Only Ramilas can save democracy

She had not yet recovered from the shock of seeing the partially decomposed, drowned and mercilessly tortured body of her beloved husband Ramhari Shrestha, but she was not a bit frightened to meet the leader of the party that killed her husband. She was eye-to-eye with Prachanda, boldly interrogating the country’s most powerful person: Why had her husband to lose life so pathetically? Prachanda was totally on defense. He was meekly replying that it was a grave mistake committed in the process of historic transformation of the armed political party into peaceful politics.
She said, “I want assurance from you that no other innocent persons will have to suffer inhuman torture and lose life like my husband,” from the core of her heart without any bias and fear. At this point this writer thought if all Nepali wives and daughters become as strong as Ramila Shrestha, we need not be worried about the lawlessness and any form of totalitarianism in this country. Such an attitude can safeguard our democracy and sovereignty. We need courage, commitment and strength of Ramila Shrestha and her family members.
Thanks to the family members and others who supported and encouraged Ramila Shrestha, 30, to raise voice against the injustice to her family. She knew that her courage and resilience would not bring her dead husband back. And it might even cause trouble to her family in the future. But still she stood up against the injustice, which will definitely protect many people from suffering the fate of her late husband. Assessing her drive of seeking justice, she will not definitely keep quiet until the party punishes the culprits like Kali Bahadur Kham Magar “Bibidh” and his accomplices.
If we wish to protect hard-earned democracy and long-fought republic, we had to emulate Ramila Shrestha. Everybody knows those who have been taking the laws into their hands, who have been running a parallel administration, who have been intimidating people, who have been extorting and who have been kidnapping. All such acts have been culminating in serious violations of human rights. Sadly a few are showing courage to raise such issues, defying them is yet too far. Instead, many are attracted toward the power center as moths are to the fire. Hardly do they realize that joining the rat race and keeping mum for every violation of rights would only embolden the force, not to renounce violence and politics of guns.
Of course, we have abolished the monarchy and established a republic. Each and every Nepali deserves congratulations for this achievement. It will pay off even to those who were against it. But maintaining this is harder than earning it. We might have got rid of the monarchy, but feudalism that the monarchy institutionalized in this country is not easy to uproot. Feudalism is deep-seated in the culture of political parties. And it will definitely permeate into the Maoists as soon as they hold the reign of the government.
It was the trait of feudalism in the Nepali Congress and the UML that eroded their popularity. In 1990, Girija Prasad Koirala spoke from Tundikhel that democracy was also the victory of the then rulers — the Panchas — but in effect he could not become the real democratic leader even within his own party.
The NC only helped enlarge the number of feudal fiats. It hardly succeeded in addressing the issue of feudalism. The UML was expected to be the party that would serve the people. But it competed with the NC in serving its own cadres. The NC and the UML were competing only to serve their own loyal cadres. They never bothered to establish the culture of meritocracy, competence, honesty and integrity. Before they could realize and rectify their mistakes their support had been already waning. The election of April 10, 2008 was the first opportunity people got to vent out their ire.
It can be easily contemplated that the Maoists will suffer from the same disease. Moreover, being a cadre-based party they will always be under pressure to provide opportunities to their cadres who have sacrificed their lives and career for the revolution. Only if they could realize in time that the sacrifices of the political cadres are for the progress, prosperity and development of the country, and not to get certain positions and earn money. The sacrifices of the people who love the nation do not end after the party assumes power. If they don’t realize this, then they are opportunists, and not true nationalists.
Now, as the Maoists are on the verge of being at the helm of power, we have to focus more on them. They will definitely attempt to change themselves if they are confronted effectively. The parties told them to change the character of their semi-military group YCL, and they have committed to do so. Had not the case of Ramhari Shrestha been exposed to this proportion, they would not have so easily agreed on it. Similarly, the question we need to ask to the Maoists is about their financial transparency.
Sometime back Maoist leader Badal said that the Maoists would raise the strength of YCL to 1,000,000. At this point we need to ask them, how will they survive? From where will they get the money? What will they do? Why should the party, which is going to run the government, have such a strong paramilitary force? If we do not ask such pertinent questions, the process of turning into feudal will also apply to the Maoists. A few people will be controlling the resources and revenue of the country and the poor people will remain poorer and hungrier. Let us hope we are able to produce many Ramila Shresthas in every aspect of our life. (kantipuronline)