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The dust overcast in the political sky of Nepal after the historic change is taking time to settle down. If the overwhelming majority of the exploited poor Nepalis is happy, a small minority is not only very upset but most concerned about their future in the country. The Nepali monarchy, a centuries-old institution, revered by most Nepalis and considered indispensable till a few years ago has suddenly become redundant. The dead House of Representatives restored by the King on the mandate of the People’s Revolution has cut down the King’s authority with a vengeance. Though the monarch seems resigned to his new role, unfounded rumors emerging from the Palace are trying to spread contrary messages. Since the clock cannot be turned back, despite the tug o’ war between the feuding forces, the fate of the monarchy in Nepal seems to be sealed. It is, indeed, unfortunate that insensitive obduracy on the part of King Gyanendra has pushed this ancient institution into biting isolationism. Nepal , according to a renowned author, is as “inscrutable as a woman’s heart” and the monarchy still could be salvaged from going into total oblivion. Even Prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, the “greatest leader of the region”, according to his Indian friend, has suggested that the monarchy must be preserved if only to perform ceremonial duties. It does not seem too difficult for one to see through why he has opined such an idea. Whether his alliance partners and the Maoist leaders will fall in line with him, time can only tell. But as the portents show, the chasm between them is difficult to bridge.
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Kantipur TV was talking to UNHCR representative on the World Refugee Day and this scribe chanced to see it. The talk centered on the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal . It was not surprising to see the UNHCR representative making futile efforts to convince the TV audience. Since the issue has been hanging in balance for a long time, UN officials, many of them of much higher status than the representative in question, have not succeeded to produce any satisfactory solution. Hence we neither decry nor resent the present representative as we are fully aware of his limitations. And we know, even the highest authority in the UN cannot solve this problem. This is not the only problem where the UN has proved its futility. There are many more. But, the US invasion of Iraq has clearly demonstrated its impotence and non-utility. As a matter of fact, the nagging issue of the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal could have been solved years ago by one simple raise of an Indian eyebrow for the King of Bhutan to see. To be even more precise, the issue would not have arisen at all without the invisible concurrence of India . The Nepalis in Bhutan would have never been thrown out of their homeland had India only raised its forefinger at the sheer injustice of the Bhutanese King. But, India had to look after her own interests. Moreover, as the biggest democratic country in the world, India could not ignore Bhutan ’s rights to run its country the way it liked. Besides, India is a good friend of Bhutan and even a better friend of Nepal . She could not displease one to serve another. And she also could not interfere in the internal affairs of her smaller neighbors. And it is not for her to see what is right and what is wrong. She has to stay a silent spectator only. It is totally a different matter that India aspires to become a permanent member of the Security Council. It is again an irrelevant issue that Nepal does not have contiguous border with Bhutan . All these factors ostensibly do not have any relation whatsoever with the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal . However, the issue needs quick resolution. But how? We think the UN is not competent enough to solve the problem. The one, we think, who is fully competent would not even raise its little finger. As long we can’t make her do it, the problem will be plaguing us.
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