The major newspapers published from Kathmandu on Wednesday have welcomed, some with caution, the royal announcement to reinstate the lower house of the parliament terming it as the beginning of the implementation of the Seven Party Alliance (SPA)’s roadmap towards the restoration of peace and democracy in the county.
Nepal Samacharpatra daily, known for its pro-palace leaning until sometime back, in its editorial entitled ‘Congratulations to the Nepali people’, said the political leadership should address the demands of the people raised during street demonstrations. The daily further said the parties should be able to fulfill the aspirations of the people and bring the Maoists into political mainstream at the earliest possible.
Annapurna Post, another private sector Nepali daily, welcomed the royal proclamation and warned the leaders to stick with their roadmap for the establishment of peace in the county. The daily further stated that the credit for the success of the movement should also go to the Maoists who have never hindered during their whole course of the movement. “All should jointly go for elections to the Constituent Assembly,” the editorial said. The daily further stressed on the need for immediate ceasefire from both the sides and start dialogue for restoration of peace. “Learning from the past, the Maoists and the parties should be able to grab this opportunity in the best interests of the Nepali people. This will be good to both the parties,” the daily said.
In its editorial entitled “New Dawn,” The Himalayan Times daily, wrote,” The royal acceptance of the alliance’s roadmap means that the Nepalis will now carve out their own destiny, with the 1990 Constitution working as an interim arrangement.”
In its special front-page editorial, Kantipur daily, which is known for providing wide coverage to the pro-democracy movement, opined that the second ‘People’s Movement’ had ensured an important political changes in the country’s history. “The forthcoming parliament will not be long. But it should not lag behind in fulfilling the aim of the people’s movement,” the daily said. In a separate editorial, the daily wrote, “The first sitting of the parliament should identify the priority areas of development and look for resources for that purpose.”
Referring to Girija Prasad Koirala as the commander of the people’s movement, The Kathmandu Post daily, in its special front-page editorial said (Koirala) had a greater role to play to guide the country and establish enduring peace by bringing the Maoists into mainstream politics. “We also wish to warn Koirala that the people are watching him and the SPA government carefully, and will not excuse any mistake or anything done that would promote nepotism, favoritism, corruption and sycophancy,” the daily said.
The state-owned daily Gorkhapatra, that had sharply criticized the people’s movement and agitation of the parties until the few days back, said — in its special front-page editorial signed by chief editor of the daily Uddhav Upadhyay– that the royal proclamation was victory on the part of the Nepali people and it was the time that the leaders should go forward with development plans and formulation of strategies for state restructuring.
In its editorial entitled “Power of the People,” Rajdhani daily—also known for its pro-palace leanings– asked the leaders to respect the aspirations of the martyrs of this movement. “Change in the government was not the demand of Nepalis. It is the restoration of peace in the country,” the daily stressed.
Weekly newspapers have also welcomed the reinstatement of the dissolved House of Representatives and have cautioned that unless the issue of Maoist insurgency is addressed, the decade-old conflict in Nepal could not be resolved.
Well circulated Jana Astha weekly, in its editorial, “Don’t sacrifice goat at Baluwatar (the PM’s official residence)”, said the new government should announce the compensation package to the injured victims and families of martyrs of the people’s movement. nepalnews.com ia Apr 26 06