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Prachanda then fired Katwal, but the president reinstated him. The Maoists then claimed the president's decision to be a constitutional coup and decided to quit the coalition government.
This reads rather like a section from a saucy political thriller. But anyone who follows Nepal's politics for a week will get used to all the drama and backroom dealing that goes on in name of "preserving democracy" and "keeping peace alive."
Following Prachanda's resignation, the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) is working hard to form a new government under the leadership of its former Secretary General Madhav Kumar Nepal. The Nepali Congress, the other major party, is supporting the UML's bid.
It is important to note here that Madhav Kumar Nepal was defeated in the Constituent Assembly elections held last year – twice. He contested the polls from two constituencies and lost. In comparison, Prachanda easily won his seat. Also, the UML and Congress were humiliated in the polls; the Maoists won the majority of seats.
These are the same Maoists that were at war for ten years with the state. They killed civilians – teachers, farmers, students and ordinary government employees – in the name of revolution. Their continuing desire to quiet opposition using violence and intimidation, and their lack of concern for the internally displaced families, are truly appalling. The crimes committed by the Maoists, however, do not make the UML or the Congress any better.
It is not an exaggeration to say that the UML and Congress are among the most opportunistic political organizations in South Asia. In the past Congress agreed to amazingly bad hydropower deals with India just to keep its grip on the government – and for the sake of kickbacks. The UML promised to put the country first but invariably failed when it came to standing up for Nepal's borders and hydropower.
Tales of betrayal by these two parties are too many to list here. They have both failed Nepal and the people time and again. Yet Nepal's media and the West, including the United States, continue to feed these egotistical maniacs as the keepers of "true democracy in Nepal."
The current frenzied demonization of the Maoists and adulation of the UML and Congress make one question the democratic process in Nepal. It is now biased against the Maoists and continues to forgive Congress and the UML. I am not advocating for the Maoists here; they should be held accountable for the crimes they committed in the past, but it is only fair to hold Congress and the UML accountable too.
And then there is this newfound love for Nepal’s army. In the past Congress and the UML complained of the army’s arrogance and attitude toward elected leaders. Now they are using the issue of integration of former Maoist guerillas into the national army to create two power centers in the country and play one against the other to serve their political ambitions.
The ongoing political crises in Nepal is a manufactured one and the country will experience such roadblocks time and against unless the people and the leaders show courage to face the truth.
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(Bhumika Ghimire is a freelance reporter. Her articles have been published at OhMyNews, NepalNews, Toward Freedom, Telegraph Nepal, Himal South Asian and ACM Ubiquity. She is also a regular contributor to News Front Weekly, in Kathmandu, and Nepal Abroad, in Washington D.C. She can be reached at bhumika_g@yahoo.com. ©Copyright Bhumika Ghimire.)
