EDITORIAL: Show flexibility

RJPN should now realize that constitutional amendment and increasing number of local levels at this stage are impossible

The second phase of local level election is scheduled for June 14, and electoral preparations are going on in full swing. The Tarai-based political parties are still divided – some are preparing to take part in the election, particularly the Upendra Yadav-led Federal Socialist Forum Nepal and the Bijaya Gacchadar-led Nepal Democratic Forum, whereas the new party, Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN), composed of six smaller parties including the parties led by Rajendra Mahato and Mahantha Thakur, are still bargaining with the government, a coalition of the Nepali Congress and the CPN--Maoist Centre and others, regarding the fulfillment of their demands, which have ranged from a constitutional amendment to registration of the RJPN and allotting of a separate election symbol to the unified party. In order to persuade the RJPN to participate in the elections, the three big parties, including the CPN-UML, are continuing their efforts, and they are reported to be even more flexible to the extent of amending the election related law to address the RJPN’s demand of party registration and a separate election symbol. In this regard, bilateral and multilateral talks continue to take place.

The efforts are worthwhile. It is the duty of the government and the big parties to try their best to ensure that all political parties take part in the election, which is indeed more powerful than shells and ammunition, as stressed by Upendra Yadav whose party also took part in the first phase of election, though he had been in league with the RJPN constituents till not long ago in speaking  the language of agitation and obstruction to push their various demands. This is the right approach for any political party to take which wants to prove its relevance for a long time and to do politics for the people. Just creating disturbances is no measure of any political party’s popular base as not many people are needed for such actions. After the first-phase of election, the pressure on the other parties, including the RJPN, has grown to take part in the elections, because the people seem to be attracted toward the language of electoral politics which have given them their local level governments with a wide range of constitutionally guaranteed powers, and this grassroots democracy in action will be seen in a few days after the elected representatives assume office.

The RJPN does not have a better choice than opting for the elections. But its difficulty in taking part in the election without party registration and a separate election symbol are understandable, though in a normal course of events party registration after the deadline has passed must not be entertained. But if this and other technical issues have stood in the way of RJPN, the big political parties should show consideration. RJPN should now realize that constitutional amendment and increasing number of local levels at this stage are impossible. The government and the big parties should realize too that while showing a reasonable degree of flexibility, they must not extend the election date, except for five or six days, provided that the RJPN also makes a commitment to take part in the election. Beyond that, the election cannot be held because of monsoon.

Blood crunch

The district hospital in Siraha is facing a crisis due to lack of a blood bank. Many patients who visit the hospital even for minor surgeries are being referred to other health facilities as the hospital lacks blood. The hospital was established in 2006, and it had also allocated land to the Red Cross to establish a blood bank. Instead, the Red Cross is renting the building. This needs to be thoroughly probed as it is creating a blood crunch in the hospital. Meanwhile, the Red Cross says it could not establish a blood bank as few donors visited the hospital.

This is not the only hospital facing a crisis of blood. Organizations like the Red Cross which are building blood banks should be encouraged. Awareness should be raised about the benefits of donating blood and that it is not harmful to the donors. Merely organizing camps is not enough to collect the blood needed to cater to the needs of those who require blood transfusion. The campaign to collect blood should be a sustained one so that there is sufficient blood to meet demands. At present, there is an acute shortage of blood in various hospital and health centres countrywide.