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Before the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa, Christians, both black and white, under the leadership of people like Bishop Desmond Tutu, conducted chain-prayer for two years. While the African National Congress and the F W De Klerk’s government held talks, about 15000, gathered in a big stadium, pleaded with God 24 hours daily, in unison and turn by turn.  Most Nepalis want the Maoists to lead the next government. As the largest party in the CA, cooperating Maoists can mean the successful writing of our new federal, republican constitution. Hopefully, that document will grant due recognition to the various races in the mountains, hills, and plains; and people can plan their own development. We can wish for greater satisfaction, no bandas and chakka jams, more industrial peace, less flight of capital out of the country. In short, a Nepal we can all be proud of.However, the conditions the Maoists have put forward for leading a government have convinced the NC, UML, MJF and other smaller parties that the former rebels seek further appeasement. So, don’t be surprised if we may not get a Maoist PM after all. Dr Sukhdev Shah used "divine intervention" three times to describe Dr Ram Baran’s becoming our first president (TKP, A Madhesi president! July 23). Atheists cannot swallow divine intervention because they deny God’s existence. However, miracles do happen. Before the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa, Christians, both black and white, under the leadership of people like Bishop Desmond Tutu, conducted chain-prayer for two years. While the African National Congress and the F W De Klerk’s government held talks, about 15000, gathered in a big stadium, pleaded with God 24 hours daily, in unison and turn by turn. King Gyanendra imposed dictatorship on February 1, 2005. Week-long, 24 hour, nationwide prayer for lasting peace and democracy began in our country from January, 2006; and continues annually. Monthly prayer meetings abound. Presently, churches are planning to organise year-long prayer with different groups taking on each calendar day. So, part of future "divine intervention" may be that Maoists, unless they turn totally democratic, may not rule our country. Then, the focus of prayers and politics should be the former rebels’ full cooperation, even while remaining in the opposition. Again, this requires miracles; but as with the election of Dr Yadav as president, miracles can happen. Recently, PK Dahal fumed against "foreign interventions" that don’t want a Maoist government. However, he doesn’t blame himself. Deep rooted frustration towards the Maoists has now set in. Dahal can’t fool all the people, all the time. The NC, UML, and MJF have experienced Maoist betrayal first-hand. Dr Baburam Bhattarai denies that the Maoists have stabbed anyone in the back. He justifies the former Maoist-UML coalition, but insists that the NC-UML-MJF, "unholy" alliance should break. Cheer up! A non-Maoist government with the former rebels reluctantly cooperating may turn out to be a blessing in disguise! First, we may not have to call a non-repentant, mass-killer our PM, whoever s/he may be. I would be the first to salute a Maoist PM, if the party had sincerely uttered the magical word "sorry," and showed by actions that it had turned a new leaf. If Ram Raja Prasad Singh had become the president, the families that lost their relatives to his 1985 bombings would have shuddered. A Maoist PM would send the same signal. Having lost his son (my brother), the retired Major Mohan Khatry, to brutal Maoist hackings and then bullets on October 17, 2002, my 87 year old father would tremble to see a Maoist PM putting on airs. For him and us, a simple apology would have made Maoist leadership palatable. I believe many victims of Maoist murders and atrocities will echo the opinion. So, Dahal shouldn’t blame "foreign interventions". Many Nepalis too don’t want to salute a Maoist PM. For them, the character of their PM and ministers matter just as much. MJF, UML, and NC leaders are not saints; and I have criticized them just as liberally. However, a PM representing any of them won’t make victims of Nepali Maoism vomit in disgust. Second, one doesn’t have to swallow an entire bottle of poison to realize it can kill. A foretaste should warn us. The Maoists have led, among others, the water, forest, and communication ministries. By inciting cheap nationalism, on August 24, 2007, Hisila Yami managed to get the Severn Trent Water International out. Then, she gained notoriety by putting her own sister and relatives in the related offices. Now, most Kathmanduites, suffering from water shortage, agree that we should have given the foreign company a try. During Matrika Yadav’s tenure, the forests in many parts of our country have gone bare. Analysts say that this depletion of our woods before and after the CA poll matches that during the Panchayat referendum under Surya Bahadur Thapa. Where the forests have become nude, Maoists voters have settled. The Maoists will not return confiscated land and property to their rightful owners because the squatters have served as their vote-banks. With a Maoist PM, most victims of the former rebels’ eviction haven’t a chance of enjoying a meal under their own roofs again. Thanks to Krishna Bdr Mahara, the media serve under restriction. Nepal TV may have to pull off "Aba Ke Huncha" programme from the air because Maoists cannot stand criticism. Third, the Maoist goals haven’t changed from that of Pushpalal Shrestha, the founder of the Nepal Communist Party (established in 1949). He aimed to use socialism towards communism. Dr Baburam Bhattarai (in 2008) will still utilise capitalism and socialism to lead us to communism, a tattered philosophy most of the world has discarded. Do we want our country a Maoist, communist state? Thus, as the biggest party, the Maoists have every right to form the next government. As a morally bankrupt group of unrepentant killers, they have ethically lost that privilege. Even with the Maoists not heading the government, the country will move along. The sky won’t fall! Published on August 2 in the Kathmandu Post Newer...
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