cont.............
Rampant corruption and dishonesty at all levels of
state bureaucracy means that King Gyanendra faces a
serious challenge in managing state functionaries. It
has become apparent that Nepalese bureaucrats have no
interests in serving their own country. As Maoist
violence looms, most of them have engaged in either
amassing state wealth to buy secure complexes in urban
centres or to send their families to Western
countries. At least in one case known to most Nepalese
living in Europe, a junior bureaucrat has managed to
send a whole community to European countries. The
story of Nepal police, accepted globally as the most
corrupt state body of Nepal, runs almost parallel with
Maoist extortionists. For example, is it possible to
believe that a simple police inspector is able to
build an 18 bed-room complex next to Kathmandu's
international airport? To fight corruption
effectively, King Gyanendra should give sweeping power
to the corruption watch-dog body, Commission for the
Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) so that it
can immediately bring all those corrupt bureaucrats
and leaders, including those like Girija Koirala who
think they are above the law to justice. The effective
functioning of CIAA is not only an imperative to
tackle corruption, but also to raise revenues to deal
with the problems of poverty, and Maoist atrocities.
Secondly, King Gyanendra should start a genuine land
and income redistribution system so that 90 percent of
subsistent Nepalese are able to receive relatively
fair share of national properties. A special agenda
must be set for the lowest castes, women and
indigenous people. Obviously he has to learn from the
failure of his father's much talked about land reform
program in the 1960s. It is impossible to disagree
that widespread poverty and general abandonment of
rural population led to the current truculent
situation in Nepal. So, only the combination of
pro-poor policies and vigorous offensive against
Maoist rebels is likely to bring long-term peace and
stability in the country. For now, without peace and
stability, it makes little sense to dream about
'democracy' albeit its necessity.
Thirdly, Nepal has skyrocketing unemployment rate (47
percent by some estimates), which is not reflected in
official statistics at all. While sons and daughters
of poor villagers are dying for nothing, Nepal's
rebels are the ones taking undue advantage of mass
unemployment. At present, prospect for employment
generating activities looks grim. King Gyanendra must
speed up recent progress made in overseas contract
work by introducing concrete guidelines for employment
agencies. Priority should be given to young people who
are genuinely escaping from Maoist threats and those
surrendered Maoist rebels whose lives are in danger.
The concern here is not simply finding a job for idle
youth, but Nepal is dependent on remittances (up to
100 billion Nepalese rupees in a year) from foreign
countries, which cannot be underestimated, especially
at this troubled hour. Nonetheless, seeking jobs
abroad is only a short-term solution for a limited
number of people. The real urgency of seeking
alternative employment domestically must also be
pursued simultaneously. Democracy, whatever it means,
is essential in the long run, but without peace, it
cannot flourish for the benefit of majority of
Nepalese. And peace is impossible without a stable
government, who is committed to tackle the
unimaginable mess hoarded in the last 15 years. Now,
all eyes are on King Gyanendra, who has taken the
biggest gamble. Success is the only option he has got.
We shall wait and see whether he will accomplish his
commitments in the next three years.
*************
B. R. Giri, has an MA in International Relations and
Developmental Studies from the University of
Amsterdam. He is working on his Ph.D.from London. He
is also a founder of Sathi Foundation
Also, Check out this article by Kamala Sarup:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00067.htm
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