Editorial
New political realities in Nepal
Maoists in power should be pragmatic
The electorally victorious Maoists in Nepal have served notice on King Gyanendra that he must leave Narayanhiti Palace in the next four weeks. The move is certainly an indication of the dramatic way politics has been transformed in a kingdom about to turn itself into a republic. There is no question that the emergence of the Maoists as a pre-eminent force in Nepalese politics was as sudden as it was unforeseen. That only places a heavy burden of responsibility on them as they prepare to take charge of the country's next government. For the Maoists, at this point, it becomes necessary to acknowledge the confidence reposed in them by the electorate and move on to build a durable democratic structure in the country.
The challenge for the Maoists, given their armed past, is now to convince people not only in Nepal but around the world as well that they will now, by turning away from their radical past, embrace democracy as part of governance. The legacy of the bitter, recent past in which 13,000 people have died as a result of the Maoist uprising, is one the new rulers of Nepal must turn away from in order for them to acquire credibility as a formalised, democratic political force. Radicalism must now give way to tolerance and there should be no hint of reprisals in their actions and policies. This is important, for it is on how they perform in the next few years that the future of Nepal as a democracy will depend. They will be doing much good for themselves and for the country if they can rise above ideology and become part of the bigger political mainstream. The reality in these times, as has been proved since the end of the Cold War, is that ideology is not a sure guarantee of a nation's progress and that pragmatism is the basis on which social and economic policies can be worked out and implemented. Nepal's Maoists, having been guerrillas for years and having had no experience of government, cannot therefore afford to fail with the heavy burden now coming to rest on their shoulders.
A very important way in which the Maoists can convince the outside world as well as their own people of their readiness to uphold and promote democracy is by ensuring that democratic practices are strictly adhered to. Having spent years as an extreme leftwing guerrilla force, they will now be expected to uphold such values as the necessity of a free press in the interest of pluralism. Such an attitude to governance will also effectively contribute to an upholding of the SAARC spirit in South Asia. Anything less than that can only raise some uncomfortable questions about their performance in office.
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