Editorial
The infamous 19 Magh received much mention in speech and word last Monday reminding a wary population when King Gyanendra ‘took over’ as a result of which a ‘popular’ people’s movement ousted the monarchy. Strangely enough, an army rehearsal of its armoured units announced for that night scored points for those wanting the people to be wary of the current situation. As if that weren’t enough, the day just happened to be replete with media reports of an army coup in Myanmar. A decade and a half have passed us by and a national media that did the misinforming then remains adamant that the king did wrong and so was punished with the current constitution. Within that time though, the people have been able to unravel the mysteries of crass political greed, one-upmanship, greed and unbridled opportunism that helped sabotage the king’s sincere attempt to salvage a constitution which he was constitutionally prescribed to do. The spin was that a constitutional monarchy exceeded its duties. There has as yet been no unanimous coherent answer as to what King Gyanendra should have done to protect the constitution. Monday’s media coverage smells as if the media remains unaware of the drama that was staged to bring the country to the current stage. Indeed, it is as if they are not aware that they helped set the stage. Yes, they carried the lie that triggered the change.
This evident lapse in memory stems from yet another source again. Forget Myanmar and the army exercise. The fact is that a five-year-old constitution is in the docks. Again, another constitutional crisis has resulted in wanton political behaviour. Parliament has been stalled. Political parties are in the streets. The fear stems from the probabilities that this situation has augured in. Had the media and our intelligentsia not lied to itself, they should have seen this coming. Yes, our new overlords will continue the course as there is none to restrain them. The impudence is of the untamed. The constitution can be tampered with as was done then. Cadres are on the streets crying foul once more. It is a perpetual agitation mode in Nepal. This time, however, the people remain bystanders and are letting the politicians and the workers fight it out. The media though remains partisan. What keeps the tilt from being too obvious is the merry coverage of Prime Minister K.P. Oli’s humour. No holds barred tirades on part of the growing street opposition mat be repulsive to the casual observer but they are so well matched by Oli’s humorous retorts that he is securing more than just sympathies.
Oli is doing more than attracting sympathies. He is, in the layman’s eyes, opening doors for possibilities. Myanmar and shining armour on the streets merely add to jitters. Here is this Communist politician who just years back hosted a Church now lights lamps at the Pashupatinath Temple. Oli is playing politics of course. He is also painting his adversaries as foreign lackeys and corrupt, inept goons who keep him from working. Oli’s nationalist credentials are being flaunted so well that his opponents are fuelling his designs by allegations of regression. A population now made abundantly aware of the shortcomings and dubious sources of the current constitution is being openly flirted with. It is not merely temple complexes but the Royal Palace complex has also been roped in by pro-Oli agitators for the week. Oli is courting and raising hopes. It is as if his opponents are the regressors. If anything, Oli seems to have judged his opponents well.
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