PHA-Exchange> Political solidarity for democracy

[Mathura P Shrestha]

Dear All
I think that all political forces/parties on the side of Democracy in Nepal
are at last coming to senses to develop alliance to fight for democracy by
denouncing the State of Emergency and advocating nonrenewal of it any more,
and by demanding immediate ceasefire and initiation of political dialogue
between the government and Maoists to mediate for peace and democracy. The
All Party meeting held at UML building is to me a historical event. Such
political alliance and solidarity is necessary to discourage retroactive and
revivalist forces. These reactionaries are all out to deprive the people and
the country from the gains of 1990 Democratic Movement.

Historically, Nepal has shown political maturity in two important areas of
democracy. One is the political understanding and solidarity in the times of
critical needs. These happened five times - during (a) 1974 Student
Uprising, (b) 1979 Mass Uprising initiated by United Action Committee of
Student Unions, (c) 1985 Movement for the Restoration of Democracy initiated
by Nepali Congress and supported by Communists, (d) 1990 Peoples' Movement
for Democracy, and (e) Joint All Party Mass Meeting of Chaitra 27, 2058
(Nepali Callender) five months back. Second, the people come to spontaneous
struggle whenever the political parties waver or become slack. These two
historical qualities have ensured the people's faith on and capacity to
sovereign rights of the people.

I appeal all the political forces to  keep up the spirit and imitate united
actions and understandings to defend democracy and social change for social
justice.

Please circulate this to all political activists.

Sincerely,
Mathura.