By Lok Deep ThapaAre we heading for another more dangerous confrontation? A few analysts and some of my friends have said “Yes”.
This is indeed disturbing news. Specially for any normal Nepali citizen, who expects nothing more than just good governance no matter who comes to power.
Those people, who have painted this alarming scenario, are eminent scholars and serious political analyst, and surely they have not said what they have said for nothing.
At least according to a former Congressman, who was a minister during the Girija Prasad days, the stage has been all set for a direct confrontation between the Nepal Army and the Maoists. “All these people are only playing the roles prescribed to them, but still, a dangerous game is being played to pit one Nepali against the other,” he opined.
I hardly am qualified to make such prophecies, but having seen so many “unexpected” developments during my long years in the media, I also feel a political stalemate has been created, party leaders are being divided, a sense of insecurity has been spread, an environment of disobedience has been spread and a picture of complete anarchy has been created, simply to make Nepal another cauldron of violence and anarchy, where outsiders have to intervene to bring things under control.
But like a senior journalist friend who is now a Central Committee member of a small party in the Constituent Assembly told me, “Has foreign intervention brought peace and tranquility in countries which were comparatively peaceful, even if they did not match up to the standards of “democracy” as prescribed by certain world powers?” Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, former Yugoslavia or even disputed Kashmir were some of the names he took. Is there real peace in those places? It’s there for everyone to see.
Back home in Nepal, some so called civil society “leaders” and “mainstream media” are trying to thrust similar “bitter pills” down our throats, whether we like it or not.
In spite of the devastated economy, poor law and order situation, constant political turmoil and problems and disobedience in all sectors, including government institutions, we have been made to believe that things will be all right once we have a new constitution. How is this possible?
In fact most common men in the streets have little hopes for a better future, but in spite of the slogans of “majority rules”, it seems the powers that be actually don’t care about the voice of the silent majority.
Nobody bothers to admit that the rot has set in and it may take decades or may be even a century before Nepal can become “a Nepal”, which we saw in the past and what we envisage now.
Similarly, how can the peace process in the country be taken to a logical conclusion, when the major political parties, the combating armies, and specially the United Nations mission in this country, seem to be at loggerheads constantly? And alarmingly, when the UN body itself seems to be taking sides, at least as alleged by none less than the current Defense Minister herself, how can other ordinary folks feel otherwise?
Going out of the way, let me recollect here my days at St. Xavier’s School, where Father Downing – I forgot his first name – taught us Moral Science along with English. I know I have benefited by the English I learnt at St. Xavier’s, but I still can’t comprehend whether the Moral Science part has done any good for me, at least as far as how successful I am by “conventional” Nepalese standards.
I was told not to lie, not to cheat, not to hoodwink others and so on and so forth, and having learnt these lessons while pretty young, I took these things to heart, and tried to follow them, even while being surrounded by hypocrites, scoundrels and even thugs, specially when I was the General Manager of the Gorkhapatra Corporation.
Why I mention this by going out of the way is, I feel in the present situation, “morally” Unmin should voluntarily withdraw itself, as it has gotten into a huge controversy. This could be good or bad for Nepal, but when so many questions are being raised, even by the parties that are ruling this nation, Unmin has no moral grounds to stay on.
But while a political impasse continues, now the people are even starting to question whether an economic catastrophe stares us in the face and a time has come when apart from gold and land, the last bastion of most middle class Nepalese people, the private banks, are going to fall on hard times? If this comes true, then hundreds of thousands of Nepalese people are going to lose billions of rupees and worse times could come.
In fact this columnist has predicted time and again that the failure of the banks could prove to be the “catalyst” for a bigger conflict in this nation. I really hope this does not happen, but if it does, it may be like another quake hitting us, but this time, a man made one.
Again, this may not be in context, but while speaking of banks, it is not surprising that some sections of the media have also raised questions on the hefty paychecks different CEOs in the private banks take home. Apparently, the Nepal Rastra Bank, the Central Bank of the country, is trying to put a “ceiling” on the salaries of the bankers, but the President of the Bankers’ Association, Sashin Joshi countered in the media that the Central Bank has no authority to do this.
Joshi is a school mate and many other top ranking bankers are also acquaintances, so it would be unethical on my part to speak on their behalf, but the question remains whether the bankers who can compete with the officials manning controversial Unmin as far as their take home salary is concerned, can guarantee the safety of the money of the innocent Nepali people, like Unmin officials can guarantee peace?
If India, which like China is on the path to become a global economic giant, only “un-pegs” the Nepali rupee from the Indian currency, then what will happen to Nepal? Have the bankers advised the naïve Nepali investors regarding this situation?
Meanwhile, the “war of words between the media and the Indian Embassy here also sends a frightening message, at least to those who have seen the tragic events that have taken place in this country in recent decades when India or Indians have felt offended by Nepalese. A friend, who is a columnist in a vernacular daily told me, “This could be just a test like before, when Nepal was troubled in 1989 and then many times after that”. He explained that certain events have “prophesized” the events that would unfold in Nepal.
The present conflict between different parties, including the Nepal Army and the Maoist and the controversial stance of Unmin, all spell trouble for this country. The spat between the Indian Embassy and the Nepali media, and also the media presence of the former King and controversial Crown Prince, must also surely be some “kegs” in the wheels that is moving Nepal towards another war.
But while all these things could be plots and ploys to move the confrontation ahead, the question remains whether the fall of the banks could be instrumental in creating a “snowball” effect for another war.
(The writer can be reached at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
This is indeed disturbing news. Specially for any normal Nepali citizen, who expects nothing more than just good governance no matter who comes to power.
Those people, who have painted this alarming scenario, are eminent scholars and serious political analyst, and surely they have not said what they have said for nothing.
At least according to a former Congressman, who was a minister during the Girija Prasad days, the stage has been all set for a direct confrontation between the Nepal Army and the Maoists. “All these people are only playing the roles prescribed to them, but still, a dangerous game is being played to pit one Nepali against the other,” he opined.
I hardly am qualified to make such prophecies, but having seen so many “unexpected” developments during my long years in the media, I also feel a political stalemate has been created, party leaders are being divided, a sense of insecurity has been spread, an environment of disobedience has been spread and a picture of complete anarchy has been created, simply to make Nepal another cauldron of violence and anarchy, where outsiders have to intervene to bring things under control.
But like a senior journalist friend who is now a Central Committee member of a small party in the Constituent Assembly told me, “Has foreign intervention brought peace and tranquility in countries which were comparatively peaceful, even if they did not match up to the standards of “democracy” as prescribed by certain world powers?” Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, former Yugoslavia or even disputed Kashmir were some of the names he took. Is there real peace in those places? It’s there for everyone to see.
Back home in Nepal, some so called civil society “leaders” and “mainstream media” are trying to thrust similar “bitter pills” down our throats, whether we like it or not.
In spite of the devastated economy, poor law and order situation, constant political turmoil and problems and disobedience in all sectors, including government institutions, we have been made to believe that things will be all right once we have a new constitution. How is this possible?
In fact most common men in the streets have little hopes for a better future, but in spite of the slogans of “majority rules”, it seems the powers that be actually don’t care about the voice of the silent majority.
Nobody bothers to admit that the rot has set in and it may take decades or may be even a century before Nepal can become “a Nepal”, which we saw in the past and what we envisage now.
Similarly, how can the peace process in the country be taken to a logical conclusion, when the major political parties, the combating armies, and specially the United Nations mission in this country, seem to be at loggerheads constantly? And alarmingly, when the UN body itself seems to be taking sides, at least as alleged by none less than the current Defense Minister herself, how can other ordinary folks feel otherwise?
Going out of the way, let me recollect here my days at St. Xavier’s School, where Father Downing – I forgot his first name – taught us Moral Science along with English. I know I have benefited by the English I learnt at St. Xavier’s, but I still can’t comprehend whether the Moral Science part has done any good for me, at least as far as how successful I am by “conventional” Nepalese standards.
I was told not to lie, not to cheat, not to hoodwink others and so on and so forth, and having learnt these lessons while pretty young, I took these things to heart, and tried to follow them, even while being surrounded by hypocrites, scoundrels and even thugs, specially when I was the General Manager of the Gorkhapatra Corporation.
Why I mention this by going out of the way is, I feel in the present situation, “morally” Unmin should voluntarily withdraw itself, as it has gotten into a huge controversy. This could be good or bad for Nepal, but when so many questions are being raised, even by the parties that are ruling this nation, Unmin has no moral grounds to stay on.
But while a political impasse continues, now the people are even starting to question whether an economic catastrophe stares us in the face and a time has come when apart from gold and land, the last bastion of most middle class Nepalese people, the private banks, are going to fall on hard times? If this comes true, then hundreds of thousands of Nepalese people are going to lose billions of rupees and worse times could come.
In fact this columnist has predicted time and again that the failure of the banks could prove to be the “catalyst” for a bigger conflict in this nation. I really hope this does not happen, but if it does, it may be like another quake hitting us, but this time, a man made one.
Again, this may not be in context, but while speaking of banks, it is not surprising that some sections of the media have also raised questions on the hefty paychecks different CEOs in the private banks take home. Apparently, the Nepal Rastra Bank, the Central Bank of the country, is trying to put a “ceiling” on the salaries of the bankers, but the President of the Bankers’ Association, Sashin Joshi countered in the media that the Central Bank has no authority to do this.
Joshi is a school mate and many other top ranking bankers are also acquaintances, so it would be unethical on my part to speak on their behalf, but the question remains whether the bankers who can compete with the officials manning controversial Unmin as far as their take home salary is concerned, can guarantee the safety of the money of the innocent Nepali people, like Unmin officials can guarantee peace?
If India, which like China is on the path to become a global economic giant, only “un-pegs” the Nepali rupee from the Indian currency, then what will happen to Nepal? Have the bankers advised the naïve Nepali investors regarding this situation?
Meanwhile, the “war of words between the media and the Indian Embassy here also sends a frightening message, at least to those who have seen the tragic events that have taken place in this country in recent decades when India or Indians have felt offended by Nepalese. A friend, who is a columnist in a vernacular daily told me, “This could be just a test like before, when Nepal was troubled in 1989 and then many times after that”. He explained that certain events have “prophesized” the events that would unfold in Nepal.
The present conflict between different parties, including the Nepal Army and the Maoist and the controversial stance of Unmin, all spell trouble for this country. The spat between the Indian Embassy and the Nepali media, and also the media presence of the former King and controversial Crown Prince, must also surely be some “kegs” in the wheels that is moving Nepal towards another war.
But while all these things could be plots and ploys to move the confrontation ahead, the question remains whether the fall of the banks could be instrumental in creating a “snowball” effect for another war.
(The writer can be reached at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
by lok deep thapa
