ENCOUNTER My memories OL. 03, NO. 19, Feb 19 2010 (Falgun 07, 2066) By Govinda Raj Joshi Even if someone reminds him or her, many people simply want to forget the past events. They speak three generations. Many people writes about their biography and some even ask to write their biography. No body wants to listen what other say. This is natural character of human beings. Past are the experiences as well as education. It is also guidance. No one can succeed forgetting his or her past. It is said that history cannot be removed. Don’t try to forget the past. If somebody tries to do so, he will ruin. The person who is not honest to the present has to live in painful situation. Here I am narrating one incident of the past. One day I was watching the kantipur television and there was a broadcasting of personal memoir of Girijababu. I am concentrating on his program when he was elaborating the Dunai incident. He was saying that he asked me to resign following the non-cooperation of security agencies. I was shocked when I heard such lie from leaders like Girijababu. Then, I thought that I have to speak truth and highlight the reality behind the incident. Dolpa incident was one of the major conspiracies against the democratic system. After becoming prime minister, Girijababu promised to send back his workers to their home till Dashain. On the capacity of home minister, I visited Kalikot, Rolpa, Rukum Salyan, Puthan and Jajarkot. After my visit the ministry of home affairs prepared a plan of action to control maoist movement . The cabinet took the decision to launch an operation against Maoist in six Maoist affected districts. At that time all the decisions were sent to King. At the same time Maoist attacked Dunai, capital of Dolpa but they failed to capture it. Maoist looted 30 million rupees from bank. The King had his plan to visit Dunai next day. However, I visited Dunai cancelling King’s visit. Why did King wanted to visit Dolpa? This may be another incident to study. The King is in no mood to launch any offensive against the Maoist. He was soft towards the Maoist. Even Maoists were afraid of with armed police than Nepal Army and their target was armed police force. Had all the forces supported Nepal Police, Maoist would not have achieved the present success. After theDunai incident GirijaBabu had an audience with the then king. The King told Girijababu that Nepal police were unable to fight against Maoist. He suggested to remove home minister Govinda Raj Joshi, home secretary Padma Prasad Pokharel and Police chief Achut Krishna Kharel so that he would get the support from Nepal Army . Why did the king suggested GirijaBabu to remove the chief of security agencies is also a matter of study why these three people were targeted when there was a plan to launch massive operation against Maoist. Girijababu compromised with the King regarding this issue and he fired all three of us. Before handing over resignation to him, I told him that this is his wrong decision. I told him that this decision will not benefit him, his party democracy and country. He tried to woo me saying that I will be reappointed as a home minister after Dashain. That day never came . I told him that my resignation will prolong his tenure six more months. Similar things happen. He resigned when Nepal Army did not support him in Holeri incident. One of the objectives behind our removal was to dismiss Girija Babu from priminster. Maoist agitation was not directed to strengthen people and establishment of multi-party democracy. As long as the leaders of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML do not understand this, Nepal’s politics remain uncertain. In the first phase, Nepali Congress was the main target of Maoist movement and the fight seemed to between NC and Maoist. All other forces maintained silent when it was directed against NC. After Dunai attack, Girija Prasad Koirala thought that Nepal Army would support him to fight against Maoist. When Nepal Army did not support in Holeri Girija Prasad Koirala initiated dialogue with Maoist. The dialogue was initiated by Girijababu himself meeting CPN-Maoist leader Prachanda and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai in Delhi in 2001. Both parties agreed to maintain top secrecy. The second round of negotiations also held in Delhi. I myself and Dr. Shekhar Koirala took part in the meeting. Our team discussed with Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Dev Gurung about 12 hours and various issues. An understanding was made between us on following issue: to put army under parliamentary control, the executive power in cabinet and amendment of certain articles Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990 with acceptable to Maoist. An agreement was made between both the team to change then Deuba’s government which we considered was going to be a hurdle to implement our understanding. Although we had decided to do all negotiations in secret, Girijababu told King Gyanendra that he would settle Maoist problems through dialogue. King did not like to see the settlement of Maoist problems through NC. King held the view that Maoist movement was to downsize Nepali Congress. During that period, political parties did not have any ideological stand to make alliances. All the political forces were united against Nepali Congress. Maoists were waging war from outside and CPN-UML and other opposition parties blocked the parliament for 57 days. The continued two months long secret negotiations between this writer and Subhas Nemabang helped to end the deadlock. The negotiations were finalized following the meeting between Girijababu and Madhav Kumar Nepal. According to agreement, Nepali Congress leader Girijababu would put vote of no-confidence against Deuba in parliamentary party and NC would choose a new leader. Then, CPN-UML would end the resumption of house. In the main time, the signature campaign was initiated against Sher Bahadur Deuba and 61 members signed in the signature. However, Girijababu did not put vote of no-confidence against Deuba in parliamentary party to avoid possible recommendation of dissolution of house by Deuba. It was wrong decision of Girijababu. Due to this, Nepali Congress also split and our efforts foil. I want to mention another incident and it was about the split of CPN-UML. I don’t want to talk who split it. After division in CPN-UML, a coalition government was formed between NC and CPN-ML. Nepali Congress wanted to give longitivity to this coalition. Even there was secret agreement that CPN-will be given 20 seats in the coming general elections. Longer the CPN-ML in power, looser the CPN-UML will be. The efforts was made to brake this alliance. However, some leaders of CPN-ML and Nepali Congress were used to dislodge this alliance. CPN-ML leader Bam Dev Gautam demanded to remove police chief Achut Krishna Kharel and Home minister Govinda Raj Joshi to give continuity to the coalition. After Girijababu declined to accept this demand, CPN-ML leader Gautam threatened to withdraw support. At the time when cwc informal meeting was held at priminsters residence in Baluater a delegation was sent to discuss with Bam Dev Gautam . NC leader Khum Bahadur Khadka and Arjun Narshing KC were among the member to participate in the dialogue with CPM ML Leaders . They repeated the same demand to remove police chief Achut Krishna Kharel and Home minister Govinda Raj Joshi to give continuity to the coalition. Knowing this situation an information was sent to us by some power centre that CPN-UML will back the government from outside. To verify this Girijababu and Myself went to Madhav Kumar Nepal’s home in Koteshwor where he committed his party’s support to the congress led government in NC’s conditions . This showed how a political force was used against itself to ruin. I want to mention another incident of February 1, 2005 when King Gyanendra directly took control of power. I was arrested in Damauli. After two weeks, I was released. Till I returned to capital, no political parties issued any statement against Royal move. Even Girijababu who was in House arrest remained silent. General Secretary and party president were in house arrest. I was joint general secretary of the party. I met our leaders like K.B. Gurung, Bal Bahadur Rai, Bal Dev Majgaiyaa, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and Arjun Narshing K.C and Dil Bahadur Gharti and discussed to launch the agitation from February 14 or national democratic day. We decided to put K.B. Gurung in underground. Thorough Girijababu’s personal secretary Krishna Chandra Jha, we informed that we are launching agitation with the statement issued in the name of Girijababu. Girijababu does not know what was happening outside in his name. The first day the protest ralley was led by NC leader Suresh Malla and Chirinjibi Tewary. The agitation was lasted for two months till the release of Girijababu from his house arrest. Girijababu never asked the question who asked to launch the agitation and why. However, I felt in pressure throughout the period. Had the agitation failed, what would be my position? I have come to realize now that the aspiration for power make a person blind. This is the reason they do not mind to sacrifice party workers at the cost of their chair. The day when party workers realized that they are used by their leaders they will leave the leaders. So it is always mention in politics one who forget his workers is also forgetten by the time . [The writer is the cwc member of NC]