Nepal & Bhutan Brief (5/15)

Internal Developments:

Constitution Drafting:

1. With a view to increasing their bargaining power while negotiating with the ruling NC- UML parties, the UCPN (M)- led alliance of 30 opposition parties staged a show of strength in Kathmandu on 28 February 2015. The mass rally in Kathmandu was culmination of their month long preparation from across the country to stage the show. The UCPN (Maoist) accused the government of attacking its leaders and cadres in a premeditated manner during the police crackdown on their rally. The UCPN (M) also alleged that over 30 party leaders and cadres were injured in police action while the members were marching by defying the government imposed restricted zone. The security personnel had intervened when the UCPN (M) agitators tried to break the cordon.

2. The Kathmandu rally was however, different from the earlier mass rallies organized by the alliance of opposition parties. In similar rallies organized by the Maoists in 2010, the mood among the protestors was very militant. They had forcibly imposed shutdown throughout the valley. Many aggressive cadre members had behaved as if the Maoist were going to capture state power. This time around, they were in a ‘conciliatory’ mood. The agitators did not indulge inflammatory rhetoric on show and UCPN (M) did not call for general strike. People were not obstructed in moving around the town even as the rally took place. The rally included dances and songs performed by troupes representing the cultural richness of Nepal to highlight their demand that Nepal was a country of diverse groups aspiring to be represented in the state structure. The event was also a reminder to the government that the opposition still had the strength of numbers to pressure the ruling parties into negotiating a constitution through consensus.

Conflicting views of UCPN (M)

3. Of late, conflicting views have started emerging from the UCPN (Maoist) leadership on the question of resumption of formal talks with the ruling parties. These have placed party Chairman Pushpa Kumar Dahal in a tight spot. Senior leader Baburam Bhattarai is of the view that the party should not sit for talks until the ruling coalition agrees to scrap the ongoing approval by majority route in the Constituent Assembly, and return the disputed issues of constitution writing to the Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee which be leads. On the other hand, Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shreshtha is of view that any precondition will make negotiation difficult. He feels that the party should be ready for talks if the Prime Minister expresses his commitment to write a new constitution on the basis of consensus. He maintains that the ruling parties cannot scrap the process initiated by the sovereign CA. Due to pressure from Shrestha and Bhattarai, Dahal is undecided about joining talks. Dahal therefore, prefers informal talks.

NC Officially Invites Opposition for Talks:

4. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress has for the first time formally called upon the opposition parties to end their protest and resume the stalled inter-party negotiations with a view to settling the disputes in constitution making through dialogue. Earlier this month, the Prime Minister had twice made such appeal on behalf of the government. Inter-party negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties have not taken place for the last one month. The opposition parties have boycotted the Constituent Assembly and Parliament meetings in protest against the ruling parties move to push for constitution making process through the majority route. The ruling parties have argued that once the inter-party negotiations yield concrete results with regard to making the new constitution through consensus, the majority course started in the CA would automatically become irrelevant.

CPN-UML’s Pressure to Take Majority Route:

5. In contrast to the NC’s attitude, the CPN-UML is threatening to walk out of the coalition government if the Nepali Congress is not ready to push the ongoing majority process of the Constitution writing. CPN-UML has decided to mount pressure on the largest party (NC), to proceed with the Constituent Assembly process. UML leaders say that there has to be one last attempt to hold talks with the opposition and if that does not yield any result, the CA should initiate the process to decide the contentious issues of constitution writing through voting in the CA

Prime Minister Disturbed Over Demand for His Resignation:

6. Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has expressed his anger against party insiders demanding his immediate resignation. Addressing a programme in Kathmandu, on February 25, Koirala said that the party insiders were totally unaware of the situation prevailing in the country; expressing fear that the ongoing constitution process could be jeopardized. He went on to admit failure of the government to meet public expectations and those of his party cadres. He apologized for the below par performance of government. He even asked whether or not it was time for him to voluntarily retire? He however, expressed anger against party leaders who were demanding his resignation. He affirmed his commitment to complete the task of constitution drafting. He reiterated his appeal to the Unified Maoists and all other opposition parties to immediately withdraw their protest programmes and sit down with the government parties for talks.

Ex- King on Agreements between Him and Political Parties:

7. In a press statement issued on the eve of 65th Democracy Day, former king Gyanendra Shah urged the political parties to honour all past agreements reached between him and the political parties. Shah, however, did not reveal details of the agreements he had with political parties. Shah’s statement fueled speculations that political parties had reached a secret deal to save the monarchy in one form or another. After the April Uprising- 2006 that forced Shah to relinquish his absolute rule, then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had floated the idea of ‘baby king’, angering others who wanted nothing but full republicanism. It was then speculated that Koirala had promised to save some form of monarchy. Gyanendra had been maintaining silence over what transpired between him and political parties during and after April Uprising. What is intriguing is the timing of the statement when political parties are polarized like never before over the final shape of the constitution. Madhav Kumar Nepal, former Prime Minister and UML leader has de3scribed the ex-king’s claim as baseless. He said that he was with Girija Prasad Koirala, then Prime Minister of the interim government, when he had met Gyanendra Shah. There had been no formal or informal agreement on retaining monarchy in any form.

Bhutan

Internal Developments:

King’s 35^th Birth Anniversary Celebrated:

8. Bhutan observed His Majesty the king’s 35 birth anniversary on February 21. On the occasion, Prime Minister Tshring Topgay announced five pledges to the king. He said that the government would work hard towards achieving national goals and pointed out that the peace and prosperity enjoyed by Bhutan was because of His Majesty the king.

Book on Constitution Making Process Launched:

9. President of the Bhutan National Legal Institute, HRH Princess Sonam Wangchuck, launched a book titled “The Constitution of Bhutan: Principles and Philosophies”, coinciding with His Majesty the king’s 35^th birth anniversary, at the Supreme Court complex on February 21. Written by the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, former Chief Justice Lyonpo Sonam Topgye, the 513-page book explains all the 35 articles of the constitution, is an acknowledgement of the contributions of the fourth Druk Gyalpo Singye Wangchuk and His Majesty the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk. The book chronicles the history of Bhutan, from 1907, when the first hereditary monarch was enthroned. Author Lyonpo Sonam Topgye also explained the intent and concept at the root of each provision of the constitution.