Congratulation to the Nepal's Maoists, a group of former guerrillas, for their audacity to swap bullet for ballot and winning a remarkable victory in a historic election after years of misrule and civil war. The election, although tainted with some violences, was seens as legitimate by the UN observers who offerred praises.
However the biggest congratulation goes to the people of Nepal who have voted for sweeping changes to the constitutional and political system.
Firstly, the Peacock throne, after 240 years, will be retiring into pages of history. Abolishing the monarchy which was once seen as divine by the Himalayans who are famous for their religiosity is perhaps the most incredible event in the modern history. This supreme courage demonstrated by the Nepalese shall be celebrated everywhere by anyone who applauds rationality and meritocracy.
Secondly, it is a refreshing change to see the end of years of misrule by a group of upper caste brahmins or hereditary aristocrats in the form of Nepal Congress Party. The Maoists' promise to end the millenium-old discriminative caste system and to introduce peoples equality are all good news. Further, Prachanda, the Maoists leader, also promise that the party will institute "capitalist democratic revolution". It is hoped that the Maoists keep its words and deliver a good governance and a better livelihood to Nepal's 29 million population.
Lastly, the poll result can be seen as a clear rebuttal by the Nepalese objecting to foreign influence at the geo-political level. Democratic countries such as USA and India are both known to have supported the old regimes for ideological and political reasons. Let's wish this new Himalayan Republic and her peoples well in the years to come.
Note: edited version appeared in the opinion page of SCMP on April 20, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Dear KY, In March, two elections took place in the Himalayas. One in the midst of conflict, crisis and violent change in Nepal and the other in midst of harmony, progress and thirst for the status quo in Bhutan. What does this tell us? For me what speak the loudest is that Hindu or Buddist, Monarchy or Maoist, democracy or autocracy, people vote for good government for peace and for a better future no matter who will deliver them. Democracy is a means not an end.
Post a Comment