National Reconciliation: Now and Then

By KESHAB POUDEL

http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/2007/englishweekly/
spotlight/may/may04/national.php

National context of Nepal has not changed yet but slogan of national reconciliation has changed greatly. More than two decades ago Nepali Congress leader B.P. Koirala championed the national reconciliation stressing for the inclusion of all political forces including the monarch but his brother and prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala is interpreting the term in exclusion of traditional force, monarchy.

"The international context then at the time of B.P. Koirala was very complicated. He was worried about the survival of the nation at that time. Therefore, he appealed to all political forces to unite under a democratic process to safeguard the national independence. Supreme priority of that time was nation. Now his followers have ignored the regional complications and made the democratic process the main cause to rely on. Their emphasis at this moment is to safeguard democracy. For that traditional institution of monarchy became the main target by ignoring the commonalities of national interest between democratic forces and monarchy. B.P. always emphasized twin pillars for nation's survival- nationalism and democracy," said a political analyst.

Now the emphasis is different. "My effort is also a part of national reconciliation. I want to solve the present political crisis through national reconciliation," said prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

Koirala, who is leading eight party's alliance, very well knows ethos of national reconciliation of B.P but he is propounding his own model. But, GP's communist critics likes Modnath Prashrit still see him toeing his line. CPN-UML leader Prashrit, who is a bitter critic of B.P.'s national reconciliation, condemned prime minister Koirala for walking BP's way.

"Now his followers at present emphasize mainly on democratic process in which they compromise a lot with opposite ideological forces subscribing to totalitarian ideology. Thus, these people have ignored not only commonality of national interest but they have compromised on basic democratic values to maintain unity against institution of monarchy. This contrast between then and now is quite visible," said the political analyst. "B.P. Koirala's concept of national reconciliation was inclusive of all the forces under a democratic process. He was against the absolute monarchy as well as against communist dictatorship."

But, realizing precarious geo-political situation of this country, he ultimately broadened his political base in which different views and interest could get just and proper role to play. According to analyst, as he was consistent adherent of the constitutional monarchy that is a limited monarchy, the King was a necessary party to play a role under his concept of national reconciliation.

People see the portraits of B.P. Koirala in all important functions held by his followers, many institutes and highways are named after him and his statues are erected but the essence of his message has been diluted into populist jargon.

After a long gap, G.P. Koirala had to face the moral pressure for the legacy of national reconciliation left by his brother. He too delivered same message one after another using the same term of national reconciliation

But the question is how much serious he is about this concept. All his actions indicate the continuation of confrontation between internal forces in which the King is at present the main target. "It is not for the person Gyanendra, his son Paras or his son Hridayendra but monarchy is necessary to the people. It is not the endowment from the people to the King but it is the requirement of the people to live in peace and order. For that continuity is essential for a political stability. After the political change of 1990, King Birendra too imbibed amazing change in his political dealings that made him so popular and respectable that the world forgot all his performance of the past. Time was very cruel to King Gyanendra not to permit him much room to commit any mistake. Before he was tempered to perform a role of restrained and constitutional monarch, he was outspoken by the forces of destabilization and ulterior interest in Nepal . He tried to centralize all powers with him, as a result both the King as well as people of this country have lost the real decisive political powers at present turmoil," said the analyst.

The confrontation does not have its ethical boundary. Now, there are symptoms of conflict of same nature between the communist and democratic forces as well as between regional groups of the country. If this trend continues, anybody of any political party in a position of leadership would be condemned by the posterity as the liquidator of noble legacy of national reconciliation.