FEATURES NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

The New Millennium Thoughts That Hinges Around

-By C.D. Bhatta

THE past years have seen many acts of violence. Everyday, one person or other faces a loss, a bereavement. And then the heart cries for justice, what is the meaning behind all this? When the Gods or those who made mythology could not handle it, how can we simple mortals cope? The excitement and the joy that promise of a new millennium held, were wiped out within seconds of hearing the news of the hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane followed by the crash of a domestic airliner in Nepal. This is perhaps the world’s worst episode of hijacking and heinous manner of closing the last century.

Hype
The hype over the new millennium, though partly arising from commercial considerations, is understandable. It is perfectly in order to talk of the outstanding personalities and events of the century that is drawing to a closing. At the same time, attention needs to be directed to concerns and challenges that confront the nation in the immediate context, and the directions in which the country and the polity are headed in the medium-term. To say so is realism, not narrow-mindedness, as some say aver. It is an occasion for introspection, not boorish extravagance.

Could Nepal look forward to a period of political stability? Will the Government be able to complete its term, now that the ruling party has clear majority? Will it perform at long last? How do we deal with the spectrum of various national issues which are taking a heavy toll in the country and the latest hijacking episode, could pose bigger dangers? These are some of the questions that come to mind.

There are other issues — the capability of the Government to address the economic agenda, to make a good job of the policies of reforms and to ensure social justice to uplift the population from the depths of poverty and deprivation and the prospects of the political establishment.

The media could be relied upon to try to be at its innovative best to project the heralding of the new millennium. Both the visual and the print media may well devise breathtaking techniques next week-end but when all that is done the euphoria evaporates, the hard questions will remain and cry out for answers.

Rejoining will be in order only if there are some positive elements in the situation that is unfolded by the explanations in response to the all-important queries. There may be no originality about the issues, but that does not detract from their relevance.

The gap between promise and performance is disturbing, more so because it has failed to jolt the conscience of political players, some of whom are continuing, without a sense of shame, their clumsy antics. Political instability in the recent past made things worse. This is the setting in which we enter the new millennium.

What are the chances of stability? Slightly better than in the past years. Assuming a safe start for the Government, its performance is a matter of the utmost importance.

To take the challenge of terrorism first, the thoughts at the turn of the millennium are bound to turn to the question whether the strategy adopted and the steps taken so far add up to an effective response or whether extra efforts could have been undertaken.

The state of the polity also causes distress, what with continuous proliferation of political groups, based on castes and personal egos, distorting political processes.

There may not be an immediate problem at present but instability and uncertainties are inherent in power-sharing in the future by a score of constituents. A grim view is not taken of its vulnerability in the absence of due regard for the rules of the game is considered a matter of concern.

Confidence
These are some stray thoughts that come to mind. Not profound but trivial, some may say, but that is the stuff of which the reality is made. What is important is that Nepal enters the new millennium with confidence and this is not possible with unrealistic attitudes and stances. The various pertinent outstanding issues in front of the nations are yet to be addressed.

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