Issue 61 Vol III, April 15, 2008

E D I T O R I A L

The red star over Nepal

NEPAL has transformed itself into a democratic republic, ending 240 year autocratic rule of the kings and feudal lords. That tyranny is over. And much of the credit goes to what are popularly called Maoists or the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) that waged a relentless armed resistance struggle for ten long years that cost the hapless country 13,000 lives. Yet Maoists found time ripe to transform themselves into a democratic party with mature leadership and a strong mass base. As part of the seven party ruling coalitions, it played a significant role in deposing a Machiavellian king Gyanendra and a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution for a republican federal Nepal.

King Gyanendra had assumed power after a prince murdered the rest of the royal family in 2001, later sacked his government and assumed absolute power in 2005. Subsequent antimonarchy demonstrations helped push opposition parties and the rebel Maoists together, and Gyanendra was forced to give up authoritarian rule. In 2006 the government and Maoists reached a peace agreement that ended the long violent insurgency. It also laid the foundation for a democratic republic, largely as Maoists relentlessly sought it.

Maoists have gained a clear majority with at least 120 members in a house of 240. They could gain more as rest of the election results and nominations are expected to provide them further leeway in constituent assembly of 601 members. The Nepali Congress, which dominated the political scene in the Himalayan nation for decades, was lagging behind with only 31 seats and CPN-UML came third with 25 seats. It may be difficult for the Maoists to get clear-cut majority in the 601-seat assembly in which 575 are elected and 26 are nominated by the new Councils of Ministers, yet they would dominate the political decision making process.

The Nepali citizens reposed remarkable faith in the Maoists, giving them a simple majority in the new constitution assembly. It is unprecedented and path-breaking. Those polls in turn have brought a rebel force barely out of the jungle into the driver’s seat of national politics. An influential section of society of academics and intellectuals, failed miserably to predict the elections and the political trends which otherwise were written on the wall.

Behind the numbers emerging from the Election Commission in Kathmandu is what observers and ordinary voters say is a resounding demand for sweeping change in the Himalayan nation.

 It has belied all calculations and neighbouring countries like India and possibly China too are surprised, aghast or whatever they wish to feel about the results. Mainstream Indian and Nepali media is now busy inventing stories how the election was won and what dangerous implications it might have for the two countries. No one gives a damn to such skewed thinking that applauds only if the right wing or so called moderate opportunist forces win the battle through ballot, but when a left party wins, eyebrows are raised. Is the Indian establishment listening when Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda Maoists chief declares” 'If we win, I think, Maoists in India will also come into the mainstream and this will help India.”  He also said It is ''quite important'' to have very good neighbourly relations with India. 'A good understanding with Delhi can create a new basis of unity with India.''

This election witnessed more than 60 per cent participation of the 17.5 million-strong electorate in 21,000 polling centres. The Constituent Assembly will be the most inclusive of any legislature in Nepal’s history. Contribution of the Maoists apart, the electoral formula combining direct-candidate and proportional elections would surely deliver an expanded representation of marginalised communities from the country’s uniquely diverse population.

People have sought relief from unrelenting deprivation. The hold of the Maoists’ populist promise has been strong in a country whose workforce continues to migrate in massive numbers to India and overseas because of abysmal poverty.  The UML and the NC were part of the failed establishment and the Maoists were seen as true agents of change. The vote has swept much of the political old guard entirely out of the picture.

It is clear that this victory of the Maoists in Nepal would have significant impact on India Nepal relations and the left movement through out south Asia. Maoist leaders have given clear signals of the changes and the good neighbourly relations they would seek in south Asia and how they plan to strengthen democratic institutions.

Coming months would define how radical the Maoists remain to push the poor country out of the morass of an exploitative dehumanized social and economic system. The quicker they do that, better it would be.

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