Rays Of Hope

MINISTER for Finance Dr Badri Prasad Shrestha has said that the country's economy has shown some positive signs of improvement and progress after the declaration of cease-fire by both the government and the Maoists. Addressing the 22nd national convention and annual general meeting of the Management Association of Nepal (MAN) in Kathmandu the other day, Minister for Finance Shrestha said that good management and economic progress are not possible in the absence of peace. Economic growth requires adequate investment and investors do not risk their money in any sector when the country's situation is chaotic and uncertain. Thus, peace is a must to build the confidence of the investors to ensure economic growth. Nowhere in the world has economic progress taken positive shape in times of uncertainty, instability and conflict. Mismanagement and economic downturn are the results of conflict and chaos. Nepal was known as a peaceful Shangri-la in the world. However, the country lost the peaceful environment due to violence and conflicts over the last seven years. As a result of growing violence, every sector of the country suffered much. Tourism, considered as a major source of income of Nepal's national economy, witnessed difficult times. Investors feared to invest resulting in the decline of economic growth. Export trade continued to decline widening the already huge trade deficit with other contries. Although the government initiated the policy of economic liberalisation, privatisation and several other economic reform measures, they hardly led to any improvement because of the absence of peace and stability in the country. Mismanagement also marked a record high in the last one decade. Statistics have shown that many public enterprises and other organisations have not been able to make profit. As observed by Minister Shrestha, public enterprises were losing about 22.5 million rupees daily, simply due to mismanagement coupled with insecurity and instability. However, the present government is making sincere efforts to create a conducive atmosphere to build confidence of the investors and entrepreneurs so that the economic status of the country could be raised. As peace is the first and foremost requirement, the government accorded number one priority to restore peace and stability by ending violence. The recent cease-fire between the government and the Maoists is an evidence of the success of the government in its bid to restore peace in the country and accelerate the pace of social and economic development. As some signs of improvement have already appeared in the economic front after the cease-fire, the momentum of peace process has to be pushed further up. For this, cooperation from all sectors is highly needed.

Clarion Call For Peace

FIVE climbers representing various major religions as well as nations, as per a news item carried by this daily the other day, have confirmed their participation in the 10-member Everest Peace Expedition that is to be organised by the Everest Peace Project. According to the Everest Peace Project, Igor Medinin, a Buddhist from Russia, Anwar Abass, a Muslim from Pakistan, an atheist, Harry Kikstra from The Netherlands, as well as a 69-year-old Russian climber and mountain guide, Valentin Bojoukov, have already confirmed their participation. And shepherding the multi-denominational mountaineering team to the top of Mt. Everest and back would be Nepal's famous son of the snows and 10-time Everest summiteer, Ang Rita Sherpa. The forthcoming Everest Peace Expedition, undoubtedly, would be imparting its share of spectacle, grandeur and, more importantly, significance to the Golden Jubilee celebration that is to be held in Nepal to mark the first conquest of the world's highest peak by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary. And, of course, to honour all the men and women mountaineers who had followed the footsteps of these two Everest conquerors and surveyed the world unfolding before them from the highest pinnacle on Planet Earth. While standing on top of the world's highest pinnacle, what simply cannot be glossed over is that from amongst the exhilarating emotions that could have coursed through their hearts, one could have been that of peace.

Yes, peace that not only transcended all human barriers and frailties but, even for a brief moment, an awe-inspiring feeling of eternity. In other words, a shared sense of oneness with humanity that, needless to point out, is presently having to bear with innumerable problems and challenges thrown up by, among others, lop-sided economic development and disparity coupled with the surfacing of ethnic, racial and religious feelings of exclusivity. If the former is said to be instigating social unrest in many nations, then the latter is giving rise to armed conflicts with ethnic, racial and religious overtones in many troubled spots around the world. In such an excruciating situation, the need for all to translate the religious messages of peace into concrete actions has become all the more urgent. Since all religions strongly advocate pacific thought, word and deed among their adherents, the forthcoming multi-denominational Everest Peace Expedition can be termed as one such a praiseworthy effort to give a clarion call for peace from the top of Mt. Everest.