The frequent Bandhs are
becoming a deadly scourge not only for the poor who have to earn their daily bread through
hard toil but also for the country whose economy is being totally devastated. Even
psychologically the bandhs have started making the common man jittery. The hand to mouths
are getting disillusioned with the regime. The impotence of the administration to
guarantee peace and security to the poor citizens is gradually alienating them, which is
sure to have a far-reaching repercussion. The failure on the part of the government to
instill any faith in the people in their arrangement to nullify the bandh has even
deprived them of any reason to judge the justification of the call and even a hoax call
makes them hide behind the closed doors. As long the people in general do not pluck
courage to stand up to the illogical bandh calls, the discredited and unrepresentative
government with demoralized police force will never be able to win their unstinted
cooperation so very indispensable to maintain peace and normalcy, What the Maoists and
their invisible supporters inside and outside the country want to achieve by their heinous
behavior to destroy the very fabric of our society seems to be clouded in mystery. No
sensible Nepali is in any doubt that the path they have chosen will only lead them to a
cul-de-sac and it is only a matter of time when they will have to ultimately realize their
folly. If they are really sincere in their objective, they must give up their misdirected
ideology, cleanse the politics of all corrupt and anti-national politicians and work to
bring the derailed democracy back to track. They should never lose sight of the dangers
inherent in their insurgency. King Gyanendra, who is most concerned to restore peace in
the country, must be well aware of the consequences of a long drawn out civil war. That
the overwhelming poor people of Nepal are still looking up to their King has been well
proved by his visits to Biratnagar, Dhangadhi, Nepalgunj and other places. He must not
fail to realize that the directives he has issued cannot be implemented in the present
circumstances by a government that cannot command any respect either from the bureaucracy
or from the people. And the non-implementation of the royal directives is sure to erode
the image of the monarchy need not be emphasized. Moreover, the topmost priority the
country faces at the present circumstances is cessation of all insurgency without any
delay. That the Maoists were thrown back to the defensive has been totally proved wrong by
their attack on Bhojpur recently. Consequently, it has become quite imperative that either
they be brought to the negotiating table or given a clear message that they have no
alternative than to surrender their arms. If the Thapa government has no vision to solve
the Maoist imbroglio, it does not mean the country is devoid of all means of solving the
problem. King Gyanendra has to explore all avenues. At this moment Nepali goodwill and
friendship with her good friends has to be exploited to the hilt. Since it is no more a
secret from where and how the Maoists are getting their help and inspiration, it should
not be very difficult to find the antidote. What we need is a little more guts and
determination. And without that we will never be able to stop these uncalled for bandhs
and go to the rescue of our poor people. |
