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Nepal crisis: More steps needed to restore democracy

Sher Bahadur Deuba, soon after his release, made no secret that strong agitation will be built up protesting undemocratic situation in the country. it is expected that Nepal will go back to democratic pattern and the monarchy needs to take larger and speedier steps in that direction so as to assuage the feelings of the democracy lovers both at home and abroad.

Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury
NEPAL'S King Gyanendra has released sacked Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba from house arrest and along with him several others have also been set free. obviously, he has done it under intense pressure from home and abroad following recent harsh measures taken by the King when he imposed emergency, outlawed political activities, and himself took over the reigns of the nation by going beyond his largely ceremonial role as a monarch.
As expected, the King's steps sparked severe protests and condemnation particularly in the democratic world since the measures dealt a grave blow to Nepal, which was making progress towards a system of representative government despite
strains in the new-found democracy. But King Gyanendra's action sought to put the clock back as he took over all executive powers by dismissing the elected prime minister on flimsy grounds. The reactions that followed at home and internationally were clearly not anything that the monarch would relish and he was coming under mounting pressure to reverse what he did.
He is slowing slackening his grip and indicating that the tough measures are a short-lived arrangement. Sher Bahadur Deuba has been released but many other top politicians including former premier and president of the Nepali Congress G.P. Koirala and general secretary of the communist party (Marxist-Leninist) Madhav Kumar Nepal were still interned at their homes. Political activities have not been allowed as of writing this column.
Nepal, the landlocked nation, admirably introduced parliamentary democracy in 1990 replacing executive monarchy. The developments in the country, in the form of sacking the elected prime minister and vesting of all power in the monarchy, cannot be commended since these measures are certainly taking the nation further away from representative government.
The current millenium had certainly begun on an ominous note for Nepal, which was otherwise a largely
calm and peaceful country drawing huge tourists from all over and was making significant strides to change its impoverished image. Monarchy remained the constitutional head with an elected parliament and leader of the majority party or alliance in the helm as the prime minister to run the nation.
But over the last four years, the happy conditions began to change and the political situation is getting murkier. The dismissing of sher Bahadur Deuba government, strictly speaking, has not come as a total surprise. In a way, something like this was expected sooner or later since political developments held no promise for a better future taking into consideration the evolving condition centering the elections and the ever increasing unrest caused by a determined insurgency by the ultra-left "Maoists."
Three important factors determine the course of events in the country, with the monarchy definitely being at the supreme, followed by the political parties and the radical leftists. A popular monarch King Birendra had to loosen his grip on powers facing a pro-democracy movement when he conceded demands like democratic government in 1990.
Political parties -- the Nepali Congress, the Communist party (Marxist-Leninist) and other smaller groups -- have not shown maturity in a new parliamentary democracy as intra-party rivalries as well as squabbles within the main Nepali Congress kept all at bay about the fate of democracy even though people favour representative system of government. The murky political situation can be well judged by the fact that Nepal witnessed as many as thirteen premiers in fourteen years
history of introduction of democracy in 1990.
Alleged corruption on part of the politicians in power also played a role in growing despondency among the people. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had to quit being embroiled in a serious controversy over leasing of a Royal Nepalese Airlines passenger aircraft. Later, his Nepali Congress was split over leadership and at one stage sher Bahadur Deuba -- a challenger to Koirala -- was ousted from the organisation and he set up Nepali Congress(Democratic).
Deuba was prime minister but sacked by King Gyanendra, triggering a debate as his was an elected government, but the King reinstated him in June last year, giving him the task of organising elections and settlinh the Maoist problem. When Deuba was sacked this time, the King cited the reasons of "incompetence"
against him. Political parties, which seldom show any unity, had come together on the broad issue of "elected government" when dismissed premier Deuba was reinstated replacing the handpicked prime minister surja Bahadur Thapa.
The accusations brought against him by the monarch, broadly titular head of the nation, evidently lack basis to dismiss a democratic government. Even if there is rationale behind the charges, itis the people who should give decision through fresh mandate and not the arbitrary decision by the King. In Pakistan, a clause was in the constitution when parliamentary democracy existed that the ceremonial presidency could sack the elected prime minister and his government whenever he wished. This clause was contrary to the democratic principles and as such was later annulled by two-thirds majority of parliament in a fitting development to
honour democratic principles. Against this background, the constitutional power of the King to sack elected government is simply not convincing unless the government loses majority in parliament or is embroiled in a grave crisis.
undoubtedly, the biggest headache for the King is certainly the activities of the Maoists, who often engage themselves in fierce battles with the army and police causing big toll of lives on both sides. By this time they control a large area in the countryside. Efforts for a government-Maoists negotiation did not bear much fruit and consequently a standoff situation exists as far as the fighting is concerned. The Maoists want dismantling of the monarchy and setting up of a Republic and a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution. The King is not ready to accept these demands, not surprisingly.
Ironically, a country like Nepal can ill afford to absorb two serious crises, stemming from political instability and the long-drawn Maoist insurgency, which is growing in intensity even though no sides are in a decisive stage. But the solution definitely does not lie in measures like "killing" democracy in the country.
As expected, Nepal developments came in for severe criticisms in the south Asian region and larger out-
side world. Donor nations including the united states, the uK, and India -all important democracies -- threatened to cut off military aid to the country. World Bank and other agencies are thinking twice about their assistance and the nation heavily depends on such assistance. The setback to democracy has not been taken kindly.
It is against this background that the King seems to be rescinding some of his harsh decisions. But these are not enough as the country needs quicker and more tangible measures towards restoration of representative government. Full political activities and fresh polls towards an elected parliament are undoubtedly among the steps that are required before political instability and tension escalate.
sher Bahadur Deuba, soon after his release, made no secret that strong agitation will be built up protesting undemocratic situation in the country. It is expected that Nepal will go back to democratic pattern and the monarchy needs to take larger and speedier steps in that direction so as to assuage the feelings of the democracy lovers both at home and abroad.
Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury is a senior journalist.