- Govinda Neupane
The euphoria of "Spring Thunder - 2006" has been gradually dissipating. For this process, several factors contributed. Among them the prominent factors included political amateurism and opportunism, incompetent governance, indifference of state functionaries, middle class hunger and greed, misuse of youthful energy and courage, politicization of 'civil society' and influence of foreign forces.
1. Immediately after the conclusion of the movement, the politicians of the parliamentary school promised that they will bring heaven to Nepal soon. The reinstated parliament was super active in selling cosmetics that included making the king powerless (but not abolishing the monarchy!). Their 'Magna Carta' covered many insignificant issues, which had nothing to do with the grassroots socio-political change. They simply took the path of populism that had its foundation on amateurism and opportunism. The political parties, which belonged to the parliamentary school are running the government and are opposing the government at the same time. For them, politics is the game of convenience. A friend of mine J. D. Baidya, who headed the Nepal Jaycees long time ago, says, "I am not a political thinker nor I have the insights of politics. But as a layman, all I can say is that the present miserable state of Nepal is because of visionless, mindless and incompetent parasites acting as political leaders." The conclusion of such an informed citizen is self-explanatory.
2. The demands of any section of people might be legitimate, but due to other obligations, the state may not be able to meet such demands. It is strange that the government in power in Nepal does not know its obligations neither it has any specific priority. The government bows down when a crowd of even10-12 persons comes with a wish list. Thus, it has contributed to strengthen the platform for anarchy. A government without a mission, without a priority and without any obligation to adhering to laws, rules and programs only can bring misery to its people. The same is happening today. The government is not only incompetent in creating positive environment to resolve the political conflict but also it failed in basics, such as providing security to its citizens. The robbers and thieves have a field-day even in the capital city.
3. The ethics and morality were alien for most of the state functionaries since the inception of their functions. Now, the fear factor also has gone away from their mind. Corruption has been continuing as an acceptable cultural practice. For most of government employees, non-performance is what they get the salary for, and to perform they need extra payment from the receiver of services. For a long time, it was believed that the police have been collaborating with the criminals, but in recent days, the frequency and quality of their participation has increased tremendously. The policemen linked with the recent robberies in the capital are a few examples. The state functionaries, particularly at higher levels are the sons or daughters of repressive regimes, and naturally they are sympathetic to regression. Many people interpret in such a way that regression is the king. That is not true. The king is one among the principle actors but to tell that the king alone represents regression is misleading. Regression should be understood as an act that takes the society and state backward and reintroduces the state culture of oppression and cronyism to prevent fundamental change. If this definition is applied, the state functionaries are functioning in such a way that that has been strengthening the forces of regression. The government is simply bribing the higher level functionaries by promotions and transfers in lucrative posts to get their cooperation. This is nothing other than rewarding them, who actually deserve punishment.
4. At the end of the 1990 movement, the persons loosely associated with the universities as part time teachers launched some sort of agitation to become permanent. They were granted to occupy those positions without participating in any kind of competition. The same has been happening today. The part time teachers of the universities and temporary employees of several corporations, government departments and projects are blocking the roads or gates of their respective offices. This is strange that you just block everything at your wish and get what you want. This is simply a situation of lawlessness. Moreover, this is regression as you are favoring a section of people by rewarding them without giving fair chance to everybody qualified and willing to compete. The big business houses are not interested to pay back the bank loans. Similarly, everybody employed here and there wants to compel the government to raise his or her salary and benefits. The peasants all over Nepal are forgotten, whereas the middle class hunger and greed have been parading on the disfigured roads of the ancient city of Kathmandu and elsewhere in Nepal.
5. The youths, particularly the students, are high in ideals, zeal and initiatives. They are wonderful in their courage. But, the political crooks just sneak inside the community of youths and try to advance their causes through them. In general, the students have a responsibility to train themselves for future, but the political crooks need them today. Therefore, inspired by the colorful phrases of the political crooks, the youths use their energy and courage even in the areas that are not necessarily compatible to their roles. They should be agitating for the improvement of the education system that may include teaching-learning process, environment and mechanism. Also, they could stop their studies temporarily if there is a great call of the nation when it is at the historic crossroads. But, for every issue, every time and in a sundry fashion, calling the youths to come to streets is counterproductive, loss making and irresponsible. Unfortunately, that is what the political crooks are practicing even when they are in the government. They raised the price of fuel without any homework as government and they opposed the price rise without any sense of responsibility as political parties. Moreover, they instigated the youths to come to streets. Finally, they felt immense satisfaction when their own government rolled back their own decision. In this process, several families lost their livelihood as their petty businesses were destroyed by the mob, besides the blood-shedding of several agitating youths. Regrettable!
6. The Nepali civil society is a strange animal. It is something like the loosely connected universe of diverse interests. The frustrated politicians are civil society. The bureaucrats are civil society. The media failures are civil society. And, the business persons are civil society. Furthermore, social service contract agencies are also civil society. (For further reading, please visit http://www.parivartannepal.blogspot.com/ -"A Brief Note on NGOs and Civil Society Representation"). They create hue and cry, if and when they are left out. The same has been happening now. The real civil societies are busy at basics - water, literacy, livelihood, awareness, information dissemination, etc. The civil society actors among journalists are fighting for sustainable space to play a critical role, whereas the corporate media houses are pretending as over-weight civil society actors. Thus, the 'civil society' has been politicized to maximize the political benefits for certain political parties or individuals. Furthermore, also they are politicized to derive maximum monitory benefits for the service contract agencies and corporate media houses.
7. Once, I had reviewed a book. I sent the review to publish. After receiving the review, the editor of the news journal sent an email asking me to write and send him an article for that news journal. I wrote one and sent to him. The article did not see the light of the day. The editor, the humble associate of the publisher, had every right not to publish something that is against their stated policy. Only surprising was that he did not even acknowledge neither he informed me about their decision not to publish. Asking for the article and ignoring entirely was what a bit strange behavior. The article was written in March 2006. In that article, I had raised the issue of foreign influence, besides other issues and had questioned the role of the envoys of a few powerful countries. When you accept some one as your master during your rainy days, naturally that master would like to stay as your master during your sunny days. Everybody could see now what the envoys of certain powerful countries are telling to this government to do. The US Ambassador has been performing the role of a Viceroy of British colonial India. A friend of mine was pondering over whether it would be better to become Sikkim that gives you the first class Indian citizenship rather than to become a second class Indian subject with Nepali citizenship. The second scenario just brings duties, whereas it denies rights. In fact, it is foolish to think on that way, but still it reveals the frustration of a Nepali soul.
Now, the question arises that the great movement lunched by the Nepalese people heroically resulted to what? In substance, it created awareness among the people and brought the situation to status quo ante that allowed people to express and to be organized. In form, it just separated a few feathers from the wings of the king. Rest, everything is the loud talk of the political crooks. Moreover, as values, behaviors and practices; regression has come out of the Intensive Care Unit. It is fast infecting all organs of the government and also the thought process of the ruling elites. Particularly, it is in a stage of capturing the soul of the reinstated rulers to complete the process of regression by attaining reconciliation between traditional and parliamentary forces. If that reconciliation materializes, the regression process will complete. In that situation, we would be free to welcome regression or to fight against it as resolutely as we fought during the "Spring Thunder - 2006".
September 04, 2006
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment