EDITOR'S NOTE
The Nepal Development Forum 2002, held
recently in Nepal (Kathmandu and Pokhara) could be said to have projected Finance minister
Ram Sharan Mahat as a skilled negotiator. Although he may have been able to convince the
donors the object necessity of meeting his demands and the donors did agree to dole out
500 million dollars annually, past experiences of implementation by His Majestyís
Government leaves very little room to believe that the whole amount would be used
profitably. Moreover the big proviso that the support would depend on continued
commitment, effective implementation and achieving results on the ground is sure to prove
a big obstacle in obtaining the agreed amount. It is not the organizations only that are
totally incapable of achieving the planned objectives. It is the inept and uninspiring
leadership conspicuously lacking in integrity and dedication that is the root of all
troubles and ailments. To add to the misery the octogenarian leaders of the Nepali
Congress have embroiled the country in chaotic political instability by their constant
bickerings. Unless their evil influence is completely eradicated, politics in Nepal is not
expected to get a cleaner image and the country cannot hope for a strong, stable and
nationalist government. And this is a fact which has been unequivocally emphasized by the
donor community when they called for a change-oriented leadership. Consequently, the need
of the hour for the second generation leaders of the Nepali Congress is to unite amongst
themselves and choose a leader that can isolate the spoilsmen and lead the country to a
better future. Without a committed and honest government, no amount of foreign aid will be
able to solve the Herculean problems facing the poor country.
The twenty-first session of the Parliament
has started sitting. And the top priority of this session is ratification of the
emergency. It is reported the treasury bench and the opposition are covertly engaged in
serious discussion and bargaining. The Prime minister badly needs ratification and would
not hesitate to agree to any demand of the leader of the opposition. As such, the rumor
going around the capital is that ratification may not give a big headache to the
government. Rather his own party colleagues are going to give him many a sleepless night.
Prime minister Deuba might be hard pressed to muster enough support to safeguard his
leadership in the House. Cutting down of his jumbo cabinet, as promised, might not be a
very easy job for him. Some members of parliament close to the Prime minister camp, are
confident that this session would not see any cut in the cabinet. And even the oft vaunted
Anti-corruption Bill may not be introduced at all. Since the Nepali people are well aware
how Prime minister Sher Bahadur Deubaís government works, they will neither be
disappointed nor frustrated if this twenty-first session of the Parliament, too, fails to
make any significant achievement.
The civil war that has been plaguing the
nation does not seem to be coming to an end soon. In the meantime hundreds of poor
Nepalis, whether the men of security forces or the civilians or the Maoists have lost
their lives. Since the insurgency is not localised and is spread almost all over the
kingdom including the capital itself, it is posing greater challenge to the government.
Moreover, the porous border and the unauthorised support the insurgents are regularly
receiving from alien forces have made the job of the government to bring the Maoist to
their knees more difficult. The insurgency has wreaked havoc with the economy of the
country and the poor Nepalis badly need peace to return so that they can live safely even
though miserably. Even though they are much averse to the violent activities of the
Maoists, the continued bad governance of the governments might be contributing to generate
some kind of sympathy for them. Many Nepalis feel that the friendly neighbor in the south
is not doing anything to check the illegal activities of the Maoists in the border areas.
If the government fails to bring the insurgency to a speedy end, it might spell great
danger to the very security of the country. As such, no body should follow the dog in the
manger policy.
| 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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