Maoists and the government should "exchange concessions" until a compromise solution is reached

--Dev Raj Shrestha,Post Graduation Campus,(T.U) Biratnagar

He hails from Biratnagar, a town in the eastern region that has offered scores of Prime Ministers to this nation. It is an altogether a different matter that the Prime Ministers did little for the country, to put it mildly.

He is in the Tribhuwan University job since all along twenty years plus. At the moment, he is Lecturer and has been teaching Varsity students at the Post Graduation Campus in Biratnagar. His subject is Business Administration.

He is an independent analyst. In fact he is a neutral observer of the contemporary national events and hence his analyses appear more close to the truth than any body else who is affiliated to a particular political center.

He is an independent researcher as well. Among the many research he conducted is "Corporate Planning in Nepalese Entrepreneurs" under the aegis of the CEDA, Kirtipur.

Dev Raj Shrestha assume the duties of the Chairman at the Management Science department at the Post Graduation campus where he is working at the moment. He is a member of the Campus Management Committee at the same campus and had acted as Campus Chief when he had a stint at the Purwanchal University a few years back. He is associated with a number of committees and councils plus task-forces in Biratnagar.

Mr. Shrestha has several books to his credit. Some of them include, "Convenience Goods: Structure, Marketing, a Proposal Study"; Definition of Small Business: A Draft Discussion in Nepalese Context" and "Historical Development of Advertising".

Apart from all these academic activities, Mr. Shrestha is a social worker and wishes to work for the betterment of the oppressed class of the country.

I know him since a long time. He has helped the Nepal-SAARC Journalists Forum and at times my newspaper as well as and when our Forum has accompanied friendly Ambassadors in Biratnagar.

Mr. Shrestha last year received an Israeli scholarship for a short course on Micro Credit.

This Sunday, I met him in Biratnagar and approached for a tete-a-tete to which he readily agreed.

Below the results: Chief editor.

TGQ1: How you Mr. Shrestha assess the existing political situation in the country? Your exclusive comments please!

Mr. Shrestha: The existing political situation in th country is nothing but seems to me that it is an outcome of insincerity, self-centered thinking, to name a few, of the people and the party toward the overall interest of th country. Non-commitment of the promises made, extending lip services and acquiring double standards have become a dominating feature in the political environment. Politics has become an economic profession, which requires not even any academic qualification. The leaders have not yet been able to create the required political and intellectual awareness among the people resulting in the division in and among the people. Politics is dominating everywhere. Political support or for that matter the political attachment, for example, has become a prerequisite to be promoted as an administrator or similar others.

The current situation in the country to a large extent is political born and to the rest a cumulative of governments failure in the past to deliver the required standard of living to the community and to the people. In theory, Nepal is a democratic country but in practice non-compliance to the democratic norms and the values prevail.

TGQ2: The five parliamentary parties are currently in agitation. How you take their agitation? Is it relevant or just the otherwise? Your opinions please!

Mr. Shrestha: In view of the leading parties involvement it is quite difficult to the people like me to assess and comment the relevancy of the five parliamentary parties’ agitation. The leaders are big minded, have come to their current position with untiring struggle and have a lot of practical experience. Thus, the agitation must be purposive; there is no question. However, the way it is going on and the situation within which it is doing so should also be assessed.

To me, as others also understood the same way, politics is a game of power; no power no recognition and value in the society at least in the Nepalese context. In such a power-driven society one should join the power to execute his opinions and policies. After that only one could be able to develop the situation to fit to the "situation".

The five parties are recognizing indirectly the role of the King by asking him to reinstall the dissolved parliament.

I am really afraid if the political parties have equally been able to win th approvals of the common people in their current political endeavor. If the agitation is truly for the interests of the common people and the national economy, I have nothing to say. But if the agitation is for power or power-sharing ( many people are of this opinion) then the current agitation should not be worth mentioning. The agitation and Maoists rebels can’t simultaneously go together.

TGQ3: The Maoists have stepped up their violent activities. So has the Royal Nepal Army been doing against the insurgents? In such a grave situation, what should be done? Do you have any suggestions for the Maoists and the government both? Your remarks please!

Mr. Shrestha: Whether the Maoists have stepped up their violent activities or the Royal Nepal Army doing against the insurgents, the reality is that Nepali is being killed. IF the Maoists are struggling for the welfare of the Nepalese people and the country and if the Royal Nepal Army is working for peace and security of the Nepalese people and the nation, why should the common people be victimized? Do such killings contribute to conflict-settlement? Such a settlement would be temporary. Killings never bring peace and prosperity. To me, political reengineering can be a solution. Maoists and the government should "exchange concessions" until a compromise solution is reached. Included in it should also be other stake holders like political parties, intellectuals and so forth.

The one and the only best solution should be sitting together till acceptable solutions come out. It means dialogue among them is a must which will ultimately facilitate solutions.

TGQ4: Don’t you Mr. Shrestha, as an academician; think that it is time that the constitutional monarch acts in the best interest of the nation? Or should he remain a mere spectator and leave every thing to the mercy of the government of the day? Do you have any concrete suggestions to make to the King?

Mr. Shrestha: The King should be totally information supported as regards the current political chaos in the country. The constitutional Articles are interpreted to fit into one’s interests. The government of the day is neither inter-party nor intra-party supported. At least inter-party support seems to be difficult. However, national consensus is a must to bring peace in the country. No party can do it alone. Non-cooperation could keep emerging. Consequently the present government could lose its existence in any future-time period. Here, to me, the role go the King should not be to rule the country but to create an environment in which all the concerned feel free to sit together in search of long-lasting solution for the peace and prosperity of Nepal and the Nepalese.

The role of the King should not be minimized.

TGQ5: You have recently been to Israel for a higher training on Micro-credit studies. What basic differences you noticed in th functioning of the governments of the two countries, Nepal and Israel? Can we learn from Israeli experience in development practices? Your comments please!

Mr. Shrestha: First I would like to extend the heartiest thanks to th government of Israel for providing me a prestigious scholarship to participate in a month long international course on Micro Credit….in 2002. I wish peace and prosperity of Israel and the people there.

Israel is a country, which developed rapidly amidst twenty-four hour terrorism. It is one of the developed nations. The transport, road specially, and communication network; standard of living; Israel’s efforts to maintain and develop natural environment and heritage protection, to name a few, are quite exemplary.

One can learn several lessons from Israel and her people. During my short stay, the lessons that I learnt from the country are voluminous to mention here. I appreciate and salute to the patriotism of the people of Israel. The development of Israel is not due to others but due to the people of Israel inside or outside. They are hard-working, brave, result-oriented, visionary, sincere, creative, friendly, intelligent, self-dependant, honest, to quote some of their exemplary qualities that in many instances we the people of Nepal should learn in action.

Nepal should also emphasize on the development of indigenous technology. Business incubator as applied in Israel can also be applied in our context to develop and make sustainable small business sector. Collective farming (KIBUTZ and MOSHAV) can also be introduced to fit to our customs. The natural resource utilization can also be best borrowed from Israel.

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