Slarti, I had to work on this because your comments are normally better. I think this is what you wanted to say.

"Remove the nail, and the hammer will have nothing to hit. It will be purely ceremonial."

A blast from the past, this was the suggestion of this paper to the people of Nepal, a long-long time ago.

In response someone undemocratic said, Street agitation has been going on in Kathmandu since 2002 when parliament was dissolved by Prime Minister Deuba. So whether it's the king or someone else in power does not matter, disturbances and demonstrations will go on. The only way to stop them is by a legitimate government."

Meanwhile, a defender of democracy and the dreamer of a new Nepal was commenting on the undemocratic practice of conducting an election. To his credit, the king admitted in his Wednesday speech that history is the judge of the people's conduct during times of crisis."

He goes on elsewhere, and I will urge you to read carefully, Today's potentates (I found out it means rulers) seldom bother with bread but they love circuses. The municipal election this week was one such." 

He goes on, "The regime wanted to distract the attention of urban population away from its abject failure of the past three years of interventionist monarchy. Nothing else can explain an electoral farce that was opposed by Maoists, boycotted by political parties, disparaged by international community, sneered at by media, ignored by human rights activists, barely tolerated by the bureaucracy and warily watched by a largely-indifferent population.

He went on to warn the seven party alliance that, "The seven-party alliance now needs to review its strategy. It must accept that one in every five voters did turn out despite threats to personal safety." 

But surprising agile in his imagination, the quoter of Juvenal's work and the denouncer of various military-mercantile alliance, goes on to complete, "The Nepali bourgeois relatively safe in urban clusters is still indifferent to the concerns of democracy, freedom of the press and human rights. Their biggest concern is still whether there is gasoline for their motorcycles and the availability of fresh vegetables. This apathy is a manifestation of the collective failure of the political parties. Unless they tap this dormant force, they can't revive the middle ground in Nepali politics."

That is not all, the message to the doyens of democracy is contained in this quote of the decade, "In fact it did everything under its power to undermine the credibility of the process by arresting political leaders, human rights activists and independent professionals", (what dreadful opposition to democracy, the suppression of voices, oh hang on),"[who were] opposed to the polls.

Today, the sharp and shrill noise against everything Nepali, the ululating of the benevolently smiling idiots found in newspapers calling on people to have some spunk, and saying that the decapitator of feudal heads are now rightist (horrors and screams, how could he), the denouncers of the Hindu pantheon, and its religious texts, who continue to appear to rule the sound, print, and radio waves of today's Nepal will also produce regrets for tomorrows Nepal.

Tell me Herr Comrade, whose head would be put on the slab then???? 

Allow me to make two of my own points related to the discussion (not the article itself) here:

First, a positive discussion builds up on everyone's comments. So, a dialogue should replace monologues in forums like this one.

Second, Sagar dai has pointed out the elephant in the room; lets not ask him to find a way to get the elephant out of the room as well.

Meaning: a potential reason for the problems that we are presently facing in Nepal has been identified. Now, lets use our braintrust to figure out the possible next steps that will take us towards mitigating the problem.

Some of the ideas so far:

#1 ...nepalese/voters themselves have to be sure what they want
   its voters who are the problem in nepal, not system.

#2 Better to lease out your governance. Let somebody who knows how do it.

#3 ...the only course of action available which would ever get out of this rut. Have periodic elections and wait for the time when the right set of people would do the right thing.

#6 Lets put a few [politicians] in prison and freeze all their ill gotten wealth.

#8 There [is] enough Nepali youth-force with excellent understanding of the new world system and they can change the face of Nepal if well-organized.

#9 ...learn to care less about ushering in a new government or a new political leader and more about establishing a way to hold the government accountable for its actions.

10# ...create an atmosphere where leaders who bad leaders are outed and new blood comes in...

Corruption in Nepal has everything to do with Bahunism. people may not like it, but the truth is truth. bahunism has corrupted the whole system and those on the top want to maintain the status quo. Unless that changes, bahunism will come in many forms of Congress, UML and Mao.

I hope and pray that there will be better lives for every Nepali.

 

One must understand that it is nothing to do with political system in the country,it is the individual values and morale and above all professionalism in the field one is in.You talk about values, so let us look at our own values, or ethics, as reflected by the article that you have written.

To help us clarify our own value system maybe we should try answering the following questions.

- Have you or do you support any political party or leader. If so, why, if they are unethical and dishonest.

I like the questions you pose and you are one of the examples ,that would ask the questions ,but exclude your self from the answer and so are millions even of those who seem to particiapate and ask questions ,but in their life do exactly the same.

I can write only about myself and here are my sincere and honest answers.

Every developed society has duties ,responsibilities ,rights and law .If these are equal for every individual ,then Family,Neighbourhood,community of Nepal can work together.I haven't supported any political party or a leader,however I have my own idea,why I thought certain things I have seen in the country during 1990 were good for example,we saw some order was introduced in the streets,we saw tolorence or law was introduced not to destroy the public property but announcing strike very often and do nothing ,just browse the streets on that day is not my value.I felt forced to not work,even if I disagreed with uselessness of such strikes.Millions of Rs were lost in few days of strikes.Where is professionalism of politicians such as Bhattarai or Dahal?These two examples are just to show you that there were good deeds and acceptable and a must for everyone ,but it was destroyed by misplacced responsibilities.Why to work?

For me it was not important which party or under whose leadership it was introduced.That is not important.However it was important that such growth would continue,however after a few months,we find out that some ministers were just taking a chance to grab the chance to enrich themselves like  Wagle.I hope and would like to see that the new constitution will be written and based on the higher standards of human rights.There must be no stages or steps to be able to have rights,however these go hand in hand,with duties and rights.Even constitution writing poses a problem and why!If it will be written to higher standards,that would mean everyone,rich or poor would be equally responsible and would have rights,which in Nepal is far away from understanding,because if you live by the rule and law,you can not lead good life which is normal in many world countries for everyone,you can not send children to good schools you want for your children,you can not go to hospital and get the best treatmeant,even earning high salary working in the aviation field as an engineer,you can not afford books you woud like to have,you can only afford to pay your every month bills.I could afford from my salary to spend extra Rs 500 for the materials I needed to implement new ideas,to improvize some ideas to introduce things in my work just to be able to enjoy to the reality that it is possible,but no support would come from those who had chosen the field to do so,schools.There was only one institution who saw what I was doing and paid me for the materials I used without even presenting the bill.What about the millions who may think in that way, but wouldn't do that as their value was ,it is not mine,I need for the family,or simply they don't have it.

Unethical,dishonest.Tax system.It is one example,it is not going ahead.Why,because it would mean that everyone must pay for what he has,property,doing his bizness and based on earning ,and here is again loop,avoidence ,giving wrong numbers.Talking about honesty,the government ,means people we elect need to have these qualities,but we don't have even doctors or teachers who would be honest,as you can not deny,doctors are the ones who build their castles on the pain of millions.What is honesty?What are values we as a society consider to be acceptable and neccessity .Schools which have avoided tax payments and registered themselves as non profit organizations,are given these rights by the Government leaders,this way Government has created an exceptions based on the school involvement in the society.My question is,why there are these exceptions?Honesty?How do you call this?Can the Government honestly go ahead and start tax system,if even the biggest air company presents to the Revenue Office only the part of the income and who is paying for it,it is again the employees not the owner,and plus,what do I get for paying tax,not even free health care or government school which I would consider on some standard.

I eat the chicken,I pay tax,I pay tax in different shops every day.Why,if I already pay to the Revenue and Customs office,how many taxes I must pay?tThe Government lets the people do bizness ,in a way it gives me a choice of shops,it gives the individuals jobs etc,so let them pay to the government to the fullest as I do,but what do I get from the Government if I am in need.Nothing.

There is no one in present scenario,however I have a choice to choose the less evil and give him a chance to lead Government and for me there are few people,but even they are not gone take up the positions,because they are honest enough to tell themselves,I am doing the best I can and I have a family too.

- Your last paragraph suggests that you consider the Maoists to be deceitful. Why? When they have consistently said that they want to get into power and consider using violence to do so as a justified and legitimate means. Where is the dishonesty in that? They are doing what they say.�

What is honest about violence,what is honest about bringing guns and using them against peaceful people,what is honest about not contributing to society for 15 years.You must recheck your values,if people like you justify this ,then I choose someone who does work everyday,contributes to society,by using means they possess and in that case it is good enough for me,at least they do not dream for 15 years and do not expect others to do for them and till now ,even Khanal,or Dahal ,or Bhattarai do not pay tax for what they earn or posess.So where is the honesty?

Yes,they are decietful,because the ideology they presented  is about  ideals ,but in reality,what is good about killing in the name of ideals,what is good about living like parasites and not contributing to the society by their own means and effort.If I am paid money ,anyone would do anything and in maoist case,it is not their private money,it is looted money,how can I justify this for the sake of few individuals who couldn't do good ,is this honesty?

- Do you consider the current CA and its members to have been elected by a free and fair election? If yes, then what is your complaint? The democratic process? If no, then what have you done about it?

The current CA.

I need people who are professionals in their fields,who would know the subject to the bits and think based on reality and who would think for the everyone in the society,which is being honest enough to write the rules and law and who would follow them starting with themselves.It would be enough for me.Do the job you do the best in your own place being honest is all is needed.If we can not do that minimum,then there is no future of the country as developed society.

I have lived my life with sincerity and honesty.I didn't need rules to be a good citizen contributing to the society without the help of politicians.I found myself strength to work with inspiration without anyone to tell me you must do it,I just did it and I was let to do that,because of the forward looking biznessmen who supported new ideas,who themselves got involved in the society without anyone telling them to do so,it is their own wish,therefore for me these people are the choice for future maybe not ideal choice ,but better choice than being empty vessel and if they take up work at the Government office,I would expect them to ask anyone to contribute to the society by doing best they can .That is my contribution to the society and there are millions of them who do not wait for the Goverenment to tell them to do the best for the society with the work they do the best.          

- What is this political system that you want which will "gut the system that has produced our political leaders" ? Can you describe it?

Yes,I would want Socialism like in Denmark,Norway or France,the best I see till now,where work for the society is considered as a rule and now as a necessity of every individual and only then we can have expectations from the Government,but then millions have expectations, but do not contribute,just expect the place to milk out of it well.So ,why would I WANT to vote for them,like Dahal or Khanal ,or Bhattarai,or Koirala,who had good vision and means to do so, but ended up using his position to do only for his family.But Khanal and Dahal,had not even led the Government yet ,or worked for it,but have already earned fees for talking ,looting and killing.Do I need them to tell me what is honesty?  

We are looking everywhere ,neighbours,just not seeing what we are doing.And one more sincere thought and wish.I wish that our PM would Mr.K.Dixit,that our Education Minister would be Mrs.S. Dixit,that our Ministers would be Mr.Deuba,Mr Devkota,Mr.R.Singh,Mr.O.Shrestha.etc.Why?

My choice is based on their professional  contribution and the work they had done as a professionals even in such a messed up one  society.Respect I have towards such individuals for doing the work they do.They are educated and have proved to me,that they are able to bring the change.

My sincere request is to everyone,name the people who are very good at their jobs and have proved to you in any way that they can bring change with work,without having any political orientation,just plain professionalism and ability to implement the good deeds,without having uncles or aunties in high positions,that is what counts as a ability to me.

Let me take on the reasoning you may have against it.

Let's talk about values,individual qualities of leaders we would like to see for the society and honesty in its real meaning.I choose the less evil and work,based on todays needs and individual responsibility is the place to start.

Sincerely,Vija

Thanks for all the comments. Please do keep it coming. If the solution was so easy, we wouldn't be here in the first place. The goal of the article was to point out that we got it wrong when we fought for democracy, without figuring out how to elect an ethical and honest leader, without building strong institutions that cannot be manipulated by elected officials. When we have a system of youth politics where our next generation of leaders learn how to play dirty politics and incite the public, where is our country headed? Yes, youth power was needed against the Rana's to fight for democracy. But like too much of sugar is bitter, we have too much of youth politics and politicized unions that have managed to ruin our country. I am not against unions, but they must be de-politicized. That's the next revolution we need, to de-politicize our society.ÂÂ

Of course, it's not easy to get there because every aspect of our society has been politicized, from student unions, worker unions, public employees, business groups and even professional organizations. But one way to get there is to understand that we need a new way of thinking, a new leadership who fights for a system that respects and honors honest and ethical individuals in our society. How we start is to go after corrupt leaders like people possessed and don't stop till they are out of power. We all know who they are, so why are they still in power, still calling the shots?ÂÂ

I guess we have had enough revolution and counter revolution in the last 50- 60 years. But they were just political revolution where we only removed one king and put another in his place.

Our foundation were always the same. Whether we vote on a election or not, it never mattered. Our decision, which were to be taken by common folk, were always taken by foreigner. whether it be Embassy of South or farther, by UNO and its junta sisters, world bank or its subsidiary, Big donor agency and their god father in usa or europe or their smaller INGO/NGO counterpart wriggling and encroaching in every district headquarter of Nepal.

The common people are meant to silently bear all the burden of country and wait till the next election to vote. While any of the decision are taken by those 'encroaching foreigner'. Be it the 'suggestion' of embassies for constitution writing or army integration, be it hydroelectric or road project by world bank or IMF, or be it  'social justice', 'health care' and 'community equity and partnership' by those 'wriggling INGO/NGO'. They are the established figure to advice us, to lead and guide us. And that is our problem as a Nepali.

Ranging from the smallest issue of 'primary health center or water tap' to biggest issue' constitution writing' we are directed and made to accept them.

I only wish our next revolution be guided so that we remove the remnant of those 'foreign intervention' so that at least we common nepali take our decision on our own. The real difficult thing might be to make ourself understand those goodwill foreign intervention is wrong. Afterall having a small hospital or a water tap or a school in your village is always a good thing, even better for those who can channelise their money. But the sense of parasitism, the sense of dependency right from our kings to our common folk which they have created for the last 200 years, I'm afraid we have never been able to get away from. Something embedded deep in our mind and heart.

Lets leave the politicans alone, coz they are venomless snake should there be no 'foreigner' to guide them, and they will gradually know the meaning of being 'nepali' once they have no option but be part of people who voted them. Next generation of politicians will be purged and cleansed to 'Nepali' if we can remove those 'foreign intervention' which is demoralising the sense of bearing Nepali citizenship.

 

It is very unfortunate and sad to say that our beautiful Nepal bad politics is not govern by the will of the  puppets leaders of the Nepal.They are just following the orders or dancing in the tunes others,wether it is 'KHAOBADI OR MAOBADI'.all shame,shame.

If we look back to the grand design of 1990 people movement.Why and how it was created and the root cause of all these situation.Then only true and genuine Nepalese will get the clear picture.

I am shocked after re-reading again and again ,no one accepts the individual,self responsibility!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And yes,I totally agree,press could do more and those who break law and use the position for self -satisfying reasons must be prosecuted,even those in the court of law,no one is out of law.

Let,s not forget,while we do not have proper law,constitution ,it is our individual responsibility to live life so we don't have to be ashamed for our actions.

Again,it is us who should bring forward capable people,who have proved to be able to bring around change.It is us.

#32 Danny, you have a great point. I think what has happened in this country over the past two decades requires a lot of work in identifying the truth about the events.

If you look closely, the 1990 and 2006 changes were both caused not because of the popular myths emphasized by the Kathmandu media elite. There was something else, and I have been hoping to talk about it because the media elite simply won't.

In both these cases there was one single overwhelming rallying point, induced by external factors. 

In 1990, India blockaded Nepal. People like Chandrashekhar, an Indian socialist, were here making inflammatory speeches against the then set-up. It is very likely, and from what I hear from people who were older at the time, most people supported the politicians because they felt that doing so would ensure the end of that blockade.

I am not suggesting that this was the only factor that led to the change, but that this was the point which rallied people to such an extent and that people, materially, cared about only that much so that they could get on with their lives.

I recall Prashant having mentioned something about GP saying that it would not make a hoot of a difference whether he worked 4 hours or 16. (words to that effect).

The politicians knew that they had the game firmly in their hands and given the support that they had, the point of their existence was to hold a vice like grip on government.

That was also the reason why they ignored and then badly handled the Maoist insurgency.

So much for 1990, I know that something more complex happened in 2006. 

Despite all the nice things that the socialist elite of this country have, the only two reasons why Nepali's rallied were that a) they were convinced of the crown's culpability in the Royal Massacre, and b) because just like in 1990, they thought that if they could get the King out of the way they would finally be allowed to live in peace.

Contrary to popular myth, neither of these two events had anything to do with people wanting grand political changes like this author calls for. There is more to it. 

But as the partisan media intensifies its efforts to divert attention to non-issues and raise more and more irrelevant points, I am going to try and find out how, and why, I am wrong in my conclusions.

Karna Magar is right to some point. People may not say it publiclu, but everyone is blaming them for pathetic situation in the country. Most of them hold higher position in places like custom and immigration. and just seeing minorities like Gurung, Tamang and Sherpa in lines makes them warm up to find some fault to take money away. be it in Airport, CDO office, mantralaya or somewhere, I just hate when they look upon us like as if we are their prey.

Such attitudes have to change before they are forced to change.

You always get the leaders you deserve. So goes an old aphorism.

You can't usually expect a people to have ethically infallible leaders when poeple themselves choose to sink in an abyss of moral obtuseness.

Rarely, societies have been salvaged by leaders they did not deserve. That obviosuly is not happening here. 

Both the artical and the comments, in their own way and style have shown the anger and the frustrations currently brewing in the minds of the youths of Nepal.I think, they are similar to the anger and frustrations which gave rise to youth revolt in most of the countries in the middle-east and north africa right now.The Nepali youths should  organize and prepare themselves for a peaceful revolution once again.If they really want to see a change in the status quo.they need to think,speak and act accordingly.I am confident that the change will come for sure, if the youths change themselves.