Dev Raj Dahal, head of FES-Nepal, said “The blunder we have repeatedly made is that we tend to adopt the Western system without acknowledging our centuries-old value system,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion program on Conflict Transformation and Peace: Critiques and Choices organized by Asia Media Forum Nepal and FES-Nepal.
"Every Western expert on conflict draws lessons from Gautam Buddha for resolving the conflict but we have failed to understand the teachings of Buddha as knowledge to resolve the conflict. Unless we embrace our value system, democracy in Nepal will sail in troubled waters as it is happening,” he added.
Dahal said peaceful means is a must for peace and stressed on the need to realize the political space each party occupies at the national level. Over-blowing of political issues and lack of commitment among the political leaders have contributed to the current sorry state of politics, he added. Dahal was of the view that media can only put the peace process on to the right track. Two dozen senior journalists, including Yubraj Ghimire, Shiva Gaule, Arti Chataut, were present in the program.
Ghimire highlighted the unethical practices in the media because of intense political penetration into the media.
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