G.P. Koirala Foundation for Democracy, Peace and Development organized a discussion program on ‘Role of Citizens in Transitional Phase’ and released a song album about G.P Koirala’s life and political career on July 3rd 2012. Ms Sujata Koirala, Chairperson of the G.P.Koirala Foundation for Democracy, Peace and Development took over the Chairpersonship of the program which was organized to mark the 89thbirth anniversary of late G.P Koirala.
Pursottam Basnet, member of Foundation put forward his welcoming speech in memory of late G.P Koirala in the program.
Presenting a paper on role of citizens on transitional phase, Professor, Dr. Vidya Kishor Roy commented that the interim constitution had imagined to give sovereign rights to the citizens. He commented that the common people in Nepal are still ignorant of their basic rights, and that the issues relating to the citizens rights is not taken very seriously.
Focusing on the fact that Girija Parsad Koirala had time and again requested the Maoist, UML and Madhesi parties to end the transitional phase, Chairperson Sujata Koirala expressed sadness that the democratic constitution had not been possible due to the lack of cooperation and unity among political parties. Saying that the transitional phase might further prolong, Koirala stressed that citizens should caution the politicians and the political parties to move ahead to establish democratic norms and policies.
The Chief Guest of the program, former Chief Justice Anupraj Sharma pointed out that nobody has the solution for the current transitional phase and the citizens should not cultivate hatred and sadness in such situation. Sharma opined that the role of citizens in such situation should be to create people’s opinion and should come together along with civil society to pressurize the government.
Former ambassador Dr. Shamabhu Ram Simkhada said that the transitional phase shows no sign of ending and this has weakend nationality and democracy. He said that G.P. Koirala had imagined a peaceful and free Nepal, but with the prolongation of the transitional phase it seems that the political parties are sowing the seeds for further conflict in Nepal.
Former Vice Chancellor of Tribhuvan University, Professor Dr. Kedarbhakta Mathema commented that the transitional phase has turned out to be rather long and this should be weighed as both opportunity and challenge. Though it is logical to raise the issue of federalism and ethnicity for identity, it might bring about disorder and recklessness in the society and this should be highly taken into consideration, Mathema said.
Human Rights activist Prof. Kapil Shrestha said that the country is in the state of dilemma. Shrestha said that the crisis in the context of today lies in the leadership, and if G.P Koirala had been with us we would not have to undergo this failure.
Rajesh Hamal veteran Nepali actor in the interaction program remembered how G.P Koirala contributed to the promotion and betterment of democracy in Nepal. Mr Hamal applauded the contributions of late Koirala as a hardworking and dedicated nationalist who always worked for the establishment of democracy.
A song album jointly made by central and eastern art and literature group was launched in the program. The album, titled ‘Jaya Nepal’, contains late G.P Koirala’s personal and political journey.