DISRUPTION IS GOOD FOR RECONSTRUCTION BUT WE NEED TO PRESSURE
Tej Kumar Karki
Normally disruption brings change.
The political disruption of 2007, 2015, 2036, 2046, 2062 brought structural change of institution: Democracy (07), democratic election (2015), referendum, Monarchy-democracy (2046), Republican democracy (2062)
In each of these disruptions, political leaders and parties claimed that this will bring peace and prosperity.
Did these disruptions bring peace and prosperity?
No. These disruptions made Nepal one of the most corrupt and poor nation on earth.
Do you think, this new constitution will change the corrupt behavior of political leaders and parties?
Constitution is not a medicine for corrupt political behaviors and mismanagement?
There are countries doing excellent job without written constitution--i think it is UK
My guess is---even after the constitution: the same corrupt practices, dirty horse trading for political power grabbing, and racial and regional factionalism (we will not allow that group to come and live in our territory: racist, segregationist, separatists) will continue. There are no basis not to believe so.
If the same dirty practice is going to continue, then why we wasting our time for constitution building? Why we making constitution as excuse for doing nothing?
Nepal's experience shows that only by changing structure and form of democracy or constitution-------will not bring the real democracy (peace, prosperity and social justice)---Rather that may lead to dark age of corruption, chaos and mismanagement---as is the case in Nepal
Disruption (political and earthquake disruptions) opens the opportunity for reconstruction but that requires strongly committed political leaders and civil society---------work day and night to utilize this opportunity for reconstruction.
If politicians and civil societies are not committed---even the new constitution would do nothing--they will do dirty horse trading as usual breeding instability.
But the reality is, in Nepal only (or mostly) corrupt or less committed politicians and parties are available. We cannot import good ones from other country.
So by whatever means we should----pressure, evoke, educate, expose these available leaders---to utilize disruption for reconstruction
How much we evoke--that matters----these leaders have to depend upon the external environment for their decisions (behaviors). Those environments are civil society, citizens, media, academics, business community, and various associations.
How much we voice that matters: Not only write in this list-serve. Talk to your neighbors, friends, relatives, professional colleagues, people living in poor housing and slums. Try to go and meet all the leaders who are silent observers in this email list and talk to them, that matters. Talk to CA members that matters. Go and educate college students, give them lectures, talk to other media people, use social media. Go and participate in meetings, seminars and government forum and raise your voice for action.
When all these opinion merge, it will erupt as mass opinion and that will pressure the available leaders to act responsibly.
We should also do out part. I am planning to do this when I will be back home. But those of you who are at home in the motherland, use all whatever means and ways we have. Let us not get frustrated if it is not working, it will take time--doing something more will have some chances for change than doing too little or nothing.
And next time, come up with the findings in media and in this list-serve and tell: how our external pressure building strategy to politicians worked? What further improvements we need to do?
Final points:
DON'T ASSUME THAT CHANGE IN POLITICAL STRUCTURE WILL AUTOMATICALLY BRING PEACE AND PROSPERITY
PRESSURE POLITICIANS TO USE THIS DISRUPTION AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RECONSTRUCTION (both political as well as earthquake damage)
WE NEED TO DO OUR PART----ARE WE READY TO USE ALL OUR RESOURCES TO BUILD EXTERNAL PRESSURE?