Good,
Bold Move
THE restoration of democracy in 1990 brought
multiparty system in Nepal, vesting people the right to elect their representatives and
made the electorate and the elected responsible and accountable to each other. The
Nepalese thus became the stakeholders in the system for the first time in over thirty
years and the people-politics partnership did bring cheers to the people who had been
reeling under poverty. After the first democratically elected government was installed in
1991, Nepal really got started and the pace of development did pick up. That same year
Nepal adopted a liberal economic policy, throwing open the doors for foreign investments
and national industries that were not faring well were privatised. The government
initiated an aggressive reform campaign and it had a very positive impact on the overall
economy of the country. The gross domestic product grew and inflation was brought under
control, but the drive came to a sudden halt in the mid-nineties. The mid-term election of
1994 created a hung parliament and political parties concentrated themselves in the power
game. Political instability took its toll on the ongoing development activities,
corruption became rampant and all kinds of unethical practices took place. The government
became weak, people began to be sceptical about the system and the leaders, and Nepal
started inching backwards. No government could arrest the negative trend. Political
leaders did commit themselves to the fight against corruption, but failed to act upon the
corrupt. Often they indulged in amassing property, regardless of the costs the nation
would have to bear. Sensing that the situation was going out of control gradually, the
government this week made a submission to His Majesty the King to appoint a three member
judicial commission for investigation of properties registered in the names of those who
have been holding public posts since the restoration of multiparty democracy. His Majesty
constituted the commission on Friday. The commission, headed by a sitting judge of the
Supreme Court, has also been given the responsibility to launch a probe on the property
registered in the names of the family members. As per the terms of reference, the
commission has been mandated to acquire statements regarding property and submit a report
to the government within six months from the day the commission begins its work. That
brings a piece of good news to the people and infuses hopes in the lives of many. The
people, the political parties and the civil society at large now must extend co-operation
to the commission in carrying out its task successfully. Once the report is submitted, the
government should see to it that it is implemented impartially and fully.
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