Countering Terrorism

PRIME Minister and president of the ruling Nepali Congress Party Girija Prasad Koirala reiterated the commitment of the government to maintain law and order and provide security to the people. Addressing a function, in Lahan, organised by the Nepali Congress (NC), Prime Minister Koirala stressed the need for mobilising village security teams to improve security in the villages. Prime Minister Koirala asked Nepal Students Union and Tarun Dal, student and youth wings of the NC to form such teams in the village and join hands with the government to counter violence and terror perpetrated by a section of misguided elements, who are out to defame and sabotage multi-party democracy, and provide the people a sense of security. As violence and terror can by no means be in the interest of the nation, people from all walks of life need to be mobilised to collectively fight the violence and terror unleashed in the name of Maoist insurgency. So far the targets of violence are innocent people, security personnel and development projects, which makes the intention of the insurgents clear-creating anarchy, disturbing development activities and ultimately building an atmosphere against the democratic system itself.

Mobilisation of people against terrorism and politics of violence is also necessary not only to safeguard democracy and people’s rights but also ensure that development activities are not hindered in the country. Against this background, Prime Minister Koirala’s appeal to the youths and students to form security committees at the village level to fight violence and terrorism carries special significance. It is also worth noting that the government and police alone cannot maintain law and order in the country, the active support and cooperation of the people is also indispensable. It is said that police are citizens in unifirm whereas the citizens are police without uniform. Terrorism can be easily and effectively countered and put to an end through collective efforts of all. Thus, it is the duty of the people to extend active cooperation to the government and the police in their bid to maintain security in the country. At present, the insurgents are taking advantage of the ignorance of the people. In this situation, it is also necessary to educate people about the intention of the insurgents and build public opinion against violence and terrorism. Members of Tarun Dal and Nepal Students Union could be effective in building opinion and mobilising the people at the grassroots level against this politics of violence and terrorism.

Concern For The Old

CHANGE is a global phenomenon. Nothing can play with the regular pace and path of change. It is also a fact that change never spares one or another sector. And it is this process of change that changes a traditional society into modern ones. When a change occurs in the national politics, economy, society and even the family system there is a shift in the direction. Nepal is not an exception in this regard. Increasing influence of the western culture and the rapid changes taking place in the socio-economic activities seem to have caused negative impacts on Nepal’s joint family system. The rising trend of breaking of joint families into nuclear ones justifies this point. Though nuclear family system for westerners is a symbol of modernisation, it is often more than a mere problem for the underdeveloped countries like Nepal, especially when more than half of the total population are poor. In this scenario, what would happen to the physically old and weak member of a joint family when the bread-earning member opts for a nuclear one? Certainly, a difficult life. When there is no one to look after the weak and old people in the family, there is no alternative for them but go begging for their survival. This has the power to pinch our conscience. The rising number of old men and women seeking shelter and security in the limited Bridha Ashrams ( old homes) of the capital, especially the one in the Devapattan area depicts that old people are considered as burdens by many a Nepalese families. In fact, it is natural that the old members of the family feel frustrated and leave their homes if they are not cared for by the other family members. Those familiar with the old people’s homes go there and others line up in the streets as beggars. The increasing number of such beggars, both men and women, at bus parks and around temples clearly signals that more old people are being rejected by their families and that the society is not responding positively to their plight. As such it is highly essential to enhance social safety and justice in the country. However, we are still unable to promote the organisations that guarantee social justice to the old people. For this, adequate number of care centres equipped with essential facilities should be developed. Similarly, the condition of the limited old people’s homes that we have today should be improved so that the shelter seekers could live a healthy and happy life there.