Difficult road to peace

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has rightly observed that the peace process in Nepal is a complex affair and precludes an easy solution. There are just too many destabilising factors that need to be dealt with before the country is ready to hold CA polls, which are meant to resolve all outstanding national issues. The Tarai is in total chaos, human rights situation is “worsening” and issues of discrimination and social and political exclusion continue to mar all efforts at reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.

No doubt, there is a need for broad consensus on important issues before preparations for CA polls can begin in earnest. The important question is how to develop one. Among the two measures that stand out, one concerns all “major” political parties and the other, only the Maoists. While the political parties need to realise that the demands of dalits, janajatis and Tarai people are genuine, the Maoists need to develop more public trust in the political outfits whose origins are, in one way or another, linked to the CPN-Maoists. Genuine political demands cannot be brushed aside as minor irritants — best tackled through dialogue. Any recourse to violence will only prove counterproductive both to the Maoists and the country.

Asesh Subba, via e-mail

Two-faced

Apropos of the news report “We aren’t involved, says Mahara” (THT, July 26), how can the Minister for Information and Communication deny Maoists’ hand in disrupting distribution of THT and Annapurna Post when all evidence points to the contrary? What does Krishna Bahadur Mahara make of Maoist trade union leader Salikram Jammakattel owning up to being responsible for the disruptions, then?

Basanta Devkota,

Gaurighat

Not enough

Regarding the steamroller attitude adopted by the Maoist-affiliated trade union to have its demands heard by the publishers of THT and Annapurna Post, Minister for Information

and Communication Krishna B Mahara has said that there was no Maoist support for the disruptive activities of the trade union. All and good. But shouldn’t he also have denounced such violent acts irrespective of who committed them?

Ishwari Pradhan, via e-mail

Hapless

It was heart-breaking to read that at least 50 Iraqi soccer fans who were rejoicing the victory of Iraq over South Korea in the semi-final of the Asian Cup football tournament were killed in separate explosions that rocked Baghdad late Wednesday. My heart goes out to the Iraqi people who are punished even for celebrating the success of their football team. I can only imagine life in modern-day Iraq where people have to remain on their toes at all times, where one cannot separate one’s foes from friends and where even celebrating the success of the national team is not safe.

Despite the political upheavals and occasional violence here, as compared to Iraq, Nepal seems like a paradise. That is no cause to celebrate though.

Rather, no effort should be spared in ensuring that Nepal becomes a peaceful country once again.

Sharad Jha, via e-mail