It is the responsibility of the electoral government to simultaneously resolve the doubts of the old parties and the confusion of the new forces. Prime Minister Karki will have to proceed with his activities very carefully so as not to allow the elections to be disrupted or parties to not participate in the elections.
What you should know
The Gen-G movement was not just aimed at the arbitrary rule of law and its leadership, which mocked the democratic republic. It was a strong expression of the intense anger that arose in the Nepali people. The blueprint for this ‘peaceful’ movement was prepared by the youngest generation of the country. Its objectives were clear and unambiguous.
The movement began to achieve that objective. However, the nature of the movement changed overnight. An undesirable and anti-social group hijacked the Gen-G movement and took control of it. Then Kathmandu became the city of ‘Kurukshetra.’ The harsh sounds of gunfire began to be heard in the city. The Singha Durbar, which is the secretariat of the Government of Nepal, the Supreme Court, which is the supreme symbol of justice, and the Parliament building, which is the heritage of the federal republic, began to be engulfed in flames. The government documents in those buildings were reduced to ashes.
The destruction was not limited to buildings. The damage was not limited to the government. The flames began to spread to big hotels, big markets, and the personal property of the people. A large part of the ‘central’ city of the country was destroyed. Not only that, but the settlements surrounding the city also became bloodstained.
Kathmandu, which has been a beautiful and interesting city since ancient times, has suffered many disasters. From the Lichchhavi period to the present day, shocking scenes of political conspiracy have been repeated time and again. Such incidents are clearly mentioned in the history of Nepal. However, after 2007, such a large-scale destruction was not seen in the political and public life of the country. It is a very tragic situation that such a large-scale violent movement has to be suffered even at a time when the people have almost reached the point of freedom and have been able to enjoy their fundamental rights. It is not easy to analyze this situation.
The organizers of the Gen-G movement had decided to take to the open streets against the extreme indifference seen in the government towards the paramount welfare of the people. The government was composed of representatives elected by the people. However, that 'elected' government was busy with the false arrogance of power by 'arguing' with the people. It was unaware of the growing distrust of the people towards the leaders of the government. Rome was burning, but King Nero was playing the flute.
The government was confused in every field. Its decisions were not in accordance with conscience. The government was ineffective in solving the problems of the youth who were not given the opportunity to work in their country. Ministries had become the ministers' puppets. The leaders of the two main parties running the government were entangled in their own interests. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the 'waiting' Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba remained indifferent to the country's problems. They tried to rule by ignoring the people. Now both leaders have fallen from the public eye.
The leaders of the Gen-G movement, who are currently coordinating the movement to bring the country out of the adverse situation, must have been surprised - someone else will hijack their movement and the Gen-G leaders will fall into such a terrifyingly violent turn. The Nepali Army will have to intervene to establish peace in the country. The President will be forced to appoint a person who is not recognized by the constitution and is outside the House of Representatives as the Prime Minister. The sovereign parliament, elected by the people's vote, will be dissolved. New elections will be held on Falgun 21, for the parliament. All this seems like a puppet game.
It does not seem easy for the government led by Sushila Karki to hold new elections. After being appointed as the Prime Minister, she has issued two video messages to the nation. In her addresses, she has reiterated her firm commitment to addressing the demands raised by Gen-G and holding the elections on the scheduled date. However, addressing the demands of Gen-G is not that easy.
Prime Minister Karki is currently caught in a complex situation. All three organs of the state, the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary, have collapsed. She has a clear understanding of the work she has to do. However, she seems to be a little confused and a little ambivalent about holding the elections on the scheduled date. Most of all, she seems to have a sense of disdain for the leaders of various parties. Karki, who has been the head of the Supreme Judiciary, has achieved distinction in the field of human rights. There is no doubt about this. However, from the point of view of human rights, the elections proposed for Falgun 21 will definitely not be easy.
Most importantly, Prime Minister Karki has already started discussions with representatives of various parties for the upcoming elections. However, those discussions seem to be very 'low-profile'. Prime Minister Karki does not seem to have much enthusiasm for talks with party leaders. On the other hand, leaders of various parties also do not seem to have much enthusiasm for going to the elections. In the absence of agreement between the country's chief executive and top party leaders on an important issue like elections, it is impossible to decide whether elections can be held on the announced date.
Elections are considered the main pillar of democracy. The largest political activity with the highest participation and concern of citizens is elections. The body that conducts elections acts as a 'referee', while the government acts as a supporter of the overall process. In a direct sense, the constitutional responsibility to conduct elections lies with the Election Commission. However, the election cannot be concluded by the commission alone until the stakeholders of the election enter the field. The game does not start if the 'referee' blows the whistle. For that, the players must be present.
The election activities should be led by political parties and their supporters. The election can be held only when political parties, millions of voters, candidates, security personnel, employees, observers, monitors, media personnel and ordinary citizens come together and firmly support the election.
The parties that have spent decades in the democratic movement do not need to be told about the importance of the election. They are political forces that have been refined by participating in the election. However, doubts are growing among the established political parties about the election scheduled for Falgun 21. After the Gen-G rebellion, the confusion between the forces that say they will participate in the election seems likely to disrupt the election. It is the responsibility of the electoral government to simultaneously resolve the doubts of the old parties and the confusion of the new forces. The government does not seem to have started this work.
Prime Minister Karki should start dialogue with the main 'stakeholder' political parties of the election as soon as possible. The work that should be led by Prime Minister Karki should not be shifted to the Election Commission and the President. At a time when Gen-G representatives are making a 'stubborn claim' that they will not let the old parties and their leaders out, that they will not let them stand in the elections, Prime Minister Karki should be serious. He has realized the reality by saying, 'I understand that the elections cannot be held if the established major political parties do not participate.' However, in practice, he has not been able to or does not want to create an electoral atmosphere. Prime Minister Karki should proceed with his activities very carefully so as not to allow the elections to be disrupted or parties to not participate in the elections. Prime Minister Karki must have assessed the situation that will arise if the elections are delayed.
Prime Minister Karki should not even think of moving forward with ego and revenge at this time. When a judicial inquiry commission has been formed to investigate the incidents of Bhadra 23 and 24, the Gen-Gs who brought themselves to the chair of power through rebellion should get out of the situation of 'standing up instead of standing up and sitting down instead of sitting down'. The youth should be able to understand the eternal fact that the power of public opinion expressed through elections is needed to institutionalize the changes brought about by the rebellion.
At present, the number of people who want to establish themselves in politics in the name of Gen-G is increasing. All of them are under the illusion that the country's various problems will be solved by pinching their fingers as soon as they come to power. Such people are connected to various social and international organizations and individuals. This is a very sensitive issue. Prime Minister Karki is also certainly sensitive to this issue. However, sensitivity and practicality are different issues.
The elections cannot be held in a free, fair, credible and fear-free environment unless there is strong and reliable security arrangements. According to the information provided by the government, the morale of the police has declined due to the violent protests on Bhadra 24. Around 500 police units have been destroyed. Police equipment has been burned to ashes. 1,276 rifles and pistols have been looted. 98,491 bullets have disappeared. Of the 15,524 prisoners who escaped from prison, 6,516 have not yet been found.
According to a police officer who has gained experience in elections in the past, the main links in election security include voters, political party leaders and representatives, candidates and candidates' representatives, meetings and processions organized for election propaganda, election materials, election offices, and employees involved in the election. As soon as the election is announced, the government should guarantee the necessary security in consultation with the commission to ensure that the election is held safely, without fear, peacefully, and fairly. Three levels of security should be arranged by classifying the constituencies and polling stations in terms of security. There was no coordination and cooperation between the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force in the incidents of Bhadra 23 and 24. It seems that the atmosphere of distrust between these two organizations still persists. How to coordinate between these two organizations during the election? This is an important question for the current government. A fair election is not possible unless the morale of the Nepal Police, which is in a critical state, is raised.
If the Karki-led government fails to return the looted weapons and bring the escaped prisoners back to prison, the country will have to pay a heavy price for the chaos that will be created. How will the Home Minister, who has taken away the weapons of the police and instructed them to release the fugitives from the streets when they are caught with weapons?
The constitution guarantees that every citizen can equally participate in the political decision-making process. Many countries around the world have implemented a system that allows citizens of their own countries abroad to vote. On Chaitra 2074, the Supreme Court had directed the Election Commission to formulate the necessary laws within three months to provide the opportunity to Nepalis abroad to vote. The court's directive has not been implemented yet. It is the government's responsibility to provide the opportunity to Nepalis abroad to vote. However, it seems impossible for the time being to provide voting rights to voters abroad in the Falgun 21 election. Hopefully, Prime Minister Karki will succeed in getting the country out of this sensitive and critical situation.
