4-29-06, 9:27 am
A few hours ahead of a show of strength of Seven Party Alliance (SPA) in what was planned to be the largest protest as yet, with a turn over of over 10 lakh people expected, king Gyanendra conceded defeat. He agreed to restore parliament, which he had dissolved on May 22, 2002. He told its session would be called on April 28, 2006. Virtually besieged, the king made a proclamation on television late night on April 24, and said: 'Keeping in mind the wishes of the Nepalese people who are currently engaged in an agitation, and the road map of the agitating Seven Party Alliance, I do hereby restore the parliament.' Revival of parliament was one of the major demands of the protesting parties.
After the king's proclamation for restoring democracy, the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) which had been leading this mass movement, took no time in nominating veteran Nepal Congress leader G. P. Koirala as the consensus choice for prime ministership. The SPA took no time in announcing its objectives to be achieved through the restoration of parliament. These are: Constituting an all party government, elections to a constituent assembly, and on the whole, establishing an inclusive and participatory complete loktantra and the establishment of lasting peace.
When the SPA was holding a meeting to discuss the king's proclamation and choosing a prime minister, the protestors outside kept on shouting slogans: 'Leaders be careful. Do not betray the people.' They repeatedly asked the SPA leaders to announce the date for elections to a constituent assembly.
The indefinite strike since April 6 gave a new impetus to the movement for restoration of democracy and toppling of monarchy. The king, however, resorted to suppression, tyranny and bullets. He banned rallies and demonstrations, imposed curfew, issued orders to shoot the curfew violators. But despite all these threats, the SPA continued to mobilise more and more people for the protest rallies and demonstrations. With each passing day more and more people thronged the streets of Kathmandu and other towns. All along the 27 km long ring road that surrounds Kathmandu agitators were thronging every day in bigger and more bigger numbers. It looked like an encirclement of the capital. And when this mobilisation was to reach its zenith on April 25, king Gyanendra did read the writing on the wall and capitulated.
During these three weeks of intensive agitation the political parties wanted to recall of parliament, an all party government and the election of a constituent assembly that could decided the fate of the monarchy and turn Nepal into a republic. As a matter of fact, during the agitation, cries of 'Hang Gyanendra and Paras' and 'We want Gantantra' were heard more than 'long live democracy'. That spoke of the direction the people's movement had taken. The pro-democracy movement had really turned into an anti-monarchy upsurge. The message from the Nepalese people is loud and clear. They want a republic. Monarchy stands discredited. It has lost legitimacy in the eyes of almost all the people of Nepal.
That is why the issue of setting up of a constituent assembly has become a top agenda for the new government.
Echoing this very mood of the Nepalese people, after the SPA's meeting Communist Party of Nepal (UML) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal made it clear that 'the announcement of constituent assembly elections will be the main agenda of the revived parliament.' Expressing the same commitment, Nepal Congress spokesperson Krishna Situala said: 'Soon after the revival, the house will form an all party government which will simultaneously pledge to hold elections to the constitutional assembly and call upon the CPN (Maoist) to join the political mainstream.
In the unfolding scenario, with G. P. Koirala as the SPA's nomination as the prime minister, as an interim arrangement the king can at the most have a ceremonial role without draconian power to dismiss an elected government and without exercising control over the Nepal's army. And despite succumbing to the people's movement and restoring the parliament, the vicked king will do everything at his command to retain these powers. All sorts of hurdles would be created. So the Nepalese people's struggle is not over. They have won one battle. Now they have to proceed further for the other.
Once heat is off from him, the king Gyanendra may still attempt to subvert the new arrangement. The SPA's first priority, therefore, has to be for keeping the unity of purpose and action between the SPA and CPN(M), for immediately deciding for holding constituent assembly elections and for takeing necessary constitutional and administrative steps to take the Nepalese army from the king's control.
On day one of parliament session, on Friday, April 28 itself the SPA has to deal swiftly on the immediate tasks before it, which include fixing a date for polls to a constituent assembly, to withdraw ordinances and laws introduced by the king during his direct rule, to take steps to try those who committed excesses on the people during the agitation, release all those detained in connection with the agitation and also to initiate dialogue with CPN (M) and take steps to seek and win their confidence for running the new government and administration. These are the tasks that would act as the cementing force in further developing the unity achieved between the SPA and CPN(M) during the people's movement.
Following the request of G. P. Koirala, CPN(M), has decided to suspend their agitation till April 28, when the revived parliament meets to decide on holding elections to the constituent assembly and begin formal talks with CPN(M). Koirala has already indicated that it would be the priority of the new government to go for election to the new constituent assembly and implement the 12-point programme agreed with the CPN(M) and officially invite them for talks.
The Seven Party Alliance (SPA) includes the major political forces. Nepal Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (MUL)the biggest political formations of Nepal are part of the SPA. With more than 75 per cent MPs with it, the Alliance enjoys a overwhelming majority in the parliament. The Koirala government is, therefore, likely to declare the government's commitments to hold election to the assembly in the very first sitting of the parliament. This will set a new course for Nepal towards abolition of monarchy and establishment of a republic.
The Left and democratic forces have fought a valiant battle. Their unity and mobilisation of unprecedented display of people's power has ushered in a new revolutionary era. All glory to the fighting people of Nepal! All glory to the left and democratic parties of Nepal who are leading their great struggle!
From New Age, the organ of the Communist Party of India
