EDITOR'S NOTE
Situated at the confluence of Jhelum and
Neelum rivers Muraffarabad is a peaceful and beautiful city. Except a few scattered
refugee colonies. There was nothing to suggest in Muzaffarabad that a few miles away a few
precious human lives were being lost everyday. February 5 which is celebrated in Pakistan
as Kashmir solidarity Day, provided this scribe an opportunity to study the Kashmir
problem on the spot. Visits to Muzaffarabad, the refugee camps and a few miles further to
the actual line of control have only accentuated the utter necessity of resolving the
Kashmir problem a early as possible. Even though the refugees have been well looked after
their miseries at being separated from their loved ones, at being deprived of their homes
and hearths and their humiliation surviving on generosity were harrowing. But their
determination to return to their homeland was quite remarkable. This arranged tour of the
international visitors to all those areas reflects Pakistan's seriousness in reducing
tensions and paving the way for a peaceful settlement of the nagging problem. The all
parties Anrriet conference leaders also met with the team of international visitors and
briefed them about their future strategies. Asked whether they would agree to the line of
control being declared the international border. They almost exploded that they could not
even think of such a proposition and were prepared to fight another few decades, if
necessary. Because of the unilateral cease fire announced by India, even the Chakhoti
Village, just a few kilometers from the Line of control looked quite normal. But the
smoldering fires earning in the hearts of the men living there could be easily felt if one
talked to them. The few days spent there have strengthened my belief that the people
living on either side of the line of control would never accept anything less than a
plebiscite at the earliest possible opportunity. (For a detail strong on Kashmir
solidarity Day, read our next issue.)
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is in
serious predicament. Even though his party commands a majority in the Parliament the
opposition parties have restricted it from functioning normally for two successive days.
In itself, it should have been taken not only as a big humiliation but almost a vote of no
confidence. But, Koirala is a hard boiled egg. He will not relinquish power that easily.
Since morality and patriotism are quite strange words for him, he will never be swayed by
anybody to give up eating the easy coming goodies of the office. That he is not working in
the interest of the country have been proved by the anti-national citizenship amendment
bill which he had the temerity of labeling finance bill and the ordinance that he made the
king to promulgate when the session of the parliament was imminent. We have, time and
again, exhorted the king to act emphasizing the fact the people country are more important
than abiding by the constitution. Procrastination always lands men in peril. It is time
all patriotic forces have to join hands and save the country from going to the gods. The
urgency of the situation demands that even the rebel Nepali Congress members of Parliament
must join hands with the opposition and teach their arrogant leader a lesson.
| Chief-Editor & Publisher |
: Madhav Kumar Rimal |
| Editor |
: Sarita Rimal |
| Consulting Editor |
: Keshab Poudel |
| Senior Correspondent |
: Bhagirath Yogi |
| Senior Reporter |
: Navin Singh Khadka |
| Reporter |
: Sanjaya Dhakal / Sunil Kumar
Gupta(Nepalgunj) |
| Photographer |
: Shyam Chitrakar |
| Editorial Office |
: GPO Box 7256,Baluwatar,Kathmandu, Nepal. |
| Telephone |
: 977 1 423 127 |
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