I just came across this article by some KC Pralhad that seems to have been written in the vein of throwing the red carpet for the king when he shows up in New York in two weeks' time. Looks to me like the Monarchists are going to wage a media fight here in the diaspora like they are subjecting the disagreeing ones to the police state back in Nepal.
I looked at the Pralhad bio, and he seems to come across as quite an accomplished person. He seems to have bagged quite a few awards, for one. I found this article of his vaguely attractive in that this is one instance where the Monarchists have thrown all their cards on the table, and that gives a democrat like me a rather unique opportunity to dissect and discard all in one place.
The very existence of a monarchy is offensive to the democrats, although I have been at the forefront of the idea of possibly going for a Constitutional Assembly that guarantees a constitutional monarchy so as to mainstream both the Maoists and the Monarchists. So to present the king as the messiah who will bring forth democracy is a serious misnomer. To say the Monarchists will bring democracy into the country is to suggest the KKK will spearhead the civil rights movement. Tulsi Giri is a perfect example of a Monarchist, in that he has made it absolutely clear he is not for democracy. Pralhad might be a little westernized - although Giri himself is Christianized - but he does not belong to a different camp from Giri.
Pralhad's eyeshades are green, so he sees green no matter which direction he looks. Pralhad is a Monarchist. To him the king represents peace when he sits atop an army with the worst human rights violations on the planet, so bad the honchos in Nepal could very well find themselves at the Hague. To him the king represents democracy, a king who executed 2/1. To him the king represents prosperity when he is on the verge of bankrupting the country by single-mindedly seeking a military solution to the country when literally everyone who knows what he or she is talking about has come to the conclusion there is only a political solution, there is no military solution to the civil war.
To the likes of Pralhad the king is not the chief executive of a coutry with a track record of words and actions, but a fantassy figure. All his wet dreams are to do with the poster on the Wall. The king is Marilyn Monroe.
I am the fiercest critic Girija ever had. Just dig into this blog. I am hyper critical of the half-baked democracy of the 1990s. But the solution to too little democracy is more democracy, it can not be no democracy. Democracy is such a powerful idea, even the king pays lip service to it. The world's largest and oldest democracies, India and the US, stand by the democratic movement in Nepal. It is their judgment call that 2/1 was a major setback to democracy in Nepal. And I agree. Why? Because that conclusion is so obvious. I don't agree because India and the US say so. Infact I reached that conclusion before they did.
The king can only speak for the people, and can claim whatever he is doing is for the people, and can claim the people are with him only if he silences them. That is why when the king takes over, freedom of speech is the first casualty. If the people are for him, he should be happy to let them speak that support, right? If the people so love the monarchy, a Constituent Assembly will establish, or rather retain the monarchy with a resounding vote, right? Then why is the king so scared of the idea of a Constituent Assembly, the only solution to the civil war?
How do the people feel? I don't trust you to tell me how. And I don't need you to trust me to tell you how. That is why I am for elections. Let an elected Constituent Assembly decide the kind of constitution the people want. And then let them vote for the party they want in power. What do the people think? I don't claim to know. Ask them. I am only one person.
See, that is the difference between democrats and Monarchists. Democrats are about going to the people. Monarchists never tire of talking of the nation and the people but are scared of facing them. They talk of nationalism like it were an idea they have a copyright to. No wonder they talk of the people like they were mindless automatons, like they were sheep. All they need is some green pasture. And they will happily graze. All they want is peace, be it the dead peace of a police state, they will do just fine.
No. If it is between the dead peace of a police state and a revolution, I believe the Nepali people would rather have a revolution. And I would not blame them for that.
Pralhad is a Bostonian and he chides Nepalis living abroad for speaking their minds on democracy from the safety of being out of reach of that police state. The contradiction, the hypocricy of his making that statement while himself being in Boston must have flown out his window. Basically he is saying it is okay for a Monarchist to be in Boston, but the sky falls if a democrat is in Boston. Most Bostonians would argue the other way round. I would be willing to bet my bank account on that claim.
Nepali democrats find themselves sucked into the happenings in Nepal because they love their country of origin. To us democracy is so obvious. America's riches were derived through democracy. It is that same ideal that will also cure Nepal's poverty. There is no ideology that even competes. Monarchism is not it. Feudalism is not it. A police state is not it. Democracy unleashes the human potential. Monarchism suffocates the people. Democracy makes people want to go to the moon. Monarchism makes people say things like, I would be lucky just to have two square meals a day.
Look at the bloated palace and army budgets. That is where the corruption is. And they are all documented. Those figures are all publicly available.
A corrupt royal clique and army can not fight corruption. Refer to the KKK argument above.
The same applies to democracy.
The same applies to peace.
Classic Maoism is literally an open book. And Maoism as Mao practiced it is not palatable to me. And I have often asked myself if the Nepali Maoists are like the classic Maoists, like in China back then, Cambodia, Peru.
I am not too sure about that, although I have made a few judgment calls on that topic in the past. But what I am very sure about is that these Monarchists have a political need to demonize the Maoists so as to not have to seek a political solution to the civil war. Because they rightly judge their relevancy is only as long as the world feels there is only a military solution to the civil war.
The Monarchists need the Maoists to subscribe to classic Maoism. If those Maoists were to instead opt for a Democratic Republic like in India, as they have, then those Maoists become a real threat to the Monarchists. And that is the real story that comes out of the smokescreen. I am not fooled.
Pralhad's idea of "reality" is to quote the man-in-the-street. So he goes ahead and quotes people he might have met. Chances are Monarchists hang out with and do business with Monarchists. And a people living in the fear of a police state cultivate defense mechanisms that robs them of their humanity and the basic instinct to speak up.
A regime that shuts people up is not in any position to say what the people are saying. In a democracy, the people speak for themselves. In an autocracy, people in unform claim to speak for the people.
The choice is clear. It is between democracy and autocracy. What's more, only the democratic solution to the civil war is a viable option. That is the only way to a quick peace.
We democrats are right. We just need to gather strength. So we are not really even interested in discussing ideology. It is democracy as far as the eyes can see. What we are interested in is discussing the logistics of the movement. This is going to be one decisive winter.
Nepal: Let's Give Peace A Chance
KC Pralhad - 8/30/2005
For thirty years, I have been in the USA as a fully engaged Nepali. I am not a Diaspora Nepali, someone from a fine family who returns to the Kingdom occasionally, and speaks only to relatives. As a businessperson, importing Nepali goods to the US, I must visit Nepal multiple times each year. My travels allow me access to a broad spectrum of Nepali voices, city and village, rich and poor. After canvassing and interviewing hundreds of hard working business leaders and common people within Nepal, as well as those living in the USA and abroad, and also reading articles and taking views of various personalities, I have presented this paper. Hence I feel it holds the view of large spectrum of Nepali people and friends of Nepal regarding the present situation of Nepal.
King Gyanendra , dismissed the Deuba-led coalition government on February 1, 2005, and formed a ten-member government under his own chairmanship. He has proclaimed that this step was taken in accordance to the Article 115, Clause 1 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, 1990, and he asserts that it will serve the interests of the Nepali people, end the Maoist insurgency, and bring on the reinstatement the democratic system within 3 years.
Was this a bad move? I don't know. Was this good move? I don't know that either yet. Only time will tell. But I am sure that if the King can bring peace back to the people of Nepal, and clean up the corrupt leaders, Nepal could become heaven on this earth once again and King will be remembered as one of the greatest monarchs in world history.
Many of you may not agree with me. You might say that the present move of the king can only backpedal the process of development and democracy in the country. But friends, let us wake up and face reality, The Maoists have cast Nepal backwards by decades by their destruction of infrastructure, roads, schools, health posts, bridges, etc. What did our so called democratically elected leaders do to protect the innocent population from the Maoist terrorization that has been going on for the last ten plus years by brutally murdering dissenters, kidnapping students, perpetrating atrocities against teachers, and destroying basic infrastructure and development projects? Aren't these crimes against country and people? Isn't this something to think about?
Let us examine the performance and activities of the past democratically elected governments over the last 15 years. Whether we reside in Nepal or abroad, the widespread corruption and abuse of authority by the power hungry politicians, (not by a single party but by all the parties in the government), is evident. Political leaders forget the basic norms of democracy and put themselves and their families' welfare above the law. They began to view our country as a Babu ko Birta/ Ama ko pewa, as a result of (God gifts) their past sacrifices they made for the cause of democracy. Honesty and Respect, time-honored basic norms of Nepali society were eroded by widespread corruption. And with no discipline enforced, government offices became the karyakarta bharti kendra (Job center for party members). The social fabric and communal harmony historically prevalent in Nepali society collapsed, allowing the situation to deteriorate further.
When well wishers and supporters of various political parties of the people's movement of B.S. 2046, began to compare the pre and post people's movement era unfavorably, It became clear to me that the situation was untenable. Through my interactions over the last 25 years of doing business throughout Nepal, I began to hear a refrain: many saying in the past, "There were few leeches, but now, there are leeches everywhere." I have heard hundreds of stories of potential political leaders--general genuine qualified people - who were deprived from employment because of their different political party affiliation or because they had no direct way to approach the political leaders in power. Foreign donors became confused as to whom to deal with to finalize the development project/programs, fearful of getting on the wrong side of various, vested powerhouses in the country. Given the constant jockeying for political advantage, many common citizens did anticipate some sort of political maneuvering. While the present move by the King is not surprising to many, it is astonishing to others.
It is said, "Democracy and progress complement each other." But do our bitter experiences of the past few years show this to be true? It can be argued that in Nepal, the concept of multiparty democracy became a joke, as instances after instance of obstruction and corruption were catalogued in Parliament. Consider this: Not a single House of Representatives member was allowed to complete his tenure. I blame this short-circuiting of the democratic process on our power-hungry, greedy elected leaders.
The King asked the parties to come forward with a consensus government. He met with all the political leaders and requested that they put the nation and the people first, hoping that the leaders would come to him with a government that included all major parties. But apparently, resolving Nepal's political crisis wasn't in their agenda, and they refused to cooperate.
Everyone talks about the impasse between the "triangles" of the Maoists, the political parties, and the palace. But Nepal is not a triangle. Who speaks for innocent people? The elected political parties do not, nor do the Maoists. But someone must. Shouldn't the King speak for his people?
I wish our elected political leadership had understood the real situation of the country is and suffering and spoke out more often about the people rather than irrelevant issues, which only concern their own betterment. Whether you like it or not, much of the ill we have suffered is a result of corrupt leadership.
No serious efforts have been made by any party leaders to stop the real threat posed against democracy by terrorism. If we continue on this vicious path, how long can we last as a country? The issue before the King, as leader of the country, is how best to bring peace, so that Nepal could continue to exist as a country inhabited by our children and grand children. Therefore, it is the duty of any King, "To preserve our nationalism, national unity and sovereignty, as well as to maintain peace and security in the country, and ensure that the state of the nation did not deteriorate further."
Let's not forget that for last 15 years we had democracy and king functioned only as part of a constitutional monarchy. Even on October 4, 2004 the king didn't dismiss the government out of his own free will. He was given a written request by the Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who was acting on the advice of all the parties to invoke the last clause of the constitution. We can go on debating forever whether it was the king's idea or party's idea, bottom line is was it within the constitutional boundaries? Yes, it was since he is the constitution's custodian it was his constitutional obligation, otherwise the constitution was as good as dead.
At this time of crisis, as a true Nepali, well wishers and friends of Nepal, we must give our support, cooperation and help to King, as he endeavors to bring peace to Nepal. Let's give peace a chance!
The King has made a thorny choice. He has said, "we have no interest other than the restoration of sustainable peace and exercise in meaningful democracy for the welfare of the Nepal and Nepalese people." The king has expressed his firm commitment to multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy repeatedly--even in the latest proclamation--should put to rest any doubts about his motives.
The King has taken a bold step to resolve the crisis. It is natural that cynicism and uncertainty follow a political step of this magnitude, but I caution you to consider this: the King has risked his throne to bring peace, and he has pledged human security and dignity to Nepali people suffering from the on going violence.
It's temptingly easy to blame the King. But do you really believe he had other options? My dear friends, it is very easy to be Monday morning quarterback and run politics from abroad. But try to think like an average Nepali. If we were to ask any average Nepali in Nepal today, "Do you want democracy or Peace?" I predict that 99% of the people would ask for peace and food on their plate. (Excluding the less than 1% represented by the so-called party karya karta (party members & spin doctors). Democracy cannot be imposed on. Democracy has to be a demand of the majority. In today's Nepal the priorities are thus: First, give us peace, security and food on our plates, and then give us democracy.
My expression in many ways is the representation of hundreds of thousands of frustrated Nepali and friends of Nepal living in and outside the country.
While many say that little has changed since Feb. 1 in the countryside, where fear of the rebels' still rules, the King's move has received wide approval due to the universal unpopularity of corrupt politicians. Here are some of the spectrum views of general publics and professionals.
Angur Baba Joshi, 74, a pioneer in child and women's rights said. "The whole of Nepal was burning, as it were. We never had it so bad. Somebody had to do something," The King was compelled to do it. He was obliged to do it." I believe him. I trust him," Yogendra Sakya, one of the Nepal's leading hotel and travel executive said " I am very much a democrat. I love my freedom. But right now, we want security and peace.
"The politicians are thieves. The King is like a police Inspector. We need him" said a taxi driver Lakhgan Bahadur Ghale.
"I just want to work on the farm and make a living. I just want to do that without being afraid. If the King can help me do it, it's good. If the politician can do it that's good too," said farmar Bir Bahadur Nainabasti from the village of Charaundi.
Dr. Upendra Devkota, an internationally renowned neurosurgeon said "We are merely surviving. What we first want is oxygen. When we are well, we will go to the pub and the disco. We will enjoy freedom, democracy, and all the good things of life".
Dilli Bahadur Chaudhari, International Reebok Human Right Award recipient. President of BASE, Leader of Tharu community, an Internationally renowned human Right Activist said," more than any thing right now we need peace in the country, then democracy".
Independent In ternate survey conducted by Sajha.com
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ABOUT KING G'S MOVE ON FEB 1, 2005?
I support it: 63%
I oppose it: 34%
I don't care: 4%
Meanwhile in Nepal various intellectuals, political parties, political figures and the private sector's leading organizations including the Nepal Chamber of Commerce have appreciated the king's move as a necessary for the country. In my opinion, we should value more the comments concern of the people who are in Nepal and their associations, rather than outsiders (living abroad) and their associations who are not in touch with the reality of Nepal's everyday life.
All the leading bodies of the private sector have expressed their firm beliefs that King's commitment to peace, security and order would create a business and industry-friendly environment attractive to foreign investment in the country.
In a press release the Nepal Chamber of Commerce has expressed hope that the King's move would be effective in ending the vicious cycle of violence prevalent in the country. NCC believes that the current move of the King would be instrumental in restoring peace and order, curbing corruption and maintaining good governance in the country."
Meanwhile, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), issuing a press release, has hoped that the royal move would help bring the long lasting peace resulting sustainable development in the country.
Likewise, the Nepal Association of Travel Operators (NATO) has stated that the King's move will be effective in maintaining peace and security in the country that would create an atmosphere to upgrade tourism of the country.
The Board of Airlines Representatives in Nepal (BARN) has expressed its full support to the Royal Proclamation further stating that the Proclamation would be a concrete step to bring in peace, prosperity and the well being of the Nepalese people.
The business community is hopeful that the hay day will come back soon while tourism entrepreneurs hope the hit-hard hospitality service industry will come back soon.
At this time the king should be concerned about what majority of the impoverished Nepali people and the Nepali business community are saying about the move, and not the handful of party member's chamchas and Monday morning quarter backs who are living aboard and pretend to run Nepal's politics.
International Support
International support it is very important for Nepal's current situation. The government is grateful that many countries are supporting peace for Nepal and its' people.
It is true that when, you identify your objective it becomes much clearer and easier to pursue that objective. Nepal's current objective should be fighting terrorism and abolishing corruption. The Nepali people and King have chosen to uphold democracy and fight against terrorism. Terrorism vs peace, there is no ambiguity in the current agenda.
I know There are few so called literate opportunist foreign raised hypocrites figures and their associations, have taken Nepal's politics as if it is their personal property and have blatantly becoming Nepal bashing and circulating wrong information and protesting the King's move to suspend military and development aid to Nepal. For the God Shake for once, think about those Nepali people who go to bed every night and worrying not knowing, whether they will be able to see tomorrow's sun or not and worrying if their parent will be able to put food on their children's plate. Think about those people who has been slaughtered, killed and raped by the terrorist. They may not be your or my relatives but they were somebody's sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers or mothers. Aren't their lives worth fighting for?
At the time of need, we all should have one voice for Nepal's peace and security. Being a Nepali, it is our duty and obligation to question our international partners, whether they are going to help us to bring peace and to restore democracy or not? Or sit back and watch us disappear from the world map. If that is not the agenda they want to go along, then they should tell us openly what their agenda is? Shouldn't we have the right to end terrorism and corrupt leaders in our own country and to protect our own people?
The international community and party leaders have to give serious thought to this regard. This is not a game, or another street show of party leaders. This is a matter of Nepal's existence or not. If this move were to fail, what's next? Maoist communist rule? Or major civil war in Nepal - jeopardizing million of innocent Nepalese lives. Haven't they done enough damage and taken enough in taking the lives of 11,000 innocent people?
Do you really think there will be cooperation between military and party leaders? These are the leaders who are protesting and requesting the international community to suspend military aid?
The international community must understand that finally Nepal is moving on that path to bring peace, pursue democratic ideals that are suited to the genius of the people of Nepal and the soil of Nepal. Nepal and Nepali people will no more tolerate terrorism and corrupt political leaders. I can tell you in time truth will prevail and International partners will look at the big picture of the Nepal's crisis and understand the people's cry for peace than the loud mouth of the corrupt leaders. They all know Nepal's security forces are conducting themselves on the minimal equipment they have. It's really shoe-string operation. We have been hearing in news that several international partners have suspended military assistance to Nepal. This must be great news to terrorist and must be happy. If the Nepalese army has a limited logistical support, they can accelerate their destruction campaign, including bombing schools, ambulances, torching dozens of trucks with live animals inside, letting hundreds of children and women injured and killed by abandoning bombs in their fields, forests or school premises.
The dismay of Indian government is not surprising the present move of the King without the consent/or approval of India, is unprecedented. India felt despondent by the bold decision of King coupled with support from our neighboring countries - China & Pakistan, and increasing support of the people of Nepal as civilians have also reportedly joined hands with the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) against the Maoist insurgency.
Now India is in dilemma What if, Nepal takes military aid from China, the King has no option if all doors of military aid closed. Indian is very much disturbed.
According to South Asia Tribune (Feb 27, 2005), India is getting increasingly concerned and apprehensive about "designs" of Pakistan and China in Nepal, after New Delhi cut off military aid to the Kingdom. This Indian view coincided with some damage control efforts begun by New Delhi when the Indian Ambassador in KatKingandu, Shiv Shanker Mukherjee, met the Vice President of the Council of Ministers, Dr. Tulsi Giri on Thursday. "They discussed matters of mutual interest and bilateral issues, including suspension of military aid," the senior official said.
It is believed that, if everything goes as planned, Nepal will soon have its renaissance of peace, security and order. As the King said. "When a house catches fire, it takes sometime to put it out. All the resources, knowledge and wisdom will have to be mobilized to put that out."
KC Pralhad is a President of Nepal America Foundation, Inc. Member of the Massachusetts Governor's Advisory Council on Refugees and Immigrants since 1995. Honorary Representative of Nepal Chamber of Commerce to the United States of America. First Asian to Receive Massachusetts Governor's New American Appreciation Award, given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the community at large. First Non-resident Nepalese (NRN) to received SUPRABAL GORKHA DAKSHIN BAHU THIRD 2004 for the contribution in the promotion of Nepalese Art, Culture and Heritage, and playing pivotal role in making sister city relation between Cambridge City and City of Kathmandu. 
