Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Kathmandu : It is highly intriguing and surprising moreover as to why the Indian establishment chose Nepal as a venue for a sort of regional conference of her Ambassadors posted in the South Asian region?

No sane country would prefer Nepal as a venue to bring in her diplomats for a meeting at least when things are still fluid and delicate in this country given the fact that the State and the conflicting rebels have yet to resolve their long-standing disputes.

In addition to that, the rebels have yet to prove that they really want to join the mainstream competitive politics of the country through their deeds.

All put together, Nepal still is not a very safe and sound place for such a meeting that the Indian establishment have had already in Kathmandu .

So what could have been the factors for the Indian establishment to bring in her South Asian ambassadors to Katmandu ?

Because it is safe? Forget it.

Because it is politically stable compared to other South Asian countries? No way!

Then why the Indian diplomats converged in Kathmandu ?

Moreover, things get complicated when this congregation of the Indian diplomats saw the "gracious" presence of the fame of none less than Shyam Saran, the former Indian Ambassador in Nepal who now is the FS of the Indian Republic .

It is not that, analysts say, his presence was not a welcome move, but then his activities that he brought into action while being the Indian representative in Nepal were so dubious that each and every Nepali intellectual, including the analysts at this paper, are now forced to conclude that this particular congregation of the Indian diplomats at such a time when Nepal's political fluidity at its peak would not have been without any hidden "agenda".

So then what could have been the hidden agenda which brought the entire South Asian set of Indian Ambassadors to Katmandu ?

Analysts here have some points that could have prompted and tempted the Indian high level diplomats under the leadership of Shyam Saran to go in for this venue for a meeting whose raison de etre have not been made public.

And why should they make it public as it was an affair that was exclusively an Indian one.

The first agenda could have been to "watch" the Pakistani political overtures, if any. The meeting has taken place close on the heels of a sad even wherein under the, the presumption is, tremendous pressures from Indian establishment, the Nepal government arrested two Pakistani nationals for a cause wherein they have had no connection at all.

Indian authorities suspect that whatever wrong goes in India were the acts of the Pakistanis. However, they forget that they have enough of such "wrongdoers" right inside their own territories. Freshly, there has been a TV report that Indian Prime Minister Office has a "mole" passing secrets to other countries. This means that the Indians themselves need to correct their own blunders.

The second agenda could be to watch the "growing" influence of the Americans in Nepali political affairs. It is so because India concludes that "since Nepal comes under their sphere of influence and hence no other country other than India " should have a say in Kathmandu affairs.

But then American Ambassador Moriarty at times speaks out his remarks that apparently is not taken in good taste by India or else why Sitaram Yechury, a simple communist in the crowd of one billion Indian populations, made scathing criticisms against Moriarty? Does not this mean that Indian establishment "used" Yechury to ventilate her own inner feelings?

This amply suggests that though India and America are in the "axis" on Nepal events yet Indian would very much want to have their field day in Nepali affairs. Thus the axis is for namesake only, let's presume it for sake of convenience.

Moriarty must now ponder over this aspect, if he is listening.

The third hidden agenda could well to contain the growing interests currently being shown on Nepal by India's known bete noir- China.

China of late has too been subtly ventilating through different channels that she too has a stake in the political events and its settlement and hence she deserved the right to remain abreast with the unfolding events in Nepal. It is not for nothing that China is sending a very high level ten member team led by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Tawei to this country this 27 July.

This abundantly speaks that China will want her due share that she rightly deserves in the Nepali affairs.

Intellectuals here are of the strong opinion that China and America in their own subtle way should show their presence in Nepal in order to "minimize" the overwhelming "political hegemony" of India in Nepali political events.

If this is so, Nepal will take a sigh of relief.

However, how the Chinese would take the American overtures will have to be watched.

Wisdom would demand that the new Nepal government should invite scholars and government authorities from practically all the countries in the globe who wish to see a developed and prosperous Nepal.

Why not from Pakistan? By the same token why not from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka? This will send message to the southern neighbor that Nepal can't be "isolated" as planned and that she has other friends as well in the global community. In effect these countries should send their respective delegations to study the Nepali affairs and its would be impact on the regional politics in particular and worldwide in general.

Let Nepal be not left to the "mercy" and the whims of the Indian establishment.

But the million dollar question is: who will dare to do so at the cost of losing the chair or even a regime change?

Kathmandu: The Maoists have reasons to be restive for they have begun feeling that they were taken for a ride by the parliamentary forces now housed in the parliament which, in effect they claim, got a new lease of life due to their final boost provided the freshly concluded April revolution.

That the entire Maoists party machinery has become agitated becomes clear from the recent utterances of various top-level leaders of the party wherein they ventilate their feelings that the other camp-the SPA-was going against the very spirit and the meanings of the 12 point agreement signed in Delhi and more specially against the 8 point agreement that was signed on June 16 right here in Kathmandu in between them and the SPA.

It is not for nothing that Comrade Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai should conclude in a fresh article printed in Maoists mouth-piece-Janadesh weekly dated July 25 that new equations were in the making in between the Royalists and the status-quoists among the parliamentarians/parliamentary parties.

"It was apparently this conspiracy that provided a new lease of life to the dead parliament under the tremendous pressure from international forces", adds Bhattarai-the top ideologue of the Maoist party.

He goes on to say that it is these political maneuverings of the said reactionary forces housed in the parliament and elsewhere that his party has become utterly surprised even to locate as to where lay the real center for talks and talks with whom?

He then laments and says in other countries, the rebels are searched by the establishment for talks but here in Nepal we have to find them for talks.

"It appears to us that the real manager of the talks is invisible without whose instructions the establishment can do nothing", Dr. Bhattarai expresses his inner feelings.

Now it appears, continues Dr. Bhattarai, that the new-regressive forces have concentrated their entire efforts on two counts: on the question of the dissolution of the current parliament and on the management of the arms.

In effect, the new government has been insisting that the parliament should continue for an indefinite period and that the arms Maoists should lay down their arms much ahead of the entering into an interim government.

The fact is that these contentions have summarily been rejected by the Maoists. They demand the dissolution of the House and that their arms will be with them until the CA poll results come to the public.

This means that the Maoists wouldn't lay down their arms until and unless they remain assured enough that the CA results went in their favor.

And this is what has come under intense debate both within and without.

The government says the Maoists must handover the arms and the international community, for example, the US, the EU and more so the Indian republic, too have joined the Nepal government stance.

This means that the Maoists are under tremendous pressure which presumably has made them restive. This much is understandable.

Dr. Bhattarai claims that when the SPA and the Maoists have already agreed upon the dissolution of the house only after an alternative mechanism were brought into existence then why the dissolution of the house is being delayed?

The question should now concentrate on, says Bhattarai, what should be the real alternative to the present parliament?

"The present parliament has now become a place that houses shameless men who represent "regression" and "status quoists", lambastes Dr. Bhattarai.

He then suggests that the current house be changed into a new one with one third each from the Maoists, the civil society members and the rest from the seven party alliances.

Honest is Dr. Bhattarai in his contention that no two armies can exist in a state which means that he too wanted to brush aside the State within a State theory as is being talked in the diplomatic circuit in Kathmandu. But then yet he strongly rejects the theory that the UN should come to Nepal only to monitor the people's militia and the arms of the Maoists.

"This is highly objectionable and hence unacceptable", adds Dr. Bhattarai.

"We are still ready to put our army and the arms in the barracks together with those of the Nepal army until the CA elections which would be monitored by the UN body and later after the CA results, as it goes, both the armies will have to undergo through a restructuring process", explains Bhattarai his fresh commitment.

He then finally warns all those who have been engaged in damaging the peace efforts that the country will have to witness yet another final unprecedented "people's revolution" which could not be tamed by any force on earth.

But then yet we will adhere to our commitments for peace, says Bhattarai adding that such overtures be not taken as their weakness.

Looking at what Dr. Bhattarai says in his article what becomes abundantly clear is that the SPA and the Maoists have developed certain differences the sorting out of which might take some time much to the chagrin of the Maoists.

Fuming Prachanda sends separate letter to UN

Kathmandu: The Supreme Commander of the Maoists insurgency, Comrade Prachanda has suddenly become furious at the manner the government "unilaterally" sent a letter to the UN seeking the support of the international body wherein it has been stated that the new Nepal government would require the UN body's in order to "assist in the monitoring of the combatants of the Maoists and de-commissioning of their arms".

Prachanda says he forcefully rejects the content and the very spirit of the letter sent to the UN by the government recently.

Instead of the government contention, Prachanda rather appeals the UN Secy-General that "any talk of "de-commissioning" of arms of only the PLA before the election to the constituent assembly is just unthinkable".

Prachanda's point of strong reservations are, as far as is visible, firstly, the government sent the letter without consulting the Maoists; secondly, the letter went against the 12 and the 8 point agreement that took shape in between them at different dates; thirdly, Prachanda wants to equate his army at par with the national army which the government in the letter to the UN has denied; fourthly, Prachanda wants there should not be two different yardsticks to compare the two armies thereby he means that within Nepal two different and equally strong opposing armies exist; fifthly, he suggests forcefully that it should not be his army but the national army which he considers still loyal to the monarchy should be kept under strict surveillance by the UN; sixthly, Prachanda agrees that his party came to know the sending of the letter to the UN by the government through only the media and that too three weeks later; seventhly, Prachanda-makes it abundantly clear through the letter sent to the perusal of Kofi Annan that any efforts by the UN that sidelined his propositions would not be acceptable neither to him nor to his party.

Should this mean that the presumed and almost scheduled Summit talks between the State and the rebels have already gone to the dogs?

Below is the full text of Prachanda's appeal to Kofi Annan published in Janadesh Weekly dated 25 July, 2006.

HE. Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York.

Dear Mr. Secretary-General,

This is to draw your attention to the letter sent to you by the Government of Nepal on 2 July 2006 and to register our strong protest and disagreement over certain crucial points of the letter.

Firstly, the letter was written & sent unilaterally and secretively without any consultation wish us in utter violation of the spirit of ongoing negotiation between the Government of Nepal and the C.P.N (Maoists). We came to know about the letter through the media after nearly three weeks and hence this delay to register our disagreement over it.

Secondly, and more importantly, the content of the letter, particularly as stated in points nos. 3 &4, is in complete violation of the 12-point Understanding of 22 November 2005 and 8 point agreement of 16 June 2006 reached between the two sides. For your kind recollection, clause-3 of the 8-point Agreement clearly states: “To request the United Nations to assist in the management of the armies and arms of both sides (emphasis added) and to monitor it for a free &fair election to the constituent assembly”. Against this, the said letter self-professedly and provocatively talks of “Assist in the monitoring of the combatants of the Maoists and decommissioning of their arms and “Monitor to assure that the Nepal Army is inside barracks” etc. Such arbitrary and unilateral application of two different yardsticks to the two armies is highly objectionable and totally unacceptable to us. Particularly any talk of "de-commissioning" of arms of only the PLA before the election to the constituent assembly is just unthinkable. As everybody knows, the so-called Nepal Army is still loyal to the autocratic monarchy and its democratic restructuring and keeping under credible international monitoring is more imperative & important for free & fair election to the constituent assembly.

We would like to reiterate our appreciation to the United Nations and to you personally of the positive role played so far in favor of democracy, peace and progress in Nepal and expect the same in future. We shall be happy to co-operate in any manner with the UN team planning to visit Nepal soon.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration.

Chairman
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
24 July 2006

Woli's Pokhara remarks jolt Maoists' brains

Kathmandu: Despite all the hiccups and the unnecessary delay seen in the supposed Summit talks in between the SPA and the Maoists, it appears that the insurgents will face all the challenges posed to it by being very much in Kathmandu instead of entering into the jungles once again.

The delay seen in the Summit talks, the reluctance of the SPA personalities in the dissolution of the house as demanded by the rebels, the hesitation exhibited by the men in the government to penalize the army and more over the government authorities blunt no to the Maoists entry into the Interim Government until and unless the rebels laid down their arms and etc., all put together brings a scenario that should have been "frustrated" the Maoists to an undesirable extent. However, the fact is that the Maoists no more wish to go to the jungles but appear to have determinedly opted to face all the political obstacles on their own.

Or else why should they have given word to the government that they were ready to extend ceasefire period (the current one expires this Friday) to facilitate the ongoing peace process.

This is not all. The rebels also have amply assured the government, it is reliably learnt, that they were willing to sign a formal agreement with the State on matters relating to the permanence of Ceasefire and Human Rights issues.

This perhaps they have been doing to reassure that they in effect wanted to join the competitive politics and thus their honor for a democratic system be not questioned any more.

Insiders in the Peace Committee reveal that both the conflicting parties have agreed to keep their respective armies in the barracks or in some other agreed places.

This agreement is expected to be signed in between the two camps in the very august presence of UN authorities who are expected to arrive this weekend.

What has also been agreed in between the two is that both the armies will henceforth not induct any army personnel in their institutions and that both will not procure arms by any means or whatsoever.

Be that as it may, the foreign minister K.P.Woli while talking to a select group of press men categorically hinted that the "National Army" was distinctly different than the people's militia. His indication had been that the State army must have the arms in its possession but not the people's militia.

Woli's blunt expression must have jolted the sharp brains in Kathmandu.

To recall, the Maoists for unknown reasons do not like Woli and the latter in turn too has not been kind enough towards the Maoists since he assumed this lucrative post.

Perhaps listening to Woli's Pokhara remarks and more so after studying the details of the government letter sent secretly to the UN, the Maoists too thought it necessary that Kofi Annan must be made aware of the internal nitty-gritty's of the previous agreements which they have had with the State at different intervals of time.

Interestingly, Prachanda has sent an appeal to the UN at a time when Indian Foreign Secretary was in town.

This might be a mere conjecture as well.

But then analysts guess that there were "some invisible but yet powerful forces" who have been acting like "advisors" to the two respective camps-the State and the Maoists.

Key Garney! Smart players indeed on both sides!

Pakistani denial and Sachal clarification

Kathmandu: Follows the statement issued by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad on 15 July 2006 regarding Arrest of Two Pakistani Nationals in Nepal.

Local intellectuals in Nepal believe that the Nepal Police appears to have arrested these two Pak nationals under the pressure from the Indian authorities.

The Islamabad rebuttal begins: "Clarifying the media reports regarding arrest of two Pakistani nationals in Nepal allegedly in connection with the Mumbai blasts, the spokesperson stated that the Pakistan Mission in Kathmandu was instructed to immediately get in touch with the Nepalese Foreign Office to ascertain the facts.  Our Mission was later contacted by the Nepalese police authorities who confirmed that the arrest of two Pakistanis was in connection with an old case dating back to 2001 and that no linkage had been established with the Mumbai blasts.  The Foreign Office also called the Nepalese Charge d' Affaires to make a demarche asking for consular access and release of the persons.
Today, the employers of the two persons, M/s Sachal Engineering Works that had a road construction project with the Nepalese government some years ago, approached the Foreign Office requesting help and gave further details.  According to the company, the two persons had nothing to do with the 2001 case and had visited Nepal several times for recovery of outstanding payments to the company by the Nepalese Roads and Works Department.  These persons had gone to Nepal on 8 July for the same purpose after seeking prior appointment with the concerned Nepalese Department and were in Nepal when they were detained.  We are in touch with the Nepalese side through diplomatic channels in this matter.

SACHAL Clarification:

Meanwhile the SACHAL Engineering Works which had appointed those two Pakistanis has to say this in this regard:

" Sachal Engineering Works (Pvt.) Ltd. was awarded a World Bank funded 44 km long Marshiangdi — Khairenitar Road Rehabilitation Project in 1995, by Department of Roads, Government of Nepal.

As a result, the Company established its Project Office at Kathmandu in November 1995 and Site office later on at Dammuli.

The Company was fully mobilized in Nepal when it stationed its full complement of men and material. Among others, the following appointments were made to undertake the project:

a. Mr Atta Mohiuddin Siddiqui was appointed as Project Manager of the Project to ensure its completion.

b. Mr Ghulam Hussain Cheema was appointed as Manager Finance of the Project.

The Project was completed on 24 March 1999 and as a result, completion certificate was issued the same year. Subsequently, the Company was responsible for the defect liability which was also completed successfully and resultantly Completion Certificate was also given in the year 2000 and the office was closed in October 2001.

The above-named Officers remained in Nepal throughout the currency of the Project and later to look after the defect liability.

The Company, on completion of the project raised claims for NRs 71 million which were subsequently pursued by company officers in Nepal. The presence of company officials in Nepal after completion of the Project was similarly to pursue its financial claims and obtain the outstanding amount of NRs 71 million.

Financial Claims are still outstanding and with a view to settle them, the company despatched the above named officials to Nepal on 8 July 2006 for the purpose of final settlement of financial claims and allied issues with the Department of Roads, Ministry of Works and Transports, Nepal. However, these officials have been apprehended in Nepal which has come to light through the press.

The above named officials visited Nepal six times (October 2001, September 2003, March 2004, May 2005, June 2005, September 2005 and July 2006) in connection with recovery of the outstanding amount. However, they have never been asked I interrogated on the present charges levelled against them by Kathmandu Police in the past.

Sachal Engineering Works (Pvt.) Ltd. is a reputed construction Company and is in the business for the last 34 years. It has undertaken and completed mega project.

ENBREF:

Govt. announces free health service:

Kathmandu : The government has decided a free health service in emergency and in-patient departments of all the district hospitals and primary health care centers. The Ministry of Health and Population, releasing the health programs for this year revealed that the free health program will be expanded to smaller hospitals next year. 50 million rupees (714,285 US dollars) has been allocated for the program, the ministry also revealed. For this purpose the government has allocated 20 million rupees (285,714 dollars) to provide incentives to the doctors. Media reports also claim that the Nepal government is to reduce the budget allocations for the royal palace and the army and divert the savings to the health sector

Tourism master plan by October

Kathmandu : The ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation is planning to bring out a Tourism Master Plan by October this year, media reports.

The Nepali media quoted Minister Pradip Gyawali saying that the master plan will incorporate policies, strategies and action plans for development, expansion and promotion of tourism sector.

Nepal 's aid proposal to Japan

Kathmandu : A recently prepared proposal by the ministry of industry, after the approval of the ministry of finance will be submitted to the Japanese Embassy. The proposal if accepted by the Japanese Government, Nepal will be able to export 22 items to the Japanese market under the Aid for Trade (AfT) scheme.

The proposal is being sent to the embassy of Japan for final approval soon, a source at the ministry sources revealed on condition of anonymity.

India agrees to evacuate Nepalese

Kathmandu : Nepalese Ambassador to Egypt Ram Bhakta Thakur and Nepalese honorary Consular General in Lebanon , Al Khuri indicated that the Indian authorities have agreed to accommodate Nepalese in their vessels they have been sending to evacuate Indian nationals working in Lebanon .

Nepal-China Non-Govt. cooperation forum: Beijing preparatory meet

Kathmandu : A delegation of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) is in Beijing to take part in a preparatory meeting for the upcoming 9th meeting of Nepal-China Non-governmental Cooperation Forum.

The delegation is led by president Chandi Raj Dhakal along with second vice-president Kush Kumar Joshi and director general Badra Rasa Ojha. The meet is to finalise the date and venue for the upcoming meeting with All China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC).

Trade deficit increase by 25 per cent

Kathmandu : A macroeconomic situation report released by Nepal Rastra Bank, indicatesd that the trade deficit during the first 10 months of the last Nepali fiscal year ( July 16, 2005-July 15, 2006) rose by 25.3 percent compared to the same period during the previous Nepali fiscal year.

"Due to a higher rate of growth in imports against a slower pace of exports, trade deficit during the first 10 months of the last Nepali fiscal year 2005-06 rose by 25.3 percent," the report said.