| Username |
Post |
| MatribhumiNepal |
Posted
on 29-May-02 08:59 PM
Interview with Future Prime Minister of Nepal – Episode I
Our staff reporter, Matribhumi Nepal (MN), recorded this interview during a campaign tour of Patriotic Party president and the candidate for Prime Minister of Nepal Mr. Future Prime Minister (FPM). The interview was recorded in many days of campaign and covered wide range of topics including ‘democracy and monarchy’, ‘problem and solution for Maoist insurgency’, ‘Economic growth of Nepal possible in our life time’, ‘unique way to curb corruption’, ‘how neighboring countries can put their heads together for regional economic growth’, ‘what Nepal can offer to World for peace’, above all ‘how the Nepalese politics should shape and how friendly and innocent Nepalese people can take active part in ‘nation building efforts’’.
This long interview will be presented in series to you, one major topic at a time. In the first episode, only presenting the punch lines of each topic, which will outline essence of complete interview. Let us get started:
MN: So, Future Prime Ministerjew, everybody is loosing hope in the future of Nepal how come you emerge as a signing star in political forum and rally around public to get the major public sympathy and support? You have been consistently enjoying more than 70% of popularity for last three months of campaign. You were very happy and content schoolteacher in Bajhang and people really knew little about you. Can you share with us the transition and your path to success so far?
FPM: Long story. But, let me tell you in short. Nepal and Nepalese people are basically intelligent, hard working, brave, communal and simple. This works for good of the society but very easily can work against the society also. Staying in Bajhang and watching the innocent people being mobilized by Maoist by giving them false hope but utilizing their positive strength in ferocious way and looking at last twelve years of slow pace of growth put forward by present corrupt main stream political parties which really have not helped Nepal and Nepalese people in any meaningful way woke me up one day and I vowed to myself, I can not just stay in Bajhang. I rallied around intellectuals in and out of country, experienced civil servants, students, farmers and laborers to come up with socio economic plan for short and long-term socio economic development of Nepal based on facts and figures.
My advisory committee includes ten scientists, two from foreign countries, two experienced old farmers, five teachers and five students from different levels of schools and colleges. All of them were chosen by the party based on their qualifications and dedications to the ‘nation building’ slogan.
People are not rallying around me they are rallying around my socio economic plan, which has room for piece and prosperity of Nepal within our lifetime.
MN: But, how did you put your party together so fast and where did you get the party workers? Is there a chance that the party will collapse as fast as it was built? And critics are talking we did not need yet another party?
FPM: Yes, we don’t need many parties in a small country like this, but, our democracy is still very young and non of parties are fulfilling the ideal role of having a distinct vision, dedication, and sacrifice for nation building.
There is a natural place for a well-balanced party like ours who has a vision and all the resources to execute on that vision. I hope that other party will follow our lead and think only in terms of ‘Nation Building’ agenda, and not ‘Minister’s Home Building’ agenda.
So, we really got very qualified party workers and politicians from all the major parties who were basically looking for a viable alternatives, and don’t worry about party exodus again because our party is truly democratic and there is room for everybody in our party to grow.
MN: What made people believe in your party so soon?
FPM: Though our party seems young but not our workers and volunteers. Also, our volunteers have joined the party by their choice, so they enjoy what they are doing.
Also, we made sure that all the volunteers take oath of dedication, authenticity, and truth in front of public. They also have to declare their property and any affiliation to any business before accepting any party positions. We make sure that no nepotism creeps in our party.
We do not believe in secret meetings with Maoist or the King for short-term gains. If we deal with other party it is completely transparent. We do not believe in fighting for chairs inside the party. Of course, we have our differences, but we sort them out democratically. We are completely dedicated for building the nation. And it shows in our rhetoric and our action.
(Continued ....)
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| MatribhumiNepal |
Posted
on 29-May-02 09:01 PM
Interview with Future Prime Minister of Nepal – Episode I
(Continued....)
MN: So, let us start talking about your main agenda. Let us get started with main topic of Maoist insurgency, and Governments role. What are your concrete plans to quell this violence?
FPM: Our preliminary analysis and action is already working. 1250 hard core Maoists have surrendered peacefully to the local authorities, among them are 5 training instructors, 4 district level comrades, 53 local leaders.
But the problem is far from over we have lot to work on.
To solve any problem effectively you need to really understand the problem in details. Our Maoists task force consists of 4 ex-Maoists comrades, 10 teenagers from Maoists hard hit areas, 3 anthropologists one each from China, India, and Nepal, 2 sociologists, and 2 renowned journalists.
Based on their preliminary recommendation we have already started the low-level action of education, motivation and rehabilitation of those Maoists who respond to our appeal. All those 1250 Maoists have been already part of our volunteers. It is very encouraging result.
….
MN: You have been talking about rapid economic growth, but Nepal has no great resources, how can you plan to do it?
FPM: Who said to you that Nepal has no resources? We should not keep weeping for not having gold or petroleum, but we should be more innovative and utilize what we have and what we can create. For example, we have vast water resources, forest and agricultural resources, tourism resources, technical and non-technical manpower resources.
Just for record, do you know that Nepal is second best tourist destination?
We have to just keep digging into our naturally gifted country and it’s hard working people. We have to have quick short-term plans to address immediate need of people and long-term plans to grow and sustain the economy. My plan emphasizes for Economic Growth vs. Economic Development.
My economic plan has been endorsed by many national NGO’s and INGOs, including FNCCI, NY based ‘Economic Forum’ UK based ‘Third World Economy’.
MN: Many Nepalese think India is bossy and China is indifferent how do you see your Government shaping the foreign policy with our neighbors?
FPM: Nepalese politicians have to realize and start acting as a democratically elected government in equal footing with foreign countries especially our neighbors. Gone are the days when Nepal had to feel secondary in International negotiations. Don’t forget that India and China as a country have a very soft corner for Nepal and Nepalese people. We are strategically important for both of them. India and China have always shown special interest in Nepal and helped Nepal by going out of their way. At times Nepal has felt Indian wrath due to mutual misunderstanding and lack of knowledge and personality. We are tied with these two giants geographically, culturally and economically. There is lot to share and gain from each other.
(Continued. ..)
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| MatribhumiNepal |
Posted
on 29-May-02 09:03 PM
Interview with Future Prime Minister of Nepal – Episode I
(Continued....)
MN: We have seen a shift in foreign media coverage regarding Nepal immediately after your party came into light, how so?
FPM: Our foreign policy task force is made up of scholars who have studied foreign countries in their entire professional life, especially our immediate neighbors. Our party has acted on their recommendation and we sent many delegations to different countries preaching our economic agendas and foreign policy. So far Nepal had failed to convince the foreign countries because they never had a solid economic plan, but, we showed them the plans, which is based on proven facts and figures and they all liked it.
Also, we focused on local governments of foreign countries rather than only dealing with central governments, because, it is local government with whom we need to deal with in day-to-day life.
Our relationship with our neighbors is not only in higher political level but in the grass root level also. We have created lobbying group in each country made up of Nepal sympathizer and they are plenty.
We lobbied through our scholars who graduated from those countries and who still have soft corners from their professors. We asked them to conduct seminars on Nepalese development and invited the media. The grass root approach really worked. Once you convince the media, it is easy to get your point across.
MN: How about relationships with rest of the World?
One thing time and time has shown that most foreign nationals, who visit Nepal, fall in love with it, it’s the innocent people, it’s that breadth taking land, and it’s the fresh air. They want to visit again and they want to do something good about this country. I think Nepal has lot to offer to International community for the benefits of all.
Did you know that Nepal is one of the most favored countries among peace corp volunteers?
I want to emphasize that Nepal can be very instrumental in regional stability and economic co-operation. Nepal with its non-aligned belief, impartiality and tremendous water resources can be very effective in bringing the regional super powers to co-operate socially and economically to be in par with western nations. Imagine Nepal can influence a region inhabited by more than one third of World population? Can you imagine the impact of prosperous South Asia?
MN: With all these very exciting agenda looks like you are bound to win the election, but suppose in case you loose what are your plans?
FPM: Oh, that is already in our plans. It is very important question. I will be focusing more on our rural areas where 90% of our population is. You will not believe I will be equally busy in our villages and building the Nation from ground up.
First thing I will congratulate my esteem opponent for putting forward a tough campaign and immediately hit the road. We will co-operate with the elected government in every which way for stability of the Nation by constructively pointing out the defects in the Governments plan and putting forward constructive legislation and implementing what we already have. A stable government serving their term can be very effective even if the leader of the government is second-class. It is good for the stability of democracy. Recalling the Government should be left only for extreme cases.
MN: I think that’s all I have for this week. Thanks for you time. Next I have to talk with you in more detail about Maoist insurgency and your detailed agenda to tackle this problem.
FPM: Thanks for asking such basic questions. I am looking forward to putting my plans to tackle the Maoist problem in front of our public. See you then.
Friends, until then, keep your spirit high and let us do at least one good thing of our own choice for our beautiful beloved country. From my part I will keep bringing the interviews with our Future Prime Minister, how about you, do you have something to contribute to Nepal? Please act now.
Disclaimer: These fictitious interviews are brainchild of few friends of Nepalese democracy from around the World who meet in a virtual group regularly. If you are interested to contribute privately with interesting interviews about some problems, then send a confidential email to ‘matribhuminepal@yahoo.com’. You can always post comments publicly in this thread.
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| bba |
Posted
on 30-May-02 01:28 PM
oh! wish it was not fiction.
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| phori durbar |
Posted
on 30-May-02 02:53 PM
>Did you know that Nepal is one of the most favored countries among peace corp volunteers?
unless things have changed lately (hope so), nepal is THE number one posting requested by pcvs (peace corp volunteers). gee, i wonnnnnnder why? out of respect for a pcv pal, i won't go into specifics, but suffice to say that nepalis and u.s. taxpayers would likely be better off if the nepal program were canceled.
(i think you meant to start with "MS. future prime minister".)
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| MatribhumiNepal |
Posted
on 31-May-02 12:56 PM
Thanks BBA. Yes, idea is to start the thought process and make the fiction a reality which is not far fetched.
Phori Durbar, we are not sure about your comments here. Are you saying that one of your PCV friend was not very happy in Nepal? Well, it could be some minority cases, there can't be 100% satisfaction.
But, most of the dedicated volunteers who go to Nepal have given positive feed back. Nepal enjoys voluteers from not only USA but many other countries and organizations including Netherlands, UK, and UN. Most of those volunteers (like SNV, UNV, and British Volunteers) all go back to Nepal second time on their own. Don't you think that is a success?
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| let me clarify |
Posted
on 31-May-02 02:48 PM
it's ok that you're not sure about my views of the peace corps presence in nepal. i was just making a small observation and don't want to distract further from your very engaging and creative thread. i'm ambivalent about peace corps, as i think that most pcvs in nepal engage in too much hanky panky at taxpayer expense and, by their own admissions, don't make a whole lot of difference (of course, they could be wrong). i'm not a decisionmaker for the peace corps, but if i were, i guess i would advocate reforming or else discontinuing the program. now, back to your main program...
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