Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke. -Will Rogers
By Siromani Dhungana
UWB
I don’t support the idea of a government that bureaucrats or technocrats lead. Do you support a military-led government led? If not there is no reason you will support a government led by bureaucrats? The only difference between military rule and present Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi-led government is that Regmi is not wearing combat uniform.
It was no surprise that Regmi, in a recent meeting with medical professionals, said that he was appointed by foreign powers (international community, he said) despite his unwillingness and that Nepal had no power at the moment therefore there was no need for a separation of power (between executive and judiciary). Regmi has clearly hinted that he is not accountable to Nepali people but to a clique of four party leaders and ‘international community’.
If, as Regmi clearly hinted, this government is not accountable to people of Nepal there is no reason to believe that this government will be able to hold an election in which Nepali people will participate in an enthusiastic manner.
The Bitter Reality
Even if we put aside the accountability issue, the present government, we were told, was formed to hold a free and fair election by November. If the government thinks that it is not possible to hold election by that date then all ministers should dare to resign. But the situation is quite different. Former bureaucrats have started to work in a manner as if they are members of the elected cabinet.
Ministers have already started to commit various reform agendas during their tenure. It is ridiculous that members of incumbent government can pledge reform (long or short tem) in every sector whole forgetting to work to hold free and fair election.
And They should not Face the Public
Unlike to politicians, leaders in current government don’t have to face people or ballot box. Ideally, politicians are afraid of the masses because people can punish them in elections if they did bad things. But the corrupt bureaucrats, in most cases, don’t have to face the consequences of their mistakes because of lack of an effective watchdog and regulatory body to bring corrupt bureaucrats to book. In fact, the government may appoint one such corrupt bureaucrat with questionable character as the chief of the anti-graft body on Sunday!
Popular Perception about Bureaucrats
In Nepal, the popular perception about bureaucrats is not positive. Many believe that most bureaucrats are corrupt. Even politicians often accuse bureaucrats of systematizing corruption. Lavish lifestyle of many bureaucrats (unjustifiable to the salary they earn) proves that there is something wrong. But who is ready to investigate in transparent manner?
Roman scholar Marcus Tullius Cicero once said: “I have yet to meet a bureaucrat who was not petty, dull, almost witless, crafty or stupid, an oppressor or a thief, a holder of little authority in which he delights, as a boy delights in possessing a vicious dog. Who can trust such creatures?”
Can our bureaucrats-led government prove him wrong? I don’t think so.
United We Blog 
Comments
One response to “Election Government or Elected One?”
Respected Dungana jee !
I extend thanks that you have released this best article about the present nonsense Khilraj Regmi led-government. Nepal’s Chief Justice of Supreme Court Khilraj Regmi appointed as a Prime minister to hold the another Constituent Assembly(CA)’s election without constitution. The political agents have already failed to move the country and then they have proposed the leadership of current Chief Justice who has been joining his hand with the traitors for his personal benefits. The appointment of the Supreme Court Chief Justice as the Prime Minister is to damage the democratic norms and the system converts as a dictatorial style. The Maoist’s tactic is to kill the basic notion of democracy-‘Check and Balance’ and the incompetent and nonsense party leaders-Congress and UML also are going to support the agenda of Maoist. The traitors are trying to ruin the basic democratic concept of check and balance- major state organs-‘Judiciary, Executive and Legislature. CJ Khilraj Regmi has no sense in politics but he accepted the PM post unconstitutionally by the support of Maoist. This is great blunder of the CJ Khilraj Regmi to deceive the norms of judiciary.
‘Wolves may lose their teeth but not change their nature and habit’; similarly, the party leaders did not realize their blunders. The leaders who have been guiding by the RAW and EU and CIA have not felt their past mistakes because intentionally they are going to destroy this country. Since the dissolution of the CA, they are playing the dubious dramatic role in the name of consensus. Nepal Bar Association, Civil society and politicians have also rejected the proposal arguing that the appointment of the CJ a PM will violate the dogma of separation of power. The CJ Khilraj Regmi is also a week-minded apolitical person and sycophant. After 2006 foreign brokers have taken over Nepal government. What will happen if the Supreme Court chooses the same path? Chief Justice, Khil Raj Regmi, is a virtual wimp. He has no political background, no constituency and no gang of goons to back him.
CJ Khilraj Regmi is likely to confront greater challenges from the corrupted party leaders. The confused party leaders intervenes the day to day works of the government’s mechanism. Chief Justice Khilraj Regmi himself has remained tight lipped. That is why a CJ as PM cannot hold elections. There is no doubt, elections are the pillars on which democracy thrives and sustains, not only in Nepal but in any other country of the world. It is the responsibility of the political parties to hold election and persuade the people to participate. An individual cannot do this, leave alone a CJ. Actually, it is proposal of the foreign forces. The formation of the CJ’s leadership would invite a bigger catastrophe and it would be against the principle of separation of power of the state. So, it is Herculean attempt for Khilraj Regmi to attempt the mass election. So, it will be impossible to hope the solution from the so-called confused and hopeless party leaders. The most unfortunate fact is that majority of Nepalese political leaders have been supporting the Indian agendas. It is worthless to expect from these anti-nationalist leaders to save our nationality and independence.
A Nepalese scholar Siromani Dungana writes- ‘The Maoists are interested to kill the norms of current judicial system in Nepal. They have constantly argued that this system can’t represent in the federal system. They have constantly flouted Supreme Court decisions. PM Baburam Bhattarai has spoken against the judicial system and courts in general. Opposition parties have once again failed to challenge the card played by ruling Maoist and the ally Madhesh-based parties. I think consistency and credibility matters in politics. Leaders should show readiness to be adhered to the notion of morality and accountability in democratic system. But all party leaders are also trying to ruin democracy pushing peoples’ lives into uncertainty.
In fact, after the experiment of the term of the Constituent Assembly, it automatically dissolves and becomes defunct. The existence of the political parties was accepted as per the 1990 constitution; in this sense the 1990 constitution is seen as the legal parent of the political parties. It was established by the 1990 constitution viewing the people as sovereign. The 1990 constitution has regained full legitimacy. According to the precedent of international court verdict, the dissolution of the interim constitution will automatically revive and activate the constitutional monarchy, multiparty parliamentary system and all other organs and institutions under 1990 constitution. So, on the auspicious occasion of New Year 2070, the CJ Khilraj Regmi should forward his suggestion to the monarch for the sake of constitutionalism in Nepal. And then all the organs of the state will unite, and in accordance with the 1990 Constitution and in presence of the King, we will strengthen this Hindu Kingdom. It is the duty of all Nepalese, whether in political parties or outside, and Nepal Army should be active to save this nation.
Thank you