Kathmandu, Nov.8: On the 10th anniversary of the promulgation of a multi-party constitution, King Birendra Wednesday said he is committed to pluralism but called for a ” rationale and balanced evaluation of our achievements and shortcomings” to consolidate democracy.
” We reaffirm our commitment to multi-party democracy and it is our belief that good governance and human rights are the tenets of democracy.
“…. a rationale and balanced evaluation of our endeavors and achievements along with the shortcomings experienced to far, would be beneficial to the consolidation of democracy,” he said.
In a message directed at Maoist rebels fighting for a communist state in the kingdom, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said the constitution is a ” document of national consensus ” and ” any problems should be resolved by remaining within the framework of the constitution.”
Constitutional monarchy, multi-party democracy, universal adult franchise and rule of law are non-negotiable, he hinted.
A Maoist resolution committee headed by former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba also said communism has no future in Nepal and the insurgency that has claimed more that 1450 lives in nearly five years should be resolved peacefully within the framework of the constitution.
But Deuba Tuesday said the Maoists ” had made some headway” because of aberrations in the last decade and the continuing poverty in rural Nepal.
” A party like the Nepali Congress that has struggled for democracy has not adopted a democratic culture in its dealings. Other parties including the main opposition have also not contributed much to the consolidation of pluralism,” the Deuba commission said.
Just as the King called for evaluation , Deuba also said the administration is weak and ineffective, people have been denied justice and the administration is not responsive to the needs of the people.
Altogether 303 prisoners were pardoned and freed from various jails on Constitution Day Wednesday, the Home Ministry said.