New democratic Nepal government likely soon
Surya B. Prasai
May 02, 2008
It is likely that in the coming two weeks, the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists which won a simple majority in Nepal´s recently conducted Constitutional Assembly elections will form a singular government if it fails to draw on coalition support. Their latest interaction was with Upendra Yadav´s Madhesi Janadhikar Forum and the smaller parties. The Maoist leadership duo, Prachanda and Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai who have been patiently testing the new political waters in trying to woo the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML through several meetings, now appear reluctant to go for an easy coalition partnership, thereby evading past mistakes of the Seven Party Coalition where the bigger parties always seemed to be vying for ministerial positions rather than serving the people. Moreover, it is learnt that NC preferred a ´presidential´ system while the Maoists were ready to accommodate themselves within the ´PM system´ despite their ´republican´ agenda.
Throughout the week, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala continued mooting an alliance of the major parties, which could be led by the NC though it does not have sufficient political support to garner two-thirds majority required. Prachanda and Babu Ram consider this not to be a global democratic norm either since the winning party forms the next government. Nepal´s Maoists have enough strength to command a simple majority government and by just including one or two other parties, can form a government immediately. But seeing that the Maoists are seizing an opportunity to govern alone by excluding them, the UML and NC´s revisionist wing have now hurriedly suggested they also move along with the Maoist leadership, and try to retain at least one or two ministerial positions. However, to lead the new government, the Maoists will have to resolve two immediate difficulties: one, come up with a public policy on how they plan to integrate the ex-combatants with NA without hurting the latter´s international prestige and honor; and two, face up to international demands on dismantling the YCL, without which it will not get full democratic recognition from the West.
Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Maoist spokesperson, has indicated in his latest verbal salvo from Kathmandu, that the YCL need not be dismantled, rather diverted to development and other fruitful purposes. Earlier, the Maoists had even floated the possibility of working with the royalist and nationalist forces whom they termed true nationalists who had served the country well through all difficult periods in Nepal´s history. It is remarkable that the Nepali youth and pot-banging housewives, fed up with the past petrol lines, shortage of commodities and rising market inflation, decided to give an overwhelming vote to the Maoists in the CA Poll. Thus, the Maoists have been extra careful to make sure all commodity supply chains remain open, fuel available, and market prices controlled.
As a special show of post-CA Poll goodwill and broadening political support to Nepal, the World Bank has offered Nepal a special package of US$ 127 million, which will boost the transitional economic sectors and open up new avenues for multi-pronged development. Michel Mordasini from the World Bank and 11 other directors visited Kathmandu recently, meeting both PM Koirala and Maoist Chairman Prachanda. He expressed deep satisfaction that possible assistance and cooperation to Nepal could accelerate along with the current peace process which must be concluded soon. It is interesting to note that the WB has allotted US$ 50 million to be spent on salaries for Maoist combatants living in various UN monitored cantonments, while the remaining money is for devising more effective health sector investment and improving the current rural drinking water projects. The total amount includes assisting the ex-Maoist combatants, which they are considering this as a positive signal from Washington. This WB amount is in addition to US $ 252 million that was earlier announced. WB´s Mordasini indicated the new post CA Poll assistance package will go up for board approval on 6th May. The WB has not set any preconditions this time for the soon to be formed Maoist led Nepal Government, unlike previous ones. Coinciding with the WB delegation´s visit, Maoist Spokesperson Mahara has promised to mobilize all Nepali people to help build a new Nepal, which would see miraculous infrastructure development and economic turnaround within three years.
In the process of forming a new government CP Gajurel, Head of the Foreign Relations Department at CPN-M has indicated to Kathmandu based diplomats that the Maoist led coalition will run under the democratic consensus-cooperation principle prevalent in western democracies but without sacrificing individual party commitments to the Nepali people. Meanwhile it is learnt that US Ambassador to Nepal Nancy J. Powell has asked the Nepal Government to treat Tibetans in Nepal more decently and in accordance with international human rights norms. Powell is expected to be in Washington next week to provide a briefing on the Nepal situation, which might also include future steps the US State Department might take with a new Maoist government. In leading the next government, the Maoists have indicated they will hold to all major portfolios denied them earlier under the SPA rule.
Throughout the week, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala continued mooting an alliance of the major parties, which could be led by the NC though it does not have sufficient political support to garner two-thirds majority required. Prachanda and Babu Ram consider this not to be a global democratic norm either since the winning party forms the next government. Nepal´s Maoists have enough strength to command a simple majority government and by just including one or two other parties, can form a government immediately. But seeing that the Maoists are seizing an opportunity to govern alone by excluding them, the UML and NC´s revisionist wing have now hurriedly suggested they also move along with the Maoist leadership, and try to retain at least one or two ministerial positions. However, to lead the new government, the Maoists will have to resolve two immediate difficulties: one, come up with a public policy on how they plan to integrate the ex-combatants with NA without hurting the latter´s international prestige and honor; and two, face up to international demands on dismantling the YCL, without which it will not get full democratic recognition from the West.
Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Maoist spokesperson, has indicated in his latest verbal salvo from Kathmandu, that the YCL need not be dismantled, rather diverted to development and other fruitful purposes. Earlier, the Maoists had even floated the possibility of working with the royalist and nationalist forces whom they termed true nationalists who had served the country well through all difficult periods in Nepal´s history. It is remarkable that the Nepali youth and pot-banging housewives, fed up with the past petrol lines, shortage of commodities and rising market inflation, decided to give an overwhelming vote to the Maoists in the CA Poll. Thus, the Maoists have been extra careful to make sure all commodity supply chains remain open, fuel available, and market prices controlled.
As a special show of post-CA Poll goodwill and broadening political support to Nepal, the World Bank has offered Nepal a special package of US$ 127 million, which will boost the transitional economic sectors and open up new avenues for multi-pronged development. Michel Mordasini from the World Bank and 11 other directors visited Kathmandu recently, meeting both PM Koirala and Maoist Chairman Prachanda. He expressed deep satisfaction that possible assistance and cooperation to Nepal could accelerate along with the current peace process which must be concluded soon. It is interesting to note that the WB has allotted US$ 50 million to be spent on salaries for Maoist combatants living in various UN monitored cantonments, while the remaining money is for devising more effective health sector investment and improving the current rural drinking water projects. The total amount includes assisting the ex-Maoist combatants, which they are considering this as a positive signal from Washington. This WB amount is in addition to US $ 252 million that was earlier announced. WB´s Mordasini indicated the new post CA Poll assistance package will go up for board approval on 6th May. The WB has not set any preconditions this time for the soon to be formed Maoist led Nepal Government, unlike previous ones. Coinciding with the WB delegation´s visit, Maoist Spokesperson Mahara has promised to mobilize all Nepali people to help build a new Nepal, which would see miraculous infrastructure development and economic turnaround within three years.
In the process of forming a new government CP Gajurel, Head of the Foreign Relations Department at CPN-M has indicated to Kathmandu based diplomats that the Maoist led coalition will run under the democratic consensus-cooperation principle prevalent in western democracies but without sacrificing individual party commitments to the Nepali people. Meanwhile it is learnt that US Ambassador to Nepal Nancy J. Powell has asked the Nepal Government to treat Tibetans in Nepal more decently and in accordance with international human rights norms. Powell is expected to be in Washington next week to provide a briefing on the Nepal situation, which might also include future steps the US State Department might take with a new Maoist government. In leading the next government, the Maoists have indicated they will hold to all major portfolios denied them earlier under the SPA rule.
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