Peace Still Elusive in Nepal

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) chief Kamal Thapa is again on the political scene championing his old slogan of reinstating the constitutional monarchy in the country, this time with more confidence than the period after the election to the Constituent Assembly.

On last Friday he organized a press meet at his hometown in Hetauda, Makwanpur district and revealed his party’s plan to lead a peaceful national campaign to reinstate the now defunct monarchy.

Prior to his announcement, some media in Nepal had floated stories about commoners’ life the former King is living, his daily schedule and bringing out such stories about him and his family, that makes people feel he’s also no different than us now. It also appreciates about his ability to accept change, his concern for the prevailing political chaos and so on. Kantipur published a feature about former King (also available online) where, among others, it narrates the speculations made by Faniraj Pathak – former royal press secretary, about the prospect of Gyanendra Shah coming back to serve the country again in yet uncertain way.

Whatever the objective may have been in reporting such stories, intentionally or inadvertently, in most cases it gets translated positively amongst the common people (not necessarily the political activists) and only generates sympathy with admiration for the royals. Such stories do well to the former king than the republicans. It is not a coincident that the non-communists forces (probably, majority in UML too) have realized the need to unite against the Maoists plan to transform the country into the People’s Republic.

Urgent appeal to amalgamate those in the right and the center has been floating in the air by all. The internal dissatisfaction within the NC and its inability to perform a role as a strong and effective opposition has been an advantageous moment for RPP and Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) to assert their presence once again. The RPP and RJP leaders appear more assertive and speaking common people’s mind than the main opposition Nepali Congress.

There is a popular opposition in Nepal and disapproval outside for the Maoists plan to integrate their militias that are indoctrinated with radical Maoists ideology into the national army. The integration plan, if succeeded would probably pave an easy way for them to establish the People’s Republic.

Many in Kathmandu suspect that the plans are progressing in the Maoists camp to establish a Nepalese embassy in South American continent, and enhance relations with those countries that the US government considers a ‘rouge regime’. During his visit to New York, Prime Minister Pushpa K Dahal also met representatives of Cuba, Bolivia, Venezuela and Russia, and this trip might have probably inspired him to join the club.

If this plan were real and  shaping in Kathmandu, then the government is moving Nepal toward isolation from the rest of the world, and as a consequence denies any international assistance that Finance Minister is desperately seeking by visiting capitalists and democratic countries to meet his budget needs.

Another popular movement appears to be waiting, as can be analyzed from the developments in Nepal. Should there be one in future, it is certain to be between the democrats and the communists. The democratic forces would have more popular support in Nepal this time, as common people got an opportunity to juxtapose the democratic years, and the short period with the Maoists government. Peace appears elusive, and the people only wander, if they had a good neighbor!

Posted on : 2008-11-22 10:09:47

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