Integrity, Sovereignty Cannot Be Compromised [ 2008-2-15 ]

Vijaya Chalise
Ultimately, all parties are set for the Constitution Assembly (CA) election. And the Election Commission has already published the schedule for a proportional electoral system. Prime Minister Koirala has promised once again to hold the CA election within the stipulated time as it is an important task of the nation. The Nepali Congress has already made public its manifesto and is mobilising its cadres nation-wide by holding public meetings. The CPN-UML has passed its election manifesto and the party's strategy for the election, opening the door for an alliance with the democratic republican forces. The Communist Party of Nepal - Maoist has also finalised its election manifesto and is busy in creating enthusiasm among the people nation-wide.

Aspirations
The government has taken important decisions to address the aspirations of the people, seeking their inclusion and participation in the Nepali state machinery and system. It has decided to ensure proportional representation of the marginalised groups in all organs of the state, including the security forces. In its recent cabinet meeting, the government has decided to enforce effectively the reservation policies to ensure equitable participation of the marginalised communities, including Madhesis, in all state apparatuses.

Now, there will be arrangement of 45% reservation for the endogenous nationalities, Madhesis, women, Dalits, marginalised and backward groups in all the public services. This decision has addressed, at large, the demand of the endogenous nationalities, women, dalits, marginalised and backward groups, including the Madhesis. In spite of that, the seven political parties and the government are ready to sit together and sort out other remaining demands of all the disgruntled groups. They have been formally invited by the seven-party team for talks, with the request not to launch any kind of protest that will directly affect the people and the election.

Yet, they have neither come for dialogue nor called back the indefinite general strike across the country. This indicates that they are not sensitive about holding the election and strengthening national integrity. They must understand that the demands for a single Madhes and full autonomy with the right to self-determination by some Madhesi leaders are not possible as it will weaken the nation's integrity and sovereignty.

We cannot deny that the Madhesi people were discriminated for a long time, but dividing a small country like Nepal on the basis of language and ethnicity would only weaken the national integrity. Therefore, there is little ground for continuing with the agitation as most of their genuine demands have been fulfilled. The other demands are not feasible before the formation of the Constituent Assembly.

With the much-awaited Constitution Assembly election scheduled for April 10, no one should play against it, and small issues should not come on the way of holding the CA election. All the people by now understand that those opposed to the election are trying to destabilise the country, whose benefit only goes to foreign factors and the reactionaries. Responsible leaders of the regional Terai parties should not forget that some armed groups are trying to destabilise and break up Nepal guided by foreign interests.

All should realise that the reactionary forces and some foreign factors who do not want to see a republican Nepal are trying their best to foil the election by creating disturbances. There is even polarisation within the seven political parties that already have accepted a republican set up for the country over the issue of monarchy. This has only emboldened the King to be vocal once again against the seven-party alliance and interim constitution.

The royalists have been encouraged yet once again not only by the non-compromising attitude of the Madhesi groups but also by some recent debates and controversies among influential members of the seven-party alliance. The Maoist's decision to revive the Joint Revolutionary People's Council, alleged attack on Congress MP and former minister Dilendra Prasad Badu, and the sudden police raid on three Young Communist League (YCL) offices in the Kathmandu Valley affiliated to the Maoists have provided just the ground to those who want the unity of the seven-party alliance broken.

The clashes during the political rallies and mass meetings that occurred recently in Darchula, Sindhuli and other parts of the country between the Maoist cadres and other partners of the alliance as well as the sudden raids of the YCL offices have disappointed the people. Renewed commitment to move ahead in a united manner by forming an investigation panel should help control such incidents in the future and help to overcome misunderstanding among the alliance partners.
The CA is imperative to materialise the aspirations of all the Nepali people and political parties expressed through the second people's movement. This aspiration cannot be fulfilled without seven-party unity and commitment towards building a new Nepal. The Maoists, the driving force behind the agenda for a republican set up through the Constitution Assembly polls, should be more responsible in this regard to foil the conspiracies against the CA election. Unity However, conspiracies against the election are being hatched with the help of some foreign forces. There is no alternative to the CA election to institutionalise the new history of the country. For that reason, unity amongst the nationalists, republican and left forces as well as the Madhesi people is necessary to hold the CA election successfully and to overcome the conspiracies of the regressive forces against the election.
(Vijaya Chalise is Editor-in-Chief of the Gorkhapatra Daily)