April 25, 2006
People Power Wins!
Today was truly an amazing day to be in Nepal although it was only late yesterday evening that everyone was pointing to today as the ultimate showdown between the people and the palace. Yesterday was actually a rather light day for demonstrations (2 million were apparently resting up for today’s onslaught) and with a reduced curfew of 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, I headed off to the office on my bicycle (with a packet of noodles and milk for the chai). During lunch, I watched from the window as security personnel circled around the Gahana Pokhari (sacred pond) around and around again (apparently one of them was learning how to drive?) and cows took over the nice grassy area around the pond to chow down without interference.
Not knowing what tomorrow would bring and desperately wanting to get out of the house, we met a few local friends and decided to track down a restaurant that would open. Shops were abuzz with people stocking on items--a rather familiar sight over the past 20 days during breaks in curfew, and bicycle rickshaws (a renewed trade in Kathmandu!) did brisk business shuttling goods and people up and down the streets. We witnessed truckload after truckload of security forces and army being shuttled in the direction of the ring road for the planned confrontation. A light rain fell and the streets became deserted with the exception of the ubiquitous street dogs digging through goldmines of 20 days worth of uncollected rubbish lining the streets... We received word that the curfew was on for Tuesday from 1:00 am to 9:00 pm, so rather than go home we popped into a pub still open (run by jazz loving kathmanduites!).
We watched a bit of BBC news and soon got word that King Gyanendra would deliver a national address at 11:30 pm (in itself very odd considering that most of Kathmandu is in bed by 10:00 pm). I must admit that I was rather surprised when HM announced that he was reinstating parliament on Friday rather than calling for martial law/state of emergency, which was pretty much everyone’s guess. On the short walk home, we could hear large crowds in the distance cheering wildly and just as we had reached our home someone on the street gave us the nicest “namaste” and then said in English, “tomorrow there will be peace.” He was right; we woke up to no curfew and the day’s protest marches were retooled as people’s victory marches. Smiles were contagious. People shook hands and chatted freely with security forces. By noon, it was announced that Koirala (the last real PM back in 2002) would be the reinstated prime minister.
Although the mood was overwhelmingly celebratory, some commented that HM hadn?t gone far enough by not publicly stating that he would assume a ceremonial role (that he still might linger in the background). He did, however, in his address, apologize for the loss of life and injuries sustained during the past few weeks, which is something that I have never known him to do. There is also the not-so-small matter of the Maoists, who
immediately released a statement saying that the political parties had broken one of the key components of their agreement by not calling immediately for constituent elections/assembly, although the political parties clarified their statement later in the afternoon that, of course, constituent elections were on their agenda as were renewed talks with the Maoists. The Maoists have faintly threatened more blockades, but I think it is mostly a case of just more blather from them and having the political parties steal a little bit of their thunder. Or at least I hope that’s the situation.
Mostly, I am pleased for the people of Nepal who have needed this small victory for a very long time. The political parties have squandered numerous opportunities in the time I have been here and they certainly have a lot to do to win back the people’s full trust and confidence. This will be the fourth go at PM for Koirala although the time has never been better for a renewed ceasefire and peace negotiations with the Maoists. It is my hope that they will let the Maoists stand for elections (provided they lay down their arms) like everyone else. They’ll most likely win a few seats and then see if they can put some of their rhetoric into actual governance...