Where is Sujata Jost?

BY PR PRADHAN
http://www.peoplesreview.com.np/

We saw some very hi-fi days of Sujata Jost, daughter of Girija Prasad Koirala. Specially, when her father was the prime minister, during that time, she was a powerful lady and she was ready to flaunt her power. Although, there were many other party workers who struggled hard during the bad days of the Nepali Congress, Sujata was the person to enjoy the cream of the power without


any contribution to the party as well as the democratic movement. After the King's February 1 move, she was not even put under house arrest, however, she fled from Nepal and later appeared in New Delhi, India.

She fled from here prior to the constitution of the Royal Commission for Corruption. Perhaps, she herself thought she was guilty and fled-away from Nepal with the fear that she could be arrested on the charge of corruption.

Yes, she is a German citizen, I am sure, she might have not given up her German citizenship, nevertheless, she enjoyed power here and became a prominent leader of the Nepali Congress party in which her father is the supremo. That apart, she is one among the political leaders, who became a multi-millionaire after the introduction of the multiparty democracy. In fact, she was in Germany with her husband during the Nepali Congress' struggle against the erstwhile panchayat system. She came here only after the establishment of the multiparty democracy, collected money and property and finally left Nepal.

As per Sujata's statement that appeared in some Indian newspapers, she ran-away from Kathmandu disguised in male clothes on a motorbike via Dakchinkali-Hetauda route. When other leaders of her party are here, it is very much surprising that she had to run away from here. The only reason for this could be that she was ashamed and afraid by her past deeds.

Democracy or real democracy

On Friday, we observed Falgun 7 as the National Democracy Day all over the country. This time, while observing the Democracy Day, people were seen more hopeful and more confident. They seemed to be celebrating real democracy. After the February 1 move by the King, whether others accept or not, the citizens have felt great relief. They strongly believe that the King's move will contribute to reform the democracy but at the same not abduct it. Therefore, they have largely extended support to the King's move. The people were very much frustrated from the performance of the political leaders during the past fourteen years. On the one hand, they were suffered from the behaviour of the corrupt political leaders, on the other, they had become victims of terrorism. They saw no possible outlet from the problem. Thus they were seeking immediate rescue from the crisis. That rescue came in the form of the King's February 1 move.
These days, some Westerners are talking about the "democracy" in Nepal, but the Nepalese people are talking about "real democracy", which they have started to sense now. In the recent past, when this scribe was in his hometown, Ilam, he was able to meet many people from all over the district taking shelter there.

They were saying that they could not go to their home for years due to the Maoist threat.

One among those was saying that he had cultivated tea in his land but for three years, he has not been able to get any return from his farming in the village. He further disclosed that he had made the investment by taking loans from banks. These are the examples of how the people were being refugees within their own country. For those people, the real democracy would be the opportunity to enjoy their own property and they have to be able to stay in their home peacefully. Will the westerners understand this definition? Or do they only want to encourage those elements discouraging democracy?

Pack-up your bedding

Some of the Westerners are saying that they would suspend aid to Nepal if "democracy" would not be restored. It is surprising which "democracy" they are talking about? If they are talking about the multiparty democracy, the King has expressed strong commitment to this. The King has also assured that he would sort out all the problems disturbing democracy within three years. We gave fourteen years to the lousy political leaders and can't we give three years to the King to fulfill his commitment for democracy?

Meanwhile, Dr. Karna Bahadur Thapa, security expert, the other day disclosed that many of the donor countries' support is not worthwhile to the nation. He said that about 80 percent of such grants or support goes back to the same country and hardly 20 percent remains here. He has thus suggested to those countries, which are talking big and giving less, to pack-up their beddings and go away from here. Yes, this is the time to reform all bad things which came in the name of democracy. Obviously, this is also the time to rethink about such grants that come with ill intention.

Quote unquote

All we know is that Kathmandu is the centre of any agitation. If people are dissatisfied, they immediately come out to the streets to protest. This time also, some political leaders requested the people to come out to the street to protest against the King's move. But nobody from Kathmandu accepted the request.

A senior journalist later remarked on this attitude of the Kathmandu people: "Look, this is in fact a silent, but strong, support to the King's move."

He also disclosed the reply that the people have given to their leaders: "This is the result of the deeds of the political leaders and they themselves will have to launch an agitation, we are not going to support them anymore."