Wednesday, November 1, 2006

Kathmandu: It has already been proven fact that as and when Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala feels that he is in a stretched spot and is being pushed to the wall politically by his fellow colleagues housed in different political camps, he prefers more often than not to visit his hometown-Biratnagar, to get succor from the soil which encouraged him to enter into politics some six decades ago.

The moment he is in Biratnagar, as has become a practice by now, he explodes a bombshell to the utter panic and chagrin of his political friends.

At times his utterances that are highly political in nature and meaningful underneath, even surprises his own party activists thus forcing them all to ponder over as to whether what ever Koirala said should be taken for granted as their own party line of considerations.

It is altogether a different matter that of late the NC possesses a special set of the party leaders that usually rejects the Girija utterances and dubs Koirala expressions to have been his personal comments. Narhari Acharya is the one who appears to be not that much comfortable with Girija's line for a variety of reasons. Mr. Acharya is talked to be close to the Maoists than his own party.

Girija remains undeterred.

To recall, it was in June 14 that Koirala made it known to all and sundry that he and his party were in favor of a "ceremonial monarchy" come what may. Although this expression invited scathing criticisms from his friends and foes alike but then a determined Girija remains committed to what he said in Biratnagar as back as in June this year.

Nearly after four months of the previous bomb-shell, Girija Prasad Koirala who was in Biratnagar last weekend detonated yet another gelatin whose political reverberations shook Katmandu 's political circle including his own party.

"The Congress does not favor the formation of a republican front and as such would not be in any way a part of that very idea as has been floated by some interested political quarters in the capital", is what an indomitable and rock-solid Koirala divulged in Biratnagar.

This means that neither Koirala nor his party-let's presume till he presides over the party paraphernalia-would go in favor of the formation of a republican front primarily pushed and forwarded for the political consumption of the parties by the Maoists who definitely prefer to bring all the political views under one single umbrella and that being the republican front.

Koirala's big no to Maoists ideas and his clear indication that he can't be forced to join in the republican front by any quarter amply speaks that Koirala's Biratnagar declarations have instantly polarized the nation into two equally competent halves.

The first half definitely belongs to those who long for the formation of a republican front as suggested and floated by the Maoists primarily. UML's Bamdev Gautam is the one who is in favor of such a republican front though his comrades in the party possess different views than what Gautam possesses at the moment. The second half henceforth will, as per Koirala's declaration will comprise of those political animals who favor liberal democracy in order to match the strength and competence of the first half.

Thus the nation knowingly or unknowingly has been pushed to two diametrically opposing camps comprising of the liberals and the republicans.

Qualified analysts presume that this swift political development will usher in some more political alignments in the country. This fact has further been subscribed and elaborated by none less than NC leader Sujata Koirala in an oblique manner the other day at a press meet and more recently in a NTV face to face program wherein she hinted that the NC can't change her declared and adhered line of politics since its inception under pressure or whatsoever from any political quarter. This clearly rebukes the republican front's formation.

Sujata's clarification adds more strength to the Koirala line of thinking and hence what could be construed from the two known NC leaders is that their party will go the way they want at time of the CA polls. The NC thus will adhere to the liberal line without any let or hindrance come what may. It is for sure that those who oppose Girija's line of politics will be knocked down.

There is the likelihood of the now defunct monarchists housed currently in the different political bits and pieces surfacing sooner than latter in order to save the monarchy by aligning themselves in the Koirala sponsored liberal camps. It is not surprising therefore that former Panchas considered still loyal to the Royal institution too have begun ventilating the same what Koirala said the other day in Biratnagar.

In all likelihood and as the things stand today especially after Koirala's grand declaration made in Biratnagar, the former panchas for a variety of reasons will come together and strengthen the Koirala line.

The former Panchas are left with no options other than this. They will have to assimilate themselves in the camp of the liberals apparently to be headed by Prime Minister Koirala for two specific reasons. Firstly in order to face extinction from the country's political scene and secondly in order to save the sinking monarchy.

If that happens, and that will happen soon as per the demand of the politics, the King who has kept himself in a sort of complete hibernation since the April change, will take a sigh of relief.

All in all, Koirala has set the ball rolling. How the players play with the football-read politics-will have to be painstakingly watched.

Maoists' favor "Equidistance" theory in diplomatic conducts

Kathmandu: The Nepal Council of World Affairs the other day invited some old and self-proclaimed "foreign policy" experts to make lecture on "Nepal's Foreign Policy in the Changed Context".

Though the topic was relevant one by all standards, however, those who had been invited were all the old hats with no knowledge of international relations and the likes.

The NCWA is at fault but not those who were invited to make their view points on such a heavy topic as it was, commented one listener seated close to this scribe.

The participants have had to bear with the stale lectures throughout the two long hours.

But then yet it was interesting to listen to some, for example, Comrade Dev Gurung who was representing his Maoist party.

To begin with, Parsuram Khapung, a political man from the RPP indeed but not a foreign policy expert, demanded that a sort of national consensus was urgent in and among all the political parties on foreign policy of the country as regards the preservation of Nepal's genuine national interests.

Dr. Prakash Saran Mahat-an economist turned foreign policy expert which he is not-surprised many a brains attending the NCWA talkathon when he said that in the past that nepali rulers have had resorted to "hollow nationalism" in order to continue their autocratic rule.

Listening to his stunning remarks on nationalism, many listeners whispered that Dr. Mahat was a new convert and an asset of some countries in the immediate neighborhood. The participants rejected Dr. Mahat's contention and said that nationalism is never a hollow thing but instead a substantial and abstract feeling of national pride and honor to be accorded high priority in the conduct of relations with friendly countries.

But then yet Dr. Mahat, the junior one who happens to be in the NC-D suggested the Foreign Ministry officials to convince India and China for extending non-reciprocity to Nepal for the time being. He also opined that for harnessing the nepali water resources, the country must invite private investments from abroad.

Kudos to Maoists leader, Comrade Dev Gurung who categorically demanded that all the past unequal treaties signed with any country more so with India (by implication) must be reviewed at the earliest and made suitable as per the changed regional context.

According to Gurung, the Maoists CC leader, Nepal as a nation state has remained humiliated since the very signing of the Sugauli treaty in 1816 and continues to be so even as of today.

"We as a nation-state have yet to become independent in truest sense of the term as such and that some way or the other even to day Nepal continues to be encircled by some foreign forces which have got to be dismantled", said a serious Gurung.

Gurung opined that Nepali rulers in the recent past as well signed several unequal treaties with India as regards border issues, water resources (Tanakpur implied) only to continue their rule in this country.

He lamented that his party still sees some political forces seeking supports from other friendly countries in order to promote their petty political interests which should have otherwise been for the safeguarding of the genuine national interests.

"We thus see the urgent need of a foreign policy for Nepal that talks of and effectively relies upon the theory of "equidistance", said a beaming Gurung.

"We have multifaceted relations with India indeed but that should henceforth be based on equidistance", Gurung opined.

Is it a mere conjecture or tryst of diplomatic destiny, Gurung's pronouncement of the equidistance policy matches to a greater extent to what the then King Birendra have had thought for his country. The fact is also that King Birendra failed miserably in applying this theory in the conduct of Nepal's relations with India and China. How the new Maoists enthusiasts will move ahead and continue with such a policy that the Indian establishment generally disproves and rejects summarily.

All in all, if Gurung's views were to be taken for granted then what comes to the fore is that if the Maoists come to power they will spare no efforts in dealing with India on an equal footing. How the Indians then will react to the Maoists political overtures against them will perhaps determine the future shape of the country and those of the Maoists as well.

Needless to say, the Maoists leader Gurung have had no good words for the United States Administration.

Dr. Ram Saran Mahat, finance minister in Koirala's cabinet, expressed his reservations against the US desire that she could absorb some of the Bhutani refugees if the Nepal government so desired.

He was of the opinion that the refugees will be refugees wherever they were carried and thus suggested that the refugees must be allowed to go home in a secured manner.

The first speaker at the NCWA was Ambassador Yadav Kant Silwal who reiterated that in the age of globalization, Nepali foreign policy should also take proper care of economic diplomacy as well.

"To sustain the foreign policy endeavors, the country's economic growth must back the former", said Silwal.

He also suggested that Nepal should be in a position to exploit from the phenomenal growth of the Indian and the Chinese economies which these two countries in Nepal's immediate neighborhood have attained of late.

Don't push King to the wall

-Rabindra Nath Sharma, RPP Chairman

Kathmandu: The general question now being asked in the diplomatic and the Nepal's academic circuit is that what the King would have been doing after the April change?

The hard fact is that the King has acquired a mode of silence for all along these past seven months or so.

Some say that King Gyanendra has left his fate to the mercy of the Almighty. Others say, Prime Minister Koirala will save the institution of the monarchy at any cost come what may.

Yet another section of the nepali academia conclude that the monarch must have been in utter pain for having loosed practically all the Royal titles and status whatever he used to have prior to the April change. The hard fact is that those political animals who amassed wealth when the monarch was ruling too have vanished in the ethereal medium.

A section of the monarchists hesitatingly predict the sudden come back of the King in the country's political scene should the peace process went to the dogs.

But is that possible? With whose support the King could stage a coup d' etat?

The people are not with the King. Even if they are, they are not talking in favor of the King in the streets for a variety of political reasons.

The political parties who thrived during the King's rule appear virtually non-existent. Even if they possess love and honor for the King, they appear reluctant and very much hesitant in coming to the open championing the cause of the monarchy for fear of retaliation from certain political quarters which reject the continuation of the monarchical institution any more.

The military will support the King in that case? Perhaps not. The current military apparatus is more and more getting inclined towards the institutionalization of what is called Lok Tantrikaran. Nevertheless, though a remote possibility, some sections in the NA might come to the rescue of the King if he decides to take a Himalayan risk.

What about international support if the King stages a come back?

Perhaps yes if the Maoists and other extreme forces do not come to terms with India and United States of America and abide fully and unconditionally by the norms of democracy. India might come to the rescue of the King in that eventuality if the Maoists press the Indian establishment as regards making nulkl and void all the treaties that have been signed with Nepal in the past and have gone in India's favor. But here again, instead of the Maoists , the Indian establishment will twist the arms of the King and seek appropriate gains for whatever support she extended the monarch to regain his status and titles.

All put together, the King is currently a personality in complete solitude whose fate remains in the hands of the people and more so, frankly speaking, in the hands of the liberal forces if they desire it to be so.

Nevertheless, the parties which favored Royal institution until the April change and have had so far remained in hibernation have suddenly begun ventilating their concerns in favor of the monarchy. The process thus appears to be on an increase with each passing days in the future.

After Prime Minister Koirala, it is the new RPP captain, Rabindra Nath Sharma who has point blank said that "the King will not remain silent if the parties head towards abolishing the institution of the crown".

The fresh hair-raising expression made by the new RPP Chieftain who is coincidentally very close to the Koirala coterie is not only meaningful but loaded with political connotations.

This is not all.

Sharma in his maiden meet with the press Monday evening upon assuming the captainship of the RPP warned the parties by stating that "'we can't think that an institution that is pushed to the brink of abolition will not react at all".

If one were to ponder over the wordings of Mr. Sharma, what becomes clear is that the Royal institution might be considering ways and means on how to react if the institution is pushed to the wall eventually. Let's call it a hypothetical view for the time being.

Whether Sharma has made these self-manufactured tantalizing observations analyzing the current trend of the country's politics on his own or was told to say so by some invisible but yet powerful querters for the public consumption will come to the open in a matter of months if not days.

Rabindra Nath Sharma appears to have been handed over the RPP captainship by Kamal Thapa in order to easily merge the two RPPs together so that the new RPP is a strengthened party of the former Panchas who prefer willingly to be taken for granted as liberal democrats by the democratic parties some time later.

If this does happen then what is for sure is that the RJP led by Surya Bahadur Thapa and the entire RPP paraphernalia will merge together sooner than later. To recall, Mr. Thapa has just returned from a Delhi pilgrimage. Yet another staunch monarchist, K.P.Bhattarai is currently in Delhi. His Delhi trip is meaningful in the sense that Bhattarai made a meaning loaded statement from Delhi wherein he reiterated that he would wish to see the two congress party united.

Sources say that New Delhi is also pressing the two NC leaders to come to terms with each other at the earliest.

If Delhi so decides then it would be so opine Nepali academicians. But with whom Delhi fears is a big question indeed?

In that eventuality, the entire liberal forces housed in different camps will perhaps champion the cause of the monarchy.

It is not for nothing that Mr. Sharma too hinted that "the country was heading for a new polarization between Left and non-Left forces.

All put together, the monarchists of the bygone era are slowly but steadily emerging in the country's political scene.

It must be good news for the King.

Swiss scholar willing to support Nepal

Kathmandu: Dr. Daniel Warner of the Graduate Institute of International Studies, GIIS, has said that since the democratic system goes its own topsy-turvy way and hence the political parties, civil society and the people at large themselves should remain alert in safeguarding the system.

Dr. Warner made these observations Tuesday morning while talking to a select group of Nepali media here.

Dr. Warner who is concurrently the deputy director of a reputed Think Tank organization based in Geneva told the gathering that he would be more than willing to support Nepal's democratic system in whatever way he can.

According to Dr. Warner the advent of democratic system in the world has already crossed about seven hundred years.

Dr. Shambhuram Simkhada-the research fellow at the GIIS, highlighted the role of the media in order to provide stability to the Loktantrik system.

The local representative of the GIIS Bimal Pandey and GIIS Research scholar Mr. Fabio Oliva also spoke on the occasion.

Mr. Mukund Subedi, a freelance nepali media man, coordinated the program.

Nepal Territory protection forum formed

Kathmandu: It appears that Nepali nationalism is taking a positive turn of late.

Some of Nepal's patriotic enthusiasts have recently founded officially an institution entitled "Nepal territory Protection Forum" which has been duly registered with the local government in Katmandu.

The said forum in effect aims at protecting the Nepali territories whatever is left with us as of today and also aims at propagating messages to the lay men and the intellectuals alike on how our lands in the past have had been encroached upon by neighboring India and China.

The other aim of the Forum would be to inform the public about what nationalism was all about.

"We want our lost lands back but would not encroach upon other's land", said one of the Forum officials to this paper over telephone.

The Forum will soon collect the official data and make aware the people as to where Nepali lands have been encroached upon by neighboring countries, more specially by India.

Forum estimates that India has so far encroached upon Nepali territories in 150 plus places.

The Forum has appealed the Nepali nationals to extend their valuable support in order to regain Nepal's lost lands beginning Sugauli treaty that was signed in the year 1816.

The Chairman, Vice Chairman, General Secretary are Ram Chandra Bania, Tulsika Raymajhi and Bharat Koirala respectively.