Kamal Thapa riding two boats

Our attention has been drawn towards some of the question raised by maverick political personality, whose association with the former Nepal Royalty and his affiliation to the erstwhile Panchayat system remains no longer a secret, as regards the institution of the Nepali Royalty and some other equally important issues that have been confronting the nation of late more so after the former King vacated the Royal Palace last year June 11, 2009.

Kamal Thapa-the Chairman of the RPP-N bluntly says that the current dispensation being an interim one, both the constitution and the parliament, can’t decide the fate of the monarchial institution and that prior to taking such a Himalayan decision the people and the lay men must be allowed to decide the fate of the Royal institution.

He maintains forcefully that any decision taken by the ruling regime without talking the population into confidence lacks legitimacy and thus authority.

Whether Thapa is talking sense or otherwise we leave it for the political scientists to debate over what he is saying.

According to him, the people will speak themselves whether they prefer the King to stay or not through the conduct of a referendum or else the current interim arrangement have had no right or whatsoever to determine the fate of one of the oldest institution of the country.

To recall, the first session of the newly elected Constituent Assembly May 28, 2008, summarily declared the country a republic.

Whether the RPP leader is right or wrong is not the point of discussion, however, his preference to hold a referendum to decide the fate of the Nepali monarchy by the Nepali population appears not that bad a proposition for referendum is considered by the world democratic community as one of the best exercises in a democratic society, if it were any.

Definitely, the people or for that matter the population should be allowed to cast their votes either in favor or rejection of the fate of the Nepali monarchy. If the people reject the institution then so be it but if the population express their desire and favor the continuation of the same institution then the ruling elites must think twice prior to taking any decision in haste as they have done it already last year.

However, how the ruling elites take Mr. Thapa’s proposition is a matter of their concern. Nevertheless, we who believe in the practices of democracy would welcome if such a referendum is held that charts the fate of the Nepali monarchy once and for all.

Detractors of Kamal Thapa claim that the institution has already been dismantled and that the king has himself vacated the Palace willingly and thus there was no such any need for what Kamal Thapa proposes. Thapa’s detractors too have some point in their logic which can’t be dismissed out rightly because it has been stated so by Kamal Thapa. One has to examine both the sides of the pleas and come to a fair conclusion.

We will not intervene in between what Thapa says and those who have already decided the fate of the monarchy. But yet we would prefer a referendum to be held in order to bury the issue for good. The verdict of the population in this regard should become final and binding to all.

Kamal Thapa further claims that the present political overtures aimed at the establishment of a sort of democratic front to match the increasing strength of the Communists in Nepal were nothing but a ploy to unseat the current government led by the Maoists. A foul play opines Thapa.

He opines that such a democratic front which is being created solely to unseat the Maoists from the government structure would invite further chaos in the country. He talks sense in that the unseated Maoists will not remain silent and that they can create a sort of political disaster should they so desire and prefer. The Maoists know it better on how to destabilize the nation as they have the expertise in this regard. The Maoists if unseated will surely bring heaven down the earth, rest assured. There should be no confusion in any minds. A sort of hurricane will soon engulf the nation the next moment when they are told that they have been unseated.

And thus Thapa’s claim that the Maoists totalitarian political culture and behavior must be challenged by forwarding much more advanced democratic ideologies over theirs by the parties having democratic bend. Sounds logical indeed.

Finally, we appreciate Thapa’s views wherein he says that it was the time to write a new constitution but not for making secret alliances in order to bring about a sudden collapse of the incumbent government.

This does mean that Thapa is not in line with those who are apparently planning to unseat the Maoists led government under one pretext or the other.

Thus what becomes clear is that Thapa favors the Maoists in government for some time more. Concurrently he concludes that the Maoist’s rule must be challenged by adhering to accepted democratic principles and behavior. Its extension would be that Thapa will not mind if the Maoists are unseated but only if the unmaking is backed by democratic methods. Clever and naughty Thapa as he is!

So he is with the Maoists and concurrently with the democrats and the liberals.

Isn’t he riding on two boats concurrently? This could be dangerous for him and his party in the long run. But one should commend his political commitment that he hasn’t changed which is in favor of the revival of the Royal Institution in the country. His former colleagues who enjoyed high and lucrative posts when the King was the sovereign could not be seen now rallying in favor of the King when he has already been told to remain outside the politics of the nation.

His colleagues changed but not Mr. Thapa. Good or bad, Kamal Thapa is adamant in his politics and preference.

Posted on : 2009-03-18 11:51:39

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