Model 1: Girija Is To Be Blamed

The NC was in power more than most during the 90s, and Girija was Prime Minister more than most. But instead of consolidating the democracy, the Girijas of the world became the new establishment. Massive corruption was institutionalized. The aspiratinos of the Madhesis, the Janajatis, the Dalits, the women, the poor were not given proper channels. Things fall apart when the center can not hold.

Girija's inflexibility that served so well in his quest for democracy became his bane post-democracy. A party with a clear majority going for mid-term elections is ridiculous. Girija does not know how to save face: he only knows how to corner his opponents into desperation. He does not understand compromise and coalition building is the name of the game in a democratic framework.

Because the moderate center did not perform, the left and the right came in to fill the vacuum.

Model 2: King G Is To Be Blamed

The king gets neither democracy nor constitutional monarchy, or he would not talk of being a "constructive monarch." He has acted a mirror image of the Maoists in trying to fill the vacuum left by the political parties. That might be cunning, and possible in the murky waters of today, but it is not magananimous. The king patronizingly refers to the country as his family. That shows a lack of gut-feel for basic premises in democracy.

King G got Chand to almost double the royal budget. That is NC style brahmaloot many times over.

Model 3: Deuba Is To Be Blamed

Why get rid of the parliament, bro! In the first place....

Model 4: The Maoists Are To Be Blamed

Not even the Chinese are Maoists anymore. The haat bazar in a remote village in Nepal is the market economy in action. The ancient Buddhist republics were democracies in action. Those twins are the necessary engines for growth. Gorbachev knows more about communist theory than Prachanda or Baburam, and he has said the market is it.

The LTTE have been far more lethal than the Maoists can ever hope to be, militarily. And the LTTE were not able to take over Colombo even after 20 vicious years. So the military option is out.

It is laughable of the Maoists to think the king will willingly give over power. Not this king. If anything King G will want to expand his role.

The dictatorship of the proletariat is not about to happen. Instead it is a game of who will blink first, and the two extreme sides do not care if the commoners suffer in the interim.

Supermodel 1: Panchayat II

There is a very real possibility the king decides he has had enough of it, and he plain takes over. Which will be the final blow of the right to the rest of the political spectrum. But such a move will, by definition, engineer a massive backlash. And more than Maoists will rally behind an all-out call for a republic.

Supermodel 2: "Jana Sarkar"

That does not exist in the rural areas either. It is more statelessness, lawlessness. And the urban centers hold strong. It can not be imagined Kathmandu can be taken over by the Maoists.

Not going to happen.

Supermodel 3: Constituent Assembly

This is the only option for quickie peace. But one suspects those now in power will not go for it. Instead they will wait and wait and wait. For the Maoists to possibly tire out. In the mean time, the people be damned.

Iraq will soon have elections for such a thing. And they will do fine for it.

Let the people decide.

But such a move will have to be simultaneous a total disarming of the Maoists.

Supermodel 4: Inflexibility

That Giriaj disease pervades the entire political spectrum. Mero goru ko barhai takka. This more than anything else is holding progress back.

Paramendra:

Great to read you again! Enjoyed your satire.

परमेन्दर,

मोडेल र उपमोडेल त कति कति नि है?

By the way, I have few comments.

Supermodel 2: "Jana Sarkar"

>That does not exist in the rural areas either. It is more statelessness, lawlessness. >And the urban centers hold strong. It can not be imagined Kathmandu can be taken >over by the Maoists.

Before 15 years, you could not imagine the option o Panchayati Byabastha.
पनचायतको बिकल्प छैन, भन्या हैन?
सबै नेपाली पञ्च हौँ !
सबै नै पञ्च नेपाली !
मुकुटको छत्र छायाँमा !
एकत्र हामी हिमाली !!

सबै नेपली पञ्च हौँ ... ... ...
भन्या हैन र ब्रो? ४६ सालले देखाइदियो।

नेपाल सरकार शिँह दरबार भित्र मात्र सिमित भइसक्दा पनि अब अहिले आएर जनसरकार निस्कृय छ भन्ने? हैन तिमीले गाऊँ देखेकै छैनौ। कति वर्ष भो?
"साउनमा आँखा फुटेको गोरुले चैत्रमा पनि हरियो देख्छ" भन्या यही हो।

>It can not be imagined Kathmandu can be taken over by the Maoists.
४५ सालसम्म पञ्चहरुले यही भन्थे। नेपलाको माटो सुहाँउदो पञ्चायतको बिकल्प नै छैन भनेर मेरा गोरुका १२ है टक्का गर्थे । समयले बताइदियो।

अन्याय र अत्याचार का बिरुद्द जे पनि हुन्छ । हेर्दै जाऊ समयले प्रमाणित गरेरै छाड्छ।

Girija has to take a whole lot of blame, that's true
enough: he held power for most of the 1990-2002 period
of bramaloot.

However, even he is not to be exclusively blamed. He,
or the NC, did not make the Constitution alone. It was
made in a hurry, mainly by NC and the Left, with the
single-minded purpose of making the institution of the
Monarchy a cypher.

The "jana andolan" of 1990 came riding piggy back on
India's shoulders (this Paramendrar doesnot mention, advisedly).

One direct result:
during "payback" time ie when drafting the multi-party
Constitution of 1990, out goes the Zone of Peace
reference in the preamble of the previous
Constitution. India, to recall, took offense at the
very notion of a Nepal as a Zone of Peace (it would
wish that Nepal were nothing more than her private
backyard) a concept that by 1990 had received the
support of 116 nations, incluidng the US.

Most of the flaws are thus systemic: in that respect,
both the Monarchy and the Maoist are "dissatisfied"
parties. The Maoists want to rip the 1990 Constitution
making Nepal a one-party state sans the Monarchy; the
Palace would like to amend the Constitution providing
it with some more powers, to better reflect the
reality on the ground as well as to act a check
against dictatorial powers by political
parties/leaders.

One material difference is that India, at least for
now, has decided not to ride the Maoist tiger any
more, now joining hands with the Establishment here.
Besides, there is strong backing from the US, and
China, against the Maoists, the implications of which
most don't realize, as yet.

Deuba, etc. don't really matter in the long run.
Complicating factors are that the NC has virtually
become a sleeping partner of the Maoists (stupidly, I
might add: if the Maoists ever come to power they will
be slaughtered). The UML does not know what to do: to
oppose the Establish of which it is now formally a
part or to play revolutionary espousing a line that
is difficult to distinguish from the Maiosts.

Hence, we are likely to see the King take the reigns
more firmly in his own hands, with perhaps Deuba
playing ball, if he wants to continue as PM.

Don't forget that the very first priority for any
individual, as for a state, is security. If the
Indians, the Americans and the Chinese, among others,
conclude that the Maoist are a common threat, then in
today's 9/11 world arraigned against terrorism, there
is no way that these powers would object in any
determined move by the King/Establishment to knock out
the Maoists.

Both India and America have in the past supported
non-democracies (panchayat Nepal, Musharraf's Pakistan
and King Jigme's Bhutan, for example)as long as they
felt it was in their national security interest.

These are things that Bhagat does not mention perhaps
because he has no clue. He apparently views Nepalese
affairs largely if not solely through Madeshi glasses
and thus cannot present an overall or balanced view.

Pramendra nah, none of the above are to be blamed. All the NRN (non resident Nepalis) are to be blamed (wink wink).

They are the most educated people in the country and they leave their country to go abroad so blame them :D :D

PS: Just flowing with the satire, chill !!!!

"अन्याय र अत्याचार का बिरुद्द जे पनि हुन्छ । हेर्दै जाऊ समयले प्रमाणित गरेरै छाड्छ। "
dada giri, strong statement there....:)


meera, so sud i buy u a ticket for u to go bak to nepal?? let me know :)

Meera:

"They are the most educated people in the country and they leave their country to go abroad so blame them :D :D"

-- Not neccessaraily!! thats if you arent being sarcastic. There are tons of EDUCATED people within Nepal who can make serious difference in country's fate...NRN arent doing much..esp the ones in North America..trust me, the money nepalis make in North America stays in North America..my point is there is only so much they can do..they usually have too many excuses and way too much ego to go back to Nepal and do something..oh well..I blame the system not the people...so...we all are to blame..:/

Gret topic. I thought I would see pictures...
One solution, though impossible now, is to reincarnate the last tsunami into a long tiny (10m D) infinitely strong pipe and surround the Nraynhiti Darbar and the residence of the Army Chief with this pipe... then constituent assembly will be there in no time without having to even protest... no bullets, no bloodshed. Of course Prachanda should be then invited to the palace and then ask him if he'd like to be the next president/king...

Glad to see Paramendra's writing on Sajha.

This one did not impress me. Too superficial observations. Nothing new, nothing thought- provoking. The whole piece gives an impression of a state of confusion.

I am aware of Paramendra's takes on various social, political issues from elsewhere and from older postings on Sajha and most of them match with my own. However, sometimes I find rigor and independent thinking lacking in his discussion of some major issue like republicanism and his favorite Sadbhavana. But that's not what is in this piece. So that for some other time.

Dr. Strangelove is obviously a royalist who interprets empowering the monarchy as "reflecting the reality on the ground as well as to act a check against dictatorial powers by political parties/leaders."

Doctor is almost right about the reality. The only error he made is that this reality is not that of the GROUND of Nepal, but is that of the Narayahity Durbar ground. In the same way, he is right about the purpose of empowering monarchy as acting as a check against dictatorial powers by political parties/leaders. The king indeed does not want to be dictated by the political parties; he wants 'Maharajdhiraj sarkar ko sadixa ra asim nigah le chalne raj' back.

Few more quick comments.

It [the constitution] was made in a hurry, mainly by NC and the Left, with the single-minded purpose of making the institution of the Monarchy a cypher.

Not true. There was no SINGLEMINDED purpose. The commission was TRIPLE-MINDED, in fact. The LEFT mind which wanted to make the institution of monarchy a cipher, the MIDDLE mind that had long made it's mind up to co-exist with the monarchy and the RIGHT mind that were there to give power to the monarchy as much as possible and leave some AMBIGUITIES in the constitution to facilitate future maneuver in that direction.

The "jana andolan" of 1990 came riding piggy back on India's shoulders

Really ? All those millions of people of our cities, towns and bazaars who came on the streets for andolan and celebration were Indians ?

Giri

You might have a point in I might be underestimating the Maobadi "pakad" in the rural areas or even the country at large. But are they really like a government in parts they claim to control? What functions does that government perform? How many countries have recognized that so-called new regime?

Your analogy of the Panchayat is great. Paradigm shifts is what you are talking about. And there is much lacking with the current status quo. But then what should replace it?

The Maoists have given voice to various ethnic grievances. But to what productive avail?

Violence is not an option that brings in stable dividends.

P.S. Your spelling Parmendar rhymes with Alexander, the movie!

Stranglelove

You see to much India everywhere. India is a major regional reality, but it is not as omnipresent as you portray, especially in the little details of Nepal's affairs.

Nepal is so alike India that the ruling elites in Nepal have to keep a fervent anti-India b.s. going on to retain a separate identity, or so they think. That is negative nationalism.

Perhaps the gravest mistake of the 1990 constitution was to not bring the army under the behest of the parliament. But then perhaps the 1990 people did the best under the circumstances, and it was the job of the subsequent parliament to make the amendments. But none bothered.

That Zone Of Peace thing was a joke, a naive pretext for King Birendra to take large entourages on world tours the country could ill afford.

"...a check against dictatorial powers by political parties/leaders..."

What could this possibly mean?

A party within a democratic framework is, by definition, not dictatorial.

You suggest that India might have been on the Maoist side in the recent past. Are you serious? They are fighting their own Maoists in India. Naidu almost got whacked by an outfit.

And you end up by saying mine is a particularly Madhesi slant. And not a Nepali slant. How ridiculous of you to think a Pahadi/Rajabadi slant is national and a Madhesi slant might not be? And what specifics make you think my "models and supermodels" are Madhesi specifically? I would think these scenarios are quite exhaustive of all possible outcomes. Your analysis picks but one of all I have suggested. And hence is more likely biased.

Meera

Jokes aside. I think dual citizenship is the way to go. I am not against the idea of Nepalese going abroad. But I am against the idea of dated laws that prohibit those Nepalis from fully investing in their country of origin.

Globalization and Internet. Bashudhaiva kutumbakam.

Nepe

Nice to see you as well, as always. And you must have your own reasons to say my analysis is not rigorous enough, but rather shallow.

But your analysis fits into being a subset of Supermodel 3: Constituent Assembly . You foresee an assembly that brings forth a republic. That is a possibility.

But I am more nuanced on this.

(1) Constituent Assembly to disarm the Maoists.
(2) And then let the people decide. If they decide to keep constitutional monarchy, I am just fine with that.

Ha Ha Ha Ho Ho Ho !!!!!!
This prank was totally intended for those folks who think of themselves as MAPAI. My dear fren Paramendra this just proves the point.... that you think of yourself larger than life. I guess you don't know how to be humble. He he he
This too from a person who was posting ads for other sites here in sajha till he was warned. He was even asking people to click on the logo so he can gett some $$$$ off of it.
Heck why not make it a franchise and have Paramendra rake in the benefits. Dhuutt Saaala !!!!

Ethnic Politics Across South Asia And Beyond: Tamils In Sri Lanka, Madhesis In Nepal
Paramendra Bhagat
January 4, 2005 See who's visiting this page.

- http://www.geocities.com/paramendra/2005/lines.html

Submitted to Lines magazine.

- http://www.lines-magazine.org/

Ethnic Politics Across South Asia And Beyond: Tamils In Sri Lanka, Madhesis In Nepal
Paramendra Bhagat
January 4, 2005

- http://www.geocities.com/paramendra/2005/lines.html

Submitted to Lines magazine.

- http://www.lines-magazine.org/

Paremndra,
liked looking at Bishun and Babita's pics. But I don't understand KAMOTH ko pani pic rakne ke jarurat thiyo? Isn't it too much? I understand the pics were posted for people back home, who might not have seen KAMOTH all their lives - kamoth baneko chara kasto huncha. But Bishun should rise above all these petty KAMOTHS, sinks, shower-curtains, he should rise above materialistic show-off business (tyo pani kehi nabhaeka garib lai) , and try his best and work towards that all his village peopple will have their own PRIVATE TOILETS one day with their own KAMOTHS, not just see KAMODTHS in BIshuns private bathroom.

Its called showing off. And that too not even his own pics. this is not the first time this moron has done this.

Tundikhel, whoever u are, u are prejudiced towards Parmendra, at least from the above two posting its clear. Personally, I've nothing against Parmendra, I respect him for who he is. Same goes with Bishun too. It was my mistake that I posted my man ko kura on this thread. Bekar ma u got another chance to pounce on Parmendra.

- http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050103/asp/opinion/story_4203396.asp

Bharat Bhushan starts out by saying multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy in Nepal were Indian gifts. That is an elitist, arrogant, non-democratic viewpoint that directly disrespects the 23 million Nepalese, as is the viewpoint held by the Kathmandu elite that the very notion of a Constituent Assembly is anathema: heck, the people might actually end up having a say in the constitution that governs the country in which they live.

King Gyanendra might as well be seeking an executive monarchy, and that might be the Maoists? greatest gift to the king, but then the Nepali Congress stalwarts like Girija and Deuba are no less to be blamed, Girija more than most.

There is too much emphasis on the external players: India, US, et al. There is too much emphasis on the elitist internal players: king, party leaders, Maoists. What about the people? Let them speak. And they will through a Constituent Assembly.

And UN mediation should be welcomed. It is okay to get third party aid, why is it not okay to get third party mediation!

The thing about wanting to revive the parliament is (1) it does not solve the Maoist problem, and (2) it might not be technically possible to do it in the first place. The parliament?s term has long expired.

Lets be simple.

Paramendra is without any doubt a pro-indian, not to be surprised. He thinks, only solution to resolve the situation is - by bringing Nepal under Indian rule; else doesn't work. Hope not someday Janakpur will belong to BIHAR and RABADI DEVI will be ruling over we Nepali. Why the heck we care what Bharat Bhusan has said? Tell me, What Hridasyas (Opps hard to spell) Tripathi has to say ?

Dr Strangelove -- > The "jana andolan" of 1990 came riding piggy back on India's shoulders - I am so convinced, doctor.

Nepe Dai replied -- > Really ? All those millions of people of our cities, towns and bazaars who came on the streets for andolan and celebration were Indians ?


Nepe Dai, no Indians came on the street marching and tourching but they were the one to pull the strings. In other words WE Adolankari Nepali were BADAR and they were MADARI. Don't be shamed, yes we danced in their DAMARU ko DUM DUM. Though they were out of sight of yours and mine, they worked a lot - backstage. Do you know Quarter of those millions didn't even know what "Jaana Andolan" was all about, they did for fun. Half were definately ridding piggy back on Indian's Shoulders - and who else better represent India than Girja and Krishna? Remaining were frustrated BAMPANTHI who later became Maoist and Rest were pro-monarch who then were active MANDALE. Yet another group were those under extreme porverty line they didn't have energry to join the force, otherwise they would be part of our team (Andolankari).

Ki K HO?

The democracy we enjoyed after the revolt in 1990 was brought in by Nepalese but was hugely successful because India indirectly helped the rebellious political parties by imposing sanctions and so on. Would there have been a multiparty system had India not imposed all kinds of hurdles to the then government? The government, including King Birendra, were trying all they could to avert any coup d'etat back then. The governement became so weak then because of the sanctions that King Birendra had no choice, but tried very hard to hold onto the last straw. Had India directly calculated the effects of sanctions and provided a clearcut, albeit unofficial, roadmap? I doubt it existed as such, but intentions of all sanctions, which were double-edged, were clear.
Our big brother looks at Nepal much more differently than it looks at Pakistan, or for that matter Bhutan, although right now Bhutan might be enjoying closer ties with India than Nepal is. Our cultural similarities are so vivid that many Indians, mostly from the southern parts, still think Nepal is a part of India. Nepal is a big market for India and a big source of resources. And of course Nepal barely escaped from the grasp of India when the partition took place. It reminds me of mickey mouse cartoons.

----------
Now should India impose sanctions again, she will be having to send troops along with the rations it will let trickle through the checkpoints (it has to let them through, though). The equation now has changed. The situation is so bad, there is a good chance that already the RNA is thinking of taking the executive power in its hand. On the other hand, the second force now is Maoists, only then the third force is the government. Either way this prolonged crisis is not working towards the benefit of the king, not to mention its effect on commn people. The king thinks he is winning by "divide and rule" tactics, my conclusion is he is losing big time. This is only a matter of time that the king will shed his executive power, and a good possibility that Paras will not be a king! Only solution is constituent assembly, before that a parliament which will help it be formed and which showcase the king inside the palace where he belongs. ONly hope is that Prachanda and Baburam are both still sane and that they will then come to the table in reality (they may not come to the table even then).

------------
To allow third party to help you is not always good. It is not OK to accept donations from other countries if you can reject them. I believe Nepal would have rejected foreign donations every single time if only she could have. A country where more than 50 % of the budget is run by foreign aid, it is ridiculous to even think of rejecting foreign donations.( An example is a proud rejection by India to the foreign offers for foreign donations for recovery from tsunami disaster. This is a loud and clear message to the world that now India is global force to reckon with.)
Having said that, we may not have a choice to settle this crisis otherwise. Also, foreign mediations (much of it would be interventions by big bosses) may not bear any fruits; been there, seen that! So while carefully analysing the broader aspects of foreign interventions in our poor country, other home-grown strategies should be given top priorities. Always keep your problems at home inside your house, as far as possible!

Paramendra wrote:

>You foresee an assembly that brings forth a republic.

Not really. Assembly or not Assembly, a republic will come. Because आजको र आजसम्मको परिस्थितिमा गणतन्त्र बाहेक अरु कुनै सेटअप छैन जहाँ परम्परागत महत्वाकांक्षी राजा बाहेक अरु अटाउन नसकुन् । अपरम्परागत हुने मर्दपन शाही परिवारमा छ भने महत्वाकांक्षी राजा समेत यसमा अटाउँछ । ज्ञानेन्द्र शाह पारस शाह राष्ट्रपतिको चुनाव लड्न सक्छन्, आँट छ भने । यति कुरा तिमी हामी जस्ता बुद्धि बेचेर खानेमात्र होइन पसिना बेचेर खाने हरेक नेपालीलाई समेत थाहा छ । गणतन्त्र भन्दा कमसल प्रजातन्त्र दिगो नहुने कुरा अब छर्लंगै छ । बाँकी एउटा गतिलो धक्का मात्र हो । दिन धेरै टाढा छैन ।

>That is a possibility.

>But I am more nuanced on this.

>(1) Constituent Assembly to disarm the Maoists.
>(2) And then let the people decide. If they decide to keep constitutional monarchy, I am just >fine with that.

म पनि नुआन्स्ड नै छु । बन्धुले मेरो कुख्यात स्तम्भ पढ्नु भा छ ?
- http://www.sajha.com/sajha/html/column.cfm?extraid=622