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by Lynn Ockersz

Nepal is perhaps up against one of the bloodiest left-wing armed revolts to be experienced in South Asia, but it is giving all indications of having understood where the landlocked Himalayan democracy has gone wrong.

The bloody revolt, blamed on "Maoist" insurgents has risen phenomenally in recent weeks but some Nepalese poverty experts draw a direct casual link between widespread poverty and the escalating violence. It is their view that the violence is greatest in areas mired in overwhelming poverty.

These developments should induce not only the Nepalese authorities but also other governments in the region to focus more strongly on the poverty problem and to take it on more frontally. SAARC has just convened a meet on redressing poverty but the success of these efforts will depend considerably on the degree to which governments and regional organisations distance themselves from failed poverty alleviation strategies which rely overwhelmingly on the "trickle-down" theory of economic growth.

Rather than wait vainly until economic growth percolates down to the poor states need to make the poor active creative agents of their deliverance from poverty. In sum the poor need to be brought to front stage in the poverty alleviation drama and provided the necessary resources to climb out of the poverty trap, using their innate dynamic energy and the spirit of enterprise which is native to most of them.

Meanwhile, the Nepalese authorities are leading the way in exacting a greater degree of accountability from their Ministers and law-makers in the discharge of their duties and in the affairs of state. An anti-corruption Bill for instance, which was passed by the Nepalese parliament recently, bars politicians who have been convicted of corruption or graft from contesting elections for five years. "According to the amended Corruption Control Bill, any Minister, law-maker - elected or nominated - and even officials in local bodies will be disqualified from contesting any sort of elections (for five years) if he or she is proved a defaulter by the court in any corruption charges" Bishnu Dutta Uprety, a Parliamentary Secretariat spokesman was quoted saying recently.

Needless to say this piece of legislation is a highly progressive means of curbing the problem of corruption in public life. It could also help in ending popular disenchantment with the democratic process, which, along with corruption in the political establishment, could be contributing considerably towards the armed revolt in Nepal. In other words, if correctly and effectively implemented, Nepal's anti-corruption law could be a trail-blazer in the region in ushering in a measure of "clean politics".

Democracies in South Asia are fully cognizant of the complex, ramifying nature of the problem of corruption in public life. In the case of a considerable number of South Asia's politicians and power-wielders, its commissions and kickbacks and not public service which are the prime motivating factors for a stint in the seats of power. This both vitiates and perverts the democratic system of governance. In the impoverished states of South Asia, this anomalous situation leads to a growing gulf between the rich and poor, resulting in social unrest and revolt.

Simultaneously, Nepal has also set up another timely progressive body with the authority to check power abuse among politicians titled, 'Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority'. This institution would be endowed with the power of penalising the Prime Minister and Ministers if they are found guilty of corruption.

To be sure these institutions are yet to prove their operational effectiveness and clout, but Nepal is providing the region with an object lesson in intervening with least prevarication and delay in tackling the prime problems and evils of the day.

We certainly cannot have disgraced politicians running over and over again for public office. These persons have to be both penalized and ostracized once found guilty of grave crime. The necessary institutional machinery needs to be set up with least delay, to make this possible.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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