Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Nepal Calling
Any day spent in Nepal is a guid day. The land of the smiling people, the home of peace.
Currently, the Peace Process is in discussion. In 1990, there was an uprising that brought a false democracy. Like all falseness, it collapsed. The people rose again this year demanding to secure a real democracy.
That real democracy may see the end of the Royal Family's input to society. It may see members of the Mao insurgency in government.
International attention has been elsewhere; whilst India and the US has given its views, the world has let "little Nepal" get on with the job of solving its own problems.
It may be a guid thing. Whilst there should be more international attention given to this brave nation, perhaps it is best to let Nepal solve Nepal.
Last week, the Maos said everything could be resolved in half an hour - if the Royal Family was reduced to being "just like anyone else". The National Congress retains difficulties in extinguishing the role of the King and his entourage. Apparently, not so, the people.
During this Peace Process, there is a programme led by the media to launch a new standard in its journalism: The Nepal Media Guidelines. The comments and calls from journalists nationwide are thrilling.
Madame Ecosse, Winnie Ewing, once told me: "The people are ahead of the politicians, we need to catch up." She was speaking of the Scots.
Here, in Nepal, the people are ahead of the politicians. Today, many businesses across the nation closed - not in a strike in the "normal" sense; they were sending a message to the talkers in the Peace Process. A simple message.
Get the bloody job done - and fast.
Nepal wants freedom. It wants democracy. The media appears to be very much in line with the views of the People.
This media acknowledges its faults and works to redress them. Nations advance when its media has freedom.
Now the country is seeking freedom; creating the opportunity for the world to invest. There is huge work to be done - from the basics of roadworks and sanitation to wherever your imagination takes you.
It may soon be time to invest in a people any nation would envy.
Free Nepal.
Charles Fletcher
charles.fletcher@caledoniamedia.com
Any day spent in Nepal is a guid day. The land of the smiling people, the home of peace.
Currently, the Peace Process is in discussion. In 1990, there was an uprising that brought a false democracy. Like all falseness, it collapsed. The people rose again this year demanding to secure a real democracy.
That real democracy may see the end of the Royal Family's input to society. It may see members of the Mao insurgency in government.
International attention has been elsewhere; whilst India and the US has given its views, the world has let "little Nepal" get on with the job of solving its own problems.
It may be a guid thing. Whilst there should be more international attention given to this brave nation, perhaps it is best to let Nepal solve Nepal.
Last week, the Maos said everything could be resolved in half an hour - if the Royal Family was reduced to being "just like anyone else". The National Congress retains difficulties in extinguishing the role of the King and his entourage. Apparently, not so, the people.
During this Peace Process, there is a programme led by the media to launch a new standard in its journalism: The Nepal Media Guidelines. The comments and calls from journalists nationwide are thrilling.
Madame Ecosse, Winnie Ewing, once told me: "The people are ahead of the politicians, we need to catch up." She was speaking of the Scots.
Here, in Nepal, the people are ahead of the politicians. Today, many businesses across the nation closed - not in a strike in the "normal" sense; they were sending a message to the talkers in the Peace Process. A simple message.
Get the bloody job done - and fast.
Nepal wants freedom. It wants democracy. The media appears to be very much in line with the views of the People.
This media acknowledges its faults and works to redress them. Nations advance when its media has freedom.
Now the country is seeking freedom; creating the opportunity for the world to invest. There is huge work to be done - from the basics of roadworks and sanitation to wherever your imagination takes you.
It may soon be time to invest in a people any nation would envy.
Free Nepal.
Charles Fletcher
charles.fletcher@caledoniamedia.com
