Editorial»
Routine rhetoric
NOV 06 - Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa’s news conference the other day could have been an occasion to announce a comprehensive roadmap to addressing pressing national issues through reconciliation. But he preferred to give it a confrontational tone. He announced that the government has completed “a phase” and is now entering a new one. In saying so, he gave a strong indication, and all too clearly, that the government no more sees a point in trying to resolve the Maoist conflict through talks. The Prime Minister announced that the only way to tackle the Maoist problem was through a “civil-military campaign.” Every country has had its difficult moments. But a democratic nation should always concentrate its resources on finding a solution through negotiations, no matter how elusive they may appear. The government’s avowed policy to take on the Maoists through the “civil-military campaign” comes as an undemocratic blow, as it will further provoke the Maoists. Which means more bloodshed and violence.
Thapa’s press conference has also lent some credence to the political parties’ claim that the government was militarising the political landscape fast. Flexing the military muscles alone cannot resolve the colossal conflict. Consensus among the mainstream political forces is the key to defusing the crisis. And this was precisely one of the guidelines King Gyanendra gave it to Thapa when he was appointed Prime Minister four months ago. There is no disputing the fact that Thapa has failed miserably in this regard. The Prime Minister did not offer the other day any concrete proposal to resolve the conflict between the political parties and the government that is slowly discrediting the King as well. He repeated his routine call on the political parties to join his government—something the political parties have rejected outright.
Although Thapa has lately begun to talk about holding local and parliamentary elections, he is yet to announce the dates for elections. In not announcing the specific timeframe of the elections, he is enriching the claim of the opposition that the talk of elections is a ploy to extend the government’s tenure. But without political consensus, at least among the mainstream political parties, the elections will turn out to be a hollow promise. How can civil servants go to the hinterlands with ballots where even security forces fear to tread?
Another striking announcement was the opening up of a human rights promotion centre under the Prime Minister’s leadership. This may send across a message that the government is trying to cover up its dismal records on human rights violations. Additionally, given the fact that his government has not heeded to the National Human Rights Commission’s reports on blatant human rights violations by the security forces, the proposed human rights centre looks like yet another hogwash.Posted on: 2003-11-05 09:59
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