| Username |
Post |
| Biswo |
Posted
on 20-Jul-01 04:14 PM
In Nepal, Nepalese are being treated as the Raiti(the ruled one).
Our right to be furnished with information is rarely honored, and
government is still being operated in furtive and cryptic way.So,
when the king was killed, all we got to know in radio and TV was
hareram,sitaaraam etc and when army went to Rolpa and wandered
around the villages (in the lack of reinforcement) the spokesman
of government told us they were sorrounding the rebels.
Furthermore, the state barred freelance journalists and
photographers from going there. What a model democracy?
So, in this perspective, any list of prospective PMs as being
discussed in the national media catches our attention, though
a surprise may spring up in the meeting of NC central committee.
The prospective PMs ,as mentioned in media, are Chakra Bastola,
Sher Bahadur Deuba, Shushil Koirala and Ram Chandra Poudel.
Chakra Bastola is a suave politican, who is also an India-expert.
He worked as an ambassador. He is also one of the hijackers of a
civil plane. Hijacking a plane is considered a heinous crime, but
our leaders are sacrosanct, and such crime is not considered a
crime anymore. Mr Bastola used to be equally popular in Bhattarai
camp,though that is no longer a case. If we are expecting a change
in policy,politics,or governance, then Mr Bastola can be a
disappointment.
Mr Deuba is a popular figure in Nepal, and we probably know a lot
about him already.He spearheaded mutiny against PM Girija, but
Girija was always invincible though this time he surrendered.
Deuba enjoys warm relation with both king and opposition.I am
pretty sure he is the person who can tame the Maoists, either in
the dialogue table or in warfare. He will be a real change for
Nepal if the genuinely work for that purpose.Mr Deuba made a lot
of mistakes in his first tenure as PM,but he seemed to have learnt
lessons from them also (that is what he says in his speeches).
Mr Shushil Koirala is a celibate politican who used to be a wire
puller in Girija government. A figure who loves backroom more than
limelight, Mr Shushil Koirala lacks both vision and vigour to
elevate country from its present state of dispair. Mr Koirala
had spent more than ten years in penitentiary in Panchayat era,
and that history of resistance is for what NC members remember him
most.He is popular among NC activists(scored 7th position in last
election of NC central members in NC convention in Pokhara), but
is equally unpopular among oppositions. His premiership will be
a continuance of Girija premiership.We will see more harrassment
of media, more corrupt Koiralas, more slight of constitutional
bodies and their heads in his tenure, if he heads the next
government.
Mr Ram Chandra Poudel's main asset is his popularity among common
NC activists. But like most of the NC leaders, he lacks a
scientific vision about the progress of nation. He is not a
corrupt leader like his fellow Tanahuli Govinda Raj Joshi, but he
is also not a person who knows what he is doing.If he becomes
primeminister, he can unite the party and can get cooperation from
opposition, and probably can work for containing rebels also.
------------
The best person in NC for premiership is Dr Ram Sharan Mahat.
He is the person who knows our economics, and who is the most
intelligent among the flocks of NC MPs.He can tell us "It's the
economy, stupid" the most effectively. Will he be PM this time?
Very unlikely.
Let's watch the charade of NC when it selects new PM .
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| nepathya |
Posted
on 20-Jul-01 09:27 PM
I am with biswo. nepathy
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| care |
Posted
on 20-Jul-01 10:18 PM
Let's face it. Nepali Congress, as any other political parties in present-day Nepal, is made of midgets whom we mistook for titans. BP died long ago and his replacement, well, that's nowhere in sight.
That said, my best bet is Mahesh Acharya. He is by far the best orator (among the central committee members); he is well read; speaks with deep conviction (Deuba by comparison merely mumbles and fumbles); he understands economics as well as anyone else; and he is very clean by Nepal's standards.
And he definitely is well acquainted with the world beyond Nepal. (Only other person in the central committee who inspires that confidence in me is Mahat).
Another great asset: Acharya is a tetotaler. (So's Ramchandra Poudel, I suppose. But that's just about the only thing going P's way other than being a "midddle of the road" Congressi.)
What has that got to do with politics, you may ask. A lot. Most Nepalis are haunted by unsavory sights of Chakara Bastolas, Khum Bahadurs, even Deubas, getting drunk and salivating in public, and completely losing their decorum.
But the greatest asset of all: Acharya is YOUNG. Our politics doesn't have to be geriartics club. Girija, KP, Manmohan, Surya Bahadur...It's time we turned the politics on its head, and see if it works. We gave budhas a chance; now let's see how these young Turks perform.
Mahat comes a close second. Unlike Acharya, he is not a Morange.
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| care |
Posted
on 20-Jul-01 10:32 PM
Ooops! The last sentence needs clarification.
One factor many koirala-bashers tend to heap against Acharya is his Morang origin. But to denigrate Acharya just because he comes from the same district as the illustrious Koirala family (he's even a relative, I suppose) is to fall prey to valueless politics that seems to dismiss everybody. He has even enjoyed GP's patronage. But world history tells us a lot of great leaders received mentoring too.
But there are some ABSOLUTE NO, though. Govinda Raj Joshi - corrupt, loudmouth, stupid, principle-less, filthy. Khum Bahadur - corrupt, scheming, undemocratic. Both are political bullies of the worst kind.
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| Biswo |
Posted
on 20-Jul-01 11:53 PM
careji:
I also favor a teetotaler(I am one, too) as a leader, no offense
intended to "intemperate" others. However, that's not something
prerequisite for the job.I still favor Dr Mahat eventhough you
have your points. Mahesh Acharya doesn't have a passionate
allegiance to economic liberalization, and that was demonstrated
in his first tenure, when he sold off Nepal's finest state-owned
companies, wittingly or unwittingly all of those were Chinese-made
thus leaving room for even diplomatic fallout, in pennies. People
said kickouts from those deals were hoarded as slush fund in NC's
election coffer.Who knows!
Another regrettable thing about NC is Khum Bahadur Khadka. This
man is suspected of encouraging smuggling in Nepal. Bam Dev
Gautam, consider to be the first DPM to "institutionalize" gold
smuggling in Tribhuvan Airport, is a close pal of Mr Khadka. If
rumours are to be believed, Mr Khadka once also shot a few
opposition activists in Dang. Mr Khadka also is a person indulged
in factionalism within NC, and is considered to be bargaining all
the time for the benefit of his clique,and probably the smugglers.
The nation needs fresh faces. NC, specially more. NC and the
nation both are suffering from dysfunctional geriatrocracy-as you
pointed out.UML has a lot of young faces, but they are very
narrow minded people. They are paranoid all the time, their
economic agenda will lead us to nowhere, and their commitment
to democracy sometimes look shaky.
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| care |
Posted
on 21-Jul-01 12:01 AM
Biswoji:
Mahesh Acharya was the chief architect behind Nepal's first post-democracy liberalization? I don't quite understand your point? Can you elaborate please?
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| Biswo |
Posted
on 21-Jul-01 12:25 AM
Careji:
My point is : although he initiated liberalization program, he
didn't further it effectively. The few companies he selected to
sell were sold controversially. Then, the process has been in
limbo, as it seems to me. White elephants are still eating too
much of national assets.Despite the fact that Mahesh Acharya says
he favors liberalization, and also that he is popular among donor
agencies and international missions in KTM, I think Dr Mahat has
,comparatively,both better vision and expertise to go ahead with
his programs.
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| RRR |
Posted
on 21-Jul-01 07:38 AM
The KING is BACK and democracy in Nepal is only a show....
Unification of Nepal starts with the monarchy !
King G is pulling all the strings...
Maosist Know that, Imfamous Mr. Koirala knows that....And definately the ARMY knows that!
The ARMY ..knows that......!!!!
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| care |
Posted
on 21-Jul-01 08:23 AM
Biswoji:
Nepal's privatization experience has hardly been a model story. In retrospect, I agree it was pursued by the Koirala govt (first elected govt. after 1990) overzealously without taking into account the human cost of privatization.
The all-out privatization drive made Acharya the target of UML and all other communists, and a section within his own party. The purists still considered Nepali Congress a socialist party.
To me, Mahat, as the vice chairman of the National Planning Commission then, should get as much blame - or praise - for the early liberlization.
I largely agree with your impression on UML, our main opposition party. They are young no doubt but a band of streetsmart, and confused politicians who alternately praise and condemn Maoists on the left and RPP on the right. And their relationship with nepali congress has been far from consistent. Yes, I take them as largely unprincipled communists, and I deeply distrust their democratic commitments.
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| Biswo |
Posted
on 21-Jul-01 05:30 PM
careji:
I think a finance minister is more responsible for any failure or
success of his program, than the vice chairman of NPC.
As news about probable new premier trickles in, it is becoming
evident that Girija camp is intent on making Shushil a new PM.
What a change!
-------------
I once read an article about Pakistan in one Indian newspaper.
The writer talked about Stockholm syndrome in Pakistani people.
[Stockholm syndrome is a feeling among the hostages that the
hostage-takers are actually their protectors. It develops after
a few days of duress under the abducters/hostage takers, generally
because the hostages have no other good option to think.] His
point was very interesting: after leaving for years under the army
rule, Pakistanis have started admiring them and thinking the army
is the real savior of their cause.
In Nepal, a section of people like RRRji seem to have Stockholm
Syndrome. After leaving under the direct rule of kings and Ranas
for centuries, some people still crave for direct rule of
dictators and are suspicious of democratically elected leaders.
Even if besmirched by Girija cabal, democracy in Nepal is the
only option to move ahead. Democracy is the only guarantor of
wellbeing of every politicians and citizens of Nepal. We need more
democratic practices, more independent bodies that can rein on
the absolutism of majority, and we need more free media to inform
Nepali citizens about the happening of the nation.To think about
any alternative of democratic system, or to think that the king's
tutulege will be benevolent and beneficial to us is clearly a
jejune and pathetic response to what is happening these days in
Nepal.
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| EastSideBoy |
Posted
on 21-Jul-01 06:39 PM
I fully agree with you that democracy is the only option for us to move ahead. But at the same time, while you guys have been shouting at the top of your voice to protect freedom of speech and movement (in the short term), the totalitarian Maoist have been making deep inroads into Nepali politics because of the government's failure to take any concrete action against them. You guys are against the PSA, you are against the deployment of army and you are against taking any action against the Maoists, while you are not against the Maoists' killing so many policemen and other people.
The only way to protect democracy is to take strong measures against the Maoists, suspend a few of our 'rights' for the short term, so that we can safeguard democracy in the long term.
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| Biswo |
Posted
on 21-Jul-01 07:47 PM
Dear EastSideBoyji:
I don't oppose use of army when police fails, and I admit police
failed already and miserably.
When a corrupt government deploys army, the army can't get love
of local population. Now, the impression is like this: the army
is being deployed to give longevity to the corrupt ministers like
Govinda Raj Joshi and ,whoelse, the great Girija himself.
It is also deplorable that the opposition is not consulted for
this. Now everybody knows that UML is as much against Maoists as
NC. In such strategically benefitting issue, NC should try to
lure UML in its program. Rather NC looks like is trying to get
benefit from the predicament of UML. Where is an attempt to
get national consensus? At least, UML, RPP and Sadvabhana support
a minimal program of army deployment.Now Girija cabal is
forwarding Shushil Koirala as PM contender.Gosh, is this how a
national consensus is gained?
Make no mistake, The army deployment in Rolpa was a debacle. Now,
I believe that nobody was surrounded in Rolpa, and the fourty
something army Jawaans sent there were sent without much
consideration, and Maoists didn't fight with them, otherwise, the
squad could well be taken as hostage.Heavy weather made
reinforcement difficult, and the local populace was sympathetical
to Maoists (they even voted for Maoists in 2048 election).
Just imagine a scenario:the army is sorrounding a village. People
are very poor and supportive of the rebels. How the hell can an
army jawaan of Nepal shoot at the child peeping at him in
a tattered dress and with moist eyes from an old dilapidated hut?
It is not a saving of democracy, it is a sham war against poor
people there. Shooting at poor helpless people reckelssly in the
name of saving democracy is not supportable. Maoists can't get
Nepal's power by scare tactics, and army or we should be able to
wait for as long as possible to avoid the situation where we should kill poor (magar,taamang and other most "sojhaa" nepali
Janjaati who are in majority in Rolpa) people.And hey, no
democracy kills poor civilians in the name of saving democracy?
Let's become patient when dealing with such situation. Nobody is
opposing army and army deployment. We must be patient, so as we
can prove democracy is the best system. Our 12 years have become
very corrupt already, what remained now: indescriminate killing
of civilians and plunge into some kind of civil war?
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| RRR Supporter |
Posted
on 21-Jul-01 10:15 PM
I agree with you RRR. I am sick and tired of hearing about NC and other political party. I hope King G has enoguh courgage to disolve all this political party and bring back monachary back in Nepal. I rather live the way it was back in 80s than now. At least we has some peace and running water and not so hungry political leaders who is ready to sell mother Nepal(I should say their own mother and sister. Don't take me wrong folks, I was one of the supporter to bring so called democracy in neapl.
I hope King G. line these corrupted leaders starting from Gireja and practice his shooting on them.
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| EastSideBoy |
Posted
on 21-Jul-01 10:30 PM
Even if King G. bans all the political parties and brings back authoritarian monarchy, the Maoists will still be there. And he will have to use the army against them.
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| RRR |
Posted
on 22-Jul-01 09:19 AM
I am not anti-deomcracy....but when Nepal's National Security is at stake, I will suppot absolute control...right now the only one who is capable of pushing the army to those depths is the King..not the man but institution.....
And believe me the Army is involved....they do not want to kill fellow nepali's which moaist are ...but they do know only way to negotiate with the maoist is through strength....like in business if you negotiate thorugh strength you will have an upper hand....
The army has utilized it personnel to souround key areas not to destroy or kill but to instill the fear in the maoist and slow their movement....you don't catch a tiger my attacking it directly...you attack it by setting traps an snares....
The best solution is that the leaders of the maosist are snared by the army and are made to come to the negotiating table to solve the problem of peverty, hierachical abuse, and illiteracy ...etc....
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| Amil |
Posted
on 22-Jul-01 09:48 AM
With the respect given big names in Nepal, there is a new name to be added to the list of Nepali gods. The new PM will be given the status of a 'god', continuing the tradition of making gods of ordinary men.
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