Dr Lokraj Baral
Senior Political Scientist, Nepal
Dr. Lok Raj Baral is a senior political analyst of Nepal. He has served as Nepal’s Ambassador to India in the recent past. His affiliation towards the Nepali Congress remains no longer a secret. He is a very close friend of Professor S.D. Muni.
But this senior political scientist appears some what irritated by the conduct of the party of his political preference.
Let’s read his views on contemporary Nepali national events.
TGQ1: Why the country is in an unstable and uneasy state? Why such a state has emerged? Is it that the political parties have begun repeating the same old dirty games? Your comments please.
Dr. Baral: The uneasy state prevailing in the country is, to me, due to the fact that the political parties have been deviating from the main issues and problems confronting the country. This is what has caused the prevalence of this uneasy situation as stated by you.
As regards your supplementary question, I think that the present focus should be on to institutionalize the system itself. The politics of consensus which had begun right after the signing of the 12 point agreement now stands at a point where arithmetical permutations and combinations are being looked into. The making and the breaking of the government(s) should have been as per the norms of the politics of consensus but not on numerical strength. The drafting of a new constitution should have been the primary agenda for all the political parties whether big or small. For this to happen, we must concentrate our efforts on how and where the Maoists combatants could be adjusted. No one can refrain from the duty of the drafting of a new constitution and to bring to a positive end the peace process.
But since the parties are engaged in making and breaking of the government(s) and thus the politics of consensus has taken a back seat in the given scheme of things as it stands today.
The numerical game has overshadowed the rest which is unfortunate.
TGQ2: So whom or which party or parties you find responsible in having deviated from the politics of consensus? Will the constitution be drafted on time if the pace of the political parties remains as it is? Your opinions please.
Dr. Baral: Practically all the political parties could be blamed for this. The party which claims that it is the most democratic parties of all must not have engaged itself in making or breaking of government(s). The Constituent Assembly is taken as the same old parliament of the parliamentary system and the exercise of making and breaking of government continues which is a matter of serious concern to us all.
To recall, after 1990, the political parties kept themselves engaged in pulling the legs of other parties. The Maoists too could not control from the temptation that it was the largest party in the country and thus could do any thing that it considered to be best for the party’s interests. The UML too has failed in finalizing its own clear stand as to where it stood or wants to stay in politics.
The main four parties could have managed the allocation of the seats in the government by being accommodative to each other. But this did not happen. Let me admit that after the election of the President, the politics of consensus was formally rejected by all. For this sorry state, all the parties that are the UML, Congress, the Maoists and the Forum are to be blamed.
I don’t think that the constitution could be drafted on time if the pace remains the same as it stands now.
Even for the formation of the government there prevailed uncertainty. For over a month, the parties clashed with each other on how to send their own relatives in the government. What could be the most unfortunate event other than this?
The prime agenda of the CA has been sidelined which is why I presume that the new constitution could not be drafted on time even if some claim the otherwise.
TGQ3: It is talked that exploiting the prevailing anarchy in the country, the United Maoists party is concentrating its effort in State capture? What say you?
Dr. Baral: Political parties are in politics for sake of State capture. This is not illogical. However, what should be important is to note how the state is being captured? If you go by the constitution then it is not an alarming event. However, if other means are acquired to capture the State then it is a mater of concern.
As regards the Maoists, they can’t capture the State on the model of what Mao did in China.
If some one abides by the constitution and gets elected then it should be taken as a constitutional move.
To expect from the Maoists who took up the arms for all along twelve years will overnight become democratic will be just a self defeating exercise. The number one Democratic Party, the Nepali Congress, has emerged as the most undemocratic party of late. The UML at least exhibited some democratic norms and abided by democratic procedures.
Those who deride at others should now look into the mirror their own respective faces. Democracy is also a culture and tradition. This exactly fits into today’s Nepali Congress.
The selection or election of the leaders by observing the universal procedural norms is in essence a democratic system
TGQ4: After a long hotchpotch, the government has taken shape but simultaneously the talks of its tenure have already begun. How you look at it Dr. Baral?
Dr. Baral: A government which took such a long time to take its shape is bound to invite such talks questioning its probable tenure in the political circuit.
The arithmetical play that is now on suggests that this government may not have longer tenure as expected. If there is no sound ideology as such while forming the government then the age of such a power set up is bound to be a shorter one.
Parties are clashing internally and there is the prevalence of conflict out side the power structure.
There are political parties but not the party-system. Personality cult has taken the front seat in Nepal now.
The NC which could have proved its presence by providing relief to the people and made serious efforts in drafting of the new constitution too remained in petty smaller issues.
TGQ5: So how the new Nepal would look alike? And also tell us on the talk of increased foreign interference in Nepal of late?
Dr. Baral: Yes! There would definitely be a Nepal but with a deformed and disfigured face. Cracy will be there but that cracy will be dominated by anarchy and chaos.
For achieving personal gains or interests, the attitude of inviting the help of “aliens” has definitely increased. When one’s house is in a weakened state, others will definitely poke their nose. At the moment, what has been clearly observed that India and the United States have become suddenly active in Nepal affairs? If political instability grips Nepal, it would certainly have its negative impact on the Indian side. The foreign interference has increased only because we count on them and seek their advices every now and then. Each and ever political parties in Nepal have always tried to get support from India to be in power. This is why there is increased foreign play and interference.
If the foreign diplomats begin meeting the Prime Minister of Nepal by ignoring the set diplomatic rules and procedures then such things are bound to happen.
It is futile to blame others when you yourself keep open your money-lockers.
source: TelegraphNepal
