Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Kathmandu : Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's inner pains, indeed political ones, are comprehensible.

If on the one hand he has to bring the Maoists to the main political stream of the country on the other, he has to properly "convince and take into full confidence" the otherwise hostile international community which apparently has been whispering in Koirala's ears not make any "haste" in bringing the rebels to the government structure.

This should perhaps explain ailing Koirala's mental tension that surely he has at the moment due to the above mentioned facts.

And the hard political truth is that those were the real facts.

This way it could be easily presumed that Koirala is walking through a tight rope. Any slight deviation, if he unfortunately makes in the process of convincing the two "extremes", might catapult Koirala's new political stature which undoubtedly has acquired a towering height in the recent days and months, more especially after he assumed the reign of the state affairs since the successful completion of what has been called the "April Revolution".

Look how difficult his road wherein he is supposed to move.

Firstly, he has to keep Prachanda in good stead. Secondly, he has to assure the Maoists that he will remain ever committed to the agreements that have been arrived at in between the Seven Party Alliances and the Maoists thorough the kind courtesy of Nepal 's "big brother"- India last November and the rest which followed in series right here in Kathmandu since then.

Thirdly, he has to convince the Maoists that he will never betray them and what have been agreed upon will materialize time permitting.

Fourthly, he has to provide an impression, could be a false one even, to comrade Prachanda and his militant colleagues in the party that "he will not get carried away" by what the international community have been saying of late of the Maoists.

Fifthly, Koirala has to encourage Comrade Prachanda to join the main political stream as per the latter's commitments that he aired in series in the recent months. In the process, Koirala has a difficult task as well to induce a sense of safety and total security to Comrade Prachanda and his colleagues that if they came to power without arms, the Maoists afflicted people and their families will not take revenge from them and that in that eventuality he and his government would provide proper care for their overall security until the people forget the tragic past.

With these tasks ahead, Koirala's pains, if any, are all reasonable as he has to accomplish a Himalayan mission which encouraged the Maoists to believe in the words of Koirala.

The fact is also that the Maoists have no other option left than to take Koirala's words and assurances for granted.

Now look to the other side of the story.

Prime Minister Koirala has an uphill mission ahead of his political career to adequately convince his "international friends, read for the time being India and the United States of America that he would not bring in the rebels to the government structure until they laid down their arms and that too much ahead of the CA polls.

Secondly, he has to ensure the flow of the aids and donations from the powerful international community for the development of the already battered country that is currently under his command.

Thirdly, Koirala knows it fully well that if he brings in the Maoists with arms in the government machinery, his country will not get even a single penny from the donor community.

Fourthly, Koirala also has guessed in advance that the Maoists must not be brought to the political mainstream until and unless a competent and equally matching force comprising of the liberals/democrats came closer. He knows what it would mean politically if the liberal forces remained divided as they are at the moment.

Fifthly, Koirala has to keep the Maoists in the dialogue process - and this is what exactly he appears to have been doing now- in order to make them happy and check them from going berserk. Analysts predict that Koirala will continue to do so until the two congresses formally unite.

Sixthly, when such a grand unification process gets completed, Koirala will begin showing his grip over power and might push his "agenda" to be "gulped" by the Maoists.

In such an eventuality, the Maoists will be forced to gulp the bitter pill in order to survive in Katmandu as a strong force and in the process might initiate a grand campaign in order to bring in all the Republican forces at one point. Perhaps to this end, they have already initiated the preliminary processes, say analysts.

With CoAS, Katuwal and the rest of the security organs in his side; with the eventuality of the congress unification, the nation's growing sympathy for his leadership and finally with the tacit "international support" that he is already receiving unconditionally, Koirala will be in a stronger position to push his bargaining chips.

In such an eventuality, undoubtedly, his weight would, let's presume for the sake of convenience, be further enhanced by the total and unconditional support from the monarchical institution which is slowly but steadily emerging as a force though many would believe it being otherwise.

All in all, Koirala's political acumen will be tested on how he uses his cards that are under his sleeves. His political wisdom would be tested when he becomes successful in managing the two extremes in one house: the Maoists in the mainstream politics and providing some space for the King?

All put together, what could be fairly said of Koirala is that he is really in great pains which undoubtedly are of Himalayan dimension, politically speaking.

The deviant use of the word "Summit Talks"

Kathmandu : The talks of the Summit Talks have become a matter of talk of the town.

When that does take place in effect no body knows: neither the government nor the Maoists.

But then yet both sides have been airing that the fresh talks that took place in between Koirala and Prachanda the other day "have facilitated" the impending round of the next " Summit talks".

Analysts remain puzzled over the fact that how come a meeting in between Koirala and Comrade Prachanda be described as " Summit talks"?

Students of international relations opine that Summit talks take place when two heads of the State or for that matter two heads of governments from two different sovereign countries meet each other.

However, in Nepali case this is not the same as international relations expert opine.

The fact is that Koirala as the head of the new Nepal government is meeting with Comrade Prachanda who is neither a head of the State nor the chief of the executive of any government.

When the ranks differ then how come it could be termed as Summit talks?

Yes! Albeit, Comrade Prachanda is the chief of his party and also the supreme commander of his party's army-the people's militia. At best he is being termed by his own party colleagues as the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal(M).

Does this designation bring Comrade Prachanda at par with the head of the government or for that matter the head of the state, analysts' question?

Certainly not!

What is nevertheless true is that he is the most beloved leader of the Maoists party who commands respect and honor in the party from top to bottom. This should speak of his commanding capabilities and the honor he commands in and among his party-men who even could shed their blood if the situation so demanded while defending him from enemies attack. Certainly, he commands control over a vast landmass in the remote districts and villages. His party claims that they have their own "people's government" in two thirds of the Nepali landmass. This is a fact indeed. But is that all what he commands constitute a separate state within a state? Academicians ponder over!

Analysts salute Prachanda for his organizational capabilities and the love and honor that he commands from his rank and file but yet that does not provide him with the designation that is generally used for the Heads of the States or for that matter the heads of the governments.

The crux of the matter is that the terminology of the Summit meeting has either been distorted or misunderstood even by the leaders housed in the two conflicting camps.

At best such talks between Koirala and Comrade Prachanda are termed as "high level" meetings and nothing more than that.

Analysts wish if luck favored Prachanda and one fine morning he is declared the country's prime minister and goes on a friendly trip to India and seats at par and talks frankly with his Indian counterpart, then such talks could be taken for granted as "Summit talks".

It is altogether a different matter that Comrade Prachanda and his party colleagues claim that they have their own separate State.

If this is so then analysts take for granted that Koirala's government has accepted the "two state theory" in one State.

If this is so then Koirala is answerable to this pertinent question. If Koirala says " yes" then Maoists claim that they want to have final round of Summit talks appears very close to the logic as provided by the experts on International relations and diplomacy. If Koirala says "NO" then it should be taken just the other way round.

It would be nice if the establishment under Koirala and the Maoists party under Prachanda clarify at the earliest as to who is running the state of affairs of the country? Koirala or Prachanda when both claim that they represent their own governments and that two governments were in place in the present scheme of things? Which government should the Nepali population honor? Prachanda's or Koirala's?

The sooner they clarify the better.

Analysts wish to see this vexing question be settled once and for all.

For the Nepali population, it would not make much difference who ruled? Prachanda or Koirala?

Maoists' exert "excessive" pressure on India and US

Kathmandu: Nepali convention has been that when one speaks in his or her favor, the person speaking in support is instantly taken for granted as number one "pal".

However, if the same personality begins talking differently backed by logic then his or her speeches or lectures or even statements become suddenly erratic that demanded punitive actions.

Those were the days when the SPA leaders not so in the distant past expected derisive criticisms of the King from some residential ambassadors. And when they did so on their requests and made the King their target, they used to eulogies the friendly ambassadors for having made comments against the monarch as per their wishes.

To come to the point, when American Ambassador James F. Moriarty early this February (to be precise it was on February 15) made a scathing disapproval against the monarch wherein he dubbed the King sponsored municipal elections as in his own words a "hollow exercise", the leaders currently housed in the SPA at the moment concluded that Ambassador Moriarty was their best friend in the given political context.

This was not all; Ambassador Moriarty has many a times in the recent past-read prior to the conclusion of the April revolution- not only appealed the monarch to take into confidence the agitating parliamentary parties in order to face the Maoists challenges but he also made comments against the monarch that the latter did not listen to his concerns. Upon listening these reprimand against the King, the SPA leaders appreciated the Ambassador wholeheartedly, if one were to recall.

Then comes the Indian Ambassador's Kantipur idiot box interview wherein the Indian diplomat categorically used demeaning words against the King. The SPA leaders applauded Ambassador Mukherjee's blunt remarks made against their own head of the State.

Now that suddenly the two ambassadors have begun talking differently as regards the current Nepali politics, more so the American Ambassador, the two diplomats have become their number one enemies.

How come this sudden change?

Of late Ambassador Moriarty has become the target of some of the SPA constituents including those of the Maoists.

The Maoists have ideological reasoning to deplore the American ambassador and his government. To criticize America is their party's official policy. Nothing new about that and hence their criticisms aimed against the US is understandable. But when some known "friends" of America-for example-Madhav Kumar Nepal and his friends housed in his own party begin talking against Moriarty's statements which he has been airing of late more so after his Western region trip, the entire story takes a different political connotation. Reports say that Mr. Nepal told Moriarty to abide by the diplomatic norms when the two met recently.

Lila Mani Pokhrel, a Jan Morcha leader, recently even demanded in the parliament that Moriarty be declared persona non grata. Many others followed suit after Pokhrel's reiteration.

Analysts wish to draw the attention of all the academicians and the political leaders in the country towards the fact as to why the Indian Ambassador is not criticized when he makes unannounced trips to "inner terai belts" and more often than not to even "inner inaccessible hills"?

Ambassador Mukherjee has been traveling to every nook and corner of this country under one pretext or the other. In some villages he distributes books. At some other places he provides money for the construction of schools and hostels. Not bad indeed. But should not he accomplish all these acts of charity through the government's proper channels?

If the Indian ambassador can move to any place in the country uninterruptedly then by the same token why can't the American Ambassador and others like him posted in Nepal? Why Ambassador Mukherjee is not the target of the politicians? This is surprising phenomenon indeed. Why India be accorded a high-flying treatment? For having made the 12 point agreement possible in between the SPA and the Maoists? But have these leaders estimated the costs that we the "people" will have to pay back to India at a later stage for such a support? Indian support and that too for free is not only unimaginable but unbelievable as well. No free lunch in diplomacy.

It is not for nothing that of late Comrade Prachanda is not happy with Indian establishment for he knows that if India could become Dr. Jekyll, she could also act like Mr. Hyde.

If the parliamentarians and the majority of the population think that Moriarty should be declared a persona non grata for having exceeded his diplomatic limits in the recent days , then why Ambassador Mukherjee be spared? He too has been convincing Koirala not to bring in the Maoists in government unless they disarm themselves. Albeit, he is doing this in a secret manner, a clever diplomat as he is.

The hard fact is that when the nation-state becomes weaker, some interested quarters definitely wish to fish in the troubled waters. Analysts admit that Nepal as a nation state has become weaker in the recent years.

If Moriarty has been fishing in our troubled waters then Ambassador Mukherjee too has done the same and presumably doing the same and will continue to do the same until he completes his Nepal tenure.

Both the Ambassadors are the official representatives of their countries. Both have definitely some strategic interests in Nepal. Nevertheless, while Moriarty will not encroach upon our lands, Ambassador Mukherjee's country has been doing that and unfortunately those who have been pouncing on Moriarty have acquired a silence even when their own lands are being encroached upon.

Having said this, analysts at this paper wish to appeal both the diplomats not to make any comments that put hurdles in the peace process that has already taken a good start. Both should encourage the two conflicting parties to come closer so that peace is restored in this country.

The Maoists inner sentiments too must be honored. Concurrently, the Maoists also should not forget that India and the US are in the Nepal "axis" and their views as regards their inclusion in the government structure remains same if not identical.

The fact is that the more the Maoists pounce on the US and India, the harder it would be for them to come into the government machinery.

Analysts believe that the Maoists know this fact well.

SPA-Maoists combine likely to offer good news on the eve of Dashain

Kathmandu: It has been learnt that the seven parties have recently agreed to keep the institution of the monarchy without any power until a referendum decided the fate of the monarchy. The King's position will be more or less like a ceremonial monarch until the referendum.

The official team of the government has also proposed that the numerical strength of the interim legislature would remain in between three hundred to three hundred twenty five tentatively. Those who would be included in such a legislature will comprise from the current parliamentarians who supported the freshly concluded movement plus those from the now defunct upper house as well.

The proposal also includes in the interim legislature the members from the civil society together with the Maoists as much as could be made possible.

Similarly, the government team also has come to an agreement that the would be election to the constituent assembly will be based on a mixed representation from among all the sectors of the society which they believe would represent the voices and the concerns of all the so far neglected and the oppressed classes.

The team expects that the SPA members would agree to this new formula.

However, some insiders in the government say that the Maoists differ a bit from what has been agreed or is expected to be agreed in between the SPA members. This should mean that to have the Maoists complete approval for the already prepared framework , it could take some time which further meant that the much publicized Summit talks might commence only after the conclusion of the approaching Dashain festivals.

But then yet sources in government hope that a fresh round of preliminary talks in between Koirala and Prachanda might take place well before the Dashain festivals in order to prepare the grounds for the final round of talks in between the two high level leaders housed in two different camps.

The idea is to get the "ideological" consent of the two top leaders upon which the junior leaders could proceed further.

Many believe that on the eve of the Dashain festivals, the SPA and the Maoists might announce their total and unconditional commitment for the restoration of peace in the country.

Contribute for peace

- Sujata Koirala , NC

Kathmandu : The USC-Nepal-a Canadian INGO based in Kathmandu , the other day organized a one day seminar on " Sustainable Peace in Nepal : Prospects and Challenges".

The seminar was participated in by various noted intellectuals, academicians , political personalities and noted media men of the country.

Those who expressed their respective views on the said topic were, among others, Laxman Aryal-the former justice of the apex court; Jivan Bahadur Shahi-NC-D; USC Programme Officer Ms. Courtney Clark, Country Director of the USC-Nepal Mr. Sri Ram Shrestha; Professor Krishna Khanal; media man Dhruba hari Adhikary.

The main speaker was Sujata Koirala, the emerging and promising lady from the Nepali Congress who also happens to be the daughter of Prime Minister Koirala.

"Let's contribute for the institutionalization of peace in the country from our respective sides and that criticizing the government alone would lead us to no where", said Sujata Koirala appealing all the members of the society-the politicians, civil society members, media men and even the Maoists-to extend their support in the process initiated by the government in order to bring peace back in the country on a permanent basis".

A Canadian journalist who was fortunately in the town at time of the seminar, Mr. Guillaume, highlighted the role of the media in the peace-building process.

Journalist, Mr. Mukunda Subedi-the coordinator of the said program stressed the need for the political parties, including those of the Maoists, to take the lead in bringing back a sort of permanent peace in the country.

The program was presided over by Mr. Tika Pokhrel-the president of the USC-Nepal.

Enbrief

Moriarty meets Koirala and Nepal

Kathmandu: The US ambassador James F Moriarty met Prime Minister GP Koirala and the CPN (UML) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal.

News reports claim that the ambassador after meeting the UML chief while talking to the newsmen indicated that the arms of the Maoist should be separated before they are inducted in the interim government. Moriarty said the Maoists should stop extortion and abduction immediately and renounce violence. The meet with the Prime Minister mainly focused on consolidating transitional government and expediting measures for Constituent Assembly elections, reports claimed.

Japanese grant: Radio services improvement

Kathmandu: The Japanese Government has provided a grant assistance of five hundred eighty-eight million four hundred and thirty-six thousand Nepalese Rupees to the Government of Nepal. Accordingn to the embassy sources the allocated amount is to improve the Short Wave and Medium Wave Radio Broadcasting Stations of the Radio Nepal.

The intended Grant is to procure the products and services necessary for the improvement of radio transmission stations, according to the Japanese Embassy press release in Kathmandu.

Cancer kills 15,000 every year: Tobacco main cause

Kathmandu: Around 15,000 people die of cancer and about 20,000 cases are detected with most of them reaching to advanced state every year with the tobacco being the main cause of the disease.

"As the treatment of cancer is too expensive, people have to sell their lands and houses including other properties for treatment," said Diwakar Rajkarnikar, president of Nepal Cancer Relief Society.

"So, early detection of the disease saves both life and property, " Rajkarnikar said.

UNICEF concerned: Children in Demonstration

Kathmandu: The UNICEF, Nepal releasing a press statement has expressed concern over the growing tendencies of using children by adults in demonstrations and rallies in Nepal.

The UNICEF bureau chief in Nepal Suomi Sakai said, "We are worried about their safety, we are worried that they are missing school, and we are not at all sure that they have the consent of their parents or guardians."

"Organizers of any demonstration or public gathering have a responsibility to ensure that any children participating do have the consent of their parents," Sakai added.

39 % medical stores in Nepal involved in mal practices

Kathmandu: A government reports this week indicated that at least 39 percent of the medical stores, operating in the country, have not been keeping accounts of medicines, classified by the government as narcotics or psychotropic substances.

The Department of Drug Administration (DDA) inspected 642 medical retail stores operating in 22 districts in the last fiscal year ended in mid-July, and found 249 shops failed to maintain sales records of medicines, which could be consumed or injected by drug abusers.