Nepal PM Koirala Teaching Journalists English

Nepal’s Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has pledged to preserve monarchy in the country if the present king Gyanendra and Prince Paras voluntarily quit their throne. Speaking Sunday to Pakistani journalists in kathmandu, Koirala expressed his inner desire to protect monarchy even if the coming Constituent Assembly decides not to keep it. When his remarks were highlighted by national media in Nepal, he spoke an utter lie the second day. He said journalists did not understand English words and so they misinterpreted them. Journalists have termed the prime minister as ‘liar’.

Prime Minister Koirala had categorically said in his talk to journalists that if King Gyanendra and Prince Paras do not quit their throne before the Constituent Assembly polls, monarchy cannot be retained. It clearly meant that he has had a secret talk with the king about retaining monarchy for which he has admitted to have suggested the king to abdicate for the sake of monarchy. All national media, including foreign news agencies have made the exact coverage. But the prime minister lied the other day that all journalists were bad and gave wrong information. This lying culture in Nepali politics is deep-rooted in the leaderships’ political morality. Nepal’s multi-sectoral crisis originated from the existing political dishonesty, a factor less heeded by the Nepali intellectuals themselves. This is also a factor that the international community, mainly donor countries and agencies have a little understanding of.

The remark by the nation’s coalition prime minister has once again humiliated millions of Nepali citizens who took part in the people’s movement against monarchy in April 2006. When the people were about to declare Nepal a republic from the streets, monarchist leaders of major agitating parties, including Koirala himself, hurried to postpone the movement. Cut of their secret compromise with the king, the House of Representative reinstituted. When the king quit his post as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, it was considered a total surrender. The House restoration was a clear betrayal against the people’s mandate.

Since the House restoration, Koirala has been defending monarchy even after more than 10 million grassroot people (Nepal’s current population is about 280 million) gave their street verdict for the immediate abolition of monarchy.

The incredible human ebbs and tides seen in the Nepali streets during 206’s 19-day April protests were specifically targeted at ending the monarchy. The Nepalis, also known as the ‘brave Gurkhas,’ entirely paralyzed the King’s 19-day nationwide curfews by overwhelmingly pouring into streets. At the core of this unprecedented people’s movement was the anti-monarchy agenda of Maoist insurgents who fought monarchy and its US-backed army through guerrilla warfare as well as heavy tête-à-tête confrontations.

Ordinary people’s comments in response to the prime’s pledge to preserve monarchy were sought. Sheetal Basnet, a 10+2 student, expressed her opinion that Koirala as a coalition government prime minister, should not have spoken about preserving monarchy. Deepak Manandhar, a BBA student affiliated with Tribhuwan, said the prime minister has further clarified his own position as to monarchy by asking the king to save monarchy by quitting the throne.

Vidur Prasad Chapagain, an English teacher said that it was natural for the prime minister to express his views in favor of monarchy because he has always been for monarchy. “What do you expect from Koirala?,” he cross-questioned.

Laxman Maharjan, a farmer of Kirtiupr gave an angry remark, “People’s sons and daughters died and were wounded to make Girija the prime minister again. People demanded end of monarchy. What are other parties doing when their prime minister is directly going against people’s version of movement.?”

While the nation’s coalition prime minister was expressing his oral commitment to create an environment for the survival of monarchy, Maoist and other leftist leaders were expressing their doubt about the yet-undeclared elections of the Constituent Assembly. Speaking at a discussion programme organized by Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu, a senior Maoist leader C P Gajurel expressed his doubt as to the holding polls for the Constituent Assembly. He was depicting the character and morality of the status-quoist leaderships of other parties.

Similarly, Emalay leader Bhim Rawal said feudal and criminal elements were involved in foiling the coming Constituent Assembly elections.

Earlier, Maoist leader Prachanda hinted at the attempts of counterrevolution by reactionary elements and the need to go to people and mobilize them.

http://www.nowpublic.com/node/353847

ENDS

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