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Politics & Economy
These days everyone, including the business community, is chanting the peace mantra. But it has to be realised that simply counting rosary beads is not going to be enough.
It is true that no business (of course there are some exceptions) can flourish without a peaceful environment. And the toll of the ongoing armed conflict has really taken the toll on Nepal ’s businesses. In this situation, principles learnt in the best of the management schools may not be enough. Moreover those in power at present may not be motivated to restore peace. Once there is peace, they will have to lose their chairs.
Therefore, the real sufferers in the present conflict, apart from the general people living in the conflict zones, are the businesses. Hence, logically, they are the ones who should be more active in restoring peace. Unfortunately, the captains of the private sector have been silent spectators of the going-ons hoping that the political community will some day find the solution and everything will be alright soon.
But that is not happening. The hopes that the business had pinned on the February 1 move last year remain unfulfilled. Also the recently held municipal elections have failed to arouse any new hopes. In that context, it is now time that the country starts thinking out-of-the-box.
It is also true that the business community cannot be so aggressive about pursuing its opinion with the same zeal as political activists do. Still it can offer its views for a national debate. And it is now time that it came out with such views and pursue them at all the levels that is possible.
Though the business community may not be in a position to pass its judgment about the exact form of the political system that the country should follow, it should put its clear views about the economic system that the political dispensation now evolving should espouse. Particularly, such views should be on such issues as the property rights, rule of law, role of the government in the economic decisions and economic relations of the country with the outside world, to name a few.
In fact there was no clarity about these issues even under the parliamentary system that is now in hibernation. Neither have the Maoists, who claim that they are fighting for a new and more progressive system, bothered to clarify their position on these issues though they have elusively commented on them a number of times. These issues were conspicuous by absence also in the 12-point understanding reached between the seven agitating political parties and the Maoists.
But it should be clear to all that the present conflict has its roots also in the failure of the country to hammer out the confusion about these issues.
Therefore, if the business community comes up with a concrete view on these issues it surely would make a positive contribution to guide the process towards a more meaningful direction.
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