Just a few quick comments on additional issues raised by NS-jyu..

1. NC represents typical (mainstream) Nepali/Nepal ?

If a relatively financially secure Pahadi high caste male is what a typical Nepali is, then NC probably represents a typical Nepali/Nepal. Otherwise it does not.

Let’s put things in number. When Maoists were away from the scene, NC used to get around 30-35% of the total votes in general elections. That means about 65-70% voters did not identify with NC. And that means NC certainly did not represent typical Nepali and Nepal.

That was when Maoists were absent. Now when Maoists are in the scene we all know how things are.

2. Voters surrendered to Maoists

It depends on how you describe things. Otherwise, as one columnist had written in Kantipur recently, people besieged Maoist and imprisoned them into democracy ! Something to get mesmerized and be proud of Nepali voters’ intellect and wisdom, as I emphasized ealier.

3. YCL

I think Prachanda is wrong to refuse to dissolve YCL. However, he is right to demand that other parties also need to agree to dissolve their so-called ‘sister organizations’.

I am of the opinion that one of the institutional reforms of our public institutions and political parties is to make it illegal for political parties to extend their organ to non-political institutions. And I think it can be done. All it needs is strong voice of civil societies and the public against political invasion of public institutions by political parties and of course co-operation from political parties.

4. Kangaroo Courts

I think what we hear about is just some transitional remnants of the old parallel Maoist ‘satta’. They will be irrelevant and disappear once Maoist become the new ‘satta’ and starts running it.

Although it was inappropriate and rightly criticized by the government, media and civil societies, I have heard quite different stories about these Kangaroo courts. I was shocked to read one news about Kollywood calling YCL to settle a dispute !

So I am little skeptic about the eradication of Kangaroo courts as long as YCL exists.

However, since I sense that sooner or later YCL is going to be a burden rather than help to Maoist in power, I hope YCL era will be over.

Nepe