The
closure of Soaltee Crown Plaza, one of Nepal's largest hotels with very close association
with the royalties, has irrefutably exposed the incompetency of the government to grant
adequate security to the people. The press release issued by the hotel management states
that they "tried to engage the present government to address the matter, which did
not yield any results." As such, they were left with no option but to close the
hotel. If the nominated Deuba government cannot inspire any confidence in an organization
like Hotel Soaltee Crown Plaza and they are forced to close suffering huge financial
losses, how is one to expect, rather even to imagine, that the Deuba government will be
able to assure poor common people the security of their life and property. Knowing fully
well the caliber of prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba we are not surprised at the
dangerous developments taking place at the heart of the capital.
We think no
time must be lost to arrest the rot. The exigencies do not permit any kind of complacency.
Since the only priority, at the moment, is to restore peace and normalcy, King Gyanendra
cannot afford to either prevaricate or procrastinate. We have been exhorting him, all the
time, not to be swayed by any consideration whatsoever and act precipitately. In the
absence of the elected government and the constitution in the state of virtual suspension,
it has become his and only his responsibility to stop the country from becoming a
"failed state." Moreover, one must not fail to realize that public opinion is
too fickle and the recent trends seem quite ominous. So far, the Maoists have been
exercising their authority outside of the capital. But recent events that have directly
affected big industries in the capital itself must not be taken lightly. Since dialogue is
the only wise and desirable way of arriving at a reasonable solution, the Maoists must be
brought to the negotiating table without undue delay. Skillful negotiation demands
imagination, and guts. Consequently, King Gyanendra has to find persons who understand the
problem, know the root causes and can take up the challenge. We have been exhorting the
Maoists also to choose the people they would like to deal with. In the interest of their
poor countrymen and their poor country, they have to give up their obduracy and come down
to earth to start a meaningful dialogue. We would not advise them to deal with spineless
fainted politicians who sacrifice the country's interests without batting their eyelids.
Since it has become the utmost duty of all peace loving patriotic Nepalese to join hands
in restoring peace and normalcy in the country, we would be very happy to offer our humble
services, if the Maoists so desire, to start the negotiations at the shortest possible
time. |
