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After the announcement of general elections for the House of Representatives by King Gyanendra, all the rumors about the impending reversal of democratic process and promulgation of an authoritarian constitution have evaporated. This surprising announcement proves that there is no other alternative than the middle way in Nepal. Thus, elections should be taken as an appropriate step towards activation of Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990. However, a lot of things need to be done by the King and the political parties to minimize the differences in the interest of the country and people. As organized political parties have expressed their reservations over holding free and fair elections, the King has to take further steps to create conducive environment for the election addressing genuine grievances, if any, raised by major political parties - which have experiences of taking part in several elections in the past. When distrusts and mistrusts continue to widen the differences, what is required now is the confidence building measures. However, some of the recent acts like promulgation of media ordinance, midnight police raid at private media station have spoiled the environment for elections further widening the differences. As a defender of constitution, the King has rightly decided to make the people decide. As there have been a lot of distrusts and mistrusts, which have been inflated and abbreviated by actions and reactions of both the sides – the King and organized political parties - what matters much in politics now is the wisdom to understand one’s interest correctly. In the message to the nation, the King has given a significant hint when he viewed that there could not be any matter – which could not be settled by the negotiations. Now it is up to the wisdom and skill of the politicians of all sides to create a congenial atmosphere for an environment in which various sets of ideologies and opinions could participate in elections with confidence and dignity. A great deal has to be done by both the sides to complete elections and reactivate the constitution.
No move can be justifiable to restrict the freedom of speech and expression- which is birth right of individual. A democracy must believe in a notion of free speech as a market place of ideas. The Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990 guarantees all kinds of freedom including individual’s freedom to express any view he or she wishes in private or public and freedom to express any view in print, publish or record for public and private consumption. We, too, disagree with any move to curtail the freedom of speech and expression as well as brutal police action against Kantipur Radio, a private media house. Such kinds of most unexpected and unpopular incidents will spoil the environment, and thus are deplorable. Coming in the wake of the recently promulgated media ordinance – which intends to curtail the freedom of speech and expression - the police act against Kantipur will definitely generate more bitterness with media. Whether it is just a coincidence or a design of some unseen elements to create the hostility and disrupt the atmosphere of political understanding between the King and the political forces, it is difficult to believe that the King would in any way conspire against his own positive steps towards reactivating the constitution. But it is a very bitter fact that the King either could not perceive the trouble makers in the administration or he alone is helpless to foil their misdeeds. Country’s problem now is not whether to curtail the right of media through ordinance but to create conducive political environment. As the question of constitutionality of media ordinance is under the purview of apex court, we hope the court will safeguard people’s rights of freedom of speech and expression.
The way Pakistan handled the aftermath of major earthquake is a lesson to be learnt by a country like Nepal, which also lies in the Himalayan fault and can face similar kinds of devastating earthquake any time soon. No country, whether big or small or rich or poor, is safe from natural disaster. The calamitous Tsunami hit South Asia and South East Asian countries about a year ago and Katrina hurricane devastated United States last month. As it is global problem, it needs global support to recover. With vigorous efforts by Pakistani people and army as well as international community, the first phase of rescue and rehabilitation works were completed. We are hurt by devastations and destructions caused by earthquake in Pakistan and India and want to share their grief in this moment of tragedy.
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