5Questions: A glimpse at Year 2004

Nepali people are fallen into an abyss of a great dilemma in the history - D.B.Gurung, Social Scientist

TGQ1: As an informed and qualified citizen of this nation, how you Mr. Gurung, assess the overall political situation in the country? How you have rated the performances of the political parties and the King as well over these years? Your comments please!

Mr. Gurung: The country is in total chaos. Political vacuum, unconstitutional seizure of powers by the King, bloody insurgency, social disparity, and economic decadence mark our present time. In fact, the Nepali people are fallen into an abyss of a great dilemma in history, as there is a dearth of credibility to trust any of the three forces--the political leaders, the Maoists, and the monarch. The political leaders for their corrupt instinct and inefficiency in statecraft, the Maoists for their blood curdling politics, and the monarch for his fallibility and the lack of total legitimacy. One precious year went amiss after the royal takeover last year. King Gyanendra's adamant stance in disregarding the people's sentiments can mean only one thing--his political suicide. The royal advisers should understand this well that the Nepalis are not living back in the 60s of the last century. The parliamentarians, rather than dropping abuses on the monarch, they should show a clear visionary roadmap for the future to restore their tarnished images of the past. Let's assume, they found their benches at Singha Darbar, what is next? The Maoist movement should make sense and also the security operation by the same token: human killings must make sense. The students are doing good job in the streets. 07 January 2004

Muslims are facing untold miseries and humiliation all over the world - Professor Syed Habibullah, Head, Central Department of Political Science, T.U

TGQ2: Root cause of the conflict is considered to be the social exclusion of those in minority. How you view the situation as you come from a population that is in minority? Do you feel dominated, excluded, exploited and ignored? What is the solution to the problem? Your comments please!

Prof. Habibullah: Your last question is about root causes of Maoist insurgency and you have already answered the question by mentioning social exclusion. It is very pivotal point to understand the problems. So far as the question of Muslim minority in Nepal is concerned, it had lost its upper status right in 1857 A.D. Since then Muslims are facing untold miseries and humiliations in Asia, Africa and all over the world.

In Nepal, the fact is that minority ruling castes groups are constantly dominating the state power structures and the majority populations are left outside in the cold and have merely remained as poor spectators. Now the Maoists are taking advantage of that very cause.

The solution of present problem is simple in the sense that in the 21st century no body likes centralization of power. The state must create space for self-rule through federal character of decentralized system, which is a basis for democratic participation on equal basis.07 April 2004

Unhealthy writing against women in editorial columns degrades the personality of the editor - Prof. Dr. Shanta Thapalia, Founder, Legal Aid and Consultancy Center (LACC)

TGQ3: A section of Nepali media have directly challenged the inner potentials and the capabilities of Nepali women. What could have been the reason? Was it a media bias? Or in effect the women of Nepal are in a state wherein they can’t handle the affairs of the State if allowed to rule? What makes you and your group so sure that you can run the affairs of the state? What is the basis of your strength?

Dr. Thapaliya: A section of traditional Nepali media has always downplayed women’s rights in the past. In fact, they underestimated the potential of women. This was evinced during the movement for women’s property rights. This section of media always highlighted only the negative aspects of inheritance right to property. Traditions, social values, customs and the culture have accorded women a subordinate to man. The patriarchal society of Nepal considers the male as a super manager of the home, society and the nation. This section of media always viewed women in stereotype traditional role. This is a sorry state of affairs, they failed to realize that time has been changed. If given an opportunity a housewife can also rule the state. There have been strong women rulers in South Asian region- Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan all had strong and capable women Prime Ministers and Presidents. There is no reason to believe that why Nepali women cannot occupy the position of their South Asian sisters, if they are provided with equal opportunity. Unhealthy writing against woman in editorial degrades the personality of the editor who is a special man. 19 May 2004

Maoists have yet to prove their gaining strength is due to wills of people - Professor Dilli Ram Dahal, TU

TGQ4: International researchers have expressed their surprise over the Maoists emerging as a force within a short span of eight years of their insurgency. What social factors could have contributed to their increased and growing military strength? Is it the social exclusion of the masses by the leaders? Or is it the self-conscience of the people in adding up their strength?

Prof. Dahal: It is no doubt that the Maoists have emerged as a political force in Nepal over the last 8 years. But they have to yet to prove that they have come to power " not because of the barrels of the gun but the wills of people". This armed conflict in Nepal has killed more than 9000 lives and billions of rupees of worth of damage to property and infrastructure. A combination of factors became instrumental in emerging the Maoists as a political force in Nepal. More importantly, poverty, inequality, social and political exclusion, gender disparity, caste/ethnic based discrimination, corruption, unemployment and bad governance have played important roles putting the Maoists in a safe landing position to come to power in Nepal. 18 August 2004

The weakest link in our political system is the political parties - Professor Prem Raman Uprety,T.U

TGQ 5: Some independent intellectuals believe that current political situation in the country is the product of an unaccountable, non-performing corrupt political class. Others argue that mainly donors who are fueling their money to the survival of this class and take part in recent-seeking cause it. What is your experience about this?

Prof. Uprety: Nepal like the other third world countries has been caught in the syndrome of modern development. In the 50’s, 60’s and the 70’s, a lot of money was pumped into the Nepalese economy from donor countries like USA, USSR, India, and China. By the 1980’s, other countries like Japan and Germany became principal donors in Nepalese economic growth. But in spite of these efforts, the development of Nepalese economy was slow and frustrating. In the 1990’s, more money was pumped into Nepalese economy through NGO’s and INGO’s. The donors made the change because they believed that the bureaucracy of the government was too corrupt and unable to take fruits of development to the rural areas of Nepal that constituted 90% of the country.

But even the change of this strategy has not been able to take the fruits of development to the rural areas of Nepal though the situation has been slightly improved. The present problem of Nepalese development is to develop the rural mass living in 4000 villages. For this, the task of the government is to take three programs simultaneously at the village level. Nutrition, Literacy and Medicare programs. This would create an enlightened citizenry at the village which can plan, implement, and monitor the different plans and programs at the village level itself. But this is such an enormous task that the government of an underdeveloped country like Nepal, find it to be extremely difficult. Therefore, the government is using all its energy to develop urban areas. The urban people are more vocal who if thy revolt can change the ‘System’ whereas the sleepy mass of the rural areas is not a threat to any government for its survival.

Upto now billions of rupees has flowed into Nepalese developmental efforts. But the problem with foreign aid programs is that a lot of strings are attached in the way how Nepal can use the money. Not only free grants but also a foreign loan for which Nepal has to pay interest is not free from conditions. A lot of loan money and grants are used to hire "foreign consultants". According to some reliable sources it is as much as to the tune of 40% or even more that goes to support the foreign consultants.

Then a big bite of the foreign loans and grants go into "Commissions" which Nepalese political leaders and bureaucrats do not think as corruption. It can be compared to the prevalent system of DASTURI taken by custom officers in the different Check Posts paid to them for their long hours of work and the low pay structure of the government.

The Nepalese experience in modern development shows that both the government, NGO’s and INGO’s are not free from corrupt practices that has been institutionalized both by the government and the society.

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