Nepal, with the declaration of federal democratic republic, is now at the new political threshold, but the condition of the common people is still the same as in the past.
As the decade-long arm conflict ended and the federal democratic republic established, the fate-cheated Nepalese people never get to sigh of relief even in this period. Even though we are in the deep post-conflict transition and the peace process is going towards the logical conclusion, the extent of human rights violation has not been stopped yet. Even in the republic, Nepalese people are deprived of social, economic, and cultural rights.
Nepalese people, who have been fighting against autocracy and authoritarianism frequently to establish a stable political system, human rights, liberty and pursuit of happiness, now, seem to be tired to see the same tendency of the political parties. They are still compelled to spend their lives in scarcity, social injustice and discrimination.
It’s been about one and half year since the CA election was conducted and around four months since the present government was formed. Now, it’s the time to ask a question ourselves before interpreting further- Are we in fact more affluent than we were in the past? If the answer is no, how long should we wait before we decide to do something about the rapidly worsening situation?
There were high expectations, even ecstasy when the Maoists came to power as the first republican government that their revolutionary passion would bring a new style and efficiency to the government. Not only that, most Nepalese had supposed that although the constitution-drafting process could be messy and fraught with delays, they were sure that their livelihood would improve and there would be peaceful and favorable environment, where the different minorities, marginalized, backward people could enjoy their rights and freedom having no any sense of being discriminated by the state and the society. Even the critics of the Maoists had predicted that the party would really go ahead in the development field. The Maoists would be different and progressive, everyone thought. The splendid dream of transforming the nation with hydro dollars went shattered after the declaration of energy crisis. However, the expectations and dreams of Nepalese people couldn’t be fulfilled, but instead of fulfilling people’s basic needs, the Maoists government itself happened to be pulled down.
The present coalition government led by CPN UML also seems to be getting delay to deliver and match the people’s expectations. The large number of people of mid Western area of Nepal are dieing as the cattle’s because of diarrhea including hunger and starvation. They are obliged to live quite dark and unhealthy life because of the ignorance of government, lack of awareness and lack of facilities of medicines, health institution as well as health workers.
On the other hand, other political issues still have not been solved yet. The biggest party in CA (Maoist) is in opposition and has been obstructing the parliament frequently by which Maoist’s relationship with other political parties has also turned sour that has invited the state of uncertainty in the current political affairs. Moreover, labor union militancy has broken the possibility of foreign direct investment in the country, and the dispute among political parties, deteriorating condition of human rights, increasing social and ethnic violence, political protection upon criminals, increasing tendency of impunity and the political extremism have created despair among the optimistic Nepalese citizens and also have added more trouble as well as the state of illusion, confusion and insecurity for living. How long do we innocent Nepalese people have to live in the world of illusion, fake-consolation and sorrows then? Every Nepalese should ask this question in order to come to a rational conclusion.
As we know that Patience is great, but the longer we wait, the more damage gets done. Exactly the same, at present, peace, rule of law and social harmony among the diverse societies are being spoiled by various power centers. The responsible parties, whom we gave vote to institutionalize republic and to draft an acceptable constitution solving different burning problems, seem to be indifferent about the sufferings of poor and the downtrodden. What they are currently doing is cleverly manipulating the psychological insecurities of Nepalese people. By attacking the independent Medias and interfering in religious tradition, the so-called biggest parties are feeling the pulse of Nepalese societies. They are telling us what we want to hear, but are doing what benefits them politically. By simply reminding of us, pain, suffering and dread of future terror, they want us to eventually weaken and give in to their demands. The miss-understanding and lack of co-ordination among the ministers themselves and other governmental bodies reveal a pathetic situation and the symptom of political and social disaster in Nepal where the 24 million Nepali people who are living without water, electricity and cooking without fuel and washing without soaps. Thus, the dispute among political parties themselves, uncontrolled and extreme feelings of superiority of political cadres, increased tendency of impunity and weakness of security system have pushed Nepal in to the number one state, where the violation of human rights seems to be common and mustruming in rapid way. Similarly, in the present days, innocents are killed, kidnapped, raped, threatened, shot, and the criminals are politically protected and encouraged to commit further crimes and violet the human rights openly. During the time of strike, the innocent children, who know nothing about the politics as well as the purpose of strikes and protests, are being rampantly used. The government colleges are adversely affected by the unhealthy practice of politics and influenced by political strategies. By using innocent children and manipulating students what sorts of education are they receiving? And what sorts of moral ethics do our coming generation learn from us? Such unfavorable condition of human rights has shocked every individual and added further salt in the wound of innocent people who are losing hope and enthusiasm towards the republic and the present government too.
Now, even the unalienable human rights of the people; right to live, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are in the verge of extinction due to the extreme recklessness of government and the responsible political parties. The open violation of human rights, to which the government hears with its deaf ear and sees with its blind eyes, has created the state of vulgarity in Nepal. It is, indeed, the responsible political parties also are completely eaten up by the unhealthy competition of getting prominence. They have been making the criminal case a political issue. It has been a regular practice of making any criminal case a political issue if some of the professional organizations or the political parties got killed but none bothers when an innocent person got killed. So, political parties have been ruling the country for their self-interest going against the interest of the people in general that can be the root cause of the continuous Deterioration of human rights and security even in the liberal republican period.
The continuing Tarai unrest, brewing discontent among groups demanding self-determination, the inability of the state to protect its citizens have not shown the good symptom at all. Actually, the country is, currently, undergoing difficult political situations and is weighted down by the myriad socio-economic problems. political leaders including those are in government, versions of socialism and communism are that those who loudly profess them, themselves make a mockery of it by living in grand, ostentatious style and regarding themselves as a privileged class even while countless millions of Nepalese do not get sufficient food and housing, and live semi-naked. The cost of ministerial comfort to the public exchequer is indeed very heavy. Their salaries represent a fraction of what the nation has to spend on them and on all the pomp and show that are estimated essential whenever prime minister and ministers go on foreign tours or visit districts to invest a function. Even many foreign visitors wonder at the governmental extravagant nature, while the country is still associated with the begging bowl at international forums and in affluent countries.
In the present context, everyone is getting mad in Nepal. the leaders of the biggest party (currently in opposition) talk about waging another people movement, some Madheshi leaders talk about the end of Nepal, Different indigenous groups have already declared their autonomous regions, various ethnic groups are recruiting armed combatants to create conflict against the state, few religions elements have plotted bombs across the country and a Supreme Court judge gets lecture about rule of law and power of people. Such disordered condition of the country has given birth a question: Is Nepal going to be a failure state then? And everybody wonders how Nepal is surviving in this mess condition.
Really, this is the post-conflict transition and it is hard to believe whether we have a democratic government or not in this republican time. ,
Now, everybody is looking for the answer of the question whether the republic for hopeful Nepalese is development or disaster. Everyone is clear on the fact that nobody expects miracles from this present government headed by Madhav Kumar Nepal. But the government needs to prove that they are doing more than just spreading political bickering.
The government should understand that people need at least a perception that their lives will improve, and this is equally important to accomplish the completion of peace process and formation of an acceptable constitution. The conscious Nepalese people, now don’t believe on what government is saying only the fact is acceptable and believable, what government is doing for the sake of development.
Indeed, the most important thing is that the government must be serious about its common responsibilities to draft an inclusive constitution solving the different existing problems providing relief to the public who are passionately hoping for the peace, prosperity and happiness in their lives. The whole world is watching Nepal’s activities actively. So our government should be capable to cooperate with other states, donors, international communities and govern according to the rule of law, respect international legal obligations, prevent crime etc.
At least Nepalese people should get to feel the changes, the rights to freedom for all and forever. We should not let the country fail. If the government seriously thinks about it and acts on the behalf of public’s expectations, it is certain that the country will be recognized as a nation of peace and consensus in the world. Therefore, lets not the federal democratic republic be the means of disaster, and it is, indeed, instead of developing the culture of political bickering, political parties must stress on the need for consensus to institutionalize democratic republic in the country and the target can be achieved only if the parties move ahead in a united manner.
