N.P. Upadhyuaya, Kathmandu: It was February 2006 and the venue was Hotel Annapurna in Kathmandu wherein the then US Ambassador James F Moriarty, a lanky American diplomat that he was, was about to make the views of his government clear on a recently signed 12 point agreement in New Delhi by the then agitating seven party alliance.
This agreement in essence paved way for the exit of Nepali monarchy from Nepali politics.
Ambassador Moriarty’s comments on the other hand made it clear that the US instead favored strong unity in between the King and the agitating parties.
And, that the United States was not at all happy with the 12 point agreement signed in New Delhi by the India nurtured Maoists and the political parties of Nepal was about to be narrated by the US envoy based in Kathmandu in a few minute.
Further, the US was not happy with the Nepali Congress – a democratic party for having joined hands with the violent Maoists.
And, Ambassador Moriarty also rebuked the statement issued by the Nepali Congress after signing of the agreement in Delhi, which claimed that the agreement had brought the violent rebels in the fold of the parliamentary system of governance.
Ambassador Moriarty also firmly believed that instead of the Nepali Congress’s claim, it had just been the other way round and that Maoists had brought the parliamentary party into their fold.
Poor Girija Prasad Koirala failed to understand the Maoists trickery which was the brain child of SD Muni and Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran.
Since the US envoy was not pleased with the Delhi brokered agreement, his clear preference was King Gyanendra coming closer to the agitating political parties and making some sort of compromise and continue with a system that included Monarchy but together with a democratic System.
Institution of Monarchy under a democratic system of governance was the US’s clear preference.
The US envoy told the press men that, having made the comments, he was also not pleased with the King either who every time as and when they met assured him that he would hand over the power to the political parties well within three months.
He was not happy with the sitting sovereign King Gyanendra as a political persona.
The US envoy in an angered voice then told the gathering that those “three months” never came and that he was now against King Gyanendra for having lingered him and kept the envoy waiting for an indefinite period.
The gist is that in the initial days, the US was against the 12 point agreement brokered by Delhi but later supported Indian regime in uprooting the Royal institution. The fault lay with the former King as well as Ambassador Moriarty was taken to task by Nepal’s foreign ministry for having made some derogatory remarks against the King which added insult to injury.
Moriarty then came openly against the King, if the ousted Monarch and his foreign minister Ramesh Nath Pandey recall.
As politics stands today, the then US envoy Moriarty perhaps had made the right assessment of the 12 point agreement forced on Nepal by the Indian regime. It is not difficult to understand who had gone to whose fold now looking at the politics that prevails today.
Ambassador Moriarty’s early subtle warning of the communist takeover and in the manner existing two third majority communist government is becoming increasingly intolerant towards democratic principles makes it clear that Nepal is indeed heading for a communist takeover.
This speaks of the US benevolent intent that had been in favor of the now ousted monarchy.
The dancing King of Nepal:
When Nepal’s former King Gyanendra Shah shook his bulky body at a hotel in Kathmandu a fortnight ago, it sent tremors across the country shaking the entire foundation of the Shyam Saran gifted and Delhi recognized republican order.
Kamal Thapa, the former Deputy Prime Minister and chairman of the Royalist RPP-Party hitting the nail on its head asks, “What sort of republican order is this where when the former King dances in a family gathering shakes its foundation?”
Thapa claims that had the new order been strong, earth would not have shaken from under the feet of the champions of the Republican order. Kamal Thapa nonetheless taken as an opportunist politician of the Himalayan Order.
Adding more insecurity in the minds of the political actors who are now being taken as agents of alien forces by the common men, the former King landed in Pokhara recently amidst a colorful welcome by his staunch supporters.
A Maoist parliamentarian has already proposed the idea of keeping the former king under house arrest.
The common men in Pokhara have extended resounding welcome to the ousted monarch-a coward but perfectly a gentleman in effect. He is still in Pokhara.
If Thapa is correct then what is more than clear is that India imposed order is in effect so brittle that a minor jolt could bring about a collapse of this farcical order. But who shall shake this breakable edifice?
Those who have been milking this new order are the India trained Maoist leaders, the India tilted Nepali Congress leaders who are known for being more Indian than the Indians for generations and of course the former UML leaders and their cadres who are eating the country piece by piece.
Some were even being funded by the aliens, rumors have it.
Kamal Thapa speaking recently in Kailali said that the Congress and the communist government(s) so far have only awarded anarchy and corruption to the people of Nepal instead of easing their problems.
Thapa further claims that his party can work together with the Congress for the restoration of the Hindu order in the country. However, the NC recently took the RPP led by Thapa as a reactionary party. By next February, restoration of Hindu order shall be Thapa’s political slogan.
The Nepali Congress, a weakened party now but does not want partnership with the RPP, too is reconsidering on how to regain its original vibrant image and in the process bent on restoring the Hindu order together with Constitutional monarchy but in a subdued voice.
The NC and the RPP have to come closer if Hinduism is to be saved, claim fundamentalist Hindus.
Sensing people’s mood at the grass root, the former King left for Pokhara as a commoner but was awarded a grand welcome by the local people giving the hint that the King may have some plans under his sleeves this time around. His plans though have its origin in New Delhi’s BJP quarters, it is widely talked in Kathmandu.
The people in Pokhara appealed the King to take charge of the nation as early as possible. The King smiled as is his habit.
Undoubtedly, the King though ousted but yet has lost no charm and respect among his former people.
But since he is basically coward so to expect that he may jump into the political scene any time soon taking risks shall be a self-defeating exercise. But if the Nepal Army backs him and with the support of Nepali Congress politics may catapult. This is for sure. But how?
In order to save the country from looming Communist takeover whereas there is the need for unity between the democratic forces there is also the need to provide space for monarchy in Nepali politics.
Monarchy is not only needed internally as an institution of national unity but also internationally and more so, regionally as an institution that guarantees a trust worthy atmosphere for the immediate neighbors and Nepal’s long term friends such as the United States of America.
The fresh appeal of the US to Nepal to play a central role in this part of the world for Indo-Pacific alliance is a proposition that demands political and diplomatic acumen which could earn trust from the two immediate giants, India and China.
But will this US meaning loaded “appeal” enjoy people’s sanction also? Nevertheless, the US has enhanced Nepal’s political personality inviting her to play a key role in the game though which is to keep China disturbed in close collaboration with the new US stallion in South Asia-the Indian regime. Shall Nepal resist this US temptation? It is the US policy to garner support from countries in South Asia from as much countries as she could.