Maoist party chair Prachanda, or Puspa Kamal Dahal, on an election poster
(Photo: (cc)openDemocracy)
In the world’s newest republic, there's both optimism and confusion in Nepal as post-election debates rage
Free elections and the vote to abolish the monarchy have given Nepalis the freedom to dream of a new country, say CMS people in mission working there.
But there is still a lot of confusion and arguing about political posts as people look to the future.
Tensions are simmering, according to
Ram Prasad Shrestha, director of the Mission Commission of Nepal, including a journalist being beaten up in the west of the country after he criticised the Maoist party, who became the dominant political force after the elections.
Jason Day, a mission partner working at Tansen hospital, explains that there is still a long way to go.
“The plan is that a completely new constitution will be written for the country, and most of the current discussions surround what will happen in the meantime. The Maoists won the largest portion of seats in the new constituent assembly, made up of several parties.
“But the current questions on the agenda are: Who will be the President during this time? Who will be the Prime Minister? As the surprise winners in the April elections, the Maoists will lead the new Government, but which other parties will eventually join them?”
As the Maoists did not achieve an absolute majority, they must work in a coalition government.
“The coalition parties have some very strong differences of opinion,” says Jason, “and all are trying to get official recognition for their own rights, particularly parties representing minority people groups.”
The Maoists are demanding that they should fill both the posts of president and prime minister and other political parties may well find it hard to work with them.
Many felt the chairman of the Maoist party, Puspa Kamal Dahal (known as “Comrade Prachanda”) took on a bullying tone towards other parties and the press in recent speeches.
The situation in local communities across the country is still chaotic. People have grasped the feeling that they can change things and are taking action.
“There is a real sense of people-power,” says Jason, “with individuals still taking the law into their own hands. Daily we hear of road blockades and protests from people demanding their rights over a particular issue, even after the election.”
For Christians, overall, the outlook seems positive. Although there are roadblocks and protests, travel is still easier than during the Maoist insurgency and churches and other organisations have seized this opportunity to organise mission trips, says Ram Prasad.
“There is lot of tolerance being developed in the public and government towards Christianity,” says Ram Prasad. Amid the chaotic situation, Christians are quietly getting on with preaching and church planting.
“But people still do not have complete faith that the Maoists will protect the rights of the ordinary citizens, says Ram Prasad.
As the country looks to the future, Jason Day wonders whether the government will be able to satisfy people’s desire for change:
“My concern at the moment is that the new Government will have to make some quick, positive, tangible steps forward in order to satisfy people’s desire for results.”
Symptomatic of this is the current fuel crisis – the Indian Oil Corporation has shut off supplies because the state-run Nepali equivalent couldn’t pay the bills.
Jean and Paul Dobbing, mission partners in Butwal, note that local schools have been shut an extra week because the text books have not been printed. “Apparently the government printing agencies were too busy during the election time and didn't get the books printed in time for the new academic year which begins in May,” says Jean.
Now the drama is over, people are eager to get on with life, though many questions remain, she says.
“I think that in some ways it is a relatively easy act to get rid of the monarchy. The real challenge is to think how to progress forward.
“The Maoists have spent most of their time rebelling and protesting, just how they will manage to work together with other parties to construct a new Nepal remains to be seen.”