EDITOR'S NOTE
The three day official visit of Zhu Rongji
the Premier of the People' Republic of China has passed off peacefully. Although the
Chinese were very careful not to show any kind of aberration in their thinking and
behavior it is reliably reported that the atmosphere of intimacy, bonhomie and
camaraderie, so very enviable characteristics of Nepal-China relations could be felt
conspicuously missing. A very influential insider has confided to this scribe on condition
of anonamity, that the Nepalese side was suffering from some invisible constraints. NO one
need be surprised if the various problems vexing the Nepalese Prime Minister had mitigated
the exuberance the visits of Chinese dignitaries to Nepal generally generate. But, this
need not cause any worry to patriotic Nepalese. Since the establishment of diplomatic
relationship nearly five decades ago, the Chinese leaders have treated the institution of
monarchy as the main pillar of Nepalese nationalism. With the introduction of multi-party
democracy, the elected government should have been able to share the feeling. But their
questionable loyalty the blatant non-performance, the rampant corruption and the utter
absence of morality in the politicians in the government, could not have inspired the
nation's friends in the north to reflect any perceptible respect for their hosts. Despite
all these factors, the genuine concerns our northern neighbor has exhibited for our over
all development and well being has always been a matter of gratification for us. If our
friends in the South could take a leaf out of our relations with our northern friend, and
instead of empty rhetorics showed some genuine concern and stopped hurting our economy,
with a changed leadership Nepal would make a speedy headway in her economic development.
* * *
The proposed three day Bandh by the Leftists
has generated a kind of panic amongst the majority of citizens in the country. Granted
that Bandhs are a very effective way expressing dissatisfaction with the workings of the
government or any other organization for that matter. But then it must be fully realized
that bandhs become effective only with people who possess a sense of morality, who feel
accountable and who have some character. They don't affect persons who are callous,
irresponsible, dishonest and don't have any character. We have witnessed hundreds of
bandhs and chakkajams: But they have seldom forced the government to mend their manner. If
anything, they have hurt the economy and disrupted the lives of the people. The poorer
section of the society have always suffered the hardest. Perhaps, all the country would
agree with the sponsors of the bandh that the ineffective government should be replaced.
But, whether bandhs would force the government to step down is much debatable. As such, it
would be worthwhile for the sponsors to give second thoughts to the idea of three day
bandh. One should never overlook the possibility of the boomerang any senseless act may
generate.
| Chief-Editor & Publisher |
: Madhav Kumar Rimal |
| Editor |
: Sarita Rimal |
| Managing Editor |
: Keshab Poudel |
| Associate Editor |
: Bhagirath Yogi |
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| Reporter |
: Akshay Sharma |
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