Time to be right

At a time when the trust deficit among the alliance partners seems to be spiralling after the deferral of the constituent assembly polls, Monday’s Maoist attack on a police post in Banke sends a wrong signal to the public. Reports indicate a dispute between a Maoist district member and a police constable over the latter’s attempt to conduct a security check on the former ultimately developed into this untoward incident. Thankfully, there was no casualty, and four of the policemen who had gone missing during the Maoist attack are reported to have come into contact. Accusations and counter-accusations have surfaced. But the attack cannot be justified by the nature of the dispute, and Maoist cadres should also understand that they have now become a part of the government and their responsibility has increased. This certainly stresses the need for them to adapt their ways to the new situation fully and soon.

The Maoists and the other constituents of the eight-party alliance should tackle such unfortunate incidents as this through consultation and talks. There are also sporadic reports of activists of the Maoist-aligned Young Communist League (YCL) resorting to high-handedness such as physical action over disputes with others. This week they also clashed with the Armed Police Force in Bardiya over a difference concerning the use of a building. There have also been reports of clashes between workers of other political parties and YCL cadres from time to time. Though informed comment on individual cases can only be made after an independent verification of the facts, the number of reports alleging the YCL’s wrongdoings should, by itself, be enough to draw the serious attention of top Maoist leaders, who should identify areas of YCL misconduct and take corrective action.But other parties should also self-introspect whether their cadres have been in the wrong or where. Rival parties have almost always taken the sides of their sister organisations or cadres even if they were wrong and tend only to blame the others for wrongdoing. As for the YCL, it has done good work too — its cadres have been involved in social work as represented, for example, in their “New Kathmandu Valley Campaign” launched to make it clean and organised, and under which they have, among other things, helped to widen the road along the Kalanki-Soaltee section, facilitated garbage disposal, planted trees at certain places along the Bagmati and Vishnumati.

But, if any YCL cadres, and for that matter anybody else, are engaged in criminal activities, the government should show the courage to bring them to book. The public will not support the wrongdoers. But the practice of indulging only in criticism without matching action won’t help. The growing distrust between the political parties over certain major political issues, particularly the one relating to monarchy v republic, is threatening to break the eight-party alliance. Then much worse things are likely to happen. Displaying statesmanship in such a critical hour is a must, as it will test the leadership of the major constituents of the alliance.

Source: The Himalayan Times, May 3, 2007