Nav Raj Pokharel
Journalist
Many politically conscious people of this region, the international community and the diplomatic missions in the region are befuddled for quite a long time in their quest to rightly understand the political offbeat trend of the Maoists of Nepal and India, the two adjoining countries in the heart of Asia continent.
It is comparatively easier to understand the Indian Maoist as they have been waging insurgencies against the government of India by terrorizing innocent people. Indian Maoists are insurgents, if the word ‘terrorist’ to be avoided for some political raison d'être. However, the insurgents changed into political party – the Maoist of Nepal- are illusive to understand for many, intellectual and conscious political analysts worldwide.
The Maoist of Nepal have transformed into political party, eschewing their 10 years of insurgency. What we understand now is that they have politically changed their heart and path of duress, assimilated themselves into democratic political process in volition, and are enthusiastic to expedite the democratic principles, working hard to restore the prosperity and sovereignty of the country. That is what we assumed when the Maoist signed the Peace Accord in 2006 and surfaced in the society as political party since then.
People were happy to see the chapter of insurgency ended for good. Established political parties, both small and big, welcomed the change; international community including neighboring India who had put a lot of effort to help the Maoist bring in mainstream politics; expressed a sigh of relief. People expected unprecedented positive changes in development sector to take place very soon under the leadership of the Maoist in the Government.
Unfortunately, the Maoist did not like to be in the government for long. They must have good reasons for doing so. Soon after their taking office in the government of about nine months, the Maoists decided to step down the government in their own volition. They, however, cited some apolitical practices liable for their decision to descend, at least on the surface level, which is sometimes acceptable in politics.
Political parties and the international community again presumed that they perhaps needed more time to serve the people and devote whole-heartedly to complete the tremendous and daunting task of writing new constitution through Constituent Assembly that was their the most ambitious political mission. But the people, parties and the international community were disillusioned suddenly when the new constitution was not written and integration of combatants was quagmired after the peaceful passage of two long years elapsed under their feet. We are back to one-square.
Today is just the another day when the Peace Accord was signed between the Maoist and seven parties at the Birendra International Convention Center in capital Kathmandu on November 21, 2006. Why did not the country achieve tangible peace and prosperity even after the Maoist assimilated into democratic political norms and values? Is it because the Maoist does not will so? Remaining political parties of the country have already been tried and tested in the government. Let’s not elaborate their weaknesses and shortcomings as political parties and their pro public democratic vision, for instance. Large chunk of people, although the parliamentary numerology depicts that the Maoist has had support of nearly 40 percent of people, who expected high from the Maoist. But the Maoist, who the people and international community were expecting as capable to be a Key Stone in Nepal’s political Arc, failed to play the role of the Key Stone. Their role-play has befuddled all of the International community and us.
Conscious people and political analysts in the country including the neighbouring countries and international community have started speculating differently about the political nature and motif of the Maoists, now. What does the Maoist want? It disdained the government when it was there, and cries for it at the top of its voice and strength to have it again. The Maoists struggled ten years pledging the people for the betterment of the country, and when they got the chance to actually make it better, they backed off the government. They promised to lead country to the right direction when they were not in the government. When the fight is over, new hope of peace and prosperity has been kindled in the hearts of people, they suddenly behave as if either they are lost or forgotten what they are for. At this moment, their sole demand is “Resignation of the Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal”. But why? Is not it high time for the Maoist to furnish tenable answers to the people whose mandate they have had, and the international community who put lots of effort and support to help them recognize in the mainstream politics, to understand better why his should his descendant resign ? Or, why is flaunting of Maoist’s strength and voice for the ‘resignation’ should be honored? If not now when will it be?
2010-06-15 07:47:52
No comments:
Post a Comment