This started between two scholars in one of the English dailies’ columns and we all enjoyed it thoroughly. We don’t know who won the debate but the first “sir” definitely put forward his arguments and won our hearts. We wish to see more of such debates in Nepali English-language discourse.[break]
Katawal incident and Video Prakaran (Video Scandal):
The Shaktikhor Videogate involving Maoist supremo Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda,” scandalously, surfaced right after the former rebel leader resigned from the prime minister’s post over the army chief row, the Katawal incident. In it the Maoist leader gives an 83-minute speech at a training program for the PLA at the Third Division cantonment in Shaktikhor. The salient features of the video are: his plan for capturing the state through elections and bloating PLA numbers (suggested at 6-7 thousands) to 34 thousand. This provided a strong argument for the skeptics about Maoist intentions. The Maoist leadership and UNMIN were primary targets.
State Capture
The Maoists’ firing of the army chief and the videogate scandal were proof enough for many that the Maoists were all set to capture the state. Whether they would have succeeded, we won’t be able to know. But the phrase -- We will capture the state -- still echoes.
Civilian Supremacy
As part of their agenda, the Maoists demanded that “Civilian Supremacy” be established and the Nepal Army placed completely under the supervision and control of the elected government. In the name of “Civilian Supremacy”, the Maoists have already called three phases of their protest programs. The last one saw the “most extreme violence since the CA elections.” The Maoists proposed that they be allowed to table and discuss the move by the president to overturn their decision to sack the army chief. Other political parties have not obliged. For which, parliament was stalled for more than seven months. Lately, the Maoists have started saying that if back in power, the civilian supremacy issue will be settled.
Puppet Government
When Prachanda left the government, UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal became prime minister. Nepal had lost from two constituencies but managed to get into the CA out of special considerations, and upon requests from political party heads including Prachanda himself. The 22-party coalition was a mess, still is and has yet to show any performance. The Maoists have since been calling Madhav Nepal’s government a “Puppet Government” which, according to them, was formed with the help of India and works under the guidance of the southern neighbour.
Foreign masters/ robot/ remote control
Maoists are best at coining words and names for others. They have been accusing most of the other political forces of being obliging servants of foreign masters; here, meaning being under Indian hegemony. And opening up to the public, saying the remote control of this incumbent government is in India. That argument did not win our hearts.
Bikhbrikshya (Venomous tree)
Madhav Kumar Nepal, when he became prime minister, was called a venomous tree. He refuted the description. Our in-house cartoonist Rabin Sayami depicted him satirically as an Alpabrikshya (Underdeveloped-tree)
Parallel Power Structure
Many fear the Maoists are trying to create a parallel power structure. The army chief row was the trigger for the parallel power structure, which later became a routine allegation against the Maoists. The fact remains: Maoists are still super powerful, and somewhat full of vengeance and hostility.
Krambhangata (Continuity-break)
In the course of continuity-break, Pushpa Kamal Dahal even claimed that the sudden departure of his government was a continuity-break, initiated by his own “great venerable” party. There was a continuity-break in their leaving the armed struggle and joining peaceful politics. There was continuity-break in their victory in the CA elections and formation of a coalition government. The Maoist leaders say that they quit the government so easily, as a part of that tradition. Is the desperation now to get back into government also continuity break?
Singapore Barta (Singapore Talks)
It is said that only after Girija returned from his treatment in Singapore did the ailing octogenarian find out that Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” was in the city-state not to visit him but for some other “secretive” appointments. Nobody knows the details, except Dahal, his companion Krishna Mahara and those who met them. But here in the capital, the Singapore Talks raised eyebrows and speculations about the possibility for a new coalition. Nothing of the sort ever materialized.
High-level Mechanism
Lest we believe. This is what today’s political quagmire is all about, apparently. The much-touted high-level mechanism, which is supposed to be a common forum of the three head honchos of the Maoists, UML and Nepali Congress, will find solutions to all the ills in present-day Nepal. And Sujata is supposed to be the coordinator of the mechanism. We are better without it, perhaps.
Putrimoha (Paternal Indulgence)
Nepotism saw a new height as NC Prez Girija Babu stretched himself too wide, too thin and all over the place for the benefit of his daughter, the beloved later-made-deputy PM Sujata Koirala. And man, is she spoilt? But if the cabinet decides to “nominate” Girija to be eligible for Nobel Peace prize and forms a panel to “prepare his updated C.V.”, you can not really put the blame on the daughter of such character.
Consensus
The word has become a joke. Period.
Jumbo
Everything is jumbo here, now. From the cabinet to the delegation to Cop 15, the jumbo teams, however, have very less to show for it.
OTHER WORDS THAT COMPLETELY GOT OUR ATTENTION ARE:
Autonomous States
Note Crunch
Climate Change
Hardliner
Bhumiputra (Son of Soil)
ILO169
Ethnic Violence
Disintegration
Yuba Dusta (Youth Squad)
Slap THE CDO
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