The joy and happiness of the Nepalese people during Dashain (the annual 15-day religious festivial) was ended immediately with failure to elect the new Prime Minister after the 13th round of elections in parliament.
I drove for 15 hours, from Kathmandu to my home town of Jhapa, in the very east of Nepal. During my journey opportunity to see people's happiness during this time. I felt that peopleduring Dashain, forgot political unrest, the fragile and uncertain peace process and the unsuccessful Prime Ministerial elections. Indeed, they did not care about the 13th round of elections that was held on October 26. But when the result was published, people certainly woke up and all the happiness was wiped out within a second. I was worried during my whole trip whether this happiness would not be converted into darkness. Nepalese people are tired enough by conflict and its impacts and do not wish to happen it again in any form, in any part of the country.
Despite a five month extension of the Constituent Assembly, the task of writing a new constitution has not been resumed. The country has not yet got the new PM after 5 months, and 13 rounds of elections. Nobody knows how long this caretaker government will run the country. The major and critical tasks of the peace process and constitution making process have not yet been finalised. These include forms of governance, system of judiciary, system of election, division of the federal state, management and reintegration of the Maoist's ex-combatants and democratization of the Nepal army. Unless, and until, political consensus is reached on these issues the new constitution will not be declared, and the peace process will not be ended logically.
During events like Dashain, the ordinary people of Nepal can divert their mind for a while and can be happy and joyful, but they can't escape from the situation of a country that is not peaceful. Indeed, people's happiness and joy cannot last unless the whole country is peaceful.
Ambika Pokhrel, Local Correspondent, Nepal
