Editorial (Spotlight Weekly)

The emergence into open of Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai and party from their hidings for peace talks with the government has unfolded a vista of speculations in current Nepalese politics. If the ceasefire had generated glimmers of lasting peace in the troubled country, the free interaction of the Maoist leaders with politicians, media, the intellectual section and even the representatives of friendly countries based in the capital has entrenched the hopes of the common man that peaceful days could be round the corner. But the rhetoric being used by the Maoist leaders might still instill some kind of misgivings into the minds of the uninitiated. But those who are well versed in the intricacies of the art of reading the writings on the walls need not worry. The Maoist leaders know that they are more feared than they are loved and respected. The charisma they have enveloped themselves with is very thin and will dissipate in no time if they fail to listen to reason. The deaths and destructions they perpetrated on the innocent masses and the poor country were most uncalled for and have not endeared themselves to the overwhelming majority. People would still be prepared to forgive and forget if they start behaving like the true sons of the soil and prove their patriotism by aligning with only other patriotic forces in the country. They must not associate themselves with the corrupt and discredited political leadership that have looted the country dry in the last twelve years. These political leaders are getting desperate to win the favor of the Maoist leaders. If Bhattarai and his colleagues fall in their trap, they will only be inviting troubles for themselves and the country. Since they have realized their folly of resorting to arms and decided to end their struggle through dialogues, the only way open to them is to negotiate with the de facto power, whether it be the government or the king. They cannot afford to imperil the peace process by making the quislings equal partners in the talks that will decide the future of the country. Since these unscrupulous politicians have proved, without a shadow of doubt, that they cannot work in the interest of either the people or the country, they have to be totally discarded. The Maoist leaders cannot overlook this irrefutable fact if they want to earn the goodwill of their countrymen. The one and only concern the Maoist leaders should be worried about, in the present context, is how to generate a conducive atmosphere to hold a free and fair general elections at the earliest possible time. And this demands a quick and not a prolonged dialogue that will clear all obstacles in the way of elections. And if the Maoists again repeated the mistake of associating with the politicians that have been sidelined by the unforeseen hands of fate, they will not only rue the decision but again open the doors of corruption and anti-nationalism that has been the bane for the country for the last twelve years. Another important point the Maoist leaders should not lose sight of is not to stick to unreasonable demands. History is evidence most revolutionary movements have failed simply because the leaders got carried away with extremism and resorted to impractical and inhuman behavior. And moreover, all such movements have to be adapted to the changed circumstances. Political philosophies that have already proved to be total failure elsewhere cannot succeed in our country. Consequently, the Maoist leaders have to come down to earth from their utopian sanctum and try to set an example by their honest and nationalistic behavior and convince the poor masses that they are totally different from the political ilk that has pervaded the political sky in Nepal for more than a decade. And this makes it imperative on their part to surrender all the arms of deaths and destructions and generate an atmosphere of trust and confidence for the talks to succeed so that the country can revert to the democratic track without delay.

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King Gyanendra is back from his ten day long pilgrimage to several holy places in India. The spontaneous welcome the people of those sacred cities accorded to the royal visitors is a clear evidence of the affection and regard the King of Nepal commands in India by virtue of being the head and defender of Hindu faith. If the Indian statesmen and politicians did sincerely show even a fraction of the respect shown by their people towards Nepal and Nepalese King, relations between the two countries could be much more friendly than it always has been. May be, we Nepalese have, so far, failed to exploit the exhaustible fund of good will the common people of India harbor for Nepal. It seems King Gyanendra will have to shoulder the responsibility of correcting the lopsided foreign policy that has badly suffered at the hands of submissive Nepalese politicians. Even in the domestic sphere the people have endured a decade of torturous maladministration and seven long years of devastating insurgency. And now they are looking up to the King for deliverance. But, the apprehension eating the hearts out of the patriotic forces is not that the gulf between the corrupt political leaders and the King is widening, but the gulf between the people and the monarchy should not widen on account of the sycophants surrounding the King. The anti-national political leadership is expendable and nobody would even shed a tear except a few of their cronies, if they are even totally decimated. But the King cannot afford to alienate the people. They have reposed their ultimate faith in him at the moment. King Gyanendra is wise and experienced. We do trust he will be able to steer the country out of the political impasse. Not only his own people, but the whole world is at his back and he need not hesitate to take even unpleasant steps in the interest of the people and the country.