Walk the threshold into a NEW Nepal NOW

The following is a statement by the LLCO on the current political situation in Nepal.

Nepal is standing at an important crossroad. Do not let the looters and rioters overshadow the groundbreaking achievement that the youth of Nepal and its supporters have achieved in the past two days. Their concerted actions have kicked one of the many corrupt and dysfunctional governments into the trash bins of history. The remaining ministers would be better off resigning now in order to save some of their dignity and allow Nepal to have the fresh start it so desperately needs.

The Leading Light Communist Organization does not have a strong standing in Nepal yet, but our members cheered on the brave protesters in their pursuit of justice and change. As an organization whose goal is to create a better, fairer, and more sustainable world without oppression, we want to humbly offer our advice and a vision to all the people of Nepal who are longing for a true revolution in these tumultuous times.

First of all, true change requires replacing the game, not just switching the players. True change would require Nepal to walk the path of socialism and to dismantle the capitalist system in Nepal and around the world. But as we do not have a strong and united socialist movement yet to carry an all-out revolution yet, while also not wanting to continue living under the current government any longer, the best course of action for now would be to hold new general elections according to the current constitutional layout, and then to demand that the new government implements our proposed reforms to address the most pressing issues of today.

This time, we need to elect true reformers and we do realize it is a difficult task. That is why the next general elections should not be held immediately, so that new and old parties and politicians have time to listen to our demands and create corresponding programs. Therefore, holding elections in early January or possibly even later seems reasonable. If we don’t give new parties and people time to emerge, the same old politicians will likely be elected again, simply for a lack of alternatives.

While awaiting general elections, an interim government made up of neutral public figures that hold sufficient public trust should make sure that campaigning and public life can go about unhindered and peacefully. This interim government should also create an independent commission to start a primary investigation and compensation for injustices suffered during the protests. The interim government is a temporary body and should exercise only as much power as is needed to make up for losses and damages, while paving the path for new leaders to arise.

Even under a new leadership, building a prosperous country takes time because analyzing past mistakes, correcting them, and implementing reform is a strenuous process. Yet we want to suggest some immediate ideas that could curb corruption in the future. We suggest constitutional changes enabling citizens to call back their elected representatives and to introduce direct democratic elements in Nepal. This would allow the general public to conduct citizen referendums on laws crafted by these representatives. This way, politicians and the government would have to make sure that they understand the will of the people if they do not want themselves recalled or their proposed laws curbed. These direct democratic elements would encourage citizens to get involved in political issues as well. The recent protests were a sign that the public’s vigilance had been bottled up for too long; not because the public was incapable of expressing it, but because it lacked proper channels to exert it.

Nepali citizens getting more involved in politics does not mean that everyone has to start drafting laws; this is what a government is for. But rather, it would mean to maintain constant vigilance on political matters. The education system will play an important role, too, in raising politically aware citizens. Until the curriculum is amended to include Nepal’s political system and citizens’ individual rights and duties, schools should start offering mandatory seminars or programs to enable teenage students to become responsible and able voters and political actors.

And let’s not forget that Nepal’s political problems are also rooted in the global capitalist-imperialist system that pits a handful of rich bourgeois countries against the majority of exploited Third World countries to which Nepal belongs to. Long-term prosperity and security for the people of Nepal can only be realized as part of a socialist world revolution, spearheaded by the most exploited people on Earth.

To make up for some of the worst symptoms of capitalism in Nepal, a new government should nationalize key industries to put peoples’ needs before profits. It should further subsidize industrial and science start-ups to pave a way for Nepal to industrialize, so that our country can finally be independent of foreign workers’ remittances and employ our own highly qualified youth that a brain drain would otherwise disperse around the world. This also requires the government to invest in public and affordable education. All economic growth should be planned with the long-term goal of building a circular and sustainable economy that protects our unique nature.

People of Nepal, don’t let down your guard. As we speak, the old politicians are shifting the blame for recent events onto each other. Don’t listen to their cheap excuses. Educate yourself and formulate demands. Real change can only be brought about under a new system. Don’t settle for anything less than the complete liberation of Nepal and the whole world from exploitation and oppression!