The first event surprised the nation when on Jan 4 the Constitutional Committee’s Chairman, Nilambar Acharya, gave the Constituent Assembly (CA) Chairman Subas Nembang the preliminary draft of the constitution. Never mind that two committees had yet to submit their reports. By Jan 22 all completed their tasks. Acharya deserves applauses for his remarkable leadership. Nembang predicted that the draft’s submission made the promulgation of the constitution on May 28 very likely. While the Maoists obstructed the House for six months, they mercifully spared the CA which had been progressing on the country’s most important legal document. Many issues need resolving, but at least the preliminary draft has seen completion.
The second hope-filled event took place on Jan 6 as 201 disqualified Maoist combatants left their cantonment in Dudhauli and headed home. For this, the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), the Maoists, and the government should receive a standing ovation. True, these child soldiers shouldn’t have entered the cantonment in the first place. As Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal boasted in the Shaktikhor video, the Maoists managed to swell the number of 4,000 real fighters to a phoney 19,000 by recruiting children. Some say that genuine combatants run free in the society as the Young Communist League (YCL). However, the cantonments are an eyesore to our nation and the quicker they disappear, the better. On Jan 17, the Shaktikhor cantonment too experienced evacuation.
The third positive happening occurred on Friday, Jan 8. The bosses of the three major parties agreed to the High Level Political Mechanism (HLPM) which has provided a platform for Girija Prasad Koirala, Dahal and Jhalanath Khanal to talk, and offered the three leaders a clout they itched to exercise.
Some fear that Dahal may use the HLPM to storm into power. This can’t take place as long as Koirala directs and Khanal stays on guard. Others think the three leaders may try to become the backseat drivers to Prime Minister (PM) Madhav Kumar Nepal, as Margaret Thatcher very foolishly offered to do for UK’s succeeding premier John Major. However, Madhavji has proven he’s wily as well and surely won’t tolerate anyone bossing him around. Initially, Dahal poured cold water on the HLPM when he didn’t want the PM in it. However, later Dahal mellowed enough to have Madhavji as an invited participant. Thanks, Dahal, but please make the PM feel he’s a true “mechanic” in the mechanism, otherwise Madhavji may not even show up! The HLPM met for the first time on Jan 19. If has already proven its effectiveness by persuading Dahal to call off the month-long Maoist strike that was to begin from Jan 24.
Three remarkable events in the January 3-9 week gave hope that this nation could see a new constitution by May 28. During the rest of 2010, we can expect more good for our country from the Almighty.
These three events took place within the first week of the New Year, and gave the entire nation fresh hopes. Quick to rejoice were also members of the Christian community, which has been faithfully praying for the country, even more since January 2006 in response to King Gyanendra’s dictatorship. Mass and chain prayers continue. Volunteering churches from Mechi to Mahakali will intercede for our nation 24 hours a day in unison from Jan 23 to 30. Then, 31st following, different churches every week will be praying till January 2011, only to repeat the cycle again.
Events following that momentous New Year first week have been positive too. Plans to nominate Koirala for the Nobel Peace prize started from December 2009 but the government sent his profile to Oslo during January second week. Koirala’s success would bring great honor to our country. No matter what faults Koirala has and who hasn’t, after all? Anyway, he brought the “former terrorists” onto the democratic path. Reluctantly, the Maoists seem to have adopted the parliamentary system. Their black flag protests continue, but are gradually getting less violent. We expect the Maoists to turn to a democratic, peaceful party like the Nepali Congress or the UML, which too used violence in the past. Thus, we should give credit to Koirala for partially “taming” the Maoists; and the Nobel Peace Prize for him would give his effort worldwide recognition.
On Jan 15, the CA Committee on State Restructuring and Distribution of State Powers submitted its draft, which proposes Nepal as a federal nation of either 6 or 14 states. Whichever model finally receives acceptance, our country now has made considerable progress towards federalism. After 240 years of unitary governments’ failure to provide adequate development, federalism deserves an experiment.
Most people don’t fully agree with the “nationalistic” demonstrations the Maoists have conducted in the India-encroached border areas but these too had some positive outcomes. First, thanks to the Maoists, gigantic India has gotten the message that Tiny Nepal can’t tolerate bullying forever. Second, Nepal government has received the warning that it should deliver more to really claim the “encroached” areas. Journalist Prashant Jha (Nepali Times, January 15-21) argues that a place like Susta suffers more from Nepali neglect than Indian encroachment. The Susta inhabitants ask for citizenship papers (60 percent of the population there don’t have them), a bridge, a VDC status, and a health post. Such basic demands! Without a bridge, the 20 meters rickety-boat trip to Susta on the Narayani River takes almost an hour. For the Susta inhabitants, the Maoists have shown that they care. To their credit, the former rebels have won the hearts of the border-area people. They clearly have the post-constitution election in focus. With such “benevolent” activities, the Maoists can contest the polls and come out as a major party again, this time through fair means.
Remember Nepal Defense Army’s leader Ram Prasad Mainali? He earned notoriety as the mastermind behind Kathmandu’s Assumption Church bombing (May 23, 2009) that led to three deaths and 13 wounded (one died later). One national English daily reported that Mainali had repented for his past atrocities. From now on, he would strive for a ‘Hindu’ Nepal through peaceful means. However, a Christian magazine, Hamro Ashish, published a letter from Mainali. Quoting a line from the Bible, he admits to having asked forgiveness from the Lord (Jesus Christ).
Skeptics can charge that Mainali, playing to both Hindu and Christian galleries, wishes an early release from Nakhkhu jail. However, he could have also genuinely converted to a better way. His letter shows much confusion but also a desire to “isolate myself from violence and reform my life for human good”. Whatever the final outcome, the Christian community’s and others’ loving forgiveness towards Mainali have begun to bear fruit.
A biblical writer said, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Most Nepalis love God. During the rest of 2010, we can expect more good for our country from the Almighty.
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