Himalayan Dawn: people take over Nepal, Bhutan

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 April 2008, 03:40 GMT]
With the epoch-making electoral verdict for the Constituent Assembly of Nepal, ultra-Marxists have captured the reins of a country, that too in a democratic process, for the first time in the history of South Asia. The Maoists, who were waging an armed struggle for structural changes in Nepal were self reliant, antagonists of the Indian orbit of manoeuvring and have been listed as 'terrorists' by the USA. The winners have announced to make Nepal a federal democratic republic.

Pro monarchy loyalists and anti federal nationalists were routed out in the Nepali elections.

Pressure is mounting on the United States to remove the terrorist tag of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN(M)) (also known as United Revolutionary People's Council, and People's Liberation Army of Nepal) from the Terrorist Exclusion List of 59 organisations, which is just one step milder than the list of Foreign Terrorist Organisations in which the LTTE and 43 other organisations are included.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who went to Nepal for monitoring the elections held on April 10, criticised the Bush administration for not engaging in any sort of dialogue with the Maoists.

Quick in getting the cue and wooing the winners of the masses, the Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee congratulated the Maoists of Nepal.

"There was no specific evidence to indicate any nexus between Naxals of both the countries [India and Nepal]," stated the Indian minister of state for home in Rajya Sabha, according to a report by The Times of India on Thursday.

Political observers view the developments in Nepal as inspirations of wider significance, regionally and globally.

The foremost message is that those who are tagged as terrorists by governments could happen to be the true representatives of the masses.

Nepal has proved that those who lead an armed struggle are also capable of adopting democratic means successfully, if a genuine opportunity is provided to them with scope for structural changes they envisage for.

Military defeat, denouncement of armed struggle or surrendering of arms need not be pre-conditions for peace returning to any country.

Bloodshed could be avoided by political will, if politicians, nationally and internationally, are not thinking of running their politics with bloodshed. Analysts commend the statesmanship of Nepal's Prime Minister and veteran leader G.P. Koirala in this regard.

Marxism, federalism and tradition-ridden religion need not contradict one another is another lesson from Nepal.

Any movement, which is based itself on the masses it represents, is self-reliant, adoptable to situations, and keeps itself out from being puppets of external forces, is bound to succeed, analysts said in the context of Nepal.

In the meanwhile, the other Himalayan kingdom, Bhutan, also has made news with impressive developments recently.

The enlightened monarchy of Bhutan has come forward on its own to transform itself into constitutional monarchy.

Elections were conducted for the first time for the Parliament, based on a two-party system in which the party, Druk Phuensum Tshogpa, led by Jigme Yoser Thinley, swept through.

People trekked more than a 100 kilometers to cast their votes in some voting centers of this remote Himalayan kingdom. The turn out was 80%.

Bhutanese constitution aiming for elite government permits only graduates in the Parliament.

The new Bhutanese government announced to undertake a development agenda of 'Gross National Happiness,' in which the scale of assessment will be based on satisfaction and contentment of the masses in contrast to traditionally upheld views of economics.

External Links:

THT:		Election was Largely Free, Fair: Carter
The Hindu:		Mukherjee congratulates Prachanda on poll victory
The Times of India:		India: No nexus between Naxals, Nepal Maoists