Editorial
The streets are no doubt heating up. The question, however, is for how long. The utter absence of coordination may be dismissed as habitual amongst the monarchists. A natural search for unity would be self-defeating given the scramble for leadership amidst a rabble of self-espoused agitators rallying behind the now saleable cry for the restoration of the monarchy. The conclusion is that visibility must be on the streets. This makes sure that more and more campaigners will announce their presence. That the streets will remain active is now a surety. For how long, though, becomes a practical question. And, to what effect? One result is that the established parties can no longer refrain their workers from participating. Particularly the RPP which is the sole monarchical party among the mainstream has pitched its monarchy emphasis to the extent of even using the government’s all-party meet to suggest that the monarchy be adjusted in the current constitution. RPP’s eagerness to join in the street demonstrations, however, is learnt to have impacted negatively on the willingness of cadre of other parties to take up the cause under the RPP flag. The lone RPP mayor of Nepalgunj appears to have shunned his party flag and succeeded in riling up a larger demonstration than in Hetauda, his party leader’s home district. RPP’s lone parliamentarian from Jhapa, it is concluded, would have had a more impressive rally had he not insisted that all come under the party flag. The fear is that this insistence may work to dilute the enthusiasm affecting continuity. But, then, this is politics. RPP, after all, was caught on the wrong foot and catching up in the partisan manner they chose further dilute a cause that is still far from specific.
Outside the clamour, the fact still is that those demanding change on the streets remain unclear of what they want. How the monarchy will be restored and by whom in what context are immediate questions. Systemic or not, what is the process? It is most unlikely that a semblance of accord will be reached among the street activists. Continuity on the streets is an essential item for change no doubt. Concurrence on a program, however, remains elusive and government might well bask in the understanding that the streets will fizzle out. That this is a realization among the activists themselves may help instill a sense of direction but the leadership aspirants become a major hurdle here, perhaps a saner option would be to allow a sense of competition among the activists themselves. This would allow more and more numbers to jump on the bandwagon. Those who last will prevail. While the continuity question could be solved in this manner, this may deter united action reducing efficacy. Whatever one might well prepare for a long drawn street agitation knowing that the time element is crucial to any homegrown movement for political change. By this time the country will continue slipping.
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