Let’s Give Them a Little Time

By Seema Mustafa

The people’s honeymoon with the Maoists is definitely not over. The poor man is still optimistic that “they are listening to us, and need some time to deliver.” This is the street consensus with the taxi driver in the rickety Maruti, the shopkeeper selling ‘made in China’ jackets, the waiter at an exotic restaurant still frequented by modern age “hippies” all hopeful that the new government in Nepal will factor the poor into government polices. It seems that they are right for amidst the chaos of political strife and differences, the government announced a decision to waive loans of Rs 30,000 for the poor farmers.

Prices are soaring, but as a young taxi driver still very supportive of the new government said, “that is happening everywhere, they will do something, let us give them a little time.” The people are in power, and there is peace in Nepal. Kathmandu, looking rather worn out with the wear and tear of conflict, is again seeing a revival of tourism with the hotels full of foreigners looking for an exciting holiday in the Himalayas.

The city is dotted with restaurants offering continental dishes, ranging from beef to duck. Chinese of course comes curried, with a decided South Asian taste. And of course there is the ‘khukri’ rum — if you search hard you can find it being sold at the odd shop inside a bottle in the shape of a ‘khukri’ (Nepalese dagger) — and the ganja that is still available in plenty.

To integrate or not
Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kumal Dahal, known to the world as Prachanda, is seen as sincere and honest. He appears at formal functions in his red tie and deep blue suit but with all the passion of his past. He speaks in good English, and has still not acquired the air of the practised politician. He speaks with intensity, and makes it clear that his government will act for the people.

Those with access to him point out that he is determined to implement land reforms throughout Nepal, and to integrate the Maoist cadre in the army and paramilitary forces. The last is a major bone of contention with the Maoists being attacked from all sides, including their own hardliners who are accusing them of delaying the integration.

Other political parties like the Nepali Congress are blocking this, maintaining that the issue is not just of integration but also of ranking. The Maoists are clear that those who have worked in the Peoples Army for decades should be given ranks in accordance with their experience.

Punish the guilty
But then how can those guilty of human rights violations be allowed to become officers in the Nepalese army? A dynamic doctor who is also a recognised civil rights activist in the country has the answer.

After all, she says, the Nepal Army earlier was virtually functioning as the King’s army and was in itself guilty of human rights violations.

So to use this excuse and stop the integration of the Maoists into the army, she points out, is completely unfair and unjust.

The solution offered by her is that all those guilty of human rights violations, in the Nepal army and within the Maoist cadre, should be identified and punished. The rest should then be merged into a new army so that the Maoist cadre, currently languishing in camps, can be integrated into the mainstream. She has access to the Prime Minister who has been holding regular meetings for a feedback from civil society in Nepal.

The Maoist tag
Some Maoist leaders are not particularly happy with the reported willingness of Prachanda and his finance minister Baburam Bhattarai to drop the term “Maoist” from the party, and replace it with something more benign. The bickering is intense, and at first glance everyone in power appears to be fighting with the other. The UML despite its left ideology has emerged as the strongest critic of the Maoists. The Madhesis too are becoming strident, with of course the Nepali Congress in the lead. The newspapers are adding to the cacophony as well, with most unable still supporting what were the vested interests under the monarchy. At a conference on peace and democracy where speakers touched on these differences, albeit briefly, it was refreshing to hear Prachanda who refused to be party to any controversy, and insisted instead on concentrating on the promises he was committed to fulfil.

King size museum
The King’s palace in Kathmandu has been turned into a museum. Shorn of the guards, and the fuss of security, it still remains an imposing property. And perhaps it was in the fitness of things that the American embassy was given a huge tract of land just across the road, where it has its huge recreational centre. The toss is now between China and India, with the Indian ambassador Rakesh Sood said to be working overtime to placate the Maoists and convince the emerging ruling class that New Delhi has no tryst with the erstwhile monarch and is now looking directly ahead.

A king in vanvas
The erstwhile King, Gyanendra, is living outside Kathmandu in a ‘palace’ in a forest resort. He has been allowed this luxury by the new government that is determined not to indulge in a witch hunt. His son Paras is currently in a European country, and is not expected to return to Nepal any time in the near future. Interestingly, the political consensus in Nepal favours the abolition of the monarchy with no one, except the few who flourished under direct patronage, shedding any tears for him. In fact Nepalese politicians still joke about the ‘King” sent by India to keep their “King’ in power, and wonder how “could your government get it so wrong.”