 |
Kathmandu Thursday July 13, 2000 Ahsad 29, 2057.
|
Don’t overreact
The entire episode regarding the controversial speech made at
a function in the Capital on Saturday relating to the applicability of western style
multi-party system in Nepal needs to be viewed dispassionately and in relation to
democratic values. Dissent is one of the main attributes of democracy and as long as such
dissent is undertaken fairly and without recourse to arms, there is no
reason why anyone should be disproportionately agitated over a few stray statements that
put a big question mark over the functioning of democracy in Nepal and over the perceived
attitude of present day leaders.
Dissent in a democracy need not be only against government
policies but can also be against the manner in which leaders are using the system of
democracy to suit their own interests. Besides, constitutional guarantee of freedom to
dissent also means freedom to dissent against the constitution. In any democracy, the
people are the final authority and this must be acknowledged to be so in our case as well.
If the people themselves are convinced that democracy is functioning in the country, no
amount of criticism from anyone will be able to pose any threat. This is as long as people
want democracy to continue.
If the people are firmly committed to democracy and
democratic ideals, events like the hue and cry over the Saturday public function will
appear to be nothing more than a storm in a
tea cup. None, including the government, should blow the event out of proportion. The
arrest order for Mohan Niraula could be an overreaction on the part of a government that
is over zealous to please the agitated members of parliament. A government does not, and
should not act on impulse.
It is unfortunate that Mohan Niraula, who is disenchanted
with the functioning of democracy in the country — and he has every right to be
dissatisfied as others have, to be satisfied — spoke what he did at the function. To
take his word at face value and presume that he is plotting to kill the prime minister and
other political leaders is indeed a bit far fetched. The battlefield for fighting those
against multi-party democracy is not the prison cell but the whole country where dedicated
party workers and those advocating multi-party democracy must sincerely fight to win the
people’s confidence in the system. Party workers and leaders in government can help
by setting examples of good governance and convincing the people that democracy delivers
better — as it indeed does — than any other system of governance.
Other Stories
|
