In depth Analysis

Search for change widespread!

Kathmandu: Disenchantment with the current scheme of things is widespread. Even congress parliamentarians have now begun hoping that radical measures are introduced to enable the current constitution to accommodate correction measures which, privately as they say it, allows the King to intervene. Most left leaders have begun stating that if things are not corrected, things will deteriorate further. Since the system would not correct itself as the past ten years have shown, it is the monarchy, which they are alluding to in the correction process. Even the Maoists' who have been placing their demands for change and organizing in the process are aware that it is the King who can go some way to meet their demands and not the mainstream parties with whom they are competing. The general public conclusion is that the system is headed for a disaster with national interests as the major casualty.

There is another side of this though. It is a constitution written largely by the congress and the communists in reaction to the monarchy that has purposely prevented an interventionist role from the monarchy, which is an impediment to any such wishful intervention. Since both the congress and the communists use monarchy against which to organize, they are unable to publicly voice their private thoughts on the conduct of the system and the need for non-partisan interjection to set Nepali democracy on track. Indeed, it will be partisan interests that will make things convenient once more to garner sagging public support and organize against the monarchy if any such action takes place.

At yet another level, it is well known that nationalists' interests have been thoroughly disorganized since the concluding days of the disgraced Panchayat system and grass-roots activists have been cajoled and absorbed by the partisan process. The perception that Royal interjection is needed may be widespread no doubt but the political process has been so hindered as to make its inevitability wishful thinking as of the moment.

Added to this is the fact that the congress and the communists rode in to power under the current dispensation in the world wide wave of movement for democracy, that too, in a period when Nepal was amidst critical negotiations with neighboring India. It is clear that the foreign powers that so welcomed the change in Nepal will be as mush crucial determinants to further change in the country.

While the need for change is widely felt, and it is as widely believed that the mainstream parties will not bring the change, the means for change, although effectedly, the monarchy has yet to be provided the democratic legitimacy due it regardless of the nearly unanimous public sentiments outside the official political sector.

The current mainstream thought is hence not reflected by the democratic polity which contributes to an atmosphere of utter negativism reflecting in overall national performance. The feeling that there are only two systemic options, one provided by the Maoists and the other yet to be provided by the monarchy has sidelined the political process as a whole.

The fact is that the congress and the UML remain the largest political party in the country and it is the mobilization of their cadre alone that provides the façade of public participation in the current dispensation. That they do so with the strength of public office becomes the reason for the widespread corruption and opportunism. It is this that has contributed to the current degree of negativism and search for options.

A new crisis brewing!

Kathmandu: For the first time perhaps well after a decade or so of this multi-party system, a set of the Nepalese youths who claim themselves founding fathers of "Nationalists' Youth Front" hurled scathing criticisms not only against the leaders and the politicians manning this system but also made a surgical operation of the system now in place.

Talking against the system and the leaders has already become a normal phenomenon in Nepal in the recent years. However, this meeting of the nationalists' youth front held last week at the auditorium of the Nepal Tourism Board assumed special significance as a very special personality graced the entire proceedings of the said meeting.

He was none less than Dhirendra Shah, the former His Royal Highness who willingly abandoned his Royal title supposedly for a Goan girl whom he wished to marry or live together. A case that was summarily rejected by the Palace then. Since then Dhirendra opted to live in London with his new found love. However, he is currently in Kathmandu.

Dhirendra Shah albeit is a common man now but yet continues to be the younger brother of His Majesty King Birendra. This relation apparently gave a twist to the meaning to the blunt utterances made by some speakers at the meeting which were summarily against the democratic system and its leaders.

One speaker, Mohan Niraula, became so tempted and infuriated as well during his speech that he not only derided at the system and the corrupt leaders but also even went to the extent that "he could kill the Prime minister if the meeting so ordered". Perhaps this was too much and hence spate of criticisms followed that almost consumed four hours at the Parliament, Monday, where today's "democrats" asked the government to initiate penal actions immediately against all those who took part in the meeting that made virulent attack against the system. Some lawmakers even dubbed the front as to have been a set of former Panchas or their henchmen who wish this current system collapse for obvious reasons.

Critics here remain divided over this particular issue that has almost jolted the entire nation in a different fashion.

The first set of critics opines that the time was yet not ripe to denounce the system, as it was only ten years old. This set forwards the plea that there is no system on earth better than democratic system and that time permitting it would benefit all and sundry, however patience was needed.

"The system is not bad, rather due to the follies of the leaders the order what we have today has lost its credibility and legitimacy", commented an intellectual to this scribe.

However, the other set of the critic is deadly against the system now in force. This set maintains that during these ten years of new system, there has been erosion in the values and norms; feelings of nationalism decayed and notably the law and order situation had deteriorated to a dangerous level.

"The disgusting behaviors of the people's representatives over these years and their lust for power and pelf is not assuring more so to the marginalized, rejected and neglected lot living in the inaccessible areas of the country. A system that produces only corrupts could not be a good order and hence the protest", commented a youth belonging to the said Front.

This notwithstanding, there is yet another set which comfortably welcomes such comments as, in his opinion, such blunt utterances would instantly press the government and her leaders to act in a sensible manner that goes in favor of the poor section of the society.

This panel believes in the theory that from time to time such events must occur as it is the beauty of democracy that it welcomes healthy debated on any matter that has a bearing on the nation and her people.

Be that as it may, the Nationalists' Youth Front has created a debate in the nation regarding the suitability of the system in solving national problems confronting the country as it stands today. A healthy debate is O.K but if it takes an ugly turn then the nation will suffer undoubtedly.

However, there should be no going back. Defaults in the present system could be corrected by being more democratic that listens to the needs of the rural poor mass.

Any way, a subtle challenge to the system is already in place, which might catapult in a crisis of serious dimension if not handled carefully.

Ensure respect and safety for women!

Kathmandu: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has said that with the world's population at more than six billion, the challenge ahead of us all were all clear and that being finding ways to support all the world's people in peace and dignity and to ensure that people, specially the women folks, are able to make informed decisions about the size of their families.

Annan made this observation in a message released on the occasion of the World Population Day, July 11, 2000.

" Better understanding of women's issues has brought real change in the daily lives of millions of people. Women now have wider choices, and can make key decisions about their own lives. Yet there is still much left to do and that too many women are the victims of sexual violence, especially during conflict", continued Annan.

This years population day message is "Saving Women's Lives".

Similarly, Dr. Nafis Sadik, the executive director, UNFPA on the same occasion has said that men must be a part of the process as community and national leaders they can initiate and encourage the change.

"As members of the family, member of the workforce and members of the community they, implied men, can take personal responsibility for ensuring respect and safety for women within the family and beyond.

Sadik in her message has revealed some facts regarding women such as, for example, every minute a women dies as a result of pregnancy and many more suffer illness or injury; violence takes as many lives as cancer during women's reproductive years, and one women in three will experience violence at some time in their lives.

Bhattarai's meeting bode ill for Koirala?

Kathmandu: Former Prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai apparently has stepped up his activities aimed at "torturing" his political rival Prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala by meeting the congress activists, leaders, lawmakers and inquiring from them regarding the present law and order system in the country.

In response to their revelations at the calculatedly arranged tête-à-tête, Bhattarai never forgets to remind the attending congressmen that things had deteriorated to a greater degree on that count vis-à-vis his tenure in government.

Bhattarai's plan is to bring in his fold as much congress lawmakers as he could by pumping negative comments into the minds of the NC lawmakers and summarily dub Koirala's Prime Ministership as a grand failure.

In this regard, say newspapers close to Bhattarai camp, some visible success has already been made as some NC lawmakers considered to be staunch supporters of Koirala too have started speaking Bhattarai's mind against Koirala.

In the process, Bhattarai has already completed two round of his "meaning loaded" talks with congressmen of various hues.

"The third round is in the offing", revealed a tabloid Tuesday. According to this tabloid, this time Bhattarai would talk to nation's intellectuals and seek their opinions regarding the scheme of things obtaining in the country of late more so after Koirala engineered his unceremonious ouster some hundred plus days back.

Whatever it were internally-designs or no designs- however, what the people were being given to understand that these meetings in series were not any sort of conspiracy against the present establishment but rather were solely aimed at analyzing the functioning of the system; reviewing the law and order problem and devising later ways and means to the consolidation of the democratic order.

Be that as it may, for Koirala as Prime Minister of the nation, these conspiracies loaded events in the form of meetings bode ill.

To recall, it is the congress party alone in the country whose top stalwarts prefer to meet their supporters at their private offices. If Koirala has his Baluatar, Bhattarai has his own in Bhaisepati. Add to this Deuba's office in Baneshwar. Not to mention those of Ram Chandra Poudel, Govind Raj Joshi and minister Khadka.

All these private offices are amazingly running parallel much to the detriment of the party's official central skeleton in Teku.

Things will take a shape when Deuba returns from his US of America's junket. Deuba's trips abroad in series, the last being Australia, too has raised many eyebrows in Katmandu's political circles.

Recounting of votes might agitate parties

Kathmandu: RPPs stalwart, Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani has finally won the game.

Dr. Lohani's entrance in to the parliament as honorable member has definitely added to the numbers of the RPP in the parliament. By the same token, the UML number has fallen short of one.

A year ago, UML's Rajendra Lohani had been declared victorious from Nuwakot constituency-1 which was challenged instantly by Dr. Lohani stating that recounting of the votes be ordered by the special election court as he suspected bungling during the counting of the votes during the last general elections.

The court last week gave its verdict in Lohani's favor and the Speaker of the House hurriedly accomplished the swearing ceremony of Lohani, which invited wrath aimed against the Speaker from the UML.

Now that the court has reversed the previous election counting, it might now open the gates for some more recounting as wished by former candidates who had been declared losers.

Within two weeks or so, election recounting would begin in Rupandehi-1; Jhapa-4; and Saptari-2 as the losers have already petitioned for recounting.

Notably, Jhapa-2 is the constituency from where UMLs Woli emerged victorious as against Congress' candidate by only 17 votes. Likewise, Jhapa-4 is minister Bastola's constituency where recounting is to begin shortly. Bastola defeated UML Yukta Bhetuwal. Bastola exceeds his rival by only 26 votes. Counting will begin here as well. Rupandehi-1 had sent congress candidate who defeated RPPs Dipak Bohra by a margin of 321 votes. Here too the recounting of the ballots has been ordered.

Nepalese population are eagerly waiting for the results from the constituencies now under dispute.. This notwithstanding, the victory of Lohani amply hints that the two partners, congress and the UML then at time of the elections, had misused their authority for coming out with flying colors.

The bold initiatives taken by the courts in Nepal in the recent days have again emboldened the faith of the population on the judiciary.

Kathmandu-Dhaka bus service operation likely this year

Kathmandu: Neighboring Bangladesh appears really serious in giving a new height to her relations with Nepal.

Indications to this effect have been pouring in since the arrival of the newly appointed Bangladesh Ambassador Mr. Cyril Sikder to Nepal who in the recent months has been sounding his nation's keen interest as and when he meets the press, the intellectuals and the business community.

The other day at a press gathering organized by the Editors' Society of Nepal, Ambassador Sikder surprised many men with the pen when he vowed to materialize by a bus service from Kathmandu to Dhaka or the other way round well within this year.

"This initiative would immensely contribute to the enhancement of our bilateral ties at all the possible levels"', hoped the Bangladesh diplomat.

Elaborating the positive effects of his plan, Sikder maintained that this direct transport service to each other's capitals would not only bring the people closer to each other but would also contribute to the expansion of tourist activities in both the countries.

He, however admitted that the road infrastructure inside his country and the Indian territory linking Nepal to Bangladesh were not up to the mark which perhaps, continued the Ambassador, might have caused the slow pace of movements of goods bound for the third country exports using Bangla ports.

"'Nothing to panic as Nepal and Bangladesh are serious in this regard and time permitting all the hurdles would be sorted out albeit asking friendly India as well to extend cooperation to the extent possible in making the Fulwari point more viable than what it is in essence today", added Ambassador Sikder.

Talking to the members of the Editor Society, he also divulged that his second priority would be to arrange exchange of visits of intellectuals, editors' and businessmen and indeed municipality members.

To recall, a delegation of Biratnagar municipality members is shortly to visit Dhaka, which would later be reciprocated at an appropriate time. The embassy is learnt to have already initiated the process in this regard.

During the meeting with the Nepalese press, Sikder also sought the support of the Nepalese media men at time of his commerce minister's official visit to Kathmandu. According to him, during this visit Nepal and Bangladesh will finalize important agreements that would in all likelihood expand the trade and business between the two SAARC nations.

Editor Puspa Raj Pradhan welcomed the Ambassador and his Counselor, Abdul Kader Khan, on behalf of the ESON.

ESON Chairman Govind Biyogi chaired the proceedings of the meeting.

Telegraph adds: Talking to this scribe, Madhu Acharya, Nepalese Ambassador in Dhaka currently in town, said that the role of the media remained always important in the expansion of bilateral ties between the two countries. According to him the Bangla press too exhibited its sincerity in the promotion of bilateral contacts between Nepal and Bangladesh.

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