EDITOR'S NOTE
Just a little more than a week to the
eleventh Summit of the SAARC, the Deuba government seems very busy with the beautification
and sprucing up of Kathmandu, the venue of the Summit. The work being done on a war
footing would definitely cost a lot more than it would in normal way. But, there is always
some special method in the working of HMG of Nepal. Since we all are aware of the causes
of such working, it needs no elaboration. It was, indeed, necessary that Kathmandu roads
got a face lift for this regional meet. Even though Kathmanduites do not deserve the
luxury of smoother roads. The special guests that would visit the capital for the Summit
could not be put to severe physical discomfort on account of the bumpy roads. Not that
this temporary luxury for the Kathmanduites due to the face lift of the roads has not
benefited some contractors, some bureaucrats and some politicians in the form of a
windfall whether beautifying the city by tearing down buildings providing negligible.
Compensation to the owners is going to impress the visitors that Nepal, after all, is not
so poor as they thought, is hard to say. But, it may not be irrelevant to quote a humorist
friend who has compared this make shift, beautification of Kathmandu with that of adorning
an old whore. He further confided to me that Prime Minister Deuba should have used this
emergency to book some of his corrupt colleagues. This would have helped him to earn some
iota of respect from his own countrymen and would also have added some genuine legitimacy
to the role of the leader of the nation's delegation he is going to play in the Summit.
Whether he will get another opportunity to host such a Summit and to rub shoulders with
the dignitaries from the SAARC countries, we do hope he will be able to rise upto his full
height the country has bestowed upon him and work to augment, preserve and safeguard the
honor of the country he represents by behaving in a manner commensurate with his high
position. This is an unique challenge for Deuba to prove his diplomatic attainment if he
can conclude this chilling summit with warmth and bonhomie.
* *
*
Kathmandu is hubbing with the move for a
"Greater Democratic Unity" with the idea of forming a coalition government of
all parties represented in the parliament. Since this move is being initiated by greedy
and corrupt politicians spoiling for grabbing power once again the country seems not at
all interested in the sinister machinations. The top priority in the country, at the
moment is to bring down the insurgency of the Maoists. And the Royal Nepal Army has been
assigned of doing the job. If the Nepalese politicians had any love for their country,
they would all unite and cooperate with the Royal Nepal Army to end the bloodshed that is
plaguing the country. If Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has learnt any lessons, he
would not delay in promulgating the ordnance that would authorize the government to
nab perpetrators of corruption howsoever high and influential. If the Prime Minister fails
to act, he would only be inviting trouble for himself and his colleagues and other corrupt
politicians. We trust, he is not unaware of the dangers lurking round the corner. With the
overwhelming majority of the poor populace being totally disillusioned with the workings
of the anti-national and corrupt multiparty democratic governments, Deuba has no option
but to cutdown his party colleagues and other politicians to their size, clause the
administration, stand up to the challenges emanating from the neighborhood and enthuse the
people with a new vigor and nationalism. This could be a very tall for a man like Deuba.
Failure may spell danger for democracy itself.
| Chief-Editor & Publisher |
: Madhav Kumar Rimal |
| Editor |
: Sarita Rimal |
| Managing Editor |
: Keshab Poudel |
| Associate Editor |
: Bhagirath Yogi |
| Senior Reporter |
: Sanjaya Dhakal |
| Reporter |
: Akshay Sharma |
| Photographer |
: Nishchal Chapagain |
| Editorial Office |
: GPO Box 7256,Baluwatar,Kathmandu, Nepal. |
| Telephone |
: 977 1 423 127 |
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