Editorial
Dark clouds
The confrontational strategy and the disregard for the Constituent Assembly is prominently evident by the recent action of the UCPN (M) in declaring 4 republican states of Kochila, Limbuwan, Seti Mahakali and Tharuwan. More than the Maoist step being a haughty reflection, it stands for challenging the very fabric of the country which is moving, albeit at a snail’s pace, towards the formulation of the new constitution as per the republican aspirations that was evident in the CA election. Of course, the Maoists want to show an upper hand through this hasty decision, without proper framework and logistics. This shows that UCPN (M) is in a hurry for declaring the autonomous states to show that they stand for the people by ethnicity and regions. However, it is an ill-conceived motion, though it might be one of the long term objectives of the Maoists that will at this juncture lead to bad blood even with those in whose name the Maoists think they are playing the trump. For a start, among others, a leading Limbuwan group as well as a Tharu organisation already have objections against the unilateral respective decisions of the UCPN (M). The controversy over the boundary will be a vexing one for the Maoists to get over their sleepless nights now.
The hurry to cash in their agenda by playing with the sentiments of the people will, however, prove costly for the Maoists ultimately. Barely three weeks back the Maoists had announced a plan to declare 13 republican states starting December 11. True to their words the first were declared Friday while another two on Sunday. The action all belong to the third phase of the Maoists’ protests directed to get their demands on correction of the President’s move regarding the then army chief and the agenda of civilian supremacy fulfilled. The hurried manner in which the Maoists want to push forward their party’s agenda for which no popular mandate as such has been generated speaks of their goal. Despite being a mainstream political party, the UCPN (M) does not behave as one in many areas. They may have their long term objective, but the foremost factor that they should realize is that the democratic norms have to be adhered to, which they have defied. All the pleas have fallen on their deaf ears.
Appeals, particularly that of the ruling parties, have been discarded by the Maoists in a veiled attempt to show its own supremacy, that is to say that the UCPN( M) has the license to indulge in any activity irrespective of the Comprehensive Peace Accord, the Interim Constitution and even the CA entrusted to prepare the draft of what the country is to be through the new constitution. Furthermore, the Maoist acts show that they are least bothered whether the statute is drafted or not, and whether the House business is disrupted for months on end. Of course, the Maoists relented for the presentation of the budget for the fiscal year 2009/10 and its approval, which must have been guided by their own vested interest. The recent Maoist act is a great wrong that they are committing, and this can invite greater anarchy and possibly bloodshed because of the delicate and sensitive issues that are tied to the autonomous state division.
Bird watch
The absence of migratory birds in Koshi Tappu this winter comes as big surprise. Every year during the winter season birds from as far away as Siberia would come to this wetland. But so far none has been sighted there which is quite unusual under normal circumstances. Experts, however, attribute this to the phenomenon of global warming and climate change. The birds seem to have now found favorable weather nearer their original habitat, and no longer migrate to a distant place. The climate change has affected the visits by the migratory birds in the reserve. At one time it used to boast of having as many as 500 migrant bird species.
Now only a few birds have come to the sanctuary as much wet-spots have dried up and now there is scarcity of insects and fishes - food for the birds. The consequences of climate change have now been seen in the migratory pattern of birds. Having no such birds in Koshi Tappu is a disaster for all bird lovers and also tourists who visit the place to do some bird watching. Now, it is up to the experts to find out ways to mitigate the effects of global warming and what it does to the migratory habits of birds in the summit now taking place in Copenhagen.
