In the first week of September, media houses got an invitation from the Valley Coordination Committee of the CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal \u2013 Unified Marxist Leninist). When the media rushed to the party office, it learnt that the press meet was organized to raise objections to the use of Buddha\u2019s image on shoes manufactured by an American company, Icon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The party demanded to ban such products in the market, and said that Buddha\u2019s image was used on the shoes with malicious intention to disrespect the contribution and philosophy of Lord Buddha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nothing wrong with that\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, Tibetan and Buddhist community across the world have been outraged at the California-based company for promoting a range of shoes with the Buddha\u2019s images. Hordes of people wrote to the company, to express their disgust. They flooded the company\u2019s Facebook page with protest notes, to express their anger and demand that the range be taken off the catalogue of the company. Based in Palm Desert, California, ICON was launched in 1999 by a Hollywood filmmaker and art collector. Most people protesting were outraged that the brand was for art lovers and how could art make mockery of a faith that is followed by millions across the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nothing wrong with that, either\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But it is surprising that the party, which is considered one of the top three in Nepal, chose Nepali media to express its anger. Now that incident shows party\u2019s confusion, and misplaced sense of priority. This is a party, like other major ones in the country, is in turmoil. This is a party facing a huge split, for not being able to include the voices for the historically marginalized people.
It is no secret that some disgruntled Janajati and Madhesi leaders of CPN-UML have started laying groundwork to form a new party. These leaders say that establishing the new party would be an effort to ensure federal socialism in the country. It is not unknown that the party\u2019s establishment faction (it is fair to term it so, because of apparent chink which is only too visible) has remained apathetic to the demands made by these leaders. The response given by the establishment faction \u2013 which came after a lot of delay and neglect \u2013 has failed to convince the disgruntled voices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the leaders have now started saying that they are discussing the party statute. UML Central Committee member Ajambar Rai Kangmang was quoted in Nepali media, saying, \u201cWe have been discussing the content of the manifesto of the new party, its statute, and political ideology. The party will be announced by the end of this month\u201d. Now that tells you that it\u2019s not merely a chink, but almost a vertical split visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One has to remember that these leaders shunned the meet with party secretariat, at the end of last month, saying it was not the right body to decide on their concerns. The entire group felt humiliated at the party leadership\u2019s reluctance to meet and discuss with them. These leaders said, they\u2019d rather talk to party standing committee.
Now the observation is that this party, one of the oldest in Nepal, has been either neglecting or intentionally keeping these leaders at bay. And for this, the leadership does not have a clear answer. The top brass perhaps fears that the dissatisfaction would be too difficult for them to handle. This is clear also because the way these leaders have been treated, with party leadership not ready to talk eye-to-eye. To a common man, the question would be: what\u2019s wrong in talking? The 9-point demand, which also includes provinces based on single identity, can be debated while pointing out both its pros and cons. That\u2019s the beauty of democracy, where opposing views can sit together to discuss and find a way out. But shunning an entire section completely cannot be called democratic. This party \u2013 which does not give opportunity to others to express their views \u2013 gets hurt when any faith is insulted (refer to opposition to Buddha\u2019s image on shoes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that is exactly why yours truly would like to question the motive of press conference to protest Buddha\u2019s image on Icon shoes. Any sane person, who has some understanding about the Light of Asia (nickname given to the Apostle of Peace), would find it objectionable to have his images on shoes. Yes, it hurts. It should be ridiculed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But calling Nepali media to express anger towards a company that is in US? How does it make sense? If it was to be condemned, the party \u2013 with its huge resources, in terms of people and material \u2013 could have contacted the company. Or like hundred other Buddhists wrote on its public interface \u2013 the facebook page \u2013 the party could have express its ire there. If that was not known, it could have contacted US embassy and get its protest letter forwarded to the company. But calling Nepali reporters to condemn ICON, would be best explained as trying to make hay while the sun shines. It is merely an effort to get some coverage in newsprint, or some airtime on television channels, and be seen. An effort to divert people from the party\u2019s failings in recent past\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the meantime, the party also made public its \u2018white paper\u2019 about the causes of demise of the Constituent Assembly. The \u2018white paper\u2019 which was hyped for quite some time and prepared by 17-member taskforce, led by party Secretary Shankar Pokhrel, had hardly revealed any surprises. It hardly tells anything that is not already known.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Except for the soft criticism of the party itself, it has heavily blamed the present ruling coalition for the failure of CA, and its eventual demise without promulgating constitution. The paper criticizes the UML for not being able to come up with clear idea on federalism and forms of governance. However it goes soft while talking about the party\u2019s focus on staying in, or getting to, power, throughout the existence of CA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All these show a tendency that you don\u2019t want to see in leadership, especially during transition. It is a time when decisions are taken, so that the coming generations do not have to suffer the pains of further transition. Sometimes the decisions in such times are not popular, but the leadership has to ensure that even unpopular decisions are taken, if they are just. A leadership has to be able to foresee, what kind of impact such decisions will have in times to come. If we take one common factor in UML\u2019s protest of Buddha\u2019s image on the shoes, or dealing with the disgruntled leaders, or in self-criticism, one thing is evident \u2013 the party is either not following proper process or is not ready to take any real action. For a party that has such a history and people base, it does not augur well in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(PS: The write-up appeared in a fortnightly published from Australia \u2013 The Kantipur Times \u2013 on 12th September 2012)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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