The festive season
approaching fast, the overwhelming poor people of Nepal are moping in their irreparable
losses, unbearable miseries and unmitigable frustrations. Thousands have been displaced
and forced to become refugees in their own land. Neither the corrupt government nor the
unscrupulous politicians seem to be affected by their pitiable condition and are not doing
anything to alleviate their sufferings. In such a situation how are they supposed to
rejoice in the festivities? If there is no ceasefire, even temporary, how will the well to
dos celebrate their Dashain and Tihar? Perhaps, the Maoist leaders will sympathize with
the powerful and more fortunate section of the society and permit them to enjoy their
festivities without fear by announcing a short halt in the fighting since they don't seem,
at all, sensitive to the miseries of the poor. We won't have to wait for long for such an
announcement, if it really comes. But that is not the real crux of the matter. As a matter
of fact, only a most callous and heartless fellow will resort to merrymaking when the
whole country and its people is grieving for its pains and miseries. The real crux,
therefore, is when are the Maoists going to come to the negotiation table and whom they
want to deal with? Since they know the leading Nepali politicians in and out, they should
not be blamed for their reluctance to sit down with them. And if the Kathmandu rumors are
given any credence, it is said, the Maoists do have some kind of access to the Palace.
Moreover, it does not sound illogical, at all, if the Maoists insist to deal with King
Gyanendra himself, the de facto power and ultimate authority at the moment. As such, the
burning question before the wretched nations is 'Will the Palace condescend to invite the
Maoists for negotiations and save the country from further bloodshed?' When the
discredited politicians have failed to provide a dedicated leadership to the people, it
has become imperative that the King assume the responsibility without much ado and lead
the suffering nation to peace and normalcy. We have been exhorting the Maoist leaders to
read the writings on the horizon, give up their obdurate stance and sit down with the
honest and patriotic persons, in the absence of elected representatives, nominated by the
King and start the dialogue without undue delay, so that the stalemate is broken and the
country might go for a free and fair election. Since the need of the hour is lasting peace
for a return to the representative government, which can only emerge through hustings, no
Nepali of the name has any other option, if he or she has even an iota of love for the
country but to rise above all selfish or partisan sentiments and stop this chaos and
killings for all time to come so that the derailed democracy comes back to track. And for
this King Gyanendra has to take the first step forward. We have, time and again, entreated
him to dismiss the government led by corrupt nincompoops who are only aggravating the
sufferings of the poor people. Sher Bahadur Deuba has proved, beyond a ray of doubt, that
he was not the right choice to head our government at this very critical juncture. His
inexcusable incompetence was too glaring during the recent riots in the capital in the
aftermath of the brutal murder of twelve innocent Nepalis in Iraq and it should have been
ample ground for his summary sacking. His unstatesman-like decision to make the
inopportune visit to New Delhi and the churlish selection of his entourage have only added
to the urgency of his immediate removal from office. The King's imminent visit to New
Delhi has made it crucially important that a strong government capable to pursue a robust
foreign policy must be installed in office, if the visit is to make any tangible and
concrete achievement. King Gyanendra, himself, must have realized by now that a change in
the government has become indispensable. Let us hope he will not hesitate to take the hard
decision in the interest of the nation, howsoever unpalatable to a few. |
