Our vote is for peace.
[UPDATE: At 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Maoist withdrew the general strike.]
So many wars, settling scores
Bringing us promises, leaving us poor
I heard them say, love is the way
Love is the answer, that’s what they say,
But look how they treat us, make us believers
We fight their battles, then they deceive us
Try to control us, they couldn’t hold us
Cause we just move forward like Buffalo Soldiers
– Waving Flag by K’naan
On Friday, the indefinite general strike called by the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) entered the sixth day – without indicating that it’s going to do any good for anyone. The increasing incidences of minor clashes, however, are clear indication that a few more days of it may result in violence – the last thing that Nepalis want.
It’s time for main political parties to make compromise because this is not a ‘win-win’ situation but rather a ‘lose-lose’ situation with the Nepal – the country – and Nepalis – the people – are set to become the biggest losers.
Watching the Maoists’ YCL cadres carrying iron-rods or locals at Budanilkantha carrying Khukuris does not feel good in the hard time when for an average Nepali, their village/city is becoming a jail-like environment due to strike.
CPN-UML/Nepali Congress
We know this is the biggest time for you to ‘bring the Maoists on/below their real ground as their strike seemed to have no popular participation’.
But, for the country, the strike/indecisive situation is fast becoming a quicksand. So please, compromise – begin thinking that the Maoist is the biggest political force and the one that received votes of more Nepalis than any other party.
MAOIST
Success and failure travel together. Withdrawing a strike does not mean you failed – rather it will mean that you care for the country. If an agreement can be reached with the parties by withdrawing the strike first, please show that mercy to the country/people.
Don’t continue difference over a ‘bird first or egg’ issue.
The path to confrontations leads only to more confrontations, to achieve peace, all have to turn back to take a different path.
Enough is enough. End strike.
