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WHY REPUBLICANISM ? =
[ORIGINAL POSTING] The=20 following a rather long musing of mi...[Nepe]=20       = 09-19-03

   It=20 did not happen. Because they could no...[Nepe]=20       09-19-03
   =20 Now,=20 many who are sympathetic to the Mao...[Nepe]=20       09-19-03
     It=20 could be a major disappointment to th...[Nepe]=20       09-19-03
      There=20 is one section, however, that seem...[Nepe]=20       09-19-03
       Now,=20 some people might be feeling very u...[Nepe]=20       09-19-03
        = There=20 is nothing to be worry about CA <I...[Nepe]=20       09-19-03
         In=20 my time, it was Nepali Congress which...[Nepe]=20       09-19-03
         =20 Nepe=20 hajur, darshan! dherai din pa...[Bhunte]=20       09-19-03
         &nb= sp;=20 Constitutional=20 Maonarchy did not fail in...[GP]=20       09-19-03
         &nb= sp; =20 I=20 think the other side of the coin "Maoi...[GP]=20       09-19-03
         &nb= sp;  =20 Read=20 the following number: "There hav...[GP]=20       09-19-03
         &nb= sp;   =20 NEPE=20 , Why don't u publish your article...[Garibjanata]=20       09-19-03
         &nb= sp;    =20 Nepe,=20 Extraordinary clarity and logical...[Gokul]=20       09-19-03
         &nb= sp;     =20 Nepe=20 wrote: "The following a rather l...[ashu]=20       09-19-03
         &nb= sp;      =20 Nepeji,=20 To summarize you article: Mon...[Satya]=20       09-20-03
         &nb= sp;       =20 hmm=20 satya ji, From Monarchy side, let...[Bhunte]=20       09-20-03
         &nb= sp;        =20 I=20 have always beleived that theoriticall...[akawi]=20       09-20-03
         &nb= sp;         =20 Bhunteji,=20 Land of dragons or land of ...[Satya]=20       09-20-03
Bhunte=20 and GP ji, Thank you for your ...[Nepe]=20       09-20-03
= Try=20 refuting me. The very essence of ...[nepali_angel]=20       09-20-03
   Dear=20 all, namaste and nin hao, Wel...[isolated = freak]=20       09-20-03
   =20 So,=20 ladies and gentlemen, Time has co...[M.P.]=20       09-20-03
     I=20 meant IF's postings. ...[M.P.]=20       09-20-03
      I=20 wouldn't support the king even when I ...[isolated=20 freak]      =20 09-20-03
       Our=20 monarchist-in-charge has nothing to ...[Satya]=20       09-21-03
        = IFji,=20 nin hao. This posting isn't ...[Biswo]=20       09-21-03
         IF=20 is nothing but Jandya and Churote mor...[Chordaku420]=20       09-21-03
         =20 Nepeji,=20 It now behooves you, as Ghali...[Gokul]=20       09-21-03
         &nb= sp;=20 Daku=20 : Personal attacks can not substitu...[czar]=20       09-21-03
         &nb= sp; =20 You=20 have failed to impress me with your ...[VincentBodega]=20       09-21-03
         &nb= sp;  =20 Nin=20 Hao Lao Peng, Well, my views are ...[isolated = freak]=20       09-21-03
         &nb= sp;   =20 Friends,=20 Let's respect what IF has to...[Nepe]=20       09-22-03
         &nb= sp;    =20 <br>=20 Czar, You highlighted two reall...[Nepe]=20       09-22-03
         &nb= sp;     =20 Nepeji,=20 You are right on the fact tha...[VincentBodega]=20       09-22-03
         &nb= sp;      =20 <<<My=20 point was if he is to be blamed fo...[Nepe]=20       09-22-03
         &nb= sp;       =20 Nepeji,=20 No I did not "realize the whole...[VincentBodega]=20       09-23-03
         &nb= sp;        =20 Even=20 a republic, a democratic one at tha...[suva=20 chintak]      =20 09-23-03

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Nepe

Posted on 09-19-03 1:20 PM =    =20 Reply=20
he following a rather long = musing of mine=20 is in part a response to a fellow poster's accusation = that I=20 have not presented convincing arguments in favor of=20 republicanism in Nepal's specific context. I have = basically=20 compiled some of my views already posted in Sajha = Kurakani=20 during last two years of my stay, added some updates = to=20 accommodate recent political developments and posted = below.=20

I do not claim these as 'convincing' = arguments. Rather=20 they are my confessions about why I am a staunch = republican=20 against displeasure and embarrassment of some of my = friends I=20 value very much.

I apologize for the unusual = and=20 offensive length (~7600 words !) of this article. = However,=20 looking at the war zone of Nepal, a lengthy jaw-jaw is = always=20 better than a lengthy war-war, No ?=20

*************************************=20

Why Republicanism in Nepal ?=20

For clarity's sake, let's divide it into = two=20 parts- 1. Is it necessary ? and, 2. Is it possible ? = (This=20 division is important, because almost all of the = arguments=20 against the republicanism in Nepal boils down to a = confusion=20 of 'the Monarchy is necessary because it can not be = removed'=20 to 'the Monarchy can not be removed because it is = necessary'=20 !).

Why republicanism is necessary for = Nepal=20

The answer is pretty simple (although the = path=20 itself may not be that simple)- Because the active = Monarchy in=20 the past and very recently and the Constitutional = Monarchy=20 throughout the last decade undeniably failed and there = is no=20 reason to believe why they should suddenly start to = work now.=20

Now, let us examine, in simple terms, who = failed,=20 exactly at what they failed and why they might have = failed.=20

Active Monarchy of the Panchayat era failed = because of=20 the corruption of the regime (the palace and the = panchas) and=20 those close to the regime (bureaucracy), the lack of = the=20 freedom to protest that and an overall backwardness in = every=20 aspect of national life.

The constitutional = Monarchy=20 as a system (with supposedly passive king) of the past = twelve=20 years until last Oct 4 failed to break the continuity = of the=20 Panchayati era corruption and on top of that extended = it to=20 the party machinery. Another most important failure = was to=20 prevent the Maoist uprising (not out of the security = system,=20 but out of the political system). The list can be made = longer=20 by adding other failures too. However, I think these = two are=20 the fundamental one, everything else is a direct or = indirect=20 result of these two failures. As a matter of fact, = even these=20 two are two faces of the same coin. But let's talk = about them=20 separately for the sake of discussion.

Since = the King=20 was supposedly passive, it is natural to think that = the=20 political parties who ran the governments one after = another=20 must be solely responsible for these failures. But, is = it true=20 ?

Let us examine a little closely to see how = much the=20 political parties are responsible or, to be more = specific, if=20 they had all the resources to address these failures = and how=20 much far away from all this the Monarchy actually was. =

Political parties and the Corruption: = uninterested=20 to prevent or unable to prevent ?

Is it = not=20 intriguing that despite a continuous and strong public = mandate, support, voice and demand, a serious attempt = to=20 eradicate the corruption was never started since 2046 = ? It was=20 only as a response to tackle the Maoist uprising with = some=20 reforms by gaining some public sympathy that the = parliament=20 took steps, although half-hearted, to empower the CIAA = and=20 formed JICP ? These goodies although insignificant vis = a vis=20 the magnitude and area of the corruption the country = is in is,=20 hello, a gift of the Maoists !

People do = recognize=20 that.

Why the CIAA and JICP or any other tool = made=20 within the current system is insignificant and = incapable of=20 eradicating the corruption ?

Not because they = do not=20 have enough resources (manpower, logistics etc), = because that=20 can be arranged.

It is precisely and solely = because it=20 does not have the power to reach to the very deep, old = and=20 extended root, symbol and culture of the corruption- = the=20 palace, the old regime, the continuity of the old = power. Until=20 and unless the CIAA, JCIP or any other anti-corruption = tool=20 can mortally strike this quarter, the corruption in = Nepal is=20 there to stay. Remember it is not only about forcing = the King=20 to show his property and it's source, it's also about = making=20 all beneficiaries of the palace since Panchayat's time = come=20 forward to get a clean chit. It's about zero = tolerance. It's=20 about not letting the war against the corruption is = get=20 morally and physically defeated even before it is = born. It's=20 about establishing the 'rule of
law', not in the = book but=20 in the minds of Nepali people. It's about not letting = anybody=20 and any family to be above the law.

What's = needed to=20 fight the corruption in Nepal ?

An economist = with very=20 high credibility tells that all he needs is a full = resource at=20 his disposal and just three months' time to prepare = all=20 necessary infrastructure to launch to campaign to = establish a=20 clean administration.

3 months or 6 months is = not=20 important. What is important is that it is not the = lack of=20 manpower and ideas that has been preventing the = massive reform=20 of the country. It is something else.

And that = something is, in my view, the lack of a starting = point. Except=20 for the status of the political parties, everything of = the=20 Panchayat era has continued, the status of all old = corrupt=20 players and the system has remained intact. We will = talk about=20 the new corrupt players later.

A logical = starting=20 point would have been after 2046 when the first = elected=20 government took reign. Didn't we all expected that all = old=20 bhrastachari would be brought to justice and a new = clean era=20 will begin ?

=

Nepe Posted on 09-19-03 1:22 PM =     Reply=20
t did not happen. Because they could not do it. = They could=20 not touch the corrupt Panchas, the corrupt police, the = bureaucrats,=20 the bhaibhardars of the palace (assuming that only the King = got some=20 untold immunity ) and just about anybody who was in the old = power=20 structure. Why? Simple, the King did not allow it. He did = not allow=20 because it was more important for him not to be humiliated = that way=20 than anything else. Bhand ma jawos desh ko clean future ! I = wouldn't=20 complain that the King Birendra did that, though. He might = have=20 justified it as a moral obligation to save those who had = served him=20 so well.

Whether our leaders had agreed not to touch = anybody=20 of the old power with Birendra or they just took cue from = him or=20 just did not dare to do it is not important. What is = important is=20 that it is the Monarchy component of the Constitutional = Monarchy=20 that made it happen. It was not due to lack of vision of KP=20 Bhattarai, GP Koirala, Manamohan, Makune and Sher Bahadur. = Their=20 hands were tied and they are still tied.

Their tied = hands=20 were the beginning of the moral degradation of our once = revered=20 leaders.

One of Paschim's friends had made an = interesting=20 observation of how our leaders became more and more = courteous to the=20 king over the years. Interestingly, that also coincide with = their=20 becoming more and more corrupt and unaccountable. =

One of the=20 most heard disappointment among educated Nepalis about our=20 'democracy' is, why it did not produce a single leader we = can look=20 up to. I suggest them to take a closer look into the = machine. Dear=20 friends, don't expect a good product from a defective = machine !=20

We did not have a visionary leader because their = vision is=20 blurred by their tied hands, their helplessness to go beyond = piggybacking the king, their intimidation by the loyalty of = the=20 Royal Nepal Army to the King.

They have reduced = themselves=20 to a bhai-naike and a dai-naike of a jail where the King is = the=20 actual jailer. Our leaders' job has been limited to keep the = law and=20 order in the jail in which too they have failed miserably. =

A=20 perfect setting for their moral bankruptcy, = directionlessness and a=20 comfort in general darkness. Forget about a vision to free = the=20 people from that primitive jail. Forget about the = corruption, the=20 issues of economic and social justice and nation building.=20

In short, it was the lack of supreme power, not = otherwise=20 (that is, too much power), to the elected supreme leader = together=20 with the constitutional denial about the actual power of the = King,=20 that was responsible for the collective moral degradation of = our=20 leaders. But nobody was admitting it. Everybody was in = denial. Not=20 only the players, but the observers too.

The = pinnacle of=20 this denial was about the palace. The palace was = successfully giving=20 an impression to the general mass that it has nothing to do = with the=20 ineptness of the leaders. Even our educated folks praised = the king=20 saying he did nothing as required of him and has remained = kosher !=20

They were unanimous to denounce the political = leaders, which=20 was fine, but the assumption on which it was based was = totally=20 wrong.

Their assumption was that it was a random and = unfortunate inadequacies of individual leaders that was = responsible=20 for the degradation of politics. They fail to appreciate = that it was=20 a COLLECTIVE failure. They failed to see that it was a = systematic=20 failure intimately correlated to the power of the palace.=20

They failed even to understand themselves. I have = quoted a=20 seemingly minor, but important for it's generality and = prevalence=20 among the peers, note of frustration of BBC's Rabindra = Mishra in his=20 article 'Pratyosh Onta haru-le kina rajniti nagarney ?' a = few times=20 in this forum. Why indeed ! Why is there an unspoken boycott = of=20 politics by the intellectuals (exception: Dipak Gyawali !) ? = Why is=20 there a consistent cynicism towards politics among = intellectuals ?=20 This is a telling story. Unfortunately, however, some of our = intellectuals were not getting the message.

In these = frustrations, hopelessness and disillusion, anyone who would = talk=20 even a half-truth, who would show even a half way would = easily=20 attract people. This was bound to happen. And it happened.=20

There came a strange breed of people called Maobadi. = Nobody=20 understood their language fully. But it was enough to know = they=20 spoke of a radical change.

The rest is history.=20

Today 2/3 of Nepal is theirs. They have confined the = government inside the Ring Road of Kathmandu valley ! And = our=20 educated folks have no idea how could that happen ! =

The=20 Maoists: Did they come from the Mars ?

Pick any=20 article/book by the 'experts' on Maosist, you will see they=20 invariably relate the rise of the Maoists to people's = increased=20 awareness of their social, cultural and political rights and = they=20 prescribe to give the neglected and suppressed class, = community and=20 gender their fair share as a long term solution to the = Maoist=20 'Problem'.

While there is no doubt about what we = should be=20 doing, I disagree with the link of the issues of social and = cultural=20 justices to the Maoist uprising.

It may surprise = those who=20 did not have a chance to follow all of my arguments in this = forum,=20 but my views in this particular case is very similar to what = the=20 most ardent Royalists or anti-Maoists have, that is- No, the = Maoist=20 uprising is not about equal rights to women (An US = intellectual was=20 asking in a discussion, "look, 40 % [?] of the Maoists cadre = are=20 women, isn't that a telling story ?". I think, yes, that is = a=20 telling story, but still the Maoist uprising is not about = the=20 equality to women.), it's not about economic and political = rights of=20 backward classes, janajatis, oppressed castes (although the = Maoists=20 have brought a new hope and sense of self-respect and pride = to them=20 !), it's not about eliminating exploitation or poverty = (although=20 that's the dream the Maoists are selling to the poor !)=20

Nepe Posted on 09-19-03 1:23 PM =     Reply=20
ow, many who are sympathetic to the Maoists or = those who=20 see with their own eyes the obvious link of these issues to = the=20 Maoists ( the latter may include even the Royalists) might = have been=20 surprised and would like to know why.

My arguments = are=20 simple. A new force arises in history, not necessarily = perfect or=20 even just positively expressed, only when the existing = forces are=20 inadequate to address the contemporary challenge/s. And that = goes=20 with Maoists too.

A lot of issues that our 'experts' = link to=20 the Maoist uprising actually can be addressed by the = constitutional=20 Monarchy alone. It would just need a little push, that's = all. Had it=20 not been for the issue that is beyond the capability of the=20 constitutional Monarchy to tackle, Maoists would have = emerged as a=20 pressure group or something like that, instead of as a = revolutionary=20 force.

There is something the constitutional = Monarchy of=20 Nepal is not equipped to deal with, hence the emergence of = the=20 Maoists.

What is that thing ?

Go figure out. = This is=20 where you should go to understand the nuclear source of the = strength=20 of the Maoists. This is where lies the 'solution' of the = 'Maoist=20 problem'.

The inadequacy of Nepali constitutional = Monarchy=20 vis a vis other surviving constitutional Monarchy is it's = inability=20 to deal with its own inadequacies- with it's contradictory = and=20 elusive power sharing on one hand and it's refractoriness to = democratic cure on the other. The general directionlessness = of the=20 whole decade of our 'democracy' was a direct and indirect = result of=20 that. And unfortunately, everybody from the establishment, = the King=20 and the political parties alike, were hiding this like a=20 guilt-filled AIDS-patient hides his disease. =

Somebody had to=20 come to fix that. Somebody from outside the system. Somebody = illegal=20 ! Maoists got that job !

Unfortunately our doctor = was=20 himself miseducated. He would talk sense in one thing and = nonsense=20 in two other things. While that remains as it is, the most = important=20 thing is that he diagnosed the disease correctly. He said = the=20 country has a brain tumor- hidden, engrained, protected and=20 disinformed about it to the mass. And it was indeed so. He=20 prescribed to remove it surgically and took the job himself, = which=20 was right too, and extremely bold, almost surreal to many, I = should=20 add. However, his prescription of additional date-expired = drugs was=20 not right. After the removal of the tumor, the patient would = not=20 need any additional drugs. His daily food of open thoughts = and=20 exercise of democracy has everything he needed to grow = healthy and=20 be productive. There is no dearth of sound minded and = qualified=20 people to help him. It was only his denial about the disease = that=20 had repelled them, made them cynical and boycott him.=20

Anyway, to the people tired of hypocrite = establishment, the=20 fact that the Maoists told a bold truth was enough to ignore = their=20 other nonsense. So slowly and slowly, the issues of social, = cultural=20 and economic justices, which was ignored and abandoned by = the=20 establishment, started to hitchhike the Maoist vehicle in = hope of=20 reaching to their destination. Today, the establishment does = not=20 have a proper job to do except playing the games like 'tug = of war'=20 and ' musical chair' to keep themselves busy and to have = fun. They=20 have a minor quarrel about the rule of the game since Oct 4, = which=20 has, to their disadvantage, have them exposed to the already = opened=20 eyes of the people. It is yet to be seen if they go back to = the same=20 old co-existence and the denial to the truth the Maoist = broke out or=20 they are now ready to face the truth to some extent. =

The=20 royalists have accused the Maoists that they used the period = of last=20 cease-fire to strengthen their position. And they are = absolutely=20 right. During last seven months of ceasefire, the Maoists = achieved=20 something they never had done before.

Maoists never = had a=20 chance of this scale and freedom to be in contact with urban = elites,=20 intellectuals and common people and explain what they are = after. How=20 much they succeeded to influence these urbanites will be = clearer in=20 coming days. However there are already indications of a huge = change=20 in their attitude towards them. From stunningly simple = personality=20 of Dr. Baburam Bhattarai to their highly skillful show in = successive=20 talks with poor 'representatives of the King' and = particularly their=20 public explanation that they are fighting for the bourgeois=20 democracy for now, should have impressed different folks = with=20 different strokes. The support and sympathy for their demand = of the=20 Constituent Assembly has gone up. And whether we like it or = not, it=20 will go more and more up with each new dead body of innocent = Nepali=20 falling.

At this moment things are in a bargaining=20 condition. But when and if it becomes a choice between a = huge=20 bloodshed and the Constituent Assembly, an overwhelming = majority of=20 people will stand by the later. In fact, the public support = to the=20 CA is already rapidly growing.

The call for the=20 King-People Unity: A solution to the Maoists 'problem' = !?!=20

It is in this backdrop, the royalists, some = democrats too=20 (to be fair to some anonymous posters in this forum !) and = foreign=20 friends are calling for a unity between the king and = 'agitating'=20 political parties to take the Maoists head on. =

Before=20 speculating how much that gonna change the political scene = in Nepal,=20 lets try to understand what the most important party, that = is our=20 powerful foreign friends, of this new coalition are trying = to do for=20 us. Because I think that's going to be the major source of = the=20 strength of the 'unity' and also a major source of = inspiration to=20 some democrats to become pro-unity in this critical time of = our=20 history.

I am not an expert on the US foreign = policy. So=20 what I write here is my naive thoughts based on my = superficial=20 observation of what's going on.

Nepe Posted on 09-19-03 1:23 PM =     Reply=20
t could be a major disappointment to the = aspirants of a=20 democratic republic of Nepal as well as those who believes = in the=20 idealism of the constitutional Monarchy, but it is a fact = that the=20 US supports the Monarchy of Nepal, not just as a symbolic = head of=20 the state but as a strong institution with significant = political=20 power and role.

Why ?

I don't believe it is = because=20 the US wants to keep Nepal in it's control. I also have no = doubts on=20 the ideological commitment of the US to democracy in the = world.=20

I think, at the philosophical level, let's say at = the level=20 of 'General Theory' (the theory that explains everything !), = US=20 support to a powerful Monarchy in Nepal derives from the = limitation=20 of a state to relate to the fine detail of historical = evolution of a=20 foreign state. To illustrate, let's say, a native of Nepal = will=20 easily relate to what I described in several paragraphs = above.=20 However, a team of foreign policy makers in Washington DC = may not=20 have patience to understand those detail. They might choose = to=20 ignore or suppress some details to suite to their own needs. =

Why would they like to go through a headache of = admitting=20 they were responsible for the rise of Saddam Hussain when = they can=20 easily destroy him just by calling him an evil. OK, that was = too=20 much stretched. How about this- why would they not suppress = their=20 own knowledge that the Maoists uprising was partly due to = rural=20 people's increased awareness about their social, cultural = and=20 economic rights, when they think it is worth to try a = military=20 solution one more time to destroy them ?

When I said = 'their=20 own knowledge', I was referring to Hon'ble Ambassador = Michael=20 Malinowsky's own words in a meetings of Nepali intellectuals = some=20 time ago. It is interesting to compare that with Hon'ble=20 Ambassador=19s lethal words to the Maoists and an open call = for a=20 unity of the King and political parties to fight them these = days.=20

I don't think the US views 'the US watch-list = terrorist'=20 Maoists, who are anti-religion in ideology, as a partner of = the=20 Muslim terrorism it is after. I also don't think the US sees = it a=20 realistic scenario for the Maoists to establish a communist = state in=20 Nepal single-handedly through political maneuver or = militarily at=20 least any time soon. A lot of 'experts' don't find it = realistic even=20 to reduce the power of the Monarchy in Nepal. A communist = state is a=20 lot more unrealistic than that.

I think the US = policy is=20 simply not to take any chance with Commie Maoists. And their = primary=20 displeasure is Maoist's anti-US rhetoric, which is far more = than a=20 basal anti-Americanism among other leftists.

Julia = Chang=20 Blok, the flamboyant former US ambassador, proudly recalls = her=20 'warning' in the early years of our 'democracy' to all that = Nepal=20 has only got democracy, it has not yet 'institutionalized' = it.=20 Without institutionalization, democracy will not be able to = deliver.=20 She relates the current crisis of Nepal partly to our = failure to=20 institutionalize the democracy.

It is hard for me to = believe=20 she would recommend to increase the power and influence of = the King=20 as a permanent solution to Nepal's crisis.

An = alternative=20 theory of mine: the US may be viewing Nepal as a = strategically=20 important country for it's current jihad against the global=20 terrorism and so sees, like it seems to do in Pakistan, a = stable=20 dictator is easier to make deals than it is with unstable = elected=20 leadership.

I will leave it to my readers and = 'experts' to=20 interpret all this. To me, all in all, it looks like, our = great=20 friend US has given up the painstaking task of understanding = a=20 friend's problem in it's fine detail to find a just and = truthful=20 solution and has, instead, decided to push it for a quick, = cheap and=20 dirty solution.

We will find out very soon how = seriously=20 Nepali people take the advice of the only superpower of the = world.=20 Let's cross our finger to see thousands of people coming in = the=20 streets of our cities, towns and villages (OK let's leave = villages=20 out) to support their unity with the King and take the = Maoists head=20 on.

Or, alternatively, a show of 'shock and awe' ala = Iraq in=20 Nepali villages from Mahakali to Mechi.

If that did = not=20 happen, the great American advice is going to be wasted in = one of=20 the poorest countries of the world !

Not because the = political parties may choose to ignore the US advice, but = rather=20 despite it (the unity of the King and the political parties) = happens. It's not gonna make much difference, because it = already did=20 not make any difference. Let's not forget, until Oct 4, the = King and=20 the political parties were 'united' and were fighting the = Maoists.=20 Our foreign friends were fully behind us. What 'new' thing = gonna be=20 there this time ? Some luck ?

The 'unity' between = the=20 political parties and the King is a feel good concept and is = totally=20 misleading. As far as the Maoists are concerned there is no=20 dis-unity between the parties and the King YET.

As I = tried=20 to explain earlier, during the past 10-12 years of their=20 co-existence, they have reached to an equilibrium of = non-interfering=20 territorial co-dominance with separate niches of their own.=20

The equilibrium was that the parties can spoil = themselves=20 with old style corruption and the King can consolidate his = power=20 unchallenged.

Some of the current demands of the = parties may=20 look like challenging the power of the King. However, in = reality,=20 they are just the bargaining chips to get to the 'chair' of=20 bhai-naike/dai-naike as soon as possible. Parties' = crying=20 foul of the King is hardly different than a baby crying when = the=20 pacifier it is sucking is suddenly removed.

Worse, = or=20 better, depending upon how you look, their 'anti-King' = demands might=20 be influenced by Maoists superlative anti-King position. In = any=20 case, most people are not going to be surprised if the party = that=20 gets to the 'chair' become pro-king like before and the = opposition=20 maintains a less milder tone.

Nepe Posted on 09-19-03 1:24 PM =     Reply=20
here is one section, however, that seems to have = undergone=20 a change. That is- the lower level cadre and sympathizers of = political parties.

While the leadership of the major = parties=20 has essentially remained pro-Monarchy, the cadre seems to = have=20 attracted to the republicanism. A case in point- Madhav = Kumar Nepal=20 recently issued a circular to the cadre of his party = cautioning them=20 not to misunderstand the anti-king agitation for a fight for = the=20 republic.

If people are to come to the streets to = respond to=20 the call of the 'King-people Unity' to fight the Maoists = violence,=20 the most likely scenario is opposite of what the sponsors of = the=20 call are hoping. Thousands of people will come to the = streets of our=20 cities, towns and villages (yes, of course, villages) to = pressure=20 the King to accept the 'Constituent Assembly'.

So, = the=20 renewed unity of the King and the leadership of political = parties=20 does not seem to be a solution to the Maoist problem. Their = only=20 deployable strength, the RNA, has already failed to defeat = the=20 Maoists, militarily as well as morally. People compare the = RNA with=20 the Maoists for their brutality and abuses.

A side = note on=20 the brutality of RNA. I believe a lot of cases of abuses is = yet to=20 be reported. Nevertheless, if you read what has already been = reported by independent agencies, you will be shocked by the = war=20 crime committed by the RNA.

I am not hoping RNA to = be nice=20 to Maoists or to the people they suspect of sympathizing to = the=20 Maoists. But I think the level and the magnitude of the = brutality=20 and abuses by the RNA is surprisingly high if you compare = that with,=20 let's say, the brutality of Indian Army to their civilians = in=20 rebel's area (this is just my gut feeling and limited study = of=20 reports by AI . If you have data to prove otherwise, I shall = stand=20 corrected). In any case, what RNA has done is at the level = of a=20 disgrace to a democratic regime and a need for a war = tribunal.=20

How do you explain that ? I mean, besides the = brutality and=20 abuses of the Maoists, what could have prompted RNA to be so = brutal=20 and abusive ? No doubt, it is due to lack of sense of=20 accountability, lack of fear that they will have to bear the = responsibility in future. My theory on this is that it comes = from=20 their belief in the mutual loyalty of the King and them and = their=20 surety in that the King is here to stay for good to protect = them.=20 They could not have done that if they have thought they are=20 responsible to a democratically elected government which = changes=20 every five years. One more time, the brutality of RNA is not = due to=20 random and isolated weakness of some individual officers. It = comes=20 from the system. It comes from the Monarchy.

If the=20 brutality counts as the strength, then definitely RNA under = Monarchy=20 will be much more stronger than they will be under the = parliament.=20 The King has a point when he insists the RNA should remain = under=20 him. (A poster in this forum recently and a lawyer in = Kantipur Daily=20 some time ago have argued that the provisions of the current = constitution already puts the army under the parliament, so = what's=20 the point of demanding that the army should be put under the = parliament ? My reply- it's a good question. If you find out = the=20 answer, it will explain everything about the political = crisis of=20 Nepal, hajoor.)

Back to the 'Unity'. As I implied = above,=20 unless the US is sending it's troops in Nepali villages ala = Vietnam,=20 it's call for elimination of the Maoists, the ruthless = enemy, by the=20 unity of the King and others does not make much sense. The = King is=20 not a SOLUTION to the Maoist problem, he is a PART of the = Maoist=20 problem. Only the presence of the US troops and weapons can = override=20 this fact. Nothing else can do that. Not even the Indian = Army. I=20 will doubt India will see a stronger king as in favor of = India's=20 interests.

Some of our posters who claim to be = democrat (all=20 right, I believe that) and pledge for the unity with the = King have=20 interesting proposal- let's defeat the Maoist, the greater = enemy,=20 first by combined effort of the king and the people. Then we = will=20 work on how to defeat the King, the lesser enemy. Some of = these=20 friends have even quoted Chairman Mao to make a point, how = he made=20 alliance with his domestic enemy to fight a foreign enemy.=20

While my respect for this proposal, particularly the = straight forward wisdom in it and a bold readiness for a = sacrifice=20 (I mean bloodshed), is reserved, I've got a better proposal. =

How about defeating both enemies with a single = stone, that=20 too without spilling a single drop of blood and without = wasting=20 several years that could take just to defeat the Maoists and = another=20 several decades that could take to defeat the King or make = him=20 irrelevant?

A just and permanent solution to the = Maoist=20 problem

There is no doubt that we, the Nepali = people,=20 should do everything to stop Maoist from making Nepal a = guinea pig=20 of the second communist experiment of our history. =

There are=20 only two ways we can do that, either by a forced foreign = military=20 intervention or by an honest political sensibility. I do not = think=20 we are ready for the first option yet. In any case, that = sounds like=20 inviting more trouble than solving the problem. But it is=20 interesting to note that some folks are already talking = about it-=20 it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen. I very much hope that = it's not=20 gonna happen.

Some people may still be hopeful of = Fujimori=20 brand of solution, but the fact that Nepali Shining Path = Comrade are=20 not fighting against a bourgeois democracy but against a = Monarchy=20 and that Peru's wound is still open makes it very = unconvincing=20 option. And let us not forget our security forces already = have=20 failed us, well, of course for reasons explainable. =

Then,=20 the only option left is an honest political solution.=20

Nepe Posted on 09-19-03 1:25 PM =     Reply=20
ow, some people might be feeling very = uncomfortable with=20 the adjective 'honest', which is natural, because honesty is = an=20 alien culture to us. Our culture is 'might is right'. Our = culture is=20 a tolerance to hanky panky of the mighty one. But friends, = sometimes=20 we should give up our culture. For our survival's sake. Ke = garne ?=20 Banchnai paryo !

So let's do it. Let's go to this.. = our=20 first experiment with honesty, this maiden voyage of truth, = our=20 pratham sahavaas with our future on an uncorrupted bed of = bravery=20 and sincerity.

One of the most popular phrases in = the circle=20 of civil society, particularly among those 'conflict = management=20 experts', since the first talk between the government and = the=20 Maoists took place, has been 'COMPROMISE'. I understand the=20 diplomatic value of this phrase and that that's what happens = eventually to the parties of a conflict. However, I feel = this phrase=20 is not serving it's purpose in the context of our conflict. = As a=20 matter of fact, I think, this phrase is doing the opposite-=20 frightening the parties of the conflict and misleading the = people.=20

A king is a king. He does not compromise. Got that ? = He can=20 sacrifice for the good of his subjects. But compromise ? = What's that=20 ?

Maoists are great revolutionaries, for God's sake. = Sacrifice is their dharma. They don't do 'compromise'. = That's a=20 revisionism, that's a bourgeoisie ploy.

Now the = ordinary=20 people. When you say compromise.. compromise.. possibly what = message=20 goes to them ? That both parties we are talking about have=20 legitimate positions. That they have a minor and solvable, = but not a=20 major and unsolvable disagreement. That the parties' slight=20 flexibilities are all what is needed to solve the problem. = That the=20 people are supposed to accept them when they make an = agreement=20 between themselves. That that is even not a question. That = people's=20 huge participation has neither room nor is necessary in the = process.=20 And so on.

So I think 'SACRIFICE' is the phrase of = the day.=20 It is sexier, more powerful and telling than that dull = phrase=20 'COMPROMISE'.

Now the honest, truthful, fare, = fearless,=20 bloodless, peaceful, democratic, economic and permanent = solution to=20 the Maoist problem and the answer to the other side of the = coin, the=20 question of the Monarchy.

We may chose not to thank = the=20 Maoists, but they have already tossed that solution in = King's court.=20

The Constituent Assembly without any pre-condition = about the=20 Monarchy (the king is refusing it) and the Maoists (they = don't have=20 any) but with a guarantee of fundamental principles of = democracy and=20 freedom is the best and realistic solution at the moment.=20

While more and more people are mentally embracing it = as the=20 only exit from the present turmoil, some still have = skepticism. And=20 that is a good sign. Because our skepticism, concern and = vigilance=20 is what will make sure that there is no procedural flaws so = that two=20 extremists, the Maoists and the King, do not take undue = advantage=20 and that democracy remains intact or to be accurate becomes=20 complete.

The king has yet to accept it, but he does = not=20 have too many choices. Either he has to resort to inviting = foreign=20 troops or give up. He may try to shield himself by putting = political=20 parties back to the 'chair' again. But that's just going = back to the=20 square one. That's not gonna change anything. I doubt he may = choose=20 abdication because he is enjoying the support of a major = foreign=20 power and, oops I almost forgot, deep ambivalence of some of = our=20 intellectuals. A simple referendum on Monarchy instead of CA = is=20 possible. However, it sounds harsher than CA to his = prestige. So I=20 am hopeful that sooner or later the king is going to accept = CA.=20

Some believe that the king had given a signal of yes = to CA=20 or similar option to Maoists leaders, that's why they came = to the=20 capital. His current hesitation to accept it is due to = friendly=20 advice of foreign powers. This sounds plausible. Because why = else=20 would the King let Baburams come into his territory and, as = I=20 discussed above, spread their influence there for seven = months ? I=20 don't think he is that dumb to expect Baburam and Ram = Bahadur come=20 to his palace and say, 'Your majesty, here is our guns. Now = would=20 your majesty care to agree to make minor amends in the = constitution=20 so that we can satisfy our army and cadre?'

Whatever = is the=20 truth, the King's eventually gonna agree to CA or similar = option.=20 That's the only logical conclusion of the current balance of = power=20 of the King and the Maoists.

I did not talk much = about the=20 political parties. Because there is not much to talk about = them.=20 They don't have guns in their hands. And their equation with = the=20 King is more or less intact. The day Maoists questioned the=20 authority of the King and the political parties failed to = show they=20 have authority to take decisions on that (that is from seven = years=20 ago until last Oct 4), they have lost their political = relevance.=20 Yes, they did not have political relevance all this time. = Girija's=20 and Sher Bahadur's attempts to solve the Maoists 'problem' = was a=20 joke. They merely were an elusive shield between the King = and the=20 Maoists.

It is the election of the proposed = Constituent=20 Assembly where our democratic political parties will regain = their=20 relevance. As a matter of fact, the success of CA to take = out the=20 country from the current mess and bring to a democratic path = depends=20 much on how our political parties succeeds to free = themselves from=20 the legacy of their corrupt co-existence with the King and = how they=20 succeed to snatch the agenda of a full democracy and other=20 socio-economic agendas from the Maoists. Yes, our political = parties=20 with their purified hearts and changed role is out best bet. = We just=20 can not depend on a middle path automatically generated by = the=20 balance of two opposite and extremist forces, the King and = the=20 Maoists, although that is a safety net for success of CA to = be in=20 favor of the people.

Nepe Posted on 09-19-03 1:25 PM =     Reply=20
here is nothing to be worry about CA per = se. The=20 only thing we should worry and therefore actively = participate in=20 public debate is about flaws, procedural or otherwise, that = can=20 creep in to sabotage it's very purpose, that is, not letting = it to=20 be a genuine expression of people's decision.

What = are the=20 chances that the Maoists or the King can abuse it to = eventually=20 establish their freedom-less regimes ?

Way too less = than=20 they will be able to do so by means other than CA. =

What are=20 the best, the worst and the most likely scenario of the = election of=20 CA and the constitution it will draft ?

In my view, = the=20 worst scenario is that we will have a better constitution = than we=20 have now. Now, before talking about the best scenario, I'd = like to=20 explain something first. It's about the likelihood of the = King and=20 the Maoists to accept democracy, yes yes, of course = democratic=20 republic of Nepal.

First the King. Assuming he is = not a mad=20 man and has some senses to know the objective world, it is = safe to=20 assume that once he accepts the proposal of CA, he knows = that it is=20 a public commitment to accept whatever is the result. He may = hope=20 this and that. He may even have some covert plan, let's say, = spending kharabau rupaiya he has now to help elect his = supporter=20 candidates. Whatever he'd be thinking, he'd know that he has = a=20 public commitment to accept the result.

In case our=20 honorable members of the Constituent Assembly decide to go = for a=20 republic, I don't think they will say 'now, take off that = shripech,=20 leave your money and leave the country'. Even the Maoists = are not=20 saying that. They are saying he will be given appropriate = honor and=20 he can keep his money. I personally don't mind even if he = retains a=20 title of the king (like bajhangi, Mustangi rajah) and keeps=20 performing all cultural activities he is performing now- = from=20 exchanging the khadga with Devi to offering tika to = thousands of=20 people in Dashain. I am fine with giving him all the = privileges=20 except the political status. I do not know how much = ambitious and=20 greedy he and his family is, but to me, these proposals = sound quite=20 attractive, particularly when I inherit the throne by an = accident=20 (er.. accidental firing of a gun !). We will see when we = come to=20 that point.

Now, the Maoists. I do not have to = introduce=20 them here. Everybody, without exception, in this forum seems = to know=20 how ruthless they are, how evil their intentions are, how = ferocious=20 their determination is. They certainly deserve our = condemnation,=20 repugnance and curse that we have been expressing tirelessly = here.=20 Now, let's go one level up and try to identify what could = have let=20 them to be so, what could have let them be so and still be = so God=20 damn successful, what motivates them, both individually and=20 collectively, where can we stop them, or shall we ever be = able to ?=20

As I discussed earlier, a new illegal and political = force (a=20 Maoist-like, but pro-democracy and non-violent) was a = historical=20 need of the day when the Maoists emerged in today's form. = Somebody=20 had to come to expose the elusive power of the Monarchy and = it's=20 relation to crippling and degradation of parliamentary = parties and a=20 general national denial about the whole riddle. This need, = this=20 vacuum was filled by the Maoists. Had there been or emerged = a=20 democratic and non-violent force to do that job, the Maoists = would=20 not have emerged or even if they did, they would not be able = to turn=20 on so big mass they have now. Because what would they say to = people,=20 'Hey people, let's go for a communist state' ? That does not = sound=20 very motivating.

I can't say with certainty what = motivates=20 the Maoists collectively. But let me share my experience of = the time=20 when I was an active member of ANNFSU (some of my colleagues = are in=20 the central leadership of the Maoists now, brrrrrr !!). =

In=20 brief, the central theme of our training, discussion and=20 identification vis a vis other political parties and = factions used=20 to be our struggle to dethrone 'Samanti sattaa' and how = others have=20 inferior policy and programs to do that. The theme of = communism was=20 rarely a part of our meal. May be it was a post-meal desert, = but=20 definitely not the main course.

We all were clear = about our=20 democratic program- dismantle the Monarchy. But nobody was = clear=20 about our further communist program- establish 'Naulo = Janabad'.=20

The basic difficulty was that nobody had an idea how = the=20 bourgeoisie democracy, once established, would give rise to = a=20 condition to establish the next 'Naulo Janabad', whatever = that is,=20 or further 'jana ganatantra', the full-flung communist = regime. Was=20 it by winning the election by majority enough to make = required=20 constitutional amendments or by winning the election by = simple=20 majority and then a coup d'=E9tat or by one more insurgency = against=20 whoever is in power was unclear. For this reason, nobody = (among=20 several factions of the communist party) had a clear khaka = of 'Naulo=20 Janabad' itself. It was a muddled concept with contradictory = things.=20 It was full of theoretical jargons and rhetoric but nobody = had an=20 idea how that will translate into the objective situation of = Nepal.=20 I suggest readers to go through the 75 points 'United = Minimum=20 Program' of the Maoists (a sajha poster had posted some = parts of it=20 in a thread), although the Maoists have shelved that for = now, to=20 understand what I mean.

My interpretation of all = this is=20 that the Maoists and all other communists of Nepal are = actually=20 never prepared for 'Naulo janabad'. Their vision ends at the = bourgeoisie democracy, the democratic republic of Nepal. =

And=20 it shouldn't be surprising at all. Ousting the Monarchy = first is=20 already such a colossal, difficult and consuming task, they = don't=20 have time and energy to work out the things beyond that. =

If=20 they are actually not thinking about 'communist' programs, = but=20 rather only about 'democratic' program, how can they = identify=20 themselves with communism ?

Nepe Posted on 09-19-03 1:26 PM =     Reply=20
n my time, it was Nepali Congress which we viewed = as a=20 force fighting only for some concession from the king, but = not for=20 the full democracy, was my identity - as the only and real=20 revolutionary in Nepal. Today too, things are more or less = the same.=20 Except that the UML is competing with the NC for what the = later=20 stands. And, oh yes, I have grown up and I am no longer a = communist.=20 Maoists may call me a 'punjibadi buddijibi'.

There = is one=20 thing, however, that is alarming about the Maoists. That is, = their=20 relation with the international Maoist organizations, = CCOMPOSA, MIM=20 and RIM. Will that relation keep our Maoists from embracing = the=20 bourgeois democracy ?

I am optimistic that they will = not be=20 able to. First of all, these organizations are not powerful=20 organizations. They are almost like paper organizations = without any=20 popular bases and resources. NCP(M) has more to give to them = that=20 they have to offer to the NCP(M). Then, I think, it is the = isolation=20 of the Maoists from the mainstream of Nepal that encouraged = to=20 highlight this logistically insignificant relation. Once the = Maoists=20 get a legal status and role in Nepal, this love affair will = be more=20 of a burden than something to show proudly. Do you remember = how=20 Comrades of UML removed the pictures of Marx, Engles and Mao = from=20 their Blakhu Durbar when Hon'ble Ambassador of the US = visited them ?=20

Now, I think it is reasonable to hope that the glory = of the=20 success of the enormous and painful task of ousting the=20 centuries-old Monarchy should be an incentive for the = Maoists to own=20 it, glorify it and defend it, the same way 'manchhe ko = taauko kaatne=20 Jhapali communists (UML) are doing with the glorious Jana = Andolan of=20 2046.

If, God forbid, the Maoists tried to go beyond = that to=20 establish a communist state, then we will have no option but = to wipe=20 out the Maoists from the face of Nepal with whatever it = takes, from=20 the dirtiest war to military help from our international = friends .=20 And we will have a national resolve, unity and legitimacy to = do that=20 too.

Now, I will leave the rest for my readers to = ponder,=20 analyze and come to sensible conclusions. All I want to say = here is=20 that we do have the cure of the crisis of our country. We = can stop=20 our country from being a failed state. We just need to learn = to=20 think and see 'outside the box'. And we should stop being=20 intimidated by the power of those who do not represent us.=20

We have had enough. We have blamed enough. We have = been=20 cynic enough. We have theorized enough. We have seen enough. = We have=20 wept enough. We have left a selfish king, a bunch of corrupt = politician and a gang of misguided Maoists to ruin the = country=20 enough. Now is the time we the educated Nepali come forward = and=20 build the strong foundation of a modern, democratic and = vibrant=20 nation. Now is the time to say goodbye to denial, ad-hocism, = compromise and ke-garne-ism for good.

The = Constituent=20 Assembly is our chance.

As I discussed above, there = are not=20 many choices for the king except to accept the Constituent = Assembly=20 or similar options if he wants to secure a future of honor. = But you=20 never know how an individual mind may work. He may be in a=20 completely different world. As the Maoists may be justifying = themselves with him, he may be justifying himself with them. = But in=20 any case, it's only matter of time. Sooner or later, they = both=20 should realize they are on the wrong side of the history.=20

Lastly, I want to address those who might be = thinking I am=20 dreaming a dream and those skeptics who might think what if = the=20 republicanism too failed.

I will borrow a line from = a ghazal=20 by Madhav Kaushik, a well-known poet from Chandigarh, as my = reply-=20

<= FONT=20 color=3Dmaroon>Bhunte Posted on 09-19-03 1:48 PM =     Reply=20
epe hajur,

darshan!

dherai din = pachhi=20 jhulkinu bhayo ni. aram biram ke chha? katai minnesota tira = sawari=20 hoisya thiyo ki?

Why republicanism? term paper ho? = gajal ko=20 bhaka ma bhaye padhna sajilo hune thiyo. =

GP Posted on 09-19-03 2:41 PM =     Reply=20
onstitutional Maonarchy did not fail in last 12 = years, it=20 was
most successful. It was the failure of some idiots = who high=20 jacked
the democracy to fill up their pockets and = stomachs.=20

GP

GP Posted on 09-19-03 2:47 PM =     Reply=20
think the other side of the coin "Maoist's = verion" can be=20 read
at

http://www.geocities.com/nc-fan-club/=20

You can understand Maoists of 1997-1999. I wonder = whether=20
that Mao changed to ..........

GP Posted on 09-19-03 2:49 PM =     Reply=20
ead the following number:

"There have = been about=20 150 deaths--(15 policemen, 20 known Maoists, 50 innocent but = Maoist=20 fellow travelers, 65 spies/collaborators). "

In = first=20 ceasefire, it was 1500. In second ceasefire, it was 7500, = now,=20
in third round: its going to be killing field as = Prachanda=20 cites, "may be
we have to kill half of the population?" = i.e.=20 15million.

Garibjanata Posted on 09-19-03 8:19 PM =     Reply=20
EPE ,
Why don't u publish your article in = some paper? A=20 translation in nepali would be better to publish it in a = nepali=20 newspaper.

Gokul Posted on 09-19-03 9:38 PM =     Reply=20
epe,
Extraordinary clarity and logical flow. = For the=20 first time, I did not lose my patience reading a political = piece.=20 Demonstrates your intellectual honesty and analytic = capabilities,=20 not to say your political knowledge and experience.=20

ashu