Nine years of Loktantra
AWC criticizes ‘missed opportunity’ in Nepal’s transitional jus...
Few other people in the world are as fatalistic as Nepalis. Most of us tend to swing between the extremes. Either we are euphoric at successful political movements, as was the case immediately after the 1990 and 2006 political upheavals. Or we get despondent easily when we see our larger-than-life expectations were unrealistic, as is the case now as we celebrate the 10th Loktantra Diwas. The sense of optimism was high following the 2006 Jana Andolan. For the first time in the history of united Nepal complete sovereignty had come to be vested on the people. Before that, the autocratic monarchy had enjoyed the final veto over on the functioning of the state. The few democratic concessions it did make (in 1990 for instance) were cosmetic, carefully calibrated to suit the palace, rather than aimed at strengthening the democratic process. It is for this reason the 2006 movement that uprooted such a well-entrenched monarchy could have been a game-changer for the institutionalization of the democratic process in Nepal.
It could still be. Even when we consider the abject failure of political parties to give us a timely constitution in the last seven years, there is again no gainsaying the 2006 change and the opportunities for lasting peace, prosperity and a more inclusive society it opened. If only our mainstream parties could realize that the failure of the peace and constitutional process would be a major setback to the nascent democratic process. It could also irreparably damage their public image. Already, extremist forces, on the left as well as the right, are in the ascendency. Some would like to turn Nepal into a communist utopia. Others would like to revive the Hindu kingdom. They are gaining in strength because the credibility of our mainstream parties, both in the ruling coalition and the opposition alliance, is fast eroding. They have repeatedly broken their promise of timely constitution and they seem to be tone-deaf to the concerns of common folks.For two weeks people were dying, every single day, from swine flu and other related diseases in Jajarkot. But the governing NC-UML alliance, it seemed, just didn't care. As shameful was the silence of the Maoist and Madheshi parties in the opposition. The same story of apathy and neglect is played out, year after year, in the devastating aftermath of monsoon floods, in the total absence of basic health care for half the population, in the pauperization of public schools. Oddly, the brand of Loktantra practiced in Nepal is unheeding of the Lok, the sovereign people. But it's not too late. The post-2006 changes give political leaders a lot to build on, if only they could be a little more empathetic to the people they represent. The majority of Nepalis really don't care what kind of federalism or government form they have; a system, after all, is only as good as its operators. But they also want definite end of the prolonged transition that has had a devastating impact on the national economy and by extension the livelihood of millions of Nepalis. On the tenth Loktantra Diwas, people, above all, want to see the revival of the spirit of cooperation and compromise among our political forces that was in evidence during the 2006 movement against autocratic monarchy. It would really be unfortunate if it took the rise of another despot like Mahendra or Gyanendra to bring them together.
