Political Parties are holding the Nepali people for ransom. Almost every one we have spoken to has expressed the limitations political parties place on individuals and organizations. We are staying at a hotel owned by an American woman who has been living in Nepal for more than thirty years. When we asked her about a statue a few meters outside her hotel she immediately scorned at the questions and responded, “That stupid statue, its something political so I don’t care.” She goes on to say she turns away government officials and political party members from her hotel. She wants nothing to do with them and believes they are the ultimate cause for continued tension. Of course after meeting with tons of organizations we cannot help but agree.

Almost every entity in Nepal is associated to a political party. This may have to do with the current state of insecurity. There are so many political parties and none of them seem to represent the Nepalese people. Therefore, we find people taking the parts they like in the political ideology along with the aspects that hinder progress and change.  At a meeting in Bara with the Jan Jagaran Youth Club we learned that often times industries prefer to hire Indian workers because they feel Nepalese workers bring complicated political interests to the workplace. The most disappointing consequence of a highly politicized society is that we have found it compromises goals for empowerment and inclusion. This means that even when a woman or a Dalit are in a position of power they are forced to make political decisions based on their political party and not based on what is right for the marginalized groups they represent and come from.

Looking back on the incident with the motorcyclist. We were warned that the situation could turn political. Often times local disputes turn into a political issue. This pressures the Nepalese to associate themselves to a party. And more importantly, promote a political party that does not allow for a diversity of ideas. There seems to be a group mentality where party dissent is not common. Therefore, everyone takes the good and the bad within their parties ideology.