POLITICS: Royal Tussle Over ‘New Nepal’

By Marty Logan Reprint | | Print |

Marty Logan

KATHMANDU, Aug 26 2006 (IPS) - The committee formed to plot the next steps on the path to a ‘new Nepal’ handed in its blueprint Friday with most of the important decisions unrealised. The Interim Constitution Drafting Committee recommended that the role of the monarchy be decided in a referendum organised by a constituent assembly, whose shape would be determined in talks between the government and former Maoist rebels.

The two sides have been unable to agree on key issues since they led weeks of street protests at the end of April that forced King Gyanendra to give up direct rule and revive parliament. Soon after, the government declared that the Maoist rebels were no longer “terrorists”, opening the door for their leaders to rejoin mainstream politics.

The Maoists have since insisted that the monarchy be excluded from their preferred future political setup, a democratic republic, while the larger members of the alliance of seven political parties (SPA) argue that it be given a ceremonial role. The two sides also continue to debate when to dissolve parliament in favour of an interim government that will include the Maoists.

The former rebels say that move should have already happened while the government insists that the Maoists first give up their weapons. A United Nations team is to arrive in Kathmandu next week to assist in the disarmament and arms monitoring process.

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula said Friday the two sides’ disagreements are due to end. “High-level talks between the seven-party alliance and Maoist leaders will be held soon. The talks will reach agreements on certain political issues to be included in the interim constitution,” he told journalists at the handover.

The interim constitution states that “sovereign rights and executive powers are vested in the people”. It guarantees 20 fundamental rights, including rights to freedom, equality, education, employment, women’s rights and a right against torture.

It also guarantees “social security” for “disadvantaged” groups: women, indigenous people and dalits (so-called “untouchables”).

The drafting committee was to have submitted its work weeks ago but it stalled after the government was roundly criticised for including no women. After protracted negotiations between SPA members, the original six-member committee more than doubled in size.

But the expanded group went way beyond its original purpose, argues one civil society leader. The committee’s mandate was only to ensure smooth governance until the constituent assembly elections, says Sundar Mani Dixit. “Its job was not to make political decisions, or even social decisions. That is the job of the constituent assembly,” he told IPS.

A constituent assembly is a longstanding demand of the Maoists, who launched their war against the state and on behalf of the country’s downtrodden groups in 1996. Since then, as many as 14,000 people have been killed, most of them villagers caught in the crossfire between rebels and security forces.

In the Maoist vision, the assembly would truly represent women, indigenous peoples and dalits and would be tasked with writing a permanent constitution.

“The constituent assembly will have to make, obviously, very huge decisions but it will be with the mandate of the people, added Dixit. “The people were promised, unconditionally, that they would decide on certain issues, like the role of the king.”

Since April, King Gyanendra has been virtually absent from public life, venturing out only for religious ceremonies. Despite the venomous anger directed against him in April’s protests, one observer suggested Friday that if the monarch were to address Nepalis publicly, promising to adhere to a new powerless role, a majority of citizens would vote for a ceremonial monarchy.

Parliament has already stripped the king of any real powers and the draft constitution echoes that by designating the prime minister supreme commander of the army and the chairman of the interim legislature as head of state.

In an earlier interview, drafting committee chairman Laxman Prasad Aryal agreed that some decisions were beyond his group’s mandate. “There is heavy pressure on us to declare a republic…but as this is an interim constitution, it can’t make such a permanent provision,” he told IPS.

Aryal also accused members of parliament of being more interested in their jobs than the country’s future. “I told MPs.’to delay (the interim constitution) is to delay the constituent assembly’.” While the Maoists have agreed to include civil society in the interim government, the SPA opposes the move, “because if there are more components, they will have fewer seats”, added Aryal.

But Sitaula said Friday the government is “committed to take the ongoing peace process to a logical conclusion as we have learnt lessons from the 11 years of conflict”.