Sep 15, 2012

Nepal's democracy at risk: political analysts fear


Xinhua, in Global Times

Political analysts expressed serious concern on Saturday that Nepal's short multiparty democratic history is at risk after the political parties failed to draft a new constitution and complete peace process in time.

They voiced concern when the world is marking the International Day of Democracy on September 15 as declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007.

The theme for 2012 international day of democracy is Dialogue and Inclusiveness.

Padma Ratna Tuladhar, a democratic activist, said that political leaders are pressing democracy on the verge of crisis after they put power at the center of politics.

"It is now high time to write a new constitution and complete a peace process as the country is moving towards long transition period and deepening political turmoil," said Tuladhar who had participated in People's Uprising-II in Nepal in 2006 which had abolished monarchy after 21-day people's movement.

Political leaders' focus on how to rule the government and desire to remain in power has led to the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly (CA) on May 27 without giving a new constitution to the country, said Tuladhar.

Recalling the ongoing political unrest in Syria, Libya and Egypt, Tuladhar said the demand for democracy, equal participation, inclusiveness and right to freedom is the essential need of the 21st century, if not possible public of the concerned countries have now started demonstration and violence for democracy.

Despite difference among the political parties, there is still a ray of hope that our political parties will come together in common meeting point and unite to bring the country from uncertainty, Tuladhar said.

Muma Ram Khanal, a communist political analyst, said all communist leaders who have been portraying themselves as promoter of democratic system should currently forget their inter-party rift and focus on constitution writing.

International communities, especially neighboring China and India, are keenly looking at Nepal's latest political upheaval, so political parties should dare to show their statesmanship for safeguarding integrity and sovereignty of Nepal, Khanal suggested.

"As long as we went on giving room to say something to the international communities, Nepal is sure to face and witness direct and indirect political invasion from international front," Khanal warned.

Khanal said that dialogue and inclusive participation upheld by 2012 theme for international day of democracy could only help out in preservation of Nepal's democratic and multiparty system.

Daman Nath Dhungana, an independent political analyst, criticized that Nepal is currently being run by a caretaker government as all achievement gained after the election of CA in 2006 had collapsed with dissolution of CA on May 27.

The state is currently faced with constitutional vacuum which has posed threat to democracy and increased possibility of a rise of new political force which could or could not respect norms of democracy, Dhungana said.

Courtesy: Global Times, September 15, 2012

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