COMMENT

Last warning

The majority of the people are highly disappointed with not only Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and the government he leads, but also with the whole Nepali Congress party. The people had expected to see stability and some semblance of development after they voted in the Nepali Congress with a comfortable majority in the House of Representatives. They were tired of the turbulent political scenario that the nation had seen when there was a Hung Parliament after the second general election in 1994.. Quite naturally, during that time when there was political instability, it was the common people who were the biggest sufferers. They did not want to see a repeat of such a scenario, after going through another general election. It can be presumed that this was one of the biggest factors that prompted the Nepali Congress to win a majority in the Third General Election. However right from the time the present government headed by Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was formed, it can hardly be said there has been political stability in the country. Ironically, the threat to the government has come from within the party, rather than from the opposition. Now, with more than 58 ruling party MPs signing a “no confidence” petition against PM Bhattarai and the resignation of 11 ministers following it, it has been a touch and go situation for the Bhattarai led government.

PM Bhattarai himself can be blamed for some of the woes that  befalls him. Firstly, he has not projected himself as a strong leader, neither politically, nor physically. If physically he was seen in a very ‘shaky’ shape right from the time when he took the oath of office till now when he is almost bedridden, then officially he has not been able to deal with erring ministers nor with dissatisfied MPs. Why was he not able to take any action against a Minister like Bal Bahadur KC, who was involved in such a shameful incident, that no respectable man, leave alone a minister, could get away with it? Why did he protect Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka, when outrageous law and order problems are taking place in the country in quick frequency? Why did Bhattarai have to treat every suggestion of party president Girija Prasad Koirala negatively, when he could have easily placated him with a few compromises here and there? PM Bhattarai should now no longer be propped up by some persons, who have their own interest in seeing him remain as Prime Minister. The nation just can’t afford to pamper a few persons when the future of the majority of the people is being neglected. If within a few days the Nepali Congress leaders cannot sort out their problems and lead the nation purposefully, then they will be the ones who will be blamed for any untoward incident that may take place in the country. This could be the last warning for them.

In the shadow of fear

Rarely in the history of Nepal has there hung a pall of insecurity as it does today. People are afraid to venture out after the dark. Fear of those elements who have no respect for human lives is palpable, and is a subject of much speculation and conjectures. Unscrupulous elements too are taking advantage of the prevailing weakness on the part of law and order.

Many untoward incidents are passed off as yet another attack by the Maoists. Police getting killed by the insurgents make the headlines.   The innocent and the not so innocents who are getting killed by the police does not seem to be news worthy. Even the police now fear for their lives, ill trained and ill equipped as they are. In such a dismal scenario, how can one expect the public to have faith in law and order to protect them? Fifteen policemen, massacred recently by the well-equipped insurgents should have served as an eye - opener to the government. The lackadaisical attitude of those in the decision making positions comes as a shock to everybody concerned about the existing situation today.

There was a ray of hope when the government seemed to be ready for a dialogue with the Maoists. A number of days elapsed but there was no concrete action from the government’s side. In the mean time the number of dead increased. Those who represent the government spend more time and energy in party politics than attending to the emergency that is staring at their faces? When will the call of duty be placed above their personal interests by those, whom we have elected to safeguard us all and our nation?

Life under the gun

By Asma Jahangir

The millennium coup is different. It is ‘hip’. The CMLA is the chief executive. Promises are being made to leave behind a healthy democracy and clean government. History tells us differently. Army rule never gives birth to true democracy.

As usual, the blame is laid squarely at the doorstep of the former prime minister. Nawaz Sharif’s elderly father complains that his sons suffered because of their disobedience. He had obviously taught them never to pick on someone their own size, only smaller. Few were surprised when no tears were shed at his loss. Nawaz Sharif violated every democratic norm and is now a victim of the same treatment that he meted out to others. We may not sympathise with him, but we must ensure that he is given the justice he denied to others. He, like anyone else, has a right to legal counsel and a fair trial. Nations can survive destructive leaders but not the destruction of civil behavior. We are the only South Asian country to walk into the 21st century without a constitution, an independent judiciary, a parliament or a vote. In short, we are not masters of our destiny and not likely to be in the near future. The justification for the army to take over is not simply the ills of Nawaz Sharif but the failure of all political forces. It is said that we have no competent civilian in sight to lead us. In short, we are a leaderless nation of 130 million people. If this is true, then we are not likely to give birth to one in the next couple of years. The army, therefore, stays on till they find a suitable leader.

It took them a couple of weeks to put together their idea of a ‘dream team’ to form the cabinet and the National Security Council. Apart from few names, the others have been around for as long as one can recall. Their past miracles, or lack thereof, offer little hope of any change for the better. At the same time, the present system stays inept and corrupt civilians are unlikely to change overnight. The new administration’s first mission is to weed out the black sheep. Perhaps they would need to include a few from their own stock if a proper cleansing is to take place. It is true that the ills in our system have grown over the years. They are now chronic and must be treated urgently after careful diagnosis and by administering the right medicine. A strategic entry point is to ensure justice for all and a strict curb on carrying arms. It requires reforming the legal and policing systems. More importantly, the judiciary must be able to work without fear or favour. But then, rule of law can hardly be achieved by a military government which is itself a creature of a coup d’etat.

History may forgive the generals but not the politicians who created this mess and then did nothing to control the damage. If we are to go anywhere, the politicians would be well advised to put their heads together while the interim set-up goes about its way.

Together, they must forge a consensus on some basic changes to give the citizens some basic rights. The rights to justice, health, food and education. Had Sharif done that, the masses would not have cheered at his unceremonious departure. More tears would have been shed at the reversal of the democratic process. The world would not have seen in horror a people relieved and celebrating the end of legality at gunpoint.

Military rule can never, by definition, deliver fundamental rights and the rule of law because it is based on a bedrock of illegality. How long will it take for Pakistan to understand this?

Inefficient and irresponsible postal service

This is a very concerned letter to the postal crew of Nepal from the Nepalese and many others living abroad. I had heard a lot of negative things about the awful postal delivery service in Nepal when I was there, but I thought most of them were just rumors.

Now, when I am facing the negligence of the Nepalese postal system myself away from home, I am awfully frustrated. My letters, some of which had important documents and things of sentimental value attached to it, have been lost for the third consecutive row now. This has made - not just me but all of my friends here to lose trust on the postal service in Nepal. My friends also tell me here that nothing reaches Nepal, from US specially - except the aerogrammes. I seriously want to question their responsibilty, service and their whole reason of existence at this point. It has discouraged us to send any things “by post”.

This is one of the reputed negligence of the Nepalese public services, which are supposed to “serve’ the general public. What is the point in having a General Post Office box if the mail cannot even reach there.

What happens to our mails which are intended hopefully to reach to our family and friends there? Why can’t they see the time, value and sentiments attached to our mails, which have been sent with so much  feelings? I wonder if our country even has a thing called “right of service” or ‘privacy’ or ‘sense of responsibility’ to its public citizens?

Dikshya Adhikari
Indiana, USA
Via Internet

For my motherland

It is really very comforting to read  what is happening back home. It is not easy to say how dependent our country is.  India actually governs our Government policies!  What happened to our patriotism and bravery? I guess they are never coming back.

Our Government  has never been stable. The uprising of Maoists is nothing but an act of desperation and frustration from the current politicians and policies. Another fact, which hurts me,   is where are the young  people are headed today.   What has our government done for the young people to channelise their energies towards the right direction and their parents too, for that matter?

Bribery has become part of the job, there is limited ways to work and make money but a million other ways to spend it.  May be, it was too much to ask for supply of clean water, electricity and stability in the prices of daily necessities.  It has become next to impossible for people to live in Kathmandu.

I hope to come back   and help people do the right thing. I know I will only be a drop of water in the ocean towards change but I will try and hope others will follow.

I would love to die in the arms of my motherland and I will die with  pride.

Lina
NYC, USA