5 Questions:

This week we preferred to invite five different personalities to get their impressions on the contemporary issues of the country. Faces include campus students, teachers in the Higher Secondary Schools and up to the University level.

What was strikingly similar in their statements that each and every one invited in this column suggested the government and the Maoists both for talks. In addition to that, all the personalities hoped that the government as guardian of the state prepared the necessary environment for the talks and the Maoists later joined the dialogue process.

Below the results: chief editor.

Government has to be "sensitive" in creating favorable environment for talks

Dr. Prof Ram Kumar Dahal, T.U

TGQ1: Prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba says no to talks. Prachanda has offered talks. Common people also prefer talks. What you suggest the government? Your exclusive opinions please Professor Dahal?

Prof. Dahal: The Maoists issue should be resolved only by talks between the government and the insurgents.

As the government has to act as the "guardian" within the State, it has to be sensitive in creating favorable environment for such talks.

The general people that are the common populace are also in favor of such talks. The earliest resolution of the issue depends upon the earliest holding of a peaceful dialogue between them, which is also the need of the time.

Sri Lankan example could be followed

-Mr. Dhruba Raj Bhandari, English language teacher, Kathmandu

TGQ2: The security forces and the Maoists are killing each other. Whosoever is being killed is a Nepali citizen. What you suggest both the Maoists and the Deuba government so that killings on either sides come to a halt? Your comments please Mr. Bhandari!

Mr. Bhandari: I would suggest both the Maoists and the government that they should hold peaceful talks and arrive at a compromise leaving each other's present stands that, I believe, were impractical ones, so that killings on either sides come to a halt. Both sides should be pragmatic. Or otherwise Nepal will be enlisted in the blacklist in the history of the world and the future generation will be compelled to curse us all for the inhumanity and barbarism exhibited by both the sides. The past history of such an appalling situation has shown that peaceful talks is the only solution and way out from such a mess.

We can take the example of Sri Lankan LTTE men who have recently agreed to have a peaceful talks and arrive at a compromise with the government after a long guerilla war against the Sri Lankan army that continued for almost 18 plus years. To learn a lesson from them is the need of the day.

The King is advised not to intervene

Mr. Brajesh Bhattarai, High School English teacher, Kathmandu

TGQ3: Do you, Mr. Brajesh Bhattarai, think King Gyanendra should come forward in order to control the deteriorating political situation of the country? Or should the King remain a silent spectator as per the 1990 Constitution? Your opinions please!

Mr. Bhattarai: For ages Kings' of Nepal have been benevolent rulers and they have remained all along the lovers of peace and prosperity of Nepal and the Nepalese people. Because of this the status of Nepal's King has been very high. Moreover, today's Nepal's constitution has clearly stated that the King is not only the Head of the State but also an Institution of national unity among the Nepalese people.

To express a few words in connection with the present deteriorating situation, some significant factors must be considered. All Nepalese people and all others who live inside the boundary of Nepal have been suffering a lot from the Maoists insurgency. There is no doubt about that. If on the one hand the insurgents were killing innocent people like any thing and on the other devastating numerous development infrastructure(s) of the country. These acts have been duly condemned.

Our popular, elected and powerful government seems to have no vision and required skill to overpower the insurgents whose intention and objective is to topple the government and introduce absolute communism in Nepal, which is nothing by a day-dream.

In this context, I think our King would better not intervene in the present political structure and he should hence not come forward to control the situation because the tool he will use is the armed force which is already in action and is progressing day by day. Instead, he should give all his support, advice and suggestions to the present government and the armed forces.

Deuba's trip to the US and UK is in favor of the nation

Mr. Laxmi Prasad Kharel, Assistant Lecturer( English), ASCOL Campus

TGQ4: Prime Minister Deuba claims that his trip to the US and the UK have been successful. How you Mr. Kharel see Deuba's visit to these two powerful democracies? Your comments please!

Mr. Kharel: No doubt the trip of Deuba to the US and the UK has become one of the most discussed event here because of his trip's objectives to launch a tireless campaign against the menace of terrorism which is undoubtedly a challenging and difficult issue in the world today. Nepal is not an exception to this menace. The main purpose of Deuba's visit to the US and UK was to gain moral and economic support(s) from those countries against the terrorism.

Deuba made a historical visit to the US and met President Bush at the Oval, White House. Before him, none of his predecessors had met the US President in the manner Deuba was received this time. This in itself is an achievement indeed. It was his diplomatic shrewdness and excellence to get commitments from the US for about 40 million dollars in support to Nepal.

Some of anti-Deuba Maoists rebels have charged that Deuba committed a betrayal to the nation by compromising with the lone super power. According to them, "it was an anti-nationalist step which were harmful to the sovereignty and the integrity of Nepal. However, there is no evidence to support their statement. This is a baseless and fake campaign made by those who were currently in the anti-Deuba factions. The allegation that Deuba has given nod to the American army to stay in Nepal is malicious. I think Deuba wouldn't be blemished in the history doing such betrayals against the country as his predecessors did in the issue of Gandaki and Koshi, to recall.

My conclusion is that Deuba's visit to the US and the UK will all go in favor of the country and its people.

People in districts wish government and Maoists come to table

-Mr. Chandralal Thakur, Diploma student, M.M.Campus, Biratnagar

TGQ5: What the people out in the districts say about the government-Maoists on going fight? What if you suddenly encounter Prachanda and Dr. Bhattarai? What would you request them both? Your comments please Mr. Chandralal!

Mr. Chandralal: It is a remote possibility but yet if that happens I would politely request both to attend the talks.

I am told that both the top-hats of the Maoists insurgency were talented persons of high integrity. They are highly qualified personalities of the country and hence could be considered as national assets. But then their continued involvement in the violent activities that has been demolishing the basic infrastructures of this poor nation can't be taken in good taste.

I wish the insurgents attended talks. I wish the government created an environment for talks.

Regarding the people's feeling out in the districts, what could be bluntly told is that we all have sleepless nights since months and months.

The panicked district population would urge both the government and the insurgents to go in for talks and relieve the country from the continuing chaos and uncertainty.

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