Development And Peace
Peace and development are two sides of the same coin (“Priorities in Conflict” SPOTLIGHT May 11). Peace is incomplete without development and vice versa. As such, it is the duty of the leaders to carry forward both peace and development. While they have made a lot of progress in peace front, they are yet to win people’s hearts and minds through development in the past one year.
Seema Gautam
Jamal
Restart Development
The cover story “Priorities in Conflict” (SPOTLIGHT May 11) leads one to conclude that the people at large want to see development and economic prosperity at the soonest. This is the area that the current democratic government must concentrate upon. By re-launching development activities like road construction, tourism promotion, infrastructure building, rural electrification, literacy campaign, health development and so on, the government will be able to win the precious trust of the people. This trust will allow it to move ahead on other pressing political fronts such as elections, state transformation, inclusion and so on.
Jeevan Kayastha
Lagankhel
Clash of Priorities
The cover story “Priorities in Conflict” (SPOTLIGHT May 11) sheds light on how the people of this country are feeling disoriented with the current state of affairs. The political leadership are totally focused on political issues like Constituent Assembly elections and restructuring of state. The general people are unhappy with the slow pace of development. With the restoration of democracy, people not only wanted peace and political resolution but also development. It is due to the lack of socio-economic development, which had led to conflict in the first place. Without resolving socio-economic issues, durable peace cannot be conceived.
Hemanta Thapa
Baluwatar
Changing Picture
A year after the restoration of democracy, people are now getting desperate for economic transformation of their lives (Priorities in Conflict” SPOTLIGHT May 11). Leaders had promised socio-economic progress along with political transformation. They now need to keep their promise. The recent inauguration of road link to Karnali region was a big achievement. This event made the general people happier with the thinking that their government is doing something. Such development achievements should be frequent. Otherwise, people tend to lose patience with non-functional governments.
Bir Tamang
Kuleshwore
Silent Majority
The interview of general secretary of Nepali Congress Kul Bahadur Gurung (SPOTLIGHT May 11) provided interesting insight into how the largest democratic party in the country is functioning. The NC, arguably, is facing the most difficult time in its history as its shoulders carry heavy responsibilities of steering the nation through the turbulent transition. Faced with barrage of criticisms from within and outside, the NC warhorse needs to keep moving. Its stance on monarchy, for instance, has been the subject of criticism from all quarters. Republicans have been applying their pressure on the party. Till now, the NC has maintained stoic silence on the issue. But it cannot prevaricate this issue forever. A time will come, soon, when it will have to make its position clear. Therefore, the Congress leadership will do good to carefully weigh in all options and formulate party position. The centrist approach of the party has been a time-tested ideology. Whether the party will side with extreme positions vacating its centrist approach, will not only decide the Congress’ political course but also shape nation’s future.
Kamal Pradhan
Khichapokhari
Security Undermined
The article “Callous Assaults” (SPOTLIGHT May 11) shows how much the Maoists must need to change before the country can breathe easy with the peace process. At a time when the Maoists are already in the interim government and interim parliament, the activists of the party act as if they are the same old rebels. First, the people thought that the Maoists will change once the peace process sets in. After the November 22 peace accord, they thought Maoists will change once they are inducted in the parliament; then they rested their hope on interim constitution. However, even after they are included in the government, there is no fundamental change in their attitude and their demonstrated aversion towards feudal elements (read the middle and upper class sections of society).
Khusbu Thapa
Samakhusi
