Dear Jyotiji,
Thanks for forwarding the article.I take this opportunity to circulate it among my colleagues. Many email addresses are suppressed on recipients' request.
What is more important for a common Nepali today-Democracy or Peace? 'Peace!' would be the impulsive answer. Today the people's first option is PEACE, PEACE AND PEACE. The populace would not opt for the DEMOCRACY if it means TERRORISM, poverty, hunger, suffering, lawlessness, indiscipline, corruption, murders, rapes, robberies, kidnappings, and destructions. The common people have realized the fact that the 'political leaders'[?] have swindled them in
the name of democracy and politics. What is more annoying is the treacherous acts of some 'political leaders'[?] busy in malicious designing against motherland from overseas land. They have in fact proved many people's belief and anticipation to be true in the sense that they will go next door and spit venom. When there are owls sitting on every branch; how can a garden flourish? When we have such 'neta haru' how can our motherland prosper? The current emergency is the stride for restoration of law and order- for reconstruction and rebuilding of state machinery- for revitalizing the dying verve of society, re-institutionalizing social norms and values. Although I have due respect and high regards for the ideals of democracy and human rights upon which the governance should stand-yet for the time being let us all get united against the terrorism. King has also expressed his commitment to the democracy time and again. He has firm belief on the democracy as the best political system of modern age.
He has very firmly put that “the terrorism can not be the alternative to democracy; the alternative to democracy is DEMOCRACY itself.” Once the insurgency problem is rooted out, we can do some politics later on. The politics can wait for sometime. But we can not wait and see people dying everyday. With best regards.
Dr. Govind Prasad Thapa, 5 Apr 2005
-----------------------------------------------------
--- Jyoti Mathur wrote:
Kanak Mani Dixit's article-an analysis Random thoughts captured in 18 points By Raj Pal Singh via email
Kanak is at it again trying to drum up some business. I will not waste as much ink (and time). My 18 points (legal voting age) is in an outline format so that Mr. Dixit and his readers can easily extrapolate - as they please - while scratching some of that - the grey matter.
1) February 1 is not about the King or the political parties. It is about how best to handle ongoing Maoist insurgency.(See Krishna Gautam's piece on "I thought I was not the humourist"). The king just happens to be one of the entity who can exercise few elements of the constitution.
2) Article 27 (3) is not unconsitutional - it is in the constitution itself. If you don't like it then ammend it with 2/3 votes in the parliment. While you are at it change your party's by-laws as well so one ethnic group can't hijack the whole country in the name of democracy. And get more people from the other ethnic groups in the media and civic society so it becomes more of a people's voice - not just yours and your kind.
3) 2005 is not 1960 (see Jan Sharma's "2005 is not 1960" piece). The time limit is maximum 36 months - now 34 to go. In the mean time let s put "constructive pressure" collectively so peace, liberty and reedom (the pillars of democracy) are brought back on track sooner han later.
4) Everyone is for democracy (See King's speech). The question is not bout democracy today. It is "what is the surest way to PROTECT IT oing forward tomorrow?"
5) Fine - Scrutiny of present cabinet is a fair game. Argue their deas and their policies not their personalities. I don't want to now what color their boxer shorts is nor do I care for their
religious beliefs - Get the idea?
6) Yes - political detaines should be released but they must renounce iolence publically. No more "bandhs" and breaking public properties n the name of whatever ...
7) Yes - press freedom should be upheld but the editors must announce pulically that they will not encourage and/or be the voice of trorists.
8) Political elites must state publically that Nepal and Nepalis areabove their party and their cadres. Where is their moral and naturallegience for the COUNTRY?
9) Just like there are maobadi, there are rajabadi, congressbadi,UMLbadi, kahobadi, bharatbadi, chorbadi, dankabadi et. all. This isunfortunate but real fact of life in Nepal. Here lies the opportunity for all camps to come together to the common meetingpoint of NATIONALISM. So stop your propoganda then.
10) Stop the blame game. You can be part of the problem or you canchoose to be part of the solution. The constructive choice is yours.
11) In a constitutional monarchy and multi-party system, the conceptof parties are a must. The current leaders (almost all and except forvery few) are morally bankrupt. Constitutional Monarchy is the checkand balance in those dire "the sky is falling" scenarios.
12) Even your own house can't be run on ideology let alone a countrywith 36 ethnic groups in a middle of a civil war. Save the ideologiesfor "morning chiya" - lets move on with more pragmatic aproaches.
13) Yes - the military is under the parliment. Let us elect a PM whocan humbly command their respect. The men and women in the uniform is asked to give the ultimate sacrifice - their lives - to save yourfreedom. The politicians are only asked to serve the people. Askyourself - which task stands on a higher moral ground?
14) If you believe in Constitutional Monarchy and Multi PartyDemocracy then you will do everything possible to win peace TODAY sofreedom and liberty can never be challenged TOMORROW.
15) Otherwise - state your position clearly - Don't conveniently(cowardly) hide behind democracy and throw your hatred at the king oranybody. Freedom and Liberty is bigger than anyone. Present king is amere mortal human being - No different than you and I.
16) The self-styled intellectual elites must come down from their ivry tower and ask themselves - What's Next - instead of "oh this and oh that". School of hard-knox will teach you - No one can argue with success.
17) Taking sides is the easiest thing to do. When you believe inpeace, freedom and liberty - the toughest task is to convince thenaysayers, leftists, rightists, the slogan barking militants, the
violence ridden insurgents and the biased propogandists to leave their axe behind and come to the middle ground of prudent compromise. Now, can you personally do that? Yeah...show me the money - I mean - your courage !!!
18) And lastly - you are not a journalist. You are an op-ed editor.Know the difference please. And just like anybody "your have yourright to be wrong !!!"
P.S. When the sky is falling, sometimes one man's courage is the majority.
Thanks for forwarding the article.I take this opportunity to circulate it among my colleagues. Many email addresses are suppressed on recipients' request.
What is more important for a common Nepali today-Democracy or Peace? 'Peace!' would be the impulsive answer. Today the people's first option is PEACE, PEACE AND PEACE. The populace would not opt for the DEMOCRACY if it means TERRORISM, poverty, hunger, suffering, lawlessness, indiscipline, corruption, murders, rapes, robberies, kidnappings, and destructions. The common people have realized the fact that the 'political leaders'[?] have swindled them in
the name of democracy and politics. What is more annoying is the treacherous acts of some 'political leaders'[?] busy in malicious designing against motherland from overseas land. They have in fact proved many people's belief and anticipation to be true in the sense that they will go next door and spit venom. When there are owls sitting on every branch; how can a garden flourish? When we have such 'neta haru' how can our motherland prosper? The current emergency is the stride for restoration of law and order- for reconstruction and rebuilding of state machinery- for revitalizing the dying verve of society, re-institutionalizing social norms and values. Although I have due respect and high regards for the ideals of democracy and human rights upon which the governance should stand-yet for the time being let us all get united against the terrorism. King has also expressed his commitment to the democracy time and again. He has firm belief on the democracy as the best political system of modern age.
He has very firmly put that “the terrorism can not be the alternative to democracy; the alternative to democracy is DEMOCRACY itself.” Once the insurgency problem is rooted out, we can do some politics later on. The politics can wait for sometime. But we can not wait and see people dying everyday. With best regards.
Dr. Govind Prasad Thapa, 5 Apr 2005
-----------------------------------------------------
--- Jyoti Mathur wrote:
Kanak Mani Dixit's article-an analysis Random thoughts captured in 18 points By Raj Pal Singh via email
Kanak is at it again trying to drum up some business. I will not waste as much ink (and time). My 18 points (legal voting age) is in an outline format so that Mr. Dixit and his readers can easily extrapolate - as they please - while scratching some of that - the grey matter.
1) February 1 is not about the King or the political parties. It is about how best to handle ongoing Maoist insurgency.(See Krishna Gautam's piece on "I thought I was not the humourist"). The king just happens to be one of the entity who can exercise few elements of the constitution.
2) Article 27 (3) is not unconsitutional - it is in the constitution itself. If you don't like it then ammend it with 2/3 votes in the parliment. While you are at it change your party's by-laws as well so one ethnic group can't hijack the whole country in the name of democracy. And get more people from the other ethnic groups in the media and civic society so it becomes more of a people's voice - not just yours and your kind.
3) 2005 is not 1960 (see Jan Sharma's "2005 is not 1960" piece). The time limit is maximum 36 months - now 34 to go. In the mean time let s put "constructive pressure" collectively so peace, liberty and reedom (the pillars of democracy) are brought back on track sooner han later.
4) Everyone is for democracy (See King's speech). The question is not bout democracy today. It is "what is the surest way to PROTECT IT oing forward tomorrow?"
5) Fine - Scrutiny of present cabinet is a fair game. Argue their deas and their policies not their personalities. I don't want to now what color their boxer shorts is nor do I care for their
religious beliefs - Get the idea?
6) Yes - political detaines should be released but they must renounce iolence publically. No more "bandhs" and breaking public properties n the name of whatever ...
7) Yes - press freedom should be upheld but the editors must announce pulically that they will not encourage and/or be the voice of trorists.
8) Political elites must state publically that Nepal and Nepalis areabove their party and their cadres. Where is their moral and naturallegience for the COUNTRY?
9) Just like there are maobadi, there are rajabadi, congressbadi,UMLbadi, kahobadi, bharatbadi, chorbadi, dankabadi et. all. This isunfortunate but real fact of life in Nepal. Here lies the opportunity for all camps to come together to the common meetingpoint of NATIONALISM. So stop your propoganda then.
10) Stop the blame game. You can be part of the problem or you canchoose to be part of the solution. The constructive choice is yours.
11) In a constitutional monarchy and multi-party system, the conceptof parties are a must. The current leaders (almost all and except forvery few) are morally bankrupt. Constitutional Monarchy is the checkand balance in those dire "the sky is falling" scenarios.
12) Even your own house can't be run on ideology let alone a countrywith 36 ethnic groups in a middle of a civil war. Save the ideologiesfor "morning chiya" - lets move on with more pragmatic aproaches.
13) Yes - the military is under the parliment. Let us elect a PM whocan humbly command their respect. The men and women in the uniform is asked to give the ultimate sacrifice - their lives - to save yourfreedom. The politicians are only asked to serve the people. Askyourself - which task stands on a higher moral ground?
14) If you believe in Constitutional Monarchy and Multi PartyDemocracy then you will do everything possible to win peace TODAY sofreedom and liberty can never be challenged TOMORROW.
15) Otherwise - state your position clearly - Don't conveniently(cowardly) hide behind democracy and throw your hatred at the king oranybody. Freedom and Liberty is bigger than anyone. Present king is amere mortal human being - No different than you and I.
16) The self-styled intellectual elites must come down from their ivry tower and ask themselves - What's Next - instead of "oh this and oh that". School of hard-knox will teach you - No one can argue with success.
17) Taking sides is the easiest thing to do. When you believe inpeace, freedom and liberty - the toughest task is to convince thenaysayers, leftists, rightists, the slogan barking militants, the
violence ridden insurgents and the biased propogandists to leave their axe behind and come to the middle ground of prudent compromise. Now, can you personally do that? Yeah...show me the money - I mean - your courage !!!
18) And lastly - you are not a journalist. You are an op-ed editor.Know the difference please. And just like anybody "your have yourright to be wrong !!!"
P.S. When the sky is falling, sometimes one man's courage is the majority.
