Self-Serving Politics of Political Parties of Nepal
Prakash Bom - 3/27/2009
Can leaders of major political parties of Nepal transcend themselves from "self-serving" politics at least for this transition period? Obviously, it is a question of conscientious to honestly address the political challenges that nation has been confronted at this stage. Unquestionably, the more the political parties are self-serving their own party interests (agenda and ideology) the less they are committed to people and nation for the rule of law.
By virtue of South Asian political culture it is doubtful whether Nepal's political party leaders can honestly realize the fact that the building-block of Peace and Democracy of a nation is justice. It is clear that without such insight political leaders cannot abolish the culture of impunity.
This is what is happening in Nepal at this transition phase of drafting a new constitution. If not the UN High Commissioner for human rights on her visit to Nepal would not have reminded people of Nepal that without justice peace is not conceivable. As a matter of fact, none of the perpetrators of 10-years conflict (for example, both members of Nepal Army and PLA of Maoist), who had committed crimes against innocent people, have not brought to justice.
Virtually, major political parties have prevented such justice in order to keep up with the culture of impunity to insure safe heaven for their own cadres. That's why there have been ample of conflicts dragging Communist Party of Nepal United Maoist (CPN-UM) led government dealing with Nepal Army authority and political parties that take side of the army to perpetuate impunity. This is one of the reasons that have made army integration complicated.
A nation like Nepal that has undergone political changes with the 10-years' insurgency and people's movements can pardon institutions that were involved during the conflicts and public uprisings but it cannot pardon individual members who misused their authority and committed crimes against innocent people as human rights violators. But to prevent justice to protect individual perpetrators by political parties with all means is to perpetuate old feudal culture of impunity.
However, as long as CPN-UM led government's handling the scenario of Nepal Army Brigadier Generals' retirement provision act that allows Generals retire three yeas after their tenure until they become fifty seven years old with the authorization of the Ministry of Defense is not counterproductive to overall peace process then it should not be politicized. Since CPN-UM led government have denied the extension of retiring Brigadier Generals the decision should not be taken as unfairness because it could give opportunity to other army personnel.
For example, the opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) taking the side of the army by calling CPN-UM led government's decision an intention to lower the morale of the military by creating vacuum in the army is as apprehensive as UML leaders' inapt demand for reinstate. The intention of CPN-UM led government is not clear yet whether they are frantic to control army for self-serving their own ideology or they are genuinely trying to serve people and nation for Democracy. Nonetheless, Prime Minister "Prachanda's" pledge to process peace and the restructuring of the federal states is reassuring.
However, NC has failed from the beginning by not taking part in the coalition government of the Constituent Assembly without a genuine political reason that could address the political challenges of the nation. But NC's positioning as opposition political party of Constituent Assembly has proved less productive to democratic processes. The move was anti-historic because it only self-served to appeal the reactions of its certain leaderships for failing to fetch greater state power and political fame.
Unless and until NC joins the coalition government of Constituent Assembly most of the major issues of post Maoist-conflict will not go through democratic processes but will be delivered with the arbitrary tactic of CPN-UM led government such as in the case of retiring NA'S Brigadier Generals. The fundamental reason for NC to join coalition government ought to help coalition government to make decisions with mandatory cabinet scrutiny. This role cannot be effective as an outsider with the position of the opposition.
The golden rule of power is better to "have" than "not to have" and "not to have" is to become loser particularly at this transition period of Constituent Assembly, which fundamental objective is to establish institutions of Federal Democratic Republic. Therefore, if NC joins coalition government then it can help many decisions of the coalition government with democratic process, which CPN-UM alone cannot process them for many reasons.
As a matter of fact, NC has put Prime Minister of coalition government in a very difficult "ping pong" political position as much as CPN-UM hardliners have with their incapability of leading the nation as per the aspiration of people of Nepal. Had NC have joined the coalition government as per the objectives of Constituent Assembly it might have helped major political parties to reach political consensus. Instead NC has reacted irresponsibly only to self-served itself as opposition party in the Constituent Assembly.
As a result, people of Nepal have such ministers of Maoist who, for example, wants against the history of world education to impose tax on private school without taking into consideration the other options that can accommodate private schools in providing education to a greater number of children of the nation. For example, private schools could have quota system for providing free education to Dalit, Tharu and female children population of the nation.
It is unfortunate of people of Nepal that political parties could not cultivate a new culture of political consensus at this transition period but end up with the same old culture of impunity for self-serving their own party by all means. To the disappointment of people that whenever the major political parties have reached political consensus they have undermined the significance of the electoral process in Democracy, which cannot be overruled by arbitration of the party coalition.
Had major political parties after Constituent Assembly elections could have reined their old habit of "self-serving" politics in order to grab state power for their leaderships to rise up with the fame and power they could have served the people and nation with the culture of political consensus. However, it is still not late if they wish to abolish their old culture of "self-serving" at this transition period if they are serious to serve the nation with the new culture of political consensus through the electoral democratic process of the Constituent Assembly.
However, it is NC which has to step in to abolish its old habit of "self-serving" politics by joining the coalition government of the people's Constituent Assembly in order to facilitate the coalition government with the new culture of political consensus. Then only the institutions of Federal Democratic Republic can successfully be established with the new constitution that ought to be sanctioned with the common political consensus and the unanimous votes of the Constituent Assembly.
Note: Source http://globalpolitician.com/25551-nepal
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Thanks,
With Regards,
Rahul
General Secretary of UYMF, Nepal
E-mail - igotrahul@gmail.com
Visit http://uyfm.wordpress.com
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