The Maoist leadership that is directing the
destructive insurgency against their own motherland from the safe haven of a foreign
country have still to learn their bitter lesson. That their benefactors will not bat their
eyelids to sacrifice them lock, stock and barrel the day their sinister objectives are
achieved or they feel convinced that they are unachievable is yet to dawn on them. The
recent arrests of their senior leaders by the Indian authorities, some of whom have been
handed over to the Nepali government must be able to open up their eyes. They must not be
that naïve not to read the writings on the walls that it will be very difficult even for
their hospitable hosts to ignore for long the international pressures not to patronize or
shelter insurgents whom they themselves have branded as terrorists. They might even
realize that it will not be in their ultimate interest to destabilize politics in their
immediate vicinity, which is sure to hamper the attainment of their ambitious goal for
which they will need the unstinted goodwill and cooperation of their smaller neighbors.
Had Nepal been able to play her cards better, perhaps, the unenviable situation she is
facing now could have been totally avoided. Be that as it may, all the parties responsible
for pushing the country to the brink of precipice must not fail to acknowledge their
follies and renounce the path of deaths and destruction. Because violence, murders,
killings and vandalism are not the means to achieve any objective. And hypocrisy, too, is
the worst of the virtues that hurts the friends and helps the enemies. Since we have
exhorted our good friend and neighbor – India – time and again, to be quite
understanding in her behavior so that the gulf of mistrusts and misunderstanding can be
bridged easily, we are quite confident our plea will bear fruit soon. Since terrorism
honors no frontiers and terrorists cannot be anybody’s friends, we do trust our
Indian friends, too, will start realizing the truth.
The inability to abort the current
three-day Bandh has once again exposed the ineptitude of the Thapa government. What will
happen to the morale of the people and the economy of the country if the government, too,
becomes a silent spectator of the bandh like ordinary citizens? The frequent bandh calls
by the Maoists or the opposition harms the most deprived section of the country needs no
emphasis. What is the justification of the government that cannot provide the least sense
of security of life and property to its people? Since the workings of this nominated
government would be a direct reflection on King Gyanendra, he no more can stay complacent.
Since we cannot expect any sensitivity from the Maoists, we think it will prove quite
futile to appeal to them not to give any more calls for bandhs. Why can’t they
understand the simple fact that such bandhs always work against their overall interests
and only contribute to making them unpopular? Since, in the present circumstances, the
Palace has to take full responsibility for the failure of the government, we can rest
assured King Gyanendra has something up his sleeve, which is sure to come down after his
return to the capital. |
