EDITORIAL
Monday May 31st, 1999 / Jestha 17, 2056 B.S.

Moving ahead

It has been nine years since multi-party democracy was re-ushered into the country. As could be expected in any new democracy, specially one which is plagued by problems like poverty and illiteracy, there were political ups and down in the years since then. Many people were very skeptical on whether the people would be enthusiastic about the democratic exercise at all. But the people proved wrong all such pessimistic predictions and in spite of threats from the Maoists, the election was held in a free and peaceful manner and more than average number of people came to cast their votes. Pointing out this achievement at an inter-action programme on Friday, National Assembly Chairman Beni Bahadur Karki said that the successful holding of the election and the enthusiastic response from the people amply proved that the process of democratisation is moving ahead in the right track. That the democratic process has matured to a great extent, was also proven by the fact that, the baton of power was handed over very smoothly by the Nepali Congress party president and former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to his colleague K.P. Bhattarai, the new Prime Minister. This is a very remarkable achievement because it was this very party which saw much internal bickering for power in the past. Now, all the newly elected parliamentarians must also seriously contemplate on how they too can play exemplary effective roles for the development of the nation and welfare of the people. They must realise, there is no time to repeat past mistakes. The role the leaders play in the coming days will determine to a great extent where the nation heads.

(Editorial in The Rising Nepal, May 30, Sunday)