5 Questions The Telegraph - Weekly (Nepal)

5 Q U E S T I O N S

How an incompetent Deuba becomes competent suddenly?

Hari Maharjan, Farmer, Ghattekulo, Dillibazar

TGQ1: How you Mr. Maharjan as a citizen of this country would wish Deuba functioning in his new prime ministerial role? Your comments please

Mr. Maharjan: Well, at the first place I doubt his capabilities. The fact is that the person who was declared incompetent some two years ago suddenly becomes a competent one. How it could be that? I haven't understood this puzzling phenomenon.

If he is really determined this time around, all that we need is the restoration of peace. Notably, the Maoists came to the table during his previous tenure, however, they left the table without providing plausible reasons.. No body know as to why the insurgents left the negotiating table.

Let me hope that the Maoists this time attend the talks. I am of the firm belief that if Deuba works hard this time and if he enjoys the support of other political parties then he can steer the nation or else his fate would be no better than those of the Thapa and Chand.

In addition to all these, the supporting parties too must have a common thinking on how to work for the betterment of the country.

The new government and its leaders should refrain from telling one thing to the people during lectures and practicing diametrically the opposite in real practice would damage the credibility of the government. Let such things not happen. The Deuba set must take the people in total confidence. This is the demand of the time.

UN should be allowed to mediate

-Raju Prasad Upadhyaya, Shopkeeper, Ghattekulo, Dillibazar

TGQ2: What the Deuba government should do now regarding the Maoist conflict? Your opinions please!

Mr. Upadhyaya: There should be an announcement of cease-fire and both the conflicting parties must come to the negotiating table. We the Nepali people have the right to live a peaceful life. This has got to be guaranteed by both the warring rivals. The government now should concentrate its efforts in bringing the insurgents to the table. The new establishment should announce ceasefire, which should be followed by the Maoists.

As regards the UN mediation or facilitation whatever it is, to me it appears that they have sought the need for the UN involvement for they apparently don't believe in the government. Why not the UN? If it is the UN then neither the government nor the Maoists could leave the dialogue process in a limbo. Both will be bound to honor the UN presence at the talks.

Let ceasefire be announced. Let the talks not break abruptly as it happened in the past. To accomplish all these, the UN involvement is necessary.

As regards the government's no to UN mediation, I see no reason why the establishment should reject the UN offer? The government has to accept the UN mediation, as it is the desire of us all. The UN being a common platform of all the nations and since it enjoys incredible respect among us all, we have to believe in the UN efforts.

My own contention is that the Maoists preference for the UN could have been due to the fact that they don't trust the government and hence wish to see an internationally recognized guarantor.

If both the conflicting parties are serious, I believe talks will be held soon.

Bundhs are damaging our future career

Master Dipak Sharma, Poudel, Grade 7
Rose Bud Secondary Boarding School, Dillibazar

TGQ3: How are your studies going these days Master Dipak? Would you tell us something in this regard?

Master Dipak: Well, every thing was going smoothly. However, due to the bundhs and that too in series, our classes have been hampered to a greater extent.

No body knows when is the next bundh and who is the sponsor of that very damaging bundhs. It is students like me who are the worse hit from such repeated strikes and school closures.

The final examinations are knocking at the doors. But since we have been forced to remain out of the classes, I can't say how I will fare this time at the esaminations. This is same for my colleagues as well.

The tragedy is that we are not allowed to attend the classes for weeks and weeks but yet we are told to pay the school fees on time. How it could be that?

Our parents are under tremendous pressure due to such regular bundhs. I appeal all those who have been sponsoring bundhs to stop playing with our future. I appeal them not to hamper our studies. We are the future of the country and if that is so then how can we steer the nation with such poor performances?

The situation is that the courses for one year now consumes more than two years. This is how the matter stands.

Endless demonstrations a curse for us all

Dipendra Thapa Magar, Taxi Driver, Maligaun, Kathmandu

TGQ4: How is the state of the country? How it has affected your business?

Mr. Dipendra Thapa: The country is going through a very bad period.

We in this line perhaps are the hardest hit due to endless strikes, bundhs, demonstrations and the chakka jams. Whether we earn or not but then we the drivers have got top pay rupees six hundred fifty a day to the car owner. Add to this the price of the gasoline which we are told to pay on our own. This means that an approximate of rupees one thousand we pay for the rent-car moving through the Kathmandu roads.

We could have managed this earning had there been no strikes and meaningless demonstrations that is continuing in the capital since three months or so. Why the demonstrations are taking place on a regular basis and who is benefiting from such bundhs and chakka jams, at least me and my fellow colleagues in this business have so far failed to understand.

Due to the untimely demise of my father, I have to earn money to keep my small family going wherein my mother is the guardian. My dad's death did not allow me to go to the schools. I was forced to join this profession at a very tender age.

Now with these uninterrupted bundhs, persons like me find it very hard to keep our lives going.

I urge the demonstrators and those who sponsor bundhs to bring a halt to such devastating activities. They should know that these unwanted activities are ruining the national economy every day.

Likewise, I appeal the government and the Maoists to come to the table. The Maoists too should declare what they want. The government too should take their concerns seriously in the larger interest of the nation.

Killings of a Nepali by other nepali have got to be stopped at once.

Talks must proceed at the earliest.

I think there is none to understand our sufferings. Had they any knowledge of our hard works, the politicians would have stopped demonstrations, which has come like a curse to our profession.

TGQ5: How has the recent educational system closedown affected the future of this country?

Ms. Suman Aryal: This is absolutely not the way to bring change. Peaceful means are there to find solutions of such problems. Bringing the total educational system to a halt has affected the country adversely in a big magnitude.

The has been a lot of investment in the education system of the country in the recent past. Even in Biratnagar, my hometown, it was difficult for us to find a college of international standard in the past but now the situation is different. But still there are lots to be done. I agree that there are many loopholes still present but there are ways to find solutions also. I suggest the Maoists affiliated students to come to the table and sort out things at the earliest.