Political parties not necessarily for all people
We have setn it happen before during the 12 years of "democracy." The political parties are first and foremost for themselves, not for the Nepali people. That is why we get to see constant deterioration and cynicism in Nepali society. These two snipplets of news from THT illustrate this point. The first one is from the noted civil society leader Mr Daman Nath Dhungana:
Addressing mediapersons in Birendranagar on Thursday, Damannath Dhungana said, "Though the political parties allotted 48 seats for civil society in the Legislative Parliament, the parties did not induct them in the interim House," Dhungana said, adding, "There is no representation of civil society in the Legislative Parliament.""Do Bam Dev Gautam, Jhalanath Khanal, Bimendra Nidhi and Sujata Koirala represent the civil society?" Dhungana questioned.Dhungana said, "No change has been observed in the functioning of political parties, which are tasked with building the nation.""The civil society would present itself as the ninth party to solve the nation's problems if the eight parties failed," Dhungana said.He accused the Maoists of giving the berths meant for the civil society to the leaders of their parties.
The second bit of news is a response from indigenous people, the real "Hill" people on the promulgation of the interim constitution and to be formed interim legislature.
Indigenous leaders on Thursday expressed dissatisfaction over the representation of indigenous nationalities in Legislative Parliament.Speaking at a programme, Tek Bahadur Sunuwar, vice president of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, said the issues of indigenous nationalities raised by the NEFIN had been sidelined by taking some handpicked individuals into the legislature. "The interim constitution is completely silent about the issues of regional and ethnic autonomy, which NEFIN has been advocating for years," he said.
He said the interim constitution was also silent on the federalism issue. He said an agitation to protest the interim statute would be announced on Friday.
Dr Om Gurung, former general secretary of the NEFIN, said the interim legislature was formed without taking into account the rights of the indigenous people.
Academician Bairagi Kaila said Jana Andolan II had given hope to the indigenous people but the political parties had belied those hopes. "We had sought proportional ethnic representation and autonomy, but there is no mention of it in the interim constitution," he said.
The struggle for autonomous fedralism should continur for equality of opportunity for all Nepalese. Leader of the CPN-Maoist Parliamentary Party Krishna Bahadur Mahara was reported as saying, "Nobody can stop us from making a New Nepal. We will use the interim legislature for our purpose. Those who stand for the status-quo will be defeated," he said, adding that the restructuring will do justice to all the ethnic, religious and regional groups, women and the Terai residents."
Apparently he must assume that Maoists are the only ones capable of bearing arms and that the struggle was only against the monarchy. Now that the first feudal lord has been defeated, the political parties probably feel they have a free reign on power. Unfortunately, even minor dissatisfaction in the nation can lead to major disruption in a small nation like Nepal. The grievances can take violent form easily. With the arms of the Maoist and the NA locked up, a thrid party can easily take to arms for their cause. Maoist success has laid a good foundation for such a possibility.
Addressing mediapersons in Birendranagar on Thursday, Damannath Dhungana said, "Though the political parties allotted 48 seats for civil society in the Legislative Parliament, the parties did not induct them in the interim House," Dhungana said, adding, "There is no representation of civil society in the Legislative Parliament.""Do Bam Dev Gautam, Jhalanath Khanal, Bimendra Nidhi and Sujata Koirala represent the civil society?" Dhungana questioned.Dhungana said, "No change has been observed in the functioning of political parties, which are tasked with building the nation.""The civil society would present itself as the ninth party to solve the nation's problems if the eight parties failed," Dhungana said.He accused the Maoists of giving the berths meant for the civil society to the leaders of their parties.
The second bit of news is a response from indigenous people, the real "Hill" people on the promulgation of the interim constitution and to be formed interim legislature.
Indigenous leaders on Thursday expressed dissatisfaction over the representation of indigenous nationalities in Legislative Parliament.Speaking at a programme, Tek Bahadur Sunuwar, vice president of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, said the issues of indigenous nationalities raised by the NEFIN had been sidelined by taking some handpicked individuals into the legislature. "The interim constitution is completely silent about the issues of regional and ethnic autonomy, which NEFIN has been advocating for years," he said.
He said the interim constitution was also silent on the federalism issue. He said an agitation to protest the interim statute would be announced on Friday.
Dr Om Gurung, former general secretary of the NEFIN, said the interim legislature was formed without taking into account the rights of the indigenous people.
Academician Bairagi Kaila said Jana Andolan II had given hope to the indigenous people but the political parties had belied those hopes. "We had sought proportional ethnic representation and autonomy, but there is no mention of it in the interim constitution," he said.
The struggle for autonomous fedralism should continur for equality of opportunity for all Nepalese. Leader of the CPN-Maoist Parliamentary Party Krishna Bahadur Mahara was reported as saying, "Nobody can stop us from making a New Nepal. We will use the interim legislature for our purpose. Those who stand for the status-quo will be defeated," he said, adding that the restructuring will do justice to all the ethnic, religious and regional groups, women and the Terai residents."
Apparently he must assume that Maoists are the only ones capable of bearing arms and that the struggle was only against the monarchy. Now that the first feudal lord has been defeated, the political parties probably feel they have a free reign on power. Unfortunately, even minor dissatisfaction in the nation can lead to major disruption in a small nation like Nepal. The grievances can take violent form easily. With the arms of the Maoist and the NA locked up, a thrid party can easily take to arms for their cause. Maoist success has laid a good foundation for such a possibility.
posted by Serene at 3:26 PM
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