| ashu |
Posted
on 25-Jul-02 12:37 AM
Hi all,
A few days ago here, while discussing Nepal's civil society ko kura with a certain poster named "kabi", I wanted to post this essay to stimulate further thoughts.
At the time, I wasn't able to find this essay, but I spoke with Seira the other day, and she emailed this to me.
Enjoy this thought-provoking essay.
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
*******************************
Civil Society and Emergency Soul Searching
By Seira Tamang
(A shorter, edited version of this essay appeared in an issue of The Nepali Times.)
Following the unfortunate, but necessary, declaration of a state of emergency in Nepal, critical voices have pointed out the need to monitor the state’s action during this unprecedented period. With the suspension of fundamental rights, concern over the present and future of democratic Nepal has taken the form of a calling upon civil society to stay alert to the dangers of unrestrained state power.
Latent in such portrayals is the existence of a civil society that while admittedly small, is yet ready and willing to defend the interests of democracy. Amidst the images of poor government leadership, bickering political parties, the poverty/short-sightedness of left politics and so on, civil society remains the unsullied arena upon which democracy now heavily relies.
At a time of national urgency, civil society needs to rise to the occasion.
While reasons for its past inability lies with the usual suspects of political parties, state leaders, corruption, the short period of democratic experience, etc, where exactly civil society is rising from – ie, where was it before that it now needs to start the incline up to its position as the bastion of hope – is unclear.
As murky is civil society’s actual willingness as well as ability to fulfill its designated role. For if civil society’s past history of defending democracy and the rights of people is to be taken into account, questions need to be raised concerning civil society’s own culpability in the events leading up to the emergency, and thus the limits to its ability in its current form to function as democracy’s force.
For example, where was civil society when famine regularly hit Humla and Jumla? Where were the street protests on behalf of fellow citizens having to suffer the annual outrage of not having their basic needs tended to by the state? Where were our objections to television clips of politicians grandly dispensing foodgrains to the respectful namastes of recipients – foodgrains which were not gifts, but rights that had been withheld from them?
Where was our demands for apologizes from those politicians? Why was it that it took an uproar from the British press and people for politicians in Nepal to finally start pushing with full gusto for the demand for equal pensions for ex-British army Gurkhas? Where was civil society in the pushing forward of rights for our fellow citizens in the international arena? More specifically, why have feminists not pushed for the rights of Dalits?
Why have janajati activists not flooded the streets to demand for day-care provisions for working class women in factories? Where were our human rights activists in the demand for the stabilization of rice grain prices for poor farmers?
Taking the moral high ground in our isolated tundikhels, sitting in our little zones of “activism”, “issues”, and “projects,” we have made ourselves individually and collectively vulnerable to the state and the usual suspects. Outrages that we should have protested against - not because they directly affect us, not because they happen to fall under the umbrella of the specific agency we happen to be working for, not because these are issues that we are particularly interested in, and not because we will profit in some material or other manner,but because these are injustices that affect fellow citizens - remained unchallenged.
It is not surprising then that offenses were repeated in various other guises, in other places, to other people. The argument that had we stood up for the rights of such people as those living in Humla or the rice farmers, perhaps maoist overtures might not have been so appealing to so many, cannot be thought of being too far-fetched.
And now, by not having stood up for the rights of others, we find ourselves in real danger of losing our own rights with no-one left to cry out with outrage on our behalf. This particular historical moment is important on so many levels. Not the least, it should be significant as a period of soul-searching for us who constitute civil society and think of ourselves as somewhat less than culpable for these current dark days. THE END
|
| sanomanchhe |
Posted
on 25-Jul-02 03:04 AM
Although role of civil society increased significantly in post-democracy era in Nepal, the official documents (mind it, only in documents!) began to put more emphasis on it after Nepal Development Forum 2000. But no significant changes are observed in pre – and post – 2000. As Seria has very rightly pointed out, the civil society has not performed the role it is usually supposed to play. More vibrant, dynamic and positive thinking groups with like-minded people can make a difference. The stereotyped beaurocracy and vision less politicians can drive the country nowhere.
One example: A high-level commission was formed to probe the property accumulated by people who have held political, administration and other positions following the restoration of democracy in 1990. What the hell is this? What a commission can do where there is no mechanism at all to acquire information on property. Where a well established organization like The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and taxation office can not accumulate data, a commission was created and was supposed to act with a JADU KO CHHADI. They are entitled to check property of more than 80 thousand. Even if we pretend not to see a conspiracy here to form a commission, with such large area to act upon, to give clean chit to most corrupt politicians, there is no doubt that the task is almost impossible. We, the privileged (in the sense that we are literate!) ones, could not oppose the move at very first hand! There are many areas where voices alone can make difference.
Lets first discuss the areas where we, as a civil society, can make an impact and lets discuss the way we can act! All the best!!
|
