Of Royal Manipulations and Popular Aspirations

The CPN (UML) has opposed the steps initiated by the King and has asked him to correct his actions that are contrary to the letter and spirit of the Constitution. The Party is in favour of dialogue and cooperation with all the mainstream political forces in the special circumstances of the country …. All political parties represented in parliament are still demanding of the King to move towards a national consensus by correcting the past mistakes. Four political parties (CPN-UML, Nepali Congress, People’s Front and Nepal Peasants’and Workers’Party) have categorically opposed the formation of the government while the other two have not supported the King’s action. These two parties – Rashtriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Sadbhawana Party – are in dilemma as their leaders have been appointed Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister respectively by the King. … Formation of an all party government in accordance with the spirit of the constitution and democratic values and early holding of fair and free general elections are the major demands of the CPN (UML) together with other parties. The Party has publicly demonstrated against the King’s action in different parts of the country reiterating its commitments to people’s rights and sovereignty. Efforts are still under way to persuade the King to take necessary steps to ensure that the elections, national as well as local, are held on time and people’s rights are duly upheld in accordance with the norms and spirit of constitutional monarchy. At the same time the CPN (UML) has urged the Maoists to come forward for dialogue to bail the country out of the current crisis. The recent Central Committee meeting of the CPN (UML) has even put forward the proposal of national referendum on political issues on the line of the Maoist demands. The Party is firmly in favour of drastic political, economic and social changes for equality, justice and advancement of backward and disadvantaged communities and regions. Such reforms and changes can alone bring desired progress in Nepal. The Party is trying its best to attain these objectives in a responsible manner. Right now the protection of the democratic achievements of the past mass movement and to fight against any kind of regression are the major tasks facing the Party.

There is widespread illusion and misconception about the so-called 'constitutionality' of the traditional monarchy after the restoration of the deformed and disabled parliamentary system in 1990. Subsequent events, particularly those after the infamous palace massacre of June1, 2001 and more specifically the dramatic dissolution of parliament on May 22, 2002, should, however, dispel all such illusions and establish beyond doubt how the monarchy controls the real power of the state. We have always maintained that the faulty method of constitution making by the nominated representatives of the King in 1990 and the continued allegiance of the Royal Nepal Army to the feudal palace, have enabled the monarchy to retain absolute power and forever dangle a Damocles’ sword over the parliament. … Hence it is our considered view that unless a new constitution is made by an elected constituent assembly and the country’s armed forces are kept under the unqualified control of the people’s representatives, no form of democracy can flourish and sustain in the country. This should clarify for once and for ever that the current fight in Nepal is a historical fight between feudal monarchy and progressive bourgeois democracy as witnessed in 1648 Britain or 1789 France. And nothing more, or nothing less! The growing strategic stranglehold of US imperialism in Nepal is basically designed to encircle China in the long term and to oversee India. … It is in this context that the CPN(Maoist) and URPC have addressed to all foreign powers, particularly our two giant neighbours India and China, not to bolster the feudal autocratic regime and hinder the all round democratisation process in the country. The days of seeing the feudal monarchy as the factor of stability and peace are already over …. Now there should be no illusion to anybody that the limited democratic rights and parliamentary institutions gained after 1990 people’s movement have been virtually usurped by the autocratic monarchy through its monopoly control over the RNA, and they can be regained and expanded not through any farcical elections under the aegis of the very same RNA but only through a new people’s movement of greater heights and intensity.