The road to New Nepal: Opportunities and Challenges

Jeevan Baniya

King Gyanendra sacked the country’s prime minister and parliament in Feb. 1, 2005, then started direct rule in Nepal. The king declared emergency rule, banned all political activity and fully centralized state power in him. But from that time on, there were several demonstrations against his step. On April 21 2006, protests continued in the following days, with crowds increasing to sizes estimated at 100,000to 200,000 in Kathmandu, the capital city. King Gyanendra reinstated the old sacked House of Parliament on April 24, 2006 and called on SPA to nominate a new prime minister of the country on a state-owned television station, saying, "We return the executive power of the country to the people. We request the seven-party alliance to recommend a name for the post of prime minister who will have the responsibility to run the government." It is the historic moment for people of Nepal.

After the historical movement and political change in 2006, Nepal has been pursuing lots of initiatives to achieve peace leading to building New Nepal in the near future. The historical movement {Jana Andolon} last year has given people lots of hopes for long lasting peace in the country. The country has realized the several achievements including vivid picture of democratization process in the country. Some of the great achievements of course are eight point agreement between Seven Parties and Maoist, Code of Conduct agreed between Seven Parties and Maoists; Seven Party-Maoist historical agreement, Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the government and the CPN (Maoist); arms and army management monitoring agreement between the government and the CPN (Maoist), interim constitution, amendment in interim constitution and formation of interim government including Maoists.

These historical achievements are symptoms of Nepal heading towards brighter future. The political parties also seem to have been committed to paving the way to New Nepal. However, the failure of conducting the election for constituent assembly in last mid-June aroused lots of frustrations disappointments in people. Compared to the history of conflict resolutions in the world, progress and pace of conflict resolution is moving faster. However, the recent movements and growing tendencies of disintegrations and instability in the eastern region {Tarai} of Nepal stand as the greatest challenges for the government. Though election of the constituent assembly is the major agenda of the government as well as Maoist, without addressing the demands of Madhesi, dalits and indigenous and women and other various communities, holding the election will not be fruitful anymore. The CA election has been a hot issue in the political arena of Nepal following the establishment of democracy. But the appropriate modality and the election system has yet to be decided for the CA polls.

The growing instability and havocs in eastern region have posed the great challenges ahead. Considering the overall developments in the country, everybody needs to realize that in 21st century power exists in groups of people not just in a party or a group; there are many communities as the stakeholders of the country. The country has been experiencing various social, economical and political inequalities for long. There are many communities who were oppressed, marginalized and neglected all across the country. The deeply rooted class, gender, lingual, and regional inequalities are the main problems of the country that have been obstructing the government from realizing their goals -“Building New Nepal”. In this context, this is the opportunity for the country because the country can address the problems of many people through CA election. On the other hand, there are many challenges to better address each and every community’s demands.

What should be done?

First:- On top of everything there needs the unity among political parties. There are many regressive and reactionary elements that are trying to play on to destabilize the present progress of building New Nepal; hence every political party should be very aware of those elements, which are creating big conspiracies to divide them. If they are trapped in the cruel net of their conspiracies, it is sure that the country will turn into a battlefield from where, no one will be able to escape, and even the country might be disintegrated. Hence, the political parties should find the common ground where they can better work together and make common consensus for establishing the bases for New Nepal.

Second:- So as to better address the aspirations of people and institutionalize achievements of popular movement, government, political parties and civil society organizations need to work together. And, they immediately do a comprehensive exercises to better address the demands of Madhesi people {people from eastern Nepal}, indigenous, dalits and other agitating communities. Hence, it is a must to review the election system to ensure representation, especially of those people who are excluded, marginalized, and deprived for centuries. If they could not represent their communities in the forthcoming CA assembly, the constitution drafting process would not be inclusive, democratic, and representative as the expectations of people. If not addressed this problems seriously, there might be further anarchy and conflicts ultimately leading towards civil war.

Third:- Most of the political parties have voiced loudly for the establishment of republic system through CA election in the country. But unfortunately, no single party does have any clear modality of republic system; neither does CPN Maoist though the party is told to have been fighting for the establishment of republic system in the country. Therefore, all the political parties should go to the people with crystal clear framework of republic state along with their concept on development paradigm and its time frame.

Fourth:- In recent days, Nepal is experience over interference from intentional forces, which has negatively affected in the peace and democratization process in the country. At this point, I don’t mean to say that we don’t need any assistance of international communities for the social, economical and political transformation. Of course, we are desperately in need of them; but Nepal has realized that their over intervention in Nepali political arena has badly affected in our peace process. What Nepal needs at present from international communities are their kind hearts and their solidarity. Therefore, international forces should respect the Nepali people’s aspirations and thereby give them the chance to decide their future themselves through upcoming CA election in coming November. If any international community is interested in helping Nepal, they can help the government in conducting the election in a free, fair and credible manner; every Nepali will appreciate their help.

These are not the enough measures needed for building New Nepal; rather they will build the constructive environment for successful CA election in the country upon which the future of Nepal depends.

* This article was originally published in www.peoplepower21.org in 2007.