Extremist + Terrorist makes bitter brew

Punctuality has never been a virtue in Nepal, but thanks to the recent turn of events, we are now living by the minute. Schedules are tight and every second literally counts. The credit for this overnight transformation goes to the extremists in, and the terrorists out - of control.

The extremist rhetoric is ‘negotiations and talks’, but the terrorist ceasefire was blatantly ignored. The streets are ablaze and the masses demonstrating for democracy. Peaceful demonstrations have been thwarted by the imposition of curfews, and security personnel have ironically used ‘excessive’ force against the public for their ‘safety and protection’. Brick batting has been seen in plenty, but all I see is retaliation by unarmed commoners against provocation by gun wielding and tear-gas spewing forces.

The extremists refuse to acknowledge the terrorists. They maintain their distance from the terrorists and condemn everyone else’s initiatives to bring them into the national mainstream. The extremists have made offers to the seven agitating parties to come for talks with the monarch, but they want a realignment first – a complete disassociation of the seven parties from the terrorists.

What is the ‘in-control’ faction driving at? What future are they leading this nation to? Admitted the ‘out-of-control’ faction is no group of angels, are those in control a better option? Is the issue about the ‘people’ or is it about the ‘monarch’? Is a ‘ceremonial monarch’ the nation’s need or is it a ‘ceremonial government’?

What is the crisis facing the nation today? Is it the commoner’s aspirations for ‘democracy and rights’ or is it the terrorist game plan? Like it or not, but the extremists have a run of the administration while the terrorists rule the countryside. Given the agitating parties agree to talks with the monarch under the extremists pre-condition, and even come to a settlement – where is the nation left? Are we going for a stalemate yet again?

The root of the current crisis runs back to the terrorists and their agenda. If they are to be left out of all future negotiations and talks what are we really trying to solve?

The monarch ascended the throne in suspicious circumstances. Have the extremists forgotten the real issues and concerns of the nations or do they think, legitimizing an institution that has not found much favour in recent times, a bigger priority?