Loktantra Day
April 24th is the day for us to bow our heads in respect for all the martyrs and injured of the second people's movement, who braved the batons and bullets of a despot to bring us all freedom and fundamental rights. The country has come a long way in one year. Though there is a plethora of points proving that democratic rule is inefficient, incompetent and insincere, one single achievement of democracy outweighs all its blemishes. The achievement is a significant drop in the loss of human life. From a daily toll of about five dead in the later years of the conflict, we have reached a stage where even five slaps against anyone has become news in the papers and on radio and TV. The resumption of democracy (Loktantra) has taught us to respect human dignity, freedom and the rights of all individuals. We have certainly come a long way, and yet there is obviously a great deal of lacunae that requires urgent attention if we are to consolidate our achievements.
The major eyesore is the unchanged behavior of our political parties. Though the seven-party alliance and the eighth member of the club, the Maoists, have demonstrated unprecedented unity for democracy's rebirth, they have shown unfathomable differences over minor issues of statecraft. The alacrity seen in the appointment of party men to public positions is one major issue that is creating rifts. Similarly, the issue of Constituent Assembly elections is also dividing asunder the partners of the democracy movement. The divergent political ideologies of the various parties are creating problems of their own. The feud initiated by the Madhesis and supported by the Janajati all in the name of ethnic proportional representation is also fracturing the country. Even though the Maoists, the NC and the CPN-UML do not believe in a federal structure based on ethnicity, their lack of guts to say so openly is endangering democracy.
Another major problem is the failure of the Maoists to control their cadres and persuade them to follow the rule of law. If the Maoists continue with their parallel government and
highhandedness in every facet of life, the bridges of understanding with other parties can only crumble. Apart from the political issues, the general public judges the interim government on its competence in providing them services and security. Obviously, regressive forces are creating one problem after another, but the government has to show competence in dealing with these and provide a safe and peaceful environment for the masses. It is sad that many people injured during the popular movement have not received financial support, and their recognition by the state is a fry cry. The people are braving all this, appreciating that the government needs time to consolidate. We urge the government to put in more effort so that the complaints of the people will be less by the time of the next Loktantra Day.
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