Political leaders and civil society activists have stressed that socio-economic rebuilding is the main goal after the successful people’s movement.

Speaker Subas Nemwang (center) chairs the inaugural session of the 2nd General Assembly of South Asian Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) in Kathmandu, Sunday, July 02 06. nepalnews.com/rh

Speaker Subash Nemwang (center) chairs the inaugural session of the 2nd General …
Speaking at a talk prorgamme “Janaandolan II: Changes and Challenges” organised by the South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) on the first day of its 2nd General Assembly in Kathmandu Sunday, they said the present situation in the country is an opportunity as well as a challenge for socio-economic transformation.

Civil society leader Prof Mathura Shrestha said complete socio-economic and cultural transformation is the main goal of the recent democratic change. Reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation should now be the main focus of the state, he said.

Saying Nepal had a worst form of tyranny in the name of direct rule of the King that was blown away by April Revolution, Shrestha said the country should completely do away with the monarchy. “Loktantra (people’s democracy) should not have any form or vestige of monarchy, forget about the ceremonial monarchy some people are talking about,” he said.

He further said the state must work towards bringing ‘distributive justice’ and need-based development to the people.

Deputy speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav said the upcoming constituent assembly elections should establish an inclusive democracy with equal participation of all sections of the Nepali. To ensure the changes desired by Nepali people, the political parties and their leaders need to correct themselves and change their mindset, she maintained.

Speaking at the same program, senior journalist Kanak Mani Dixit said that pluralism of Nepali society must be persevered for the progress the country has been striving for. He said the political parties must be free of xenophobia that they seem to have and respect the unique plurality of the society. Dixit added that socio-economic rebuilding was the clear message of the people’s movement.

Likewise, central committee member of the CPN (Maoist) Suresh Ale Magar argued that Maoists regarded the recent political turn only as a partial change and added that their struggle was still on. He also accused the parties of lacking in decisiveness and boldness to turn the country into a democratic republic.

Ale Magar further said the Maoist army would never be a problem for peace. “There is much hue and cry about arms management. Ours is an army with clear political philosophy and it will not be a problem for peace and development,” said he.