Message Of Hope

FROM Monday, Nepal entered a new year and a new decade. His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, as the beloved monarch of all Nepalese, spoke their fervent sentiments when His Majesty in a message to the nation said that the dawn of the New Year brings with it a message of hope. On New Year's day every year of these recent troubled years, hopes of an average Nepalese were invariably related to yearning for peace. Buffeted by violence of unprecedented scale, Nepalese hoped and hoped that a New Year would bring with it promise of peace. For the first time in many years, the Nepalese welcoming the year 2060 on Monday had some real reasons to expect that the violence and uncertainty becomes a thing of the past. Certainly, they would like to see 2060 a much better year than the violence- ridden 2059. As His Majesty the King pointed out, the year 2059 had started in a cloud of political instability and confusion where violence and destruction of infrastructure were on the rise. But since the past six months, His Majesty said, everyone has experienced an improvement in the situation, as a result of which the New Year 2060 commences with the hopes and enthusiasm of the common man and the international community's confidence gradually being regained.

The much-welcomed cease-fire between the government and Maoists in January came after much blood-bath among the Nepalese. They had been witness to the once peaceful nation torn as under by violence that soaked the Nepalese hills and plains, while stability continued to become a rare thing in the political landscape. Simply put, political parties were engaged in their low-level politicking as the nation continued to burn. With stability as the first casualty of a political culture that saw the political actors hardly rising above their petty party interests, it was no wonder that peace, security and good governance-the very foundations of stability-were consigned to the backburner. Without stability, what kind of future the Nepalese could hope for is all too imaginable. All should heed His Majesty's advice that the need of the day now is to assure the people of a bright future by strengthening these foundations and leading the country on the path of progress. The actions of all-the government, the political parties, the civil society and others-must be geared in the coming days to fulfil the general hopes, aspirations and wishes of the people that they continue to nurture.

Talks Team

THAT the government is to soon form a negotiating team for talks with the Maoists within this week comes as a welcome piece of news. This information was provided, after the all-party meet called by Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, by Minister for Information, Communications and General Administration Ramesh Nath Pandey the other day. The seriousness that the government is taking for the peace talks to be held as early as possible has been given continuity. As per Minister Pandey, the government wanted to form a high level directives committee headed by the Prime Minister himself to guide, advise and monitor the negotiating team. The present government is doing its best so that the talks with the Maoists will lead to tangible conclusions in the interest of the nation. The efforts in this direction have been encouraging in the sense that such issues cannot be resolved overnight. Slow and cautious steps are what are needed without which the results may not be as desired. Treading the path with care is what is needed and not rash and hurried steps. The prosperity of the country hinges on permanent peace in the country. Everyone has realised the necessity of peace but there are many aspects that need attention and priority before the peace that is prevailing in the country at present can be made a lasting one.

Since the present government was formed some six months back, there have been many events which suggest that lasting peace can come about and for this everyone including the government, Maoists and the major political parties have to join hands. But, a lot of homework has to be done for the peace talks to bear fruit. This is the reason why the cease-fire was declared and then the drawing up of the code of conduct and its implementation began. Though there have been some breaches but on the whole code of conduct has been adhered to by both the government and the Maoists. If it had not been for this, the peace that has come about in recent times would not have been possible. Sincerity and genuine efforts are the need of the hour and positive indications are already here.