Shamsuddin Ahmed
Will monarchy be restored in Nepal? A wind of change is blowing across the Himalayan country. Hindus who constitute the vast majority of Nepal’s population believed the king was the reincarnation of god. They warmly greeted the former King, Gyanendra, on his birthday, though he was dethroned seven years ago. Recently he visited parts of flood affected areas and distributed relief among the victims. This generosity has undoubtedly raised his popularity. His public meetings were attended by people in hundreds of thousands raising eyebrows of the politicians.
Political instability and economic meltdown under a confrontational strife-ridden democracy in the country seems to have made many politicians repentant at the demise of the monarchy, which was the symbol of national unity. There is a clear move for revival of the institution of monarchy for which Beijing appears to be lending positive support.
Quoting a highly placed unidentified source, weekly People’s Review of Nepal reported this week that efforts were on a roadmap to restore stability and protect sovereignty of the country. Claiming close connections and frequent meetings with the deposed king, Maoist leaders and others, the source said that he (Gyanendra) was not involved in small things like elections. “Instead I am trying my best to give stability to this country,” he said explaining his roadmap – giving space to the king as head of the state, allowing premiership to UCPN (Maoist) chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda and bringing NCP (Maoist), Rastriya Prajtantra Party (RPP) and Tarai-based political parties in the government by keeping NC and UML in the opposition.
Dahal is no longer in the good book of Delhi following the resignation of its blue-eyed boy Baburam Bhattarai last month from the post of Vice Chairman of UCPN as Dahal declined to accommodate him as the party’s co-chairman. The UCPN is likely to be divided again. Hardcore Maoists had deserted it over a year ago and formed the Nepal Communist Party (NCP-Maoist) under elderly leader Mohan Baidya alias Kiran.
With bases in India, the Maoists had fought a decade long guerrilla war against the Nepal government until a Delhi orchestrated deal was accepted by major political parties – UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and UML (Marxist-Leninist) – in 2002 to end the monarchy and switch over to People’s Republic to rule the landlocked Nepal. The war ended in 2006 leaving around 13,000 people killed. Democratic elections to a constituent assembly (CA) was held in 2008 giving mandate of writing a constitution in 2 years for the new republic and rehabilitate 19,000 guerrilla fighters. But Power hungry politicians were so divided that they could not complete the tasks even after extending the life of CA to four years. Finally the CA was dissolved and Bhattarai of UCPN headed an interim government which has handed over power to the country’s Chief Justice Regmi for holding elections of a fresh constituent assembly. The date for polls was set for November 19.
NCP (Maoist) leading an alliance of 33 smaller parties has declared to boycott the election, which it alleged, was a blueprint of India to get elected its yes men to perpetuate its interest. The NCP’s front ranking leader Netra Bikram Chand said: “Efforts for distribution of Nepali citizenship to Indians (living in Nepal) and holding election are on for (the) Sikkimization and annexation of Nepal.” His party is ready to develop alliance with the former King, Nepal Army and other patriotic forces for protecting the national interest, integrity and sovereignty.
Political observers say Dahal now wants to develop a greater nationalist front even by giving space to the former King. He and many of his colleagues have understood that they had already lost precious seven years. They have now realized that in a country like Nepal, the role of a king is vital. He has, under compulsion, come closer to Baidya, his political guru. They can join hands anytime sidelining Bhattrai camp.
The source further told the weekly that he had sent the proposal of alliance to the former King and if he gets a positive response, “within hours Dahal is ready to issue a statement urging restoration of the institution of monarchy and developing a greater alliance among the nationalist forces.”
Even the Nepali Congress Party, a long time ally of India, is convinced. Dr Shasanka Koirala, son of BP Koirala, founding member of NC and former prime minister, in an interview with BBC said “the institution of monarchy should be restored to save the country …. Institution of monarchy is a symbol of national unity. We committed a mistake in removing the institution from the constitution.”
Beijing is known to have given positive indication to the move considering its own security interests. Perpetual political instability and increasing external intervention in Nepal are worrisome factor for China.
Source: Weekly Holiday
