Mr Speaker, take initiative

It is disheartening to learn that the Speaker of the House, Subas Kumar Nembang, did not take any initiative to begin a probe into the controversial audiotape that was leaked to media last week. [break]Though a number of lawmakers, speaking in parliament on Tuesday, demanded a probe into the audiotape, the Speaker ended the session without taking any decision. Later on, talking to media, he defended his inaction, saying that he would reach a final decision after consulting the top leaders of major parties.



As we understand it, it is within his jurisdiction to issue a directive to the government to form a judicial commission to investigate the case, or he could have formed a parliamentary committee to carry out the necessary investigations. We’re afraid the Speaker is trying to dilly dally over investigations, before dismissing the matter altogether.



As mentioned in our previous editorial on the issue, the audiotape controversy is too serious a matter to be brushed aside without subjecting it to proper investigations. But more than a week after the audiotape became public, neither the government nor parliament seems eager to go for a proper probe. We once again want to remind the government and the House that they cannot escape from their basic responsibility of bringing before the people the truth concerning such a serious case.



Going by the statements and comments of various Maoist leaders in the wake of the controversy, it appears that the audiotape is a genuine one. Many Maoist leaders have argued that the tapping of telephone conversations of senior leaders by foreign agencies has raised serious questions about our national security. If tapping indeed took place, it automatically follows that the content of the audiotape is also genuine.



We are pushing for the probe, and we will continue to do so, in the hope that a thorough investigation will eventually force the political parties in Nepal to begin reforms in their finances, among other things. It so often happens that parties that are reluctant to embrace reform are forced to do so once they are confronted by a serious crisis.



Our hope is that the audiotape controversy, if probed conclusively, will force not just the Maoists but other parties as well to undergo serious reform. Political parties in Nepal—without any exception—maintain no transparency at all when it comes to the mobilization of finances and their spending. That is unacceptable in a democracy. If parties are accountable to the people, they must inform people about their finances – Who is funding them? Where the money is coming from, and how it is being spent?

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