Political Gambles Endangering Peace Process in Nepal
Mohan Nepali, Kathmandu
Most of the Nepalis fear the reversion of the peace process because ceasefires have been deliberately breached earlier.
But the situation is quite different now with the full-fledged entry of Maoist insurgents into the mainstream peace
process.
It is difficult to imagine that Maoists will prefer war to peaceful politics as they have obtained people’s support for
peaceful politics. The 10-April Constituent Assembly of 2008 has clearly proved that people will lend their support to
Maoists if they are willing to work hard peacefully to transform people’s lives politically and socio-economically.
There remains a power vacuum after the formal abolition of monarchy in the country. Maoists and other forces are trying
to fill the vacuum. So far, Maoists appear advanced in the political gamble; however, they, too, appear without much
homework. They are trying to learn by doing as they lack previous experience. Current Prime Minister and Maoist Chairman
Prachanda has publicly admitted that he has found working peacefully in the government far tougher than conducting
guerrilla warfare. The reason is clear: his party organization had not seriously studied the psychology of the Nepali
bureaucratic mechanisms, the chief barriers to the implementation people-oriented policies. Nevertheless, he has
positively reiterated that his party does not have any intention to go back to war since people have mandated them to
work without arms and violence.
A different difficulty faced by the political forces previously serving monarchy is also noteworthy. The Nepali Congress
(NC) and other conservative parties find it extremely painful to remain without political power. For them, political
power has proved to be some sort of addiction. This may repeat in former Maoist rebels as well should they continue
blindly ruling without bothering much about people’s headaches.
If the political forces cannot go through all kinds of pains and tortures that the people have always suffered, it will
be rather difficult for them to be transformed into people-oriented forces.
The deep-seated political tendency in Nepal has indicated that the country’s major political forces are engaged in blind
power gambles. This is what one should worry about because the gamble may hit the peace process.
So many provocative games have been played in Nepal’s current peace process. According to political principles, all
kinds of political, social and economic forces are under the umbrella of the nation and its laws. But in the context of
Nepal, individuals within parties are being above party organizations and parties are being above the nation. This
situation should be considered unfortunate. Day by day, they are losing their moral strength in terms of national
sovereignty and independence. Their decision making process has been more influenced by donors and bullying nations.
Since the trend of political assassination has been imported into Nepal mainly from India, this virus is multiplying
wide criminalization in the political sector. There are other socio-economic and moral factors accelerating the
criminalization process in Nepal’s political realm. However, groups specializing in political murders are emerging with
veiled identities and support from some mainstream forces. These groups are likely to be used or hired for the selfish
ends of the major forces. This is also something to be feared.
One element exacerbating the process of the criminalization process in the political sector is the mentality of
practicing politics as a gamble by undermining the essential norms and values of the political science. Both media and
educational campaigns are required in order to combat the political gamble.
Indeed, combating the political gamble is essential to arrest the criminalization process in the political sector. This
is necessary also for the success of the ongoing peace process.
ENDS