Posted by: SIWALIK April 22, 2006
Don't let us be fooled again.
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It is interesting to note how the foreign governments advised us about need for "constitutional" forces to work together to solve the current crisis. The connotation, of course, is that Nepal needs monarchy to survive. That implies that Nepalese people are not capable of forming and functioning under democracy on our own. We are basically children who need adult supervision. That is ludicrous. When you really look at Nepal, there is no one who is capable of actually leading at present. All the political parties and leaders have been exposed for their incompetence. Nepal's future lies with none of them. They should be all removed from power, sooner than later. Nepal's hope comes from new generation leaders who are capable of vision of a democratic society that can come out of the shadow of a feudal royal system. We need technocrats, not traditional politicians. Nepal does not need monarchy any more. They are a burden. Keeping them will be akin to giving them more opportunity to fiddle in politics and scuttle aspiration of a truly egalitarian society. As long as the royals are there, they will work against the betterment of Nepalese people. We saw how they managed to remain above the law and not be held accountable even under constitutional monarchy. That was a failure of the political leaders who negotiated on behalf of the people. Let us not be fooled any more. Let us not allow them to repeat the same folly. Constitutional or ceremonial monarchy is not acceptable. No democracy will flourish as long as there is a royal presence in Nepal. Monarchy has become a tumor that needs to be surgically removed. We should not let the SPA negotiate for any role for monarchy in Nepal in the 21st century. If they do, they should be treated as traitors and meet the fate they deserve. They have duped and failed us time and again. NO MORE! Political leaders failed miserably in the "democratic" years. But the monarchy has actively worked towards discrediting democracy. These leaders need to be held accountable as well. Let new generation leaders emerge under totally democratic political parties. If we do not embrace democracy whole-heartedly, it will not get an opportunity to blossom. Despite the inept leadership we witness today, we have to work for a Republic of Nepal. Once we instill democracy, everything is not going to get better overnight. We have to accept that there will be growing pains as we shed the cultural, societal and political constraints of the past. Increasing numbers of Nepalese are now based in foreign countries and have seen where Nepal stands compared to other nations. They all wish for things to be different in Nepal. We may take a generation to be fully democratic, but that is a path worth taking. We cannot let the royals still hang around. Consider who is at the helm now and who is succeeding to the throne. The right time to get rid of monarchy is NOW. If we do not decide NOW, we will never succeed. For the future of Nepal, Nepalese have to defy everyone who thinks we are incapable of functioning without supervision. Let not these foreign sources dictate the will of the people. Democracy should be a result of people's aspiration if we accept the proposition that sovereignty resides in people. So let not USA, EU or India shortchange our will to establish a Republic of Nepal. Anyone who defies the will of the people should be given the same fate that awaits the monarchy.
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