Dashain Greetings - 2058

Dashain festival this year is going to be much different than what it usually is in normal years. However, everyone is sending and receiving Dashain greetings as usual also this year trying to forget the myriad issues vexing the economy - the still unresolved Maoist insurgency, international military action against terrorism and all the possible repercussions to Nepal. Without any doubt, worries about the uncertain days ahead are going to be the integral parts of these holidays.

The main concern under such a situation is security – at home, at the offices and also during the move. To help our valuable readers, we have in this issue provided some material about security management.

Whether the said security threats are resolved or not, Nepal is no longer going to be the epitome of a peaceful country that it used to be. In the present world context, not a single other country on earth can make such a claim. If we still try to project ourselves as peaceful as we were in the past, that will be only a hypocrisy. To be credible in international community, we have to accept the reality. At the same time, however, we can take necessary measures so that we still can claim to be a relatively safe country giving a sense of security to the people and business at home and also to the visitors and potential foreign investors. In fact, the security threats in Nepal have not yet reached the level that would chase the foreigners away. They have been visiting and investing in countries where the security is far more worse than what it is at present in Nepal. From our own standards, however, it has now reached a level which was unimaginable even two years ago.

Most of the things that need to be done to maintain a sense of security will certainly fall under the government domain. Still, business and households can certainly do a number of things for their own protection without trespassing on the government’s domain.

On the part of the government, it would be better if it now realizes that the private sector can be mobilized to provide security in a number of ways without undermining the exclusive authority of the government in key areas. Once such a realization is internalized, the alternate arrangements will be easily forthcoming. After all, the Nepali community is well-known the world over for its ability in peacekeeping. And we have plenty of such manpower which is trained also in modern techniques in this field. Once this potential is tapped, we can assure the world of a secure place in Nepal, whether its is for business or for pleasure.

And we hope our valuable readers will accept these material as our Dashain Greetings.

Happy Dashain 2058 !