King Gyanendra should be allowed to act for a specified period

-Nirodh Raj Pandey, Editor, The Jan Bhawana Weekly, Kathmandu

To be honest, my doorway into the media sector began with the Naya Sandesh Weekly then edited by Ramesh Nath Pandey. I had a stretch of seven years in this weekly. However, I quit the weekly when I have had certain fundamental differences with the editor on the issues of the national referendum of the 1980.

This episode prompted me to publish separate news weekly, The Jana Bhavana, which is twenty-three years old now by the grace of the Almighty.

Needless to say that I was already engaged in Radio Nepal prior to the publication of the Jana Bhavana and had been working there as a Producer and Chief reporter.

My eighteen years long stint at the radio Nepal facilitated me to accompany late King Birendra in his occasional regional tours. I should have visited different districts of the Kingdom with King Birendra for not less than a decade, which allowed me to understand the King better.

My attraction to the print journalism grew right when I was serving at the Radio Nepal. In my modest consideration, journalism was a medium to express oneself and was concurrently a forum that could spread the grievances of the society. It acted as a sort of pressure to the government to look into the issues confronted by the population. Above all, I thought that when working in Radio Nepal could provide me prestige and popularity in the society then definitely my direct involvement in the print media would do even more better.

This is how I felt then. Fortunately, it is moving as per my thoughts.

As regards the journalism then, let me admit frankly that since the society was not open so we had to think twice while penning stories in our newspapers. At times, the journalists were harassed too.

I remember how I was put to test by the then authorities for a minor fault of mine, which could have well been ignored. However, that was not forthcoming. I have a bitter experience of the erstwhile regime.

Well, talking of today what is equally true is that the society is completely open and hence we can write any thing under the sun. The system is liberal indeed. However, we in the media sector have been mis-using the liberalism granted us by the system to the extent that at times we cross the limits even in writing on sensitive issues that pertain to the country's foreign policy and security matters. This should not happen. We the media men must draft a limit for ourselves while penning articles on matters that have a direct bearing on our vital national sensitivities.

It is open than what it should have been in effect.

National politics? Yes! It is going downhill every day. I fear if this trend continues for some more time, the country might be declared as a failed state. Undoubtedly, extraneous forces have a free play in our domestic politics. The political parties appear to have become less sensitive to the national issues which is apparently facilitating alien powers to interfere in our politics. The leaders appear more interested in acquiring power and capture chairs instead of serving the country. This is a very sad phenomenon.

Talking of the Multi-party system let me tell you very frankly that the system in itself is not bad. However, what is for sure is that the distortions and the anomalies that have accompanied in the name of the multi-party system have got to be done away with.

The system must be taken out of the current mess, which is largely the creation of those who ruled the country mercilessly for all along the past democratic years. The noted corrupts of the nation must be brought to book and penalized in a manner that served as a lesson for others. For these things to happen, I suppose King Gyanendra must act and that too fast. As the guardian of the State, his bounden duty is to serve the country and its people. However, he should act by remaining in the boundaries of the constitution for a specified period. I can imagine that in such an event, party activists with flags in their hand would object the King's move. However, the non-partisan and the majority of the population residing outside Kathmandu and district headquarters would surely applaud the King's endeavors. This is my firm belief. The King knows better on how to take up challenges of this sort at times of crisis.

Resolution of the Maoists issue? It should be dialogue and dialogue only that should and could settle this overly stretched imbroglio. Both the sides, the Maoists and the government, should exhibit their honesty and sincerity for the talks. Both at the same time should be express their commitment for the meaningful talks. The fact is that the previous talks held two times in series in between the two failed abruptly because both the sides attending to the talks were not honest and were trying to cheat the other. No more cheating please.

My suggestion to the Maoists would be to come to the negotiating table at the earliest.

The country is under tremendous stress and duress. Both the sides should understand this hard reality. What if the nation ceases to exist?

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