Give Nepal's King a Chance

By Ranjit Rauniyar
753 words
3 February 2005
The Asian Wall Street Journal
A9
English


Like most Nepalese this is a period of immense confusion for me, following King Gyanendra's decision to dismiss the government and assume sweeping powers Tuesday. With the country now largely cut off from the outside world, I am unable to call home or read Nepalese newspapers on the Internet, and am left wondering how my parents -- who are currently in India -- will be able to return home.

It is easy to decry the overthrow of an elected government, and express concern about the suspension of civil liberties. I, like all Nepalese, will be watching closely to see how King Gyanendra wields the sweeping powers he has assumed. But I hope the rest of the world, before rushing to instant judgments, will pause to consider how far Nepal had gone down the path toward becoming a failed state, before the king resorted to such desperate measures.

At least 11,000 Nepalese have been killed since Maoist rebels launched their reign of terror in 1996, with more than 2,000 dying since last October alone. Hundreds more have been kidnapped by the rebels, for indoctrination as part of their ideological war. Others have been caught in the crossfire between the Maoists and the Royal Nepalese Army. The economy has ground to a halt. Highways, needed to transport essential goods and medicines, have become combat zones. Tourism, formerly a vital source of revenue, has all but dried up. Not surprisingly, businesses are reluctant to make any fresh investments.

Like its predecessors (there have been 14 governments in as many years), the government that King Gyanendra dismissed Tuesday has only added to the country's woes. Schools continue to be closed with alarming regularity, political hooliganism continues to be dressed up under the banner of democratic protests in which the safety and security of ordinary citizens and businesses is seriously compromised. Rarely does a day go by without reading about a strike being called by either the Maoists or the political parties. Businesses are placed under duress to make donations to both the Maoists and political parties. The promised general elections were never held, and any hope of negotiating a truce with the rebels evaporated after they insisted on dealing directly with the king, and refused to talk to former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

All this has left the ordinary Nepalese yearning for a return to law and order, and a functioning economy. What we want, above all, is to be able to send our children to school again, and readily purchase sugar, rice and oil in local shops. Whether we're ruled by a democracy or a monarchy is a secondary consideration. That's why, at least for now, I'm prepared to give King Gyanendra the benefit of the doubt.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and those who criticize the king's actions should remember how close Nepal had come to the edge of the precipice. I really wish to believe he has acted in this way not out of any desire to accumulate power, but in order to rescue his country. In doing so, he has taken a grave risk, both with his own reputation and that of the monarchy. The latter is a reputation that has already been weakened by the massacre of most of the royal family by one of their number in 2001, which led to King Gyanendra's accession to the throne.

Whether he has correctly calculated the risks and rewards in taking such drastic action may take time some time to become clear. What we have in Nepal today can be likened to a circus run amok, where all the clowns are putting on their own acts without any concern for the show as a whole. Now the king has chosen to take over as circus master, the responsibility will rest on his shoulders to bring the performance together in what may be the last chance to save Nepal from complete ruin.

Ultimately King Gyanendra knows the situation facing his country and the monarchy better than anyone else and, in this dangerous game of political brinkmanship between Nepal's monarch, politicians and Maoist rebels, I have only one piece of advice. The king has taken on sweeping powers and, in exercising them, he must always remember that every action he takes should put the interests of his people first.

Exactly my sentiments. If there's one thing G isn't, it's stupid. I'm sure he weighed in on the republican backlash before making this decision. And like Kanak said in his Nepalisite article, given the high stakes involved, there's GOT TO BE a trump card up his sleeves. And that trump card could be anything from an implicit prior understanding with the
Maoists (or at least a faction of it, as talks of a split in the Maoist ranks is also rumoured) to sheer confindence in being able to SHOW IT to the people that he and his rule can make a difference in areas that matter most to majority Nepalis: issues like immediate restoration of peace, provision of basic services, curbing corruption etc. Whatever his game, he has very little time to reveal it. In the meantime, most Nepalis in Kathmandu it seems, including myself are happy to resign ourselves to circustances we have no control over and wait and see how he wiggles out of the diplomatic shit he's presently in.

Lest my last post invite some unwarranted vitriol, let me clarify that if G's intention is solely driven by the desire to consolidate power and wealth for himself and for those around him then I wouldn't hesitate to admit my grave error in judgement as this would then become a political blunder of our generation. So again, let's wait and see.

Sailesh Tiwari aka Brook ji,

Did you hear the report of the RNA shooting at protesting students at Pokhara ?

The moral basis of the argument of giving a chance, benefit of doubts etc is the assumption that it will hurt nobody. If the London School of Economics did not teach you what it means, then let me explain you. The argument of giving Gyanendra a chance makes only sense when there is certainty that you can persuade the whole population to be patient. This is not the case with us. What you are talking about is the case where there is a guarantee that there will be protests and very legitimate one, supported by the whole world, and also there is every indication that Gyanendra will order to shoot at the protestors. (already he did it if the report is true). Now you are not mere giving a chance to somebody in a gentleman's way, you are siding with the killer. There is something called responsibility. Are you ready to take it ? Speak now or hold your peace for ever.

hello alchemist deepak khadka aka nepe,

r u supposed to disclose brook's real id? timi ta kasto gadhe rahechhau yarr..didnt you jew gurus in isral teach you PRIVACY101?

I believe truth and fact is a necessity not the journalism. Let?s not forget there are journalist like Barkha Dutta ( if you remember her ? ). Never ever believe in any news coming out from Indian source. I am not an Indian hater but was partly brought up in India and I love my country Nepal just as Indians love their India. We all are worried about our near and dear ones but I believe things cannot be as bad if all these horror stories are coming from outsiders. They have never wished anything good for Nepal.

Nepe ji, I don?t know what raw nerve my earlier post jigged to invite such wrath and nor do I wish to know but it is clear to me that you are either an ideologue of the first order or a rational thinker of the last. Whichever it is, your inability perceive realpolitik in its complicated shades of gray is legendary. You are so far out to the left that you feel unsettled and quite possibly threatened by anyone with a more moderate point of view. So much so that you are incapable of having a meaningful discussion without pushing -- through prejudice-laden means as varied as name-calling and invoking family trees -- the discussant to the other extreme. The moral responsibility you want me to bear for G?s future actions is only but an illustration of the tools you use to radicalize the views of those that don?t chant your slogans. Therefore, I refuse your invitation to take sides because either way it?s the Nepali people that are dying and I don?t think the value of lives taken away by the King?s men are in any way more or less precious than the lives that have been taken by the Maoists. Nonetheless, you do have quite a reputation here and I am glad that through your last post you?ve shown the world that you are living up to it. Bravo.

Hehehe,

Nepe ji, you failed to keep your stand on keeping other's privacy as
long as its not revealed by third party. Several times, you have tried
to pursuade Sajhaities when posters attached your real name
with Nepe and was advocating that "let me remain by my nickname -Nepe-
here". Your realworld identity vs nickname was revealed by yourself when
you published your muktak somewhere and ...... But, you such a person
of great integrity also failed and tarnished your own standing, I am
disappointed to see this happen. I am not trying to exploit this situation
and make this posting, but I apologized to you last month for the grave
mistake that I made on you, primarily because you were respecting
peoples realworld identity. But this time it was unfair to Brook to make
his identity disclosed by you. Well, this mistake can not be withdrawn
but other posters can get a lesson to avoid similar mistakes in future.
I am not talking about some cowardice posters here who are always
running rumors, flames and fire on others without any facts. They don't
have any weight, no body cares when these avatars run any items,
but Nepe ji is a respected writer and we expected him to have kept
high standard. Mistakes are not bad, but lets not repeat the same
mistake again. King G's action is truly bad or not has to be decided
in due course of time, but as King being a publicly never tested man,
I doubt he has some other hidden agenda along with his Bhai Bhardar,
who were bankrupted in last 14 years, might want to have own share
by exploiting this situation. As per Maoists' wishes, its good that he
took all his powers and now Maoists should dare to talk with him directly,
if they don't talk it proves their cowardice khel. Its good that King
can be blamed for any mistake he mistakes, he has no one else to
find scapgoat and if he can settle with maoists, then he should be
praised. I doubt that Multiparty system will be returned to people,
even if settlment with Maoists is done, because the Bankrupted
Bhai Bhardar in RNA will not like it. So, we need a new set of leaders
and all these corrupt leaders should be "Bhitta launu parcha".
Its a right time to reStart towards more polished Multiparty system,
I still doubt to have republican Nepal in couple of years, at least
in my life time, though Nepe ji thinks the otherway round.

Lets see.
GP

My respect to Brook for his stance andr the way he dealth calmly with criticism.

My stance alligns with that of Brook but I would not have been able to express it that lucidly. Cheers

"If there's one thing G isn't, it's stupid" What an astute observation, I salute u Brook.

Nepe-ji,

I have to say that I found your recent vitriolic response to Brooke quite repugnant. While, here in Sajha, we profess to debate ideas and ideas only, it seems you have decided to take it to the personal level. That was/is not nice, Nepe-ji.

A friend of mine opined that you probably did so because of the spat you had with Ashu in some another thread, where he berated your professional achievements and you went on to publish your resume. While I do not condone Ashu's that particular action and do sympathize with you there, I have to say it was not necessary nor expected of you to reveal the personal knowledge you had of Brooke. Two wrongs do not make it right.

Having said that, I do hope you will continue to put forward your republican ideas, though hopefully in more collegial tone. Some like me are interested in hearing what you have to say, though we may not agree with you, and will discuss your ideas (not you) in a civilized manner. After all, isn't that what this forum is about?

Sgy

Nepe......... timro pani pol kholi deu yaha.................. dogg just because you have phd(player haters degree)

and besides let me warn you... think anything... if you want saftey of your family in nepal dude shut upppppppppppppppp................ you know who has the power now and we all know you with your bokadari and dhaka topi and married huda hudai pani arako keti ko name ma love poem lekhney...........laj navako budoooooooooooooo

Daju haru, This thread was meant to be to find out from Nepali people to support King or not support King. Let us stick to that more important discussion for the country right now.

PROCLAMATION TO THE NATION FROM HIS MAJESTY KING GYANENDRA BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV http://www.nepalchildren.org/latest/king.html

i support this article.

pade queen 1 u are a gay........u should quit sajha...u don't support king u don't support saja..and the common sentiments of all the nepalese residing in this country of george w. bush

NEPAL TIGER,

Whatever name I use here it doesn't matter. I have not come to sajha to get any types of publicity or to get my views across. I don't need to use sajha to broadcast my views. The media is there. I come here for lark.

To tell u the truth, I love and care for Nepal more than most of u here at Sajha do. I think I have said enough.

Please sign if you agree.
http://www.petitiononline.com/nepal05/petition.html

I have request for those who are blindfolded towards the king.Does king Gyanendra possess any credential that he should be given a fair chance.If u guys donot know little histry of Panchayat Era ,please go n find out the "kartus " of King gyanendra.And benifits of doubts should be given to those player only whose status is not clear.

It's already clear,he's envolved in so many things( starting from murti chori,...........................................................................................................).He is not the right person to be given the fair chance and and benifit of doubt .
Mero matlab nepali neta haru lai samarthan garnu haina.All the neta inherited the panchayati culture of corruption and invision.They lacked in self descipline and correct leadership.

It's only the matter of time,Nepal can produce the right leader but dictaor can not prevail.
so,there is not any room to give the king any benefits of doubts.He is clearly bowled out .Those who still think "yes" ,please provide just a single positive credential (Don't say pokharama rati andhero ma goli thokyo nirdosh student harulai),then we should discuss of a fair chance.

from another post:


>

In my opinion the king has a magic wand.

mero bichharmaa mausuf sarkaar sanga jaaduko chhadi chha. sarkaarle "la, shaati" hukum hoisbaksanchha and tyo chhadi ek ghumaaunuhunchha. ani taa...huna pani ho. aankhaa, mukh, kaan sabai thuni diye pacchi santi pani bhaihalyo.

so i think the army has already won. hahahahah.

>>>

true!

Here is my view:

G Shah is definitely very clever no doubt but his actions so far are untested and time will tell how stupid they are. For me the current proclamation is a shot at his own feet but I may turn out to be wrong. Given a matching leader with some luck as matching as G Shah's, he will have to go on exile for ever. Here is why:
1. The proclamation and coups d'etat are effectively a direct challenging tatement to the whole people that he is the one and only one for Nepal. But G Shah has forgotten, probably while religiously visiting Gorakhnath Baba, that Nepal alone has seen a score of dynasties scattered all over Nepal over hundreds of years. Why have there been so many dynasties?
2. King sooner or later yields to the people, where the executive power belongs. Gone are the good ole days seen by those mythical kings.
3. King Gynendra is simply too old for this game; his father died of heart attack (around 60?), his brother had a serious heart surgery. And as a king you never count on your sons to carry out your plan. "Ma takhchhu mudo, Bancharo taakchha Ghu'do". Or maybe this is the precise reason the king dared to go solo. Then he will have his son to clean up after Dady!

Now about trump card
----------------------------
You my say, " China seems to be felicitated". But at the cost of your Big brother.
4. G Shah's "trump card" should have been hidden up his sleeve. What is G Shah thinking? Hindu King of 1 billion Indians, too? If not, Nepal has so far in its modern history yet to produce a King who has succesfully pushed his trump stick up India's ass. In this respect G Shah has apparently failed to understand the theory by his predecesor Prithvi Narayan of Nepal as a sandwich between two giants, not a topping on a pizza.
5. India wanted that way and King Birendra gave up the executive power. India wants it now from the very beginning and G Shah does not have the energy and the logistics/hardware to stand up to the Dhotis; i wish he could; but that is just my wish.
6. I'm sure as part of calculation, G must have hoped the Indian Air Force to bring his mislaid d**k back to Nrayanhiti should something go astray, and not the Chinese Air Force.

I think G Shah knows our geo-politics. The trump card is not as sexy as you hope it better be now that it i on the table. A year of trade sanction by India will effectively undo ten times more. China is now a big player in the world, but for Nepal it is still India that sways the balance. Failure to understand it is going to be costly, if not a matter of stupidity.