Editorial (Spotlight Weekly)

The political quandary gripping the poor Himalayan country does not seem to be coming to any satisfactory solution. The vicious triangular contention to hold on, to recapture or to seize the power between the three feuding factors has only contributed to aggravate the miseries of one of the poorest peoples of the world. Of the three, the Palace had the highest advantage when the ‘most incompetent’ prime minister handed over the authority to the King on a platter. The King then was riding the waves of hopes and expectations. But developments in the last nineteen months have only helped to belie them. King Gyanendra had a reputation of being a wise and decisive monarch who had unexpectedly succeeded to the throne in a most bizarre situation. That, in itself, was not only a big challenge but most plausible reason for him to act firmly and resolutely. But recent events have started eroding people’s faith in the institution. We had even taken the temerity of advising the King to guard himself from the self-seeking sycophants. He cannot afford to overlook the fact that he is the one who has the biggest stake in the solidarity of the state. Consequently, there is absolutely no room for him to commit a blunder. He cannot fail to realize that he needs a strong home base rather than a strong foreign support. He must not be unaware of the growing momentum in the agitation started by the disgruntled political parties who do not command popular support as yet and the spate of international criticisms. As such, he has no alternative but to act most expeditiously to meet his commitment to restore democracy through a free and fair general elections. Since it is easier said than done, his tough job demands that he must withstand all pressures, whether from the corrupt and discredited politicians or from other interested parties or vested interests. He will, indeed, need the unstinted support and cooperation of all patriotic forces and he must be able to rise above all personal prejudices.

The second factor in the triangular contention is the agitating political parties. The month long agitation must have opened their eyes to the irrefutable fact that the poor Nepalis have become greatly disenchanted by their corrupt and anti-national and power hungry behavior. Except their diehard handful of cadres and a few mercenary intellectuals, they have totally failed to arouse the masses. If their agitation has started to pick up some momentum, it is only due to the imbecility of the government. If they want to win back the public support they commanded fourteen years back, their discredited leadership has to give way to new leadership of more honest and dedicated youths, who are more patriotic and sensitive to the miseries of their poor people.

The Maoist insurgents, the third factor in the contention are running after a chimera. Their eight long year violent insurgency against the state has only wreaked havoc on the poor country and poorer countrymen. Their dream of a Republican Nepal will never come true unless it is actively encouraged and supported by the Palace itself, which will be foolish even to imagine. Moreover, no country in this age can stay isolated and to think about the establishment of a Maoist republic in our situation would be nothing less than a mental aberration. As such, the only course open to the Maoists leadership is to give up their extortions, kidnappings, lootings, vandalisms, murders and killings and come to the mainstream of Nepali politics. It hurts us deeply when we hear about the premature and unnatural deaths of our brothers and sisters, whoever they may be.

We do appreciate the genuine concern shown by Nepal’s friends for the restoration of peace and normalcy and bringing the derailed democracy back to track. We would appreciate more if the votaries of clean politics in a democratic regime stop supporting the branded corrupt politicians and encourage new and honest faces to emerge. If necessary, we must gird up our loins for a more robust foreign policy to achieve our objective and make our good friends walk along with us.