UN diplomat blows hot and cold against the monarch

March 24, 2004
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Kathmandu: At a time when rest of the world is moving forward to achieve development targets set by their own governments or by the MDGs, Nepal is still looking for some clues on how to move forward in solving the insurgency issue.

In the recent past, Nepal has certainly shown the rest of world that if it cannot achieve the targets, it can surely be a classical example of a failed state which is what its fate is ultimately should the conflict continue in the fashion as it is now.

Be it the 30 years long Panchayati autocratic regime, under the active monarchy, or the 13 year long suffocating leadership of Koirala and Mr. Nepal, nothing tangible the nation could benefit.

Now at a time when every thing has failed as experts claim, Mohan Man Sainju, the vice-president of the National Planning Commission (NPC) for around 4 years (1982 onwards) has taken the pains to blame the previous government(s) plans for not being centered around the exploited and the oppressed ones, for example, the janajatis, dalits, women and extreme poverty stricken people of the nation.

Dr. Sianju-himself a failed planner, however, did not preferred to call his tenure at the NPC as a failed one. But he added, strong political will, commitment and strong leadership is the current necessity.

Mr. Sainju was speaking at a program organized by the Society for International Development-Nepal Chapter last week on “Millenium Development Goals: Meeting the challenges of Poverty Reduction”.

The other speakers present on the occasion were top-notch of the likes of Dr. Harka Gurung, Dr. Shankar Sharma and Mr. Kul Chandra Gautam, Deputy Executive director of UNICEF.

The current vice-president of the NPC, Dr. Shankar Sharma agreed this time around that Nepal is in no position to achieve the targets in the allocated time frame. His reason to this remark as to everybody’s guess was “CONFLICT”.

Mr. Kul Chandra Gautam, while giving his views sidelined himself of being associated with the United Nations and said, there is a great historic opportunity for the King having come to the throne in the most tragic circumstances in the life of his dynasty to transform the medieval institution into an institution for the 21st century”.

Becoming more critical towards the monarchy he added ” the monarchy of the 21st century has no choice but to cast its lot with forces of democracy” and said ” there are a few examples of constitutional monarchies that remain and thrive even in the most advanced and progressive nations”.

He also said ” each of Nepal’s 3 political protagonists, the King, the Maoists and the parliamentary parties have something good to offer the people of Nepal”.

He also urged the government and political parties to nominate some of their most senior and seasoned leaders and professionals to work on issues of reconstruction and development and said the Maoists too could join such a process when they come above ground. He added UN is always ready to facilitate and support such a round table conference.

Thus the UN diplomat had both sermons and warnings for the three protagonists which were the King, the parliamentary parties and the insurgents.

The Chairperson of the program Mr. Bishwa Keshar Maskey giving his opening remark said ” In Nepal our past development efforts did some positive results in socio-economic areas but in the issues related to poverty reduction, social capital building and in socio-economic inclusion of development benefits and in governance issues remain inadequate”.

Dr. Harka Gurung threw some light on the MDG related issues in the Nepali context.

The dialogue program was first ever of its kind held on the issue of Millenium Development Goals in Nepal.

Kudos to SID and its President Mr. Maskay!