When crime reigns supreme

This June has been the cruelest month for Nepali writers, columnists, free thinking intellectuals and, most of all, journalists. Justice has jeered Nagarik correspondent Khilanath Dhakal, who underwent lethal attack at the hands of Parshuram Basnet and his goons, ever since June 5. The movement for justice led by Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), in which professionals like bar and civil society activists are lately lending their solidarity, has gone blatantly unheeded by the government. The state administration and the ruling coalition want this movement to fizzle out.

Dhakal episode is confronting the risk of becoming a once-upon- a-time-in- Biratnagar story with each passing day. Poor Dhakal seems to be gradually recuperating (the last I saw him in the relay hunger strike in Morang, he was feebly attempting to smile on the TV camera). Two of his assaulters have been jugged. So why is FNJ making hue and cry about Parshuram? The general mood in the political establishment has taken to this attitude. But Dhakal attack is not any issue to be thought of blithely. It is an attempt of muzzling and, if possible, uprooting hard-earned media liberty and nascent journalism. Hence, the need for constant discourse against the attack. And make no mistake, the perpetrators had meant to finish him off. It is by sheer fate that he survived death.

Since June 5, terror has spread its tentacles in the world of Nepali journalism. Now FNJ, which is consistently waging war for rule of law, has been alleged to be biased and the real perpetrators are claiming innocence. From now on, it seems, journalists will have to learn ethics of writing from mighty Mahesh Basnet and his lackeys.

Only Dhakal can tell how he endured these 25 days struggling for life in hospital bed. But the mastermind Parshuram and his senior Mahesh must have had quite a good time. I can hazard some speculations. Basnet duo stayed in Kathmandu, utterly unrepentant, watching every development in Biratnagar and Kathmandu on TV. They kept eyes on journalists taking to the streets, cussing in anger and hurling expletives, noting which of the country’s publications turned harsh, calculating whom to spare and whom to snare into their muscle regime afterward, cursing editor in chiefs of Nagarik and Republica, reporting new developments to their godfather (who was operating from far away boosting their cruel intentions) and taking counsels from him as to what to do next. They must have shouted “How the hell could we not buy Dhakal? How on earth we cannot tame these journalists?” You do not need to be a psychologist to infer these reckonings for this is usually what people with felonious bent of mind are prone to.

As the days are passing, the threatening adamancy with which Parshuram and Mahesh operated all these days, it seems, will reap some fruits for them. Today marks the 25th day of Dhakal attack and according to faulty provision in Nepal’s criminal justice system, if the criminal is not detained by the police until the 25th day of FIR chargesheet, he can enjoy liberty of not being arrested or detained for long. If the police nab him now, which is very unlikely going by the situations unfolding so far, he will only be subject to being produced in the court something that Mahesh Basnet has desperately wanted. Even if he is arrested, Youth Force, in all likelihood, will reenact protest mayhem of June 16 and get him out. Then he will have his day. He will résumé his business, more emboldened and confident, and will begin to consolidate his criminal empire with strong backing from his bosses.

According to faulty provision in Nepal’s criminal justice system, if the criminal is not detained by the police until the 25th day of FIR chargesheet, he can enjoy liberty of not being arrested or detained for long. If the police nab him now, he will only be subject to being produced in the court something that Mahesh Basnet has desperately wanted.

This is the worst that can ever happen to a country, but the silence of CPN-UML, the cowardice of the government and raging belligerence of Basnets have communicated a great deal to the people about how our state functions, how powerless the government is in handling criminality and, most importantly, what UML is in reality. It is not for nothing that the plea of the journalists to punish Parshuram has gone into the deaf ears of prime minister, home minister, UML and Maoist party. Jhalanath Khanal wanted Parshuram not to be arrested because for him this is the opportune moment to expose devilry of K P Oli faction which gave him enough of hard times in the past. The Jhalanath faction in the CPN-UML is helplessly quiet also because they are powerless to fight the muscles and money of Oli camp.

In Hamro Partima Kamred Parshuram (comrade Parshuram in our party), former UML parliamentarian from Morang, Harkaman Tamang, has movingly recounted the fate of UML cadres committed to party ideology and convictions but without money. They are, he says, rendered insignificant in the party (Nagarik, June 21). So there is no confusion on what strength Oli faction has hijacked the party. If leaders like Harkaman dare to break this ill, the path ahead for them is fraught with risks and dangers. It is not a mere coincidence that Pradip Gyawali, who had voiced fair probe in Dhakal attack in the party, had his car vandalized in the Amrit Science Campus rioting on June 21. Many say this was orchestrated by Oli sympathizers. Home Minister Krishna Bahdur Mahara does not dare Parshuram because he knows it will backfire on his party. UML will, then, start reviving the cases of YCL attacks and, might go to the extent of pulling out from the coalition. Nepali Congress could have broached this issue in the parliament rigorously, but it chose to remain contented. Thankfully, Gagan Thapa has saved the party from this shame by vociferously condemning the attack and criticizing government’s inability to get Parshuram to book.

UML should have acted to avert further defamation the unbridled tantrums of their brainchildren, Mahesh and Parshuram, were bringing to the party. The party should have purged itself by suspending the Basnet duo and Oli. It is now an open secret that Oli is a genius of Basnet phenomenon. No sooner had he arrived in Kathmandu than he began applauding Mahesh and Parshuram for their “bravery.” The mystery of why Oli was so insistent on keeping portfolio of home ministry in UML is now out of the box.

The least that UML could do was to heed the media. The criticism about Parshuram Mahesh, Oli and the entire UML should have alerted them to, at least, apologize for their helplessness to manage criminal elements within the party (ironically rule of apology applies in UML for those who speak up against gunda culture. Politburo member Surendra Pandey was not forced to apologize for nothing on June 2). For 25 days since the attack, not a single day went by without at least a commentary on UML’s inaction, and Parshu Mahesh atrocity. Writers, out of their frustration, wrath and impatience against impunity, implicated entire UML of thuggery, gundaraj and criminality. But these otherwise objectionable terms went into the deaf ears of the entire leadership.

For an ordinary commoner, to have been called a criminal or thug or goon is a grave insult to his personality. But for UML leaders, words have become innocuous. They have raised themselves above shame and decorum. I am reminded of Lord Krishna, who in Gita, lulls Arjuna with wisdom in human virtue like this: ek lajjam paritejya sarbatra bijayi bhabet, once you lose shame, you bear the potential to win the world. This applies aptly in the world of criminalism, smuggling, depravation and anarchy. For this month, it is more applicable to UML.

All this would not matter at all if only it concerned UML. People would have happily tolerated its fall. But it has bogged down state administration, national politics, free press, and the whole nation. This is something more grievous than anything else for this moment.

mbpoudyal@yahoo.com