Note no. 388	16.06.2007
NEPAL: Interim Parliament Empowers itself to Abolish Monarchy: Update No.128 By Dr. S.Chandrasekharan On June 13, the interim Parliament adopted a resolution with 281 for, 2 against and 41 abstaining empowering itself to remove the King if it feels that he is trying to sabotage the Constitution Assembly Elections provided it is supported by two thirds majority. Two MPs of Peoples Front (for reasons not known) opposed the resolution, while 41members that included three former Prime Ministers, Surya Bahadur Thapa, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Sher Bahadur Deuba abstained. Another resolution that was approved was the removal of the interim Prime Minister from his post if two thirds voted against him in a no trust motion ( only twice in a year could a no trust motion be moved) The CA election was formally shifted to mid November. Another resolution as part of the second amendment barred black listed persons and those responsible for suppressing the 2006 pro democracy movement from contesting elections. It is sad that parties with clear democratic credentials should have succumbed to the pressure exerted by an alliance of the communist parties of all shades to oust monarchy by fair or foul means. No doubt, the monarchy has to pay for all its past sins. But there could be no arbitrariness in taking such a historic decision when the interim parliament is itself only interim constituted with the specific purpose of conducting the constitutional elections and is not an all-inclusive one. More arbitrary has been the decision to bar all those responsible for suppressing Jana Andolan Movement II. Who is to decide about those people? It is not the resolutions alone that are of serious concern, but more serious should be the way the Maoists are having their way inch by inch relentlessly by following the text book tactics of United Front. It is not clear whether the Maoists would wait for the CA elections to abolish monarchy or move ahead with specific charges against monarchy. The next target could soon be G.P. himself on grounds of his ill health as he is the only one who is standing in the way of declaring Nepal a republic. The first salvo has been fired by none other than the UML leader Jala Nath Khanal ( said to be close to some of the influential leaders and academics in India) when on June 6, he said that the Prime Minister is physically too weak and the Nepali Congress has to find an alternative within their party! There were media reports that the visiting UML delegation led by Madhav Nepal in the first week of June was advised in India to tie up with other democratic parties to sustain democracy in Nepal. The UML has never been consistent and to us it looks that the possibility of a tie up with other democratic parties is very remote! The point we want to make is, that no matter what concessions one may give to the Maoists, they are not going to relent on their ultimate objective of complete restructuring of the State. It is felt by some that once the republic is established, the Maoists will make governance easy. One leading Maoist leader has already said that their parallel administration from village level onwards will not be dismantled until complete restructuring takes place. Restructuring does not just stop at Nepal being declared a republic! As we have said before, the first priority of the government should be the maintenance of law and order. This cannot be achieved unless the three outfits-the two factions of JTMM and the Communist Youth league are brought under control. While the first two could be managed with some firm action, it is not going to be easy to control the YCL. In the name of controlling corruption, the cadres of the YCL are on a rampage and the Prime Minister who is normally careful said in a reception at his residence on 4 June that YCL is becoming Young Criminal League. He was probably provoked by the high-handed action of YCL Cadres in capturing and handing over a business man Prasain who is alleged to have committed irregularities in a financial institution. The response of the Maoists was swift. PMs effigies were burnt in Kathmandu valley, Bhirawa, Manthali of Ramechap, Dhulikhel, Chitwan, Nawal Parasi, Nuvwakot, Dhading, Simara, Charikot and Rajbiraj. K.B.Mahara the Maoist leader called the statement not only irresponsible but when to the extent of calling it as a product of criminal mentality. Prachanda declared that there was no question of dismantling the YCL and that it is set to grow from 200,000 to 500,000 in another two months. The menace of the YCL is set to grow and not diminish in the coming months and this is going to have a serious impact on conducting the CA elections in a free and fair manner in November 2007. Ian Martin, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General, pointed out that the leadership of YCL consists of former Maoist Commanders and wanted Prachanda to make public under what instructions the YCL operates. He said that there cannot be any kind of violence in the run up to the elections and that it is not enough if there is a plan for security at the time of election itself. Creation of conditions in all districts and villages that would allow all parties to conduct their activities was essential before the elections take place. Given the present trends, unless the YCL is controlled, CA elections cannot be conducted in a free and fair manner.
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