National 3 (Spotlight Weekly)

Spiritual Soulmates

Like Kathmandu, Colombo and Bangkok are dotted with Buddhist stupas

By KESHAB POUDEL

Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand are enriched by a thriving Buddhist culture. In contrast to the two South Asian nations, which have gone through a very difficult phase of violent insurgency and terrorism, Thailand has had a long history of tranquility.

Following the cease-fire announced earlier this year and the beginning of peace talks last month, Sri Lanka seems to be on its way to achieving lasting peace after more than two decades of civil war. Nepal, which has been fighting a war against Maoist insurgency, is yet to achieve a breakthrough.

A sea-shore in Thailand : Tranquil

In the last four decades of development efforts, Thailand has achieved the status of one of fastest-growing economies of the world. The South-East Asian kingdom has all the modern infrastructures found in the West. Moreover, the Thai economy has recovered from the financial crisis that gripped the region in 1997.

Sri Lanka, too, has the potential to outpace its South Asian neighbors in terms of economic growth. Provided peace is restored, Sri Lanka can deploy its human, physical and political infrastructures to kick start the economy. Less than six months after the cease-fire went into effect, the Sri Lankan economy has shown some positive signs. Sandwiched between the two Asian giants, India and China, Nepal has neither the strong political institutions of Sri Lanka nor the modern physical infrastructure of Thailand.

Sri Lankans take justifiable pride in having brought a measure of peace and security. The war with the ruthless Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), fighting for an independent homeland for island's minority Tamils, has claimed the lives of a president, several ministers and top security officials and administrators. Despite the high human cost, Sri Lankan political and other institutions have shown a strong commitment toward the national interest.

As the LTTE has stepped back from its main demand for a separate homeland for Tamils, and the government has agreed to offer autonomous status to the Tamil-dominated north-east, a peaceful settlement of Sri Lanka's two-decade civil war is very close.

"There is no option for the government and the LTTE other than to go for a peaceful settlement of the present crisis. Once we achieve peace, the economy of Sri Lanka will boom," said Vasana Wickremasena, deputy news editor of the Daily Mirror, the largest-circulated paper in Sri Lanka. "Sign of economic recovery are already in sight."

Colombo street : Urban hustle bustle

Colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch and British, Sri Lanka has been working with modern western institutions for a long time. The institutions of governance - executive, judiciary and legislature - have well-established traditions. This may explain why the country has not had to postpone any election in the last two decades. Even after a major assassination attempt against President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the elections proceeded as scheduled.

The situation is completely different in Nepal. The country started to build its institutions barely five decades ago. When Sri Lanka gain independence from Britain, Nepal remained isolated from the rest of the world.

"Our institutionalization process is based on party lines. The Sri Lankan government responded to the public since the days of British colonialism because the upper class was patriotic," said Dev Raj Dahal, a professor at Political Science Department at Tribhuvan University. "We damaged the existing public institutions by patronizing them and weakened their power to articulate the people's aspirations. We have built some institutions but have not developed an institutional culture."

A direct manifestation of this accumulated flaw is immaturity in the functioning of institutions in the course of decision implementation. Nepalese political parties, media and civil society easily welcomed the decision to postpone the elections without evaluating the consequences.

With a literacy rate of less than 50 percent, Nepal's process of democratization and modernization still has a long way to go. Amid weak institutional capabilities, contradictions abound everywhere. Be they political leaders, intellectuals or any other group, there is no coherent stand on any vital issue.

Even on the question of a peaceful settlement of the civil war, Sri Lankan political parties, leaders and civil society have followed some coherent policy. Although President Kumaratunga, whose party's support is essential to pass any autonomy bill in parliament, has differences over the peace agenda, the political establishment has evolved a basic understanding. "Once Sri Lankan political parties decide on the course and secure the mandate for it, there will be no major dispute," said Wickremasena.

Although various political parties have their own agendas and opinions regarding the peace settlement, there is at least a tendency to settle those differences through elections. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe campaigned on a pledge to restore peace and normalcy and won the people's mandate.

Sri Lanka has long tradition and practices of modern democracy and strong political institutions. Unlike Nepal, no political party ever knocked the door of the court when the president dissolved the house and called fresh elections.

Thailand, which, like Nepal, was never colonized by a foreign power, survived the turbulence of the 1970s when communist revolutionary movements disturbed Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The traditional institution of monarchy stands along with the people and has played very crucial role to transform Thai society. The monarchy is a symbol of a prosperous Thailand. Under the leadership of the crown, Thailand's modern institutions are gaining strength.

The situation in Nepal is gradually changing, but it is not up to the mark. Although Nepal has very easy geographical access to the largest market in the south, the country is yet to tap the opportunities. Despite enormous development challenges, complicated by the lack of institutions and growing violence, Nepal has made certain achievements.

While Thailand is on the road to prosperity and Sri Lanka is on the way to tranquility, Nepal is struggling to build institutions and foster development while combating a violent insurgency that has been tearing apart rural life.

Despite wide disparities in terms of development, the three capitals have many religious similarities. Like Kathmandu, Colombo and Bangkok have many stupas and Vikkhus. Even in the absence of new institutions, the vibrancy of this common heritage has inspired Nepalese to keep struggling to usher in modernity.