t you think that you should have concentrated more on constitution draft than going against the federal arrangement? What are your remarks on this?

Mr. K. C: The delay observed in the peace and constitution drafting process, as I see to it, have two reasons. The first reason is because of the Maoist’s ploy to remain in power in the name of the prolonging the peace process. They want to cash in upon by sticking to power and have made it a bargain chip. On the other hand, much remains to be done as regards the structure of the state, judicial system, election process, and federalism. There is no consensus among the parties on these vital and crucial national issues. Similarly, the UML, the Maoists and the Madhesi Front have at best centered their entire politics not for the constitution draft but for power gains. These acts too have contributed to raise suspicions. If these aforementioned parties do not change their present day attitude then I don’t think that we can draft the constitution within the remaining five months time. If they change then we can have the Charter or else not. If no constitution then the CA body will also cease to exist. Talking of major parties, they are least interested in the draft of the new Charter but at best they think on how to remain glued to power authority. It was all these negative attitude which we wasted for the past three years and a half and without charting the constitution. If the UML, the Maoists, Nepali Congress and the Madhesi Front abandon such acts and acquire a different but positive attitude then and then only the constitution could be drafted on time which is left with us now.

But looking at their present “attitude”, I for one do not think that the constitution could be drafted on time.

TGQ5: What if the constitution could not be drafted on time? Do you see the possibility of a fierce conflict in the country afterwards? And finally tell us as to how you have been evaluating this government? Mr. K. C please.

Mr. K. C: If the constitution could not be drafted by then, the Constituent Assembly body will not be in existence any longer. The situation thereafter, as I presume, will not be at all a comfortable enough. We may even lose the gains of the last movement-2005-6. So to avoid this uneasy situation, the constitution must be drafted on time. If not then we should remain in a prepared state to face the following sad eventualities that could be in the store. This has no alternative.

Others may disturb the country if not the Maoists for the non-completion of the peace process. No one asks advance permission on whether or not to go in for a conflict. The compulsion factor drags one to conflict.

Courtesy: The Nepali Patra Weekly dated January 13, 2012. Thanks.

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Comments

Posted on - 2012-02-22 by gaunle
KC JI why worry about the outcome of new system in the country.Imagination is an unbriddled wild horse.Fact remains that 'Variety is the Spice of life'.Let there be some change-people are fed up with the old system.

Posted on - 2012-02-01 by
You are right they want to stay in power the name of Peace and draft the Contitution.