Shifting Blame Will Not Resolve Our Problems

Shifting Blame Will Not Resolve Our Problems

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his deep concern over the faltering peace process in Nepal due to a lack of understanding among political parties in a report presented this month to the Security Council. In his previous report, he had called on Nepali political leaders which amounted to working together to find consensus over governance for the success of the peace process.

“There has not been a single prosecution in civilian courts for any of the serious crimes committed during the conflict,” reported said Rhoderick Chalmers, the International Crisis Group’s South Asia Deputy Project Manager. “The culture of impunity that enabled abuses in the first place has remained intact, further increasing public distrust and incentives to resort to violence.”

Nepal’s friends and allies have repeatedly called on the Nepali leaders to work together conscientiously and lead the peace process to its logical conclusion. They have rather openly expressed their concerns that it is not happening.

Most of the Nepali diaspora I meet in London or I speak to elsewhere are completely disenchanted with our political leaders for their unwillingness to work together for the greater good of the country and too much focus on their pursuit of narrow personal or party benefits.

Nepali newspapers are replete with write-ups that clearly indicate that those living in Nepal feel the same way as outside Nepal.

Political leaders have signed several agreements, starting with the 12-point understanding in November 2005, to restore peace and stability in Nepal. To be sure, much progress has happened. The conflict has by and large come to an end, the people have elected a constituent assembly, the mo...

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... has had such ambitious personalities as Girija Prasad Koirala, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, both former prime ministers and Jhalanath Khanal, Chairman of the prime minister’s party. Each of them wants the top chair at Singh Darbar. They would have pulled down Madhav Nepal, the prime minister, if our powerful external friends had not thrown their support behind him.

Sadly though, as long as our political leaders do not rise above their petty personal and parochial party interest and become accountable to the people, Nepal will not be peaceful and secure, let alone developed. Shifting the blame is easy but it does not accomplish anything. Taking responsibility for one’s action does.

If our leaders continue to tread along the current path of bickering, the first casualty will be the peace process. Even losing our identity and sovereignty will not be far down the road.