Some 13 years ago, probably in 2051 BS, when our bus on way to Pokhara from Palpa sped in the middle of the thin jungle with the driver sighing and uttering the Maoists, I thought, sadly, Nepal would never remain the same it used to be a few years earlier.
“Even if the Moaists join the mainstream politics, will those who have learnt how to use gun lay the guns and be peaceful overnight?†I asked myself. No, never. I sadly thought at that time, it would not be possible for our future generation to roam freely around the country as the Maoists, or other, would continue using guns for power.
We were then on a country tour after completing our School Leaving Examination (SLC) with two teachers. When we missed the last bus from Palpa to Pokhara, we jogged down to the place where we could catch bus coming from Butwal.
A few years ago, the road we jogged down at 8:30 PM would see curfew from the sunset and would witness a few encouters and deaths.
And, the situation is exactly heading towards what I had thought. This is true for all countries under armed conflict, but I was just too young to know all that anecdotes by then, and my young heart felt pinched thinking that I wouldn’t be able to travel throughout the country freely.
Today, I remembered that because I see this news in The Kathmandu Post. The main news on the front page written by Kosh Raj Koirala under the title Nine armed groups in operation says the same things. The box reads: Atrociites unleashed by JTMM factions – Killed 29 persons – Kidnapped 133 people – looted 8 financial institution and 88 people.
I wonder what these nine groups would develop into. Some of them will surely disappear, or if the people in government in coming years are wise enough, all of them might disappear. But if that doesn’t happen, it won’t take long for a sizable number of Maoist cadres joining them and unleashing violent actitivities.
When a tiger tastes human blood, it starts killing people. How can all people after knowing how easy it is to earn with the guns tranform themselves towards the life of hardship? Will we be able to travel thoughout the country without fearing anything? Well, sadly, the chances look dim!
