Consolidation for peace and prosperity

The terrorism germinates and grows in the environment of unequal opportunities, acute poverty, gross marginalization, illiteracy, unemployment, rampant corruption, criminalization of politics, unresponsive executive and judiciary, and easy access to means of terrorism. For many frustrated youths, violence is the sure means of quick solutions; there are thousands such youths vulnerable for exploitation. If we continue fighting and killing each others; one day there will be no Nepali left, for this reason no Nepal. It will be lose- lose state of affairs. No one will win. Terrorism does not pay. It does not win hearts and minds. There are other better alternatives to politics than terrorism. We have already wasted valuable lives and times in the past. Now there is no time to waste. No resources left. If we really are dedicated to people then let us all be clear that people want peace and prosperity. My understanding is that we are all traveling in the same boat. So no one can keep him/herself aloof. Terrorism spares none. Let us all row the boat to safety first; not fight with each other. National interests come first always and everywhere, then the group and individual interests. Surely we would not like our country to become another Sierra Leone, Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Peru, Sri Lanka etc.Let our conscience rule over our ego.

Fighting terrorism is not a matter of interest, not a matter of choice, but a matter of utmost necessity, a matter of high importance, and a matter of urgency. What is required is action--not just sit satisfied in tacit connivance only. Watching others facing the brunt of terrorism, waiting for one’s turn, shutting doors to the gross scene of violence, murders, rape, and closing nostrils to the rotten smell of dead bodies are acts of cowardice. We must have courage to stand against these. If we do not, then we simply wait in the queue for our turn; and it is destined to come sooner or later - because terrorism spares none. Raising awareness and education among the leaders, cadres, and communities against the futility of such terrorism to attain political solution or usher social change, and providing economic activities for many jobless young people, and create good political environment which is more conducive and inclusive than conservative are sure steps towards ending violence. An effective response to the Maoist threat should therefore encompass larger issues of development, leadership, and good governance.

Anyone can be a very good guru and preacher of modern democracy and good governance. One should respect their knowledge. But at the same time we should also not forget the ground realities of our land. Westerners have already gone through the phases of learning by mistakes. We are only entering into it now. It is always easy to demand than give. It is easy to preach than practice. For the successful practice of democracy we need to have discipline; without it, democracy will turn into lawlessness, mobocracy, chhadatantra, autocracy, and mockery. Democracy can survive when the rights and duties of citizen are properly balanced. There is no place in the world where there are no laws, where there are no restrictions to criminal acts, where there are no punishments for corruptions. Democracy means respecting the law of the country. In our case, Grouchi Marx’s saying “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies” perfectly matches. In the name of democracy the social norms and values have been dismantled. Therefore let us all consolidate for peace and prosperity.