Politics of "Aba Hamro Palo": NC, UML, RPP (Thapa, Chand, MarichMan),
Gyanendra, then Maoists. Who next?

In this forum or elsewhere, the excitement I see on the faces of
Nepali is amazing. They are very excited about the landslide victory
of Maoists. I am still skeptical that whether this victory is a road
to heaven or hell, at least in democratic sense, it is going to be a
road to hell, "BIG HELL". Fire your words on me, I don't care, I
still consider that the YCL is a 21st century Khamerouge despite of
its leader's request to "BE GANDHI FOR FEW DAYS till the election
days". Look at the Rajesh KC's cartoon in eKantipur.com, you will be
amazed by the imagination of Rajesh KC: The caption says, "Dude, the
two days of (re)incarnation of Gandhi is Over .... ".

Well, they might be messaih for those who support Maoists, but it
does not look the life of non-Maoists will be comfortable. There are
so many incidents we are hearing in this aftermath of Maoist victory.

Yes, there is a freedom in every "extreme" society, as long as you
don't portray or pose risk to these political establishments, and
here in Nepal as well, you will have freedom as long as you don't
pose risk to Maoists, therefore, your version of Freedom is different
from others who don't ride the Maoist ride. I am talking about the
other side of the Nepali political coin, and if you are supporting
Maoist ride, then you will certainly feel a lot of positive outcomes,
and freedoms.

During Panchayat also, we had a freedom as long as you were Pancha or
their supporters, and it is the samething in China or in Korea or in
Cuba. The following news clip from Kantipur is an example of what is
going on, and what can go in the aftermath of Maoists taking main
control of gears on the Government.

We all know that what Maoist leaders say hardly reaches to their YCL
cadres, because they were always preaching this and that in the eye
of world, but what YCL was doing is completely upside down. On the
day one of Maoist leadership in Govt.'s driving seat, we will hear
more such news, and slowly we will stop hearing everything, because
the whole news media will cease to exist in its current state like
the way Gorkha Patra, radio Nepal, Nepal TV turned into Maoist's DVD
player.

Well, as I said above, people who support Maoists will take these
things as their right to do so and natural (as we see a few postings
in this forum as well), or as a sign of control to uncontrolled media
and people.

My questions will be (after BRB's interview: I don't believe in his
interview, because of their differing history on what they say and
what they do in issues about co-existence of Maoist and not-Maoist-
supporters): Will those displaced people be allowed to return? Will
those killed or injured peoples by Maoists will be allowed to be
documented? Will those lands confiscated be allowed to reuse by the
original owner? I am asking these questions because there is a
mismatch on their earlier policy, and what Prachanda preached
recently? I don't think, they will do what they say in public.

What is wrong in Maoist and its cadres working style is the use of
word "PALO -TURN-" since the very beginning. I don't like this word
in Politics, it is not about the turn, it is about bringing positive
change (delivery) in people's life both economic, and political, but,
Maoists were always preaching about "it is our turn", and when you use
this word, "your turn will fade away soon you reach there", and
other's turn should come. This is where NC and UML failed, because
they also used "TURN" in their governence, and they gave SB Thapa a
turn, Lokendra B. Chand a turn, and Marich Man a turn, ... Finally, a
turn to Gyanendra, and now, to Prachanda. Maoist philosophy based
on "OUR TURN" will invite others to have similar activisim to
get "THEIR TURN" in due time. In this "TURN" philosophy of getting
the Govt. Steering and Gear in control, is not leading Nepal
anywhere, but looping around, and we are wasting time. It was started
by Mr. Madan Bhandari, who on day one of election, vowed to bring
Nepali Congress's government within 6 months, and worked towards it,
instead of working together to build a better Nepal. I will be
watching the group who is going to call it another turn? I am sure
next turn belongs ...... ?

Anyway, I don't want to be part of this turn. I will neither be
waiting for my turn, because I simply don't like the "TURN BASED
LEADERSHIP". For me, if you have right policy, right approach and
right capacity to deliver something good for the country, you are the
right leader who should lead the country. I want delivery, while my
personal freedoms (both political and economic to religious ... to
professional) remain intact, and not lost but strengthened. For me,
whether 280 million vote Maoists or not, I don't support them because
the communism is a wrong political system, and it will not take us
anywhere but to hell. Maoists are wrong people who killed 15,000
innocent people to rise to power. Wrong people, and weong philosophy
can not bring a right thing, it is not about airthmatic, it is about
Bayesian Statistics: Wrong inside wrong is wrong. The "TURN" concept
of ruling is not taking us anywhere. Have fun with "OUR TURN"
politics. I wish I am wrong. I wish I have wings, so that I could fly
like a free bird. I wish that YCL/Maoists do not trim any more
Nepali's head, hand, finger, and what not "the freedom to choose".

GP

A sign of beginning of new era:

YCL bullies Gagan, NC cadres
Kantipur Report (Source: http://www.ekantipu r.com/ )

KATHMANDU, April 17 - Even as the Maoist leadership is struggling
hard to convince the international community that they will accept
multi-party competitive politics and is pledging to fully respect
others' rights; Maoist cadres on the ground continue with their old
practices of bullying, intimidating and threatening those belonging
to rival parties.
Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) on Wednesday barred
Nepali Congress (NC) candidate under the proportional representation
system Gagan Thapa and his team as they were traveling on a vehicle
from going to Madanpur in Nuwakot district, where re-poll is
scheduled for Thursday. Thapa and his team were forced to return to
Kathmandu after being stopped at Kakani at about 8 pm.

Some 50 YCL cadres had put up obstructions in the form of logs at
five various points including in Kakani, Ranipouwa, Paitishkilo and
Trishuli along the road leading to Madanpur polling station and
selectively allowed vehicles ferrying their our cadres to pass
through starting 5 pm.

Talking to the Post, Thapa said he requested the YCL cadres to allow
him to go as he was a NC candidate under the proportional electoral
system. "I even argued that I had the right to go to Madanpur as an
ordinary citizen," he said, adding, "But they did not give in."

Thapa complained that a local police did respond to the incident and
a team reached there but they were helpless in front of the Maoist
cadres. "This clearly shows how the situation of voters is in the
place, where the re-poll is taking place," he said

My gut feeling about our future is this: Either Maoist will gradually become popular by rectifying their weaknesses and delivering things and eventually turning their rule into what we fear/crave a popular semi-authoritarian regime, or things will get worse, people’s faith in Nepali politicians will die completely and people will start to look at Sikkim and say-what the hell !

 

I don’t think ethnic parties will have the appeal and magic to keep the hope of people of better future alive.

 

Then I also don’t hope to see NC and UML revamped enough to win people’s faith and imagination back. As much as I can see, the likelihood of NC-UML to get revamped is far less than the likelihood of Maoist to, as I said, rectify it’s weaknesses and start delivering.

 

Had NC, UML and Maoist secured equal share of the power, the situation could have been more stable with more choices (variables), more equations and more complexities.

 

I can not decide which could have been better. Well I knew I would have chosen the triangular boat. But now that the people have spoken, I am not asking it anymore.

 

But who knows, Maoists might do just so so, NC-UML might revamp (or not) themselves and people might want to try one more experiment with a triangle next time.

 

Nepe

Nepe

Thanks for your insights. A couple of comments:


(1) Sikkimization I find it interesting that whoever loses power in Nepal always raises the ghost of Sikkim. The Panchas did it when they lost and the Congress people are doing it now  although to a lesser extent. The thinking perhaps being if we in all our guts and glory cannot  deliver, then no one else can. All such comments whether made by royalists, democrats and communists must always be taken with a grain of salt IMHO because there is an undertone of bitterness and defeat in it.

However, come to think of it, power has changed pretty much along economic lines in Nepal from the times of the Ranas to the present. With each change power has been successively pushed downwards towards those claiming to represent the  next group of underprivileged people. To me that shows each ruling group, and the elites within them, have proved to be inept for one reason or the other (lack of vision, ethics, checks and balances etc etc). With each such failure people have become more open to trying out options previously considered taboo.  At the end of the day this comes down to economics in my opinion. The Nepali people have proved they are willing to take political risks for socio-economic gains. In light of this, to your point, I can clearly see how people might want to try out some sort of arrangement with India in the future if successive governments continue to fail. That is the real "grand-design". Therefore, in a twisted way, poverty and not India is the greatest threat to our national sovereignty.

The Maoists are the penultimate safety valve. If they can alleviate poverty or at least give that perception, then that's good for the country because people will have increased faith in the ability of the country to be viable.

(2) Ethnic Parties I don't think the idea of a coalition of ethnic and regional  parties governing the nation some day is too far fetched. The Maoists, more than anyone else, want to create a federal structure based on ethnicity. That provides fertile ground for regional parties to form and grow. If the Maoist fail, a coalition of these parties can become the ultimate safety valve against a failed state and a possible desire by Nepalese to  think the unthinkable thought of joining India. The one concern there being the current crop of regional parties, especially those in the Terai, need to prove their nationalist credentials because their politicians have been talking pretty recklessly on the issue of nationalism and sovereignty

(3) Mr Prachanda,  please tell me you know what you're doing As I said before I am willing to give the Maoists the initial benefit of the doubt that objectivity and decency demand. In fact, I found Mr Gajurel's we-are-not-stupid comments rather insightful. However, I find their political platform is based on a vision of the country that sees predators and preys, victims and perpetrators everywhere. It is a deeply divisive and potentially self-destructive ideology that has the potential to cause far more damage than the more benign ideologies of the NC (and to a lesser extent the UML)

Hope all else is well with you.

Captain,

 

A delightful dose of yet another thoughtful scrutiny of our polity.

 

On the taboo subject of “Sikkimization”, I totally agree with your observation and analysis.

 

Regarding the ethnic/regional parties, they certain are here to stay and do their part. I am happy and actually excited about them as I see them as a mediator and translator of the decentralization of power and the promotion of the local self-rules which is what this revolutionary change is all about.

 

However, I do not see a scenario of them making a coalition and being able to take charge of the whole country (not transiently, but for a full term and more) in case Maoist and other national parties fail.

 

Among other things, I think there is a mysterious disease that infects all political parties equally in Nepal. So I was visualizing a pandemic/endemic kind of situation.

 

Regarding Maoist, their Bibles, their morning prayers, their worshippings, their language and rituals do give an impression that they live in a world where they see only predators and preys and only black and white. However, if we study their real-life activities, their interaction with other parties and their resolutions, we would see that they know how the real world is. Coalition and compromise have been ta part and parcel of their recent journey and what they have achieved today.

 

So, all this makes me see communism to Maoists as what “In God We Trust” is to fine American politicians, a religion.

 

If American democracy can live and flourish with “In God We Trust”, Maoist certainly can, if they wished so, deliver still with their “In Mao We Trust”.

 

We might have to put up with some communist jargons and rituals, as Adjunct_Professor-jee put elsewhere. However, the good news is that Maoists have already started to say, “In Money-making We Trust”.

 

Nepe

Nepe

LOL! Interesting analogy there between the US and the Maoists. I think we have beaten the crap out of this topic, but the question remains whether Maoism is a "use-and-throw" ideology that the leadership can dispense of once they are in power or if they have become victims of their own propaganda and get stuck with some if not all of it. We will have to wait and see.

On a light note, has Dr Bhattarai called you yet re: the ambassadorship? LOL!. Strictly in jest (but my good wishes are always with you)

:)

>… or if they become victims of their own propaganda

 

Frankly speaking, I share your fear. In fact, I keep telling this to Maoist sympathizers all the time. Don’t ask me if that includes myself ;-)

 

>..has Dr Bhattarai called you yet re the ambassadorship? LOL

 

No. But too many other Drs. have been calling me so all these years :-). So kinda already served. Aba ta retire huna paaunu parne ho maile ;-)

 

Thanks for your kind wish, though.

 

Nepe