By Shashi P.B.B. Malla

Last Friday, the Monarchists offered the “Pawn’s Gambit” in confronting the diehard ‘Republicans in Name Only’ [‘RINOS’].

It was a weak line of attack [using the parlance of the royal game of chess] and the RINOs were well prepared.

The Monarchists went like lambs to the slaughter. They were not even allowed to demonstrate peacefully – guaranteed by the Constitution.

The security forces were out in force – the police in Tinkune and the army in Jaributi – with orders to ‘disturb’ the proceedings at the first opportunity.

And the police did so with alacrity using water cannons and tear gas and allowing ‘external’ ruffians to run amok.

It was then very convenient to blame the actual peaceful demonstrators of turning violent and blaming former King H.M. Gyanendra for the whole affair for no rhyme or reason.

Adding insult to injury, the anti-social, anti-national and retrograde elements have even called for the arrest of H.M. the King.

It has become a field day for all the RINOs, the cohorts of the Mafia-political parties and the hangers-on.

It is also a golden opportunity for the so-called human rights organizations, civil society and the mainstream media to gloss over the egregious shortcomings of the would-be ‘Netas’ and their ‘good governance’ to date.

What Really Happened

  • The Monarchists were not allowed to demonstrate peacefully – right from the start.
  • The Monarchists’ demonstration was infiltrated by anarchists, ruffians and vandals out to commit mischief.
  • The state apparatus was completely geared to discredit the movement to restore Monarchy.
  • When the whole affair descended into chaos, the government and their supporters were quick to assign blame and jump to conclusions.
  • A committee of enquiry has not even been constituted, let alone come to conclusions.
  • It is very suspicious that at the other demonstration in Maitighar/Mandala of the so-called ‘Socialists’ – everything ran smoothly.

They were definitely hand in glove with the government.

  • The Kathmandu mayor was definitely out of turn by imposing a ‘fine’ on H.M. King Gyanendra personally.

Shri Balen has reduced himself to a tragi-comedy figure in the theatre of the absurd of current Nepali politics.

The Way Forward for Monarchists

Just because the Monarchists suffered a temporary setback, doesn’t mean that suddenly all is well in the Himalayan Republic.

Not only ‘something’, but ‘much’ is still rotten in the Himalayan Republic.

As a result of the prolonged power grab by the Republican political parties, the people’s expectations and needs have not been quickly and unexpectedly fulfilled! 

The Monarchists/Royalists need not ponder too long about their temporary setback.

They must now present a united front as the modern force of change to fulfil the real aspirations of all Nepalese.

This entails radical regime change.

They must clearly and regularly inform all Nepalese that their movement will now proceed with added momentum to achieve:

  • First, a modern Hindu state in which all Nepalese will participate from the grassroots in an inclusive manner, and
  • Second, the reinstatement of the Shah Monarchy as the head-of-state as the symbol of national unity and the representation of the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Real participatory democracy can indeed go hand in hand with constitutional monarchy!

To again use ‘chess-speak’, the leadership of the movement should now use the ‘White Queen’s Gambit’ with pincer and faux moves from all the other pieces – Bishops, Knights and Pawns – to corner and overwhelm the ‘Black King’.

It will be the death knell of the Himalayan Republic!

Long Live the rising Himalayan Kingdom!

The writer can be reached at: shashipbmalla@hotmail.com