| Morality matters |
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When the US President Bush claimed on the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq that it was necessary, hardly anyone cheered. Instead, Iraqi rebels responded more ferociously; and raised the number of Americans dead to 4000. While most supported US entry into Afghanistan after the Al Qaeda attack on New York’s twin towers, they could not stomach Bush’s greed for Iraqi oil. Bush claims to be an evangelical Christian, but by his actions has made a mockery of his faith. The public regards politicians as moral models, and feels let down when they behave otherwise. With the CA poll just about two weeks away, powerless voters suddenly find themselves strong like Hercules. Politicians who didn’t give people a damn are now going door to door. The other morning “humble and meek" Prakash Man Singh was walking the streets of Buddhanagar. Because Singh has neither bowed to the king nor bent to palm-greasing, people were sympathetic to him. However, his party the Nepali Congress, known for nepotism and fielding of corrupt candidates, is another matter. Voters on April 10 have the power to make or break a party, a politician. At the end of the day, morality matters. Male politicians can shout hoarse about giving women their rights, but have these been using call-girls and thus treating the fairer sex as mere things? Gone are the days when sexual misbehaviour remained behind closed doors. Kings and politicians misused women, but these victims have now boldly related their stories to authors. One book describes a party-leader raping a college girl who had merely requested his help to get her father out of jail. The politician obliged, but only after "consuming" her. Later on, other "law-makers", mentioned only by surnames, regularly misused her. Of course, the college lady’s premise that circumstances forced her to perpetual prostitution doesn’t click. After her first rape, she could have exposed the culprit and led a respectable life if she wanted, though the stigma of losing virginity would continue. These very "leaders" are begging for votes on April 10! Will they offer blood, sweat, and tears for the betterment of Nepali women? Not as long as they cheat on their wives and ruin the lives of similar helpless girls. Nepotism will certainly feature in the CA poll. The NC has fielded at least 11 candidates, all relatives of PM Koirala. Read Girijababu’s life-history and you find your eyes getting misty. Having lost his beloved wife Sushma to a kerosene-fire accident, the man then married politics, spent years in jail, and even had his head smashed in New Road by King Gyanendra’s baton-wielding policemen. In contrast to KP Bhattarai, Girija has remained chaste. Yet, this man who has done so much for democracy can become the most undemocratic. He takes most decisions without consulting others in the SPA alliance. The paradox puzzles all who admire him. His promotion of his daughter to a minister has backfired. The darling girl has become the favourite punching-bag of Madhesi extremists, who forget Sujata’s own suffering and contribution for Nepal’s democracy. Not to be outdone, the utopian Maoists have recently put Girijababu’s nepotism to shame. Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation, Matrika Yadav, heads the Trust for Nature Conservation. Our tantrum-prone do-gooder has appointed mostly Maoists to the Trust’s board, and there remains only one exception who knows something about conservation. Kings and relatives misused the Trust, now Maoists do the same. Comrade Hisila Yami, minister for water resources, has better plans for our country’s transformation to a Maoist-constructed Switzerland. In departments under her, she has appointed only the best: her sisters and relatives. Journalist Bharat Bhurtel has thoroughly enjoyed composing his satire on Yami (Nepal, March 23). As a dedicated commie, she’s proving that all are equal, some more equal than others. The graffiti-president Prachanda entertains us all by claiming to be president in people’s hearts. Relatives of those killed by the Maoists and others fearful of YCL antics can only smile in scorn. In campaign-related incidents, seven Maoist cadres have lost their lives. This is regrettable, but the Maoist leadership hasn’t yet realized that violence only begets violence. Noting the Maoist unpopularity, a prominent journalist in his fortnightly column advocated that the comrades should repent for their past atrocities to shift public opinion in their favour. Obviously, words like remorse, repentance, restitution, reparation, and rebuilding don’t feature in a Maoist dictionary. Nepali voters have the opportunity to exercise their moral faculty on April 10. The principle of reaping what is sown applies. As matters now stand, except with the unknown candidates of smaller parties, the public has the difficult task of deciding between the robber and the thief. Morally, the neglected but the cleaner, smaller parties deserve our votes.
Dr Ramesh Khatry, 'The Colonel’s House, ' Arubari, Jorpati VDC Ward No 7, Kathmandu
This article was FIRST published in the Kathmandu Post on March 27 , 2007. |
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