Lecture series

Social science BAHA: Lecture series
Nepal: opportunities and threats – the dilemmas of transition 2009 03, 12
David seddon.

The series started at around 5 p.m. The presence of intelligentsia was huge number. As a sympathetic observer and co-author, around half a dozen his books have been published about Nepal.

David seddon’s presentation was very familiar in nepali political epicenter where such subject matter can be heard at different circle wherever we visit. He basically focused on political anticyclone and its unrest activities done by different political parties. his grave concern was Past to present how Nepal is going through with changing global phenomenon and present to future in resembling with its history and geopolitics is essentially to be analyzed.
Nepal is a yam between two giant countries, he quoted it down very famous old nepali saying said by late king prithibhi narayan shah. What I found interesting through his repetition is that he is not unaware about its sovereignty unless we comprehend their policy towards Nepal.

After ten years of insurgency Maoist party is now on safe land and its commitment on democracy is more remarkable. But some activities done by young communist league (YCL), YOUTH forces are completely opposite of peace agreement. There is still existing extortion, intimidation, violation even after Maoist is on government.

PLA integration

Another argument was about PLA integration into Nepal army. In his saying, he endeavored to clearly Nepal army and PLA- Nepal army is driven by central ideology and PLA is strongly driven by political ideology .so by integrating them into national army would create problem.

Federalism

Federal system is in recent hotly discussed issue. David agreed with that there must be applied its diversity into unity. Agitating parties are doing Nepal band, chhakka jam, etc it is a kind of political impendence that they are looking for which was during the period of conflict ,Maoist party had strengthened ethnic group by providing federal states in order to succeed Maoist revolution.

David stated, ‘Federalism is unnecessary in terms of ethnicity. Nepal has such society where there is no certain territory covered by particular caste. It is made by heterogeneous society. So it would create hostility among majority and minority groups.
His emphasis was on mechanism that all indigenous marginalized and underprivileged community would get equal access.

Human resources

He brought very acknowledgeable point so far as youths groups’ involvement in development activity. Three hundred and thousands youth are jobless. All the jobless youths are partially associated with political link. Such movement will certainly result anarchy in the nation.

There must be created a kind of environment where all youths get involved into social works even in low paid wages. It would bring a sense of unity and sense of dignity.

International interest

International interests have very interestingly played especially in political upheaval. China is one hand and India is on the other hand are intervening Nepal. What are the factors that Nepal politics has always been as a playground?
When he was asked the question he responded very diplomatically.
‘Because china is stepping towards global scale and India is more precautious about Indian subcontinent’.


MY ANALYSIS

Nepal’s opportunities are in dilemma I completely agree with david saddon. Nepal is now in transitional phase no one unable to predict where the country is headed. Perhaps I would not be wrong if I call it precisely post conflict phase. Of course there are many changes from history now. It is a process an every society has gone through changes like Nepal. It is certainly that this will lead the nations progressively forwarded.
If there would not have been ten years of insurgency led by Maoist party, the drastic changes would not come at once. By people’s verdict two hundred years old monarchy has been abolished and the process of drafting new constitution is going on. This is not only the change of the Nepal itself. This is the change of the world.

PLA integration into Nepal army is very complicated issues. They are driven from different doctrine. One consensus has to be brought among all political parities to resolve this problem. If we observe present scenarios, this is obviously reflecting adverse impact on peace process. No single political party is seen serious to address genuine issues. Due to the political interests all parties are deliberately trying to aviod it.
The major issues are now come up at shadow and the minor issues are now at frontier that we should not forget it.

Demand of federalism is increased because centralized government policy has already failed to develop nation. David seddon said it is unnecessary in Nepal. He gave evidence but I do not think that is the ample evidence that confronts the federal system. As C.K LAL commented on your presentation, above 50% people are being deprived of enjoying rights due to oligarchic government.

I got surprised from david’s view points about federalism in Nepal. He must understand that centralized government is already failed, and it is no longer relevant to keep continuing. Also federalism is as compared with nationalism. Civic nationalism and ethnic nationalism are two parts that nationalism belongs. It is political independent perceived by individual community and region.