Democracy For Nepal

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Monarchy, Army, Federalism

All eight parties are going to have to take a clear stand on these three burning issues and then go to the people, and let the people decide what is what. The seven parties and the Maoists are going to have to let the people have the final say. Free and fair elections have to be organized, and the people's verdict has to be final.

Interim Arrangement

The UML wants the Maoists to dissolve their local governments. I can see why. At the ballot box, these two parties will be competing for some of the same votes. That is why. And the Maoists want the House to be dissolved. They are not represented in the House, that is why.

A compromise has to be sought. The parties are talking about it like the interim government is to last for a few years. That should not be the case.

Constituent Assembly Elections Before Dashain

My proposal has been to form eight party governments at all levels. You start with the House. Expand it so as to increase its size from 205 to 270. Give 40 seats to the Maoists, and invite them into the cabinet.

40 Seats For Maoists, 25 For Others

At the local levels - village, town, city, district - form eight party governments as well. But if there are places where all eight parties don't exist, only parties that are around will get represented. There are districts where only the Koirala Congress, the UML, the Maoists and the Deuba Congress exist. Such will have four party governments.

Such an arrangement will also cement the eight party unity. That unity is still needed. There still might be regression. There might be anarchy. We already have experienced some of it.

The eight parties have to stick together for democracy. If they could do it in April when it was much tougher, they can do it today.

Those who fear the Maoists on the democracy issue, this will be their chance to "educate" the Maoists on the fundamentals of democratic decision making.

Monarchy

The Maoists, the UML and the Jana Morcha are for a republic. Girija Koirala is for a ceremonial monarchy. I wish all eight parties came out for a republic. But if that not be coming, each party has to follow the democratic process inside their respective parties to let their cadres decide on the party's formal stand. The party president may not impose himself on his cadres like Girija is trying to do.

Say a few parties opt for a ceremonial monarchy, and the rest go for a republic. In the constituent assembly, the camp that has the majority vote will win. If the majority might be for a republic, the country becomes one.

And if this issue gets contentious, we can always hold a referendum on this topic. The constituent assembly could pass a resolution to that effect.

Let the people decide.

Federalism

The Maoists and the Sadbhavana are for federalism. The two Congress parties, the UML and the Jana Morcha have not yet formally endorsed federalism.

Girija Koirala is not in tune with the April Revolution. Or he would not be talking in terms of a ceremonial monarchy and decentralization, code word for being against federalism. If there was one chorus during the April Revolution, it was that of a republic. Girija obviously did not hear it. He was indoors.

Not only do the parties have to take a stand for or against federalism, those who come out for federalism also have to spell out what form of federalism they have in mind.

My personal proposal is not ethnic but economic. I am for three states, Kosi, Gandaki, Karnali. And with strong districts. The Sadbhavana is for five states, Eastern Terai, Western Terai, Eastern Hills, Western Hills, and Kathmandu Valley. The Maoists have eight states in mind.

The Bahuns in the leadership positions in the large parties want decentralization along the lines of the five development regions.

My position is a compromise position between the Maoists and the Sadbhavana at one end, and the Bahuns at the other.

Proposed Republican Constitution 2006

But it is for the people to decide.

Army

This is tricky.

I started out by saying we should dismantle both the armies and be done with it.

Dismantle The Two Armies

I still think that would be a good idea. Or we could have a small army, raise it from scratch. I think the army as an issue has to be treated just like the monarchy and federalism issues. Each party has to take a clear stand, and then go to the people.

How big do you think the army should be? 30,000? 50,000? 100,000? What should its ethnic and gender compositions be?

I would go for an army that is 30,000 strong, or 0.1% of the national population. And it should be an army raised from scratch, and it should look like Nepal. As in, it should be 50% women. It should be 40-50% Madhesi, it should be 20% Dalit, it should be 37% Janajati, it should be 20% Bahun Chhetri.

How do you get there?

You separate the soldiers from the two armies from their guns. All such guns will become the property of the future Nepal Army. And then pass a law to make it illegal for anyone to own such guns who might not be in the army.

Keep both the armies in barracks. Keep them occupied, perhaps with physical training, perhaps with language clases, classes in human rights, classes in vocational skills.

Hold constituent assembly elections. Then raise an army from scratch according to the winning formula, the one that the people voted for.

According to my formula, the most qualified 30,000 would get selected. But people not in the two armies will also be eligible to compete, and especially to help engineer the desired gender and ethnic and caste compositions.

Interestingly, the Maoists are the ones who have come out agreeing with the idea of separating the soldiers from their guns. The seven parties and the Nepal Army have not even taken a look at the idea.

In The News

PM Koirala meets Indian President NepalNews
India ‘ready’ to announce special aid package for Nepal
NFDN demands equal opportunity for persons with disabilities
Govt forms committee to amend educational policies; provides scholarship to martyrs' offspring
Women, Conflict and UN Resolution 1325
Mahara warns of talks breakdown if parliament is not dissolved He assured that even if the talks failed, his party would not return to jungle but would launch a peaceful agitation.
US hints on removal of terrorist tag on Maoists
Indian PM Singh breaks tradition, receives Koirala at Delhi airport

Intellectuals shocked over govt reluctance Kantipur Publications
Dissolving House meaningless: Nemwang
US ready to help create conducive atmosphere
Maoists take away 150 students
Maoists ask contractors to share revenue
Nakkhu jail inmates take jailer under control
NC cadre's son meets mysterious death
Nepal to seek Rs 75b for five years
प्रधानमन्त्रीको भव्य स्वागत
सेनालाई नागरिक नियन्त्रणमा ल्याउने प्रक्रिया पारदर्शी हुनुपर्छ'
वार्ता स्थगित हुनसक्छ ः महरा
भावी नेपालबारे नागरिक सम्मेलन
एकताकेन्द्रमा विवाद मोहनविक्रमद्वारा बहुमत अस्वीकार
स्थानीयमा जनप्रतिनिधि
प्रतिनिधिसभा पुनःस्थापनाको प्रयोजन

INTERVIEW WITH BIDHYA BHANDARI

Interview with Krishna Bahadur Mahara

Interview with Ashok Sharma

INTERVIEW WITH PRADIP NEPAL

INTERVIEW WITH TSRING RHITAR SHERPA

INTERVIEW WITH MADHAV KUMAR NEPAL

Interview with Girija Prasad Koirala

INTERVIEW WITH KANISHKA CHAUGAIN

Interview with Lily Thapa

INTERVIEW WITH NARA HARI ACHARYA

Nepal parliament could rein in Crown Prince India eNews.com, India

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5 June