The real issue

The agreement between the Home Secretaries of Nepal and India to fight terrorism at all levels is a welcome reiteration of internationally accepted strategy. There is, perhaps, no state in the United Nations that does not want to end terrorism in all its different forms. In this wider context, the Nepal-India agreement to fight terrorism is nothing new and it is as should be expected of all civilized governments. The Home Secretary who talked briefly to the press did not specify the kind of agreement that was reached. The agreement was presumably reached within the limitations imposed by the open border between the two countries. The two secretaries did not appear to have spent much time discussing the open border which is perceived as the root cause of friction that surfaces time and again between the two countries. Perhaps they did not have the mandate. But the open border has proved to be a handy tool for India to make allegations accusing Nepal of encouraging anti-India activities. Apart from the unauthorized cross border trade and the illegal flow of goods into Nepal from India and criminal elements that cross over, Nepal’s grievances include what is reported as India’s alleged support to the Maoists. These are indeed serious allegations that need to be settled.

It is said that the talks between the home secretaries which followed the recent visit to Nepal of the Indian Prime Minister’s Security Advisor is in preparation for the Prime Minister’s visit to India. Bureaucratic officials can do so much and nothing more. Hence, it will be futile to expect much from the home secretaries’ talks. But much is surely expected from the Prime Minister’s visit to India early next month. The Foreign Ministry’s ambiguous statement that the "whole gamut of Nepal-India relations" will figure during the talks notwithstanding, the Prime Minister should make a conscious effort to do much better than his first official visit to India in 1991 when talks with his Indian counterpart this time. Despite the age old friendship between Nepal and India, the two countries have failed to update their relations. This is necessary to keep the friendship cordial, close and thriving. The open border is a problem that the Prime Minister must raise along with the 1950 treaty and the Kalapani issue during his forthcoming visit. Neither Nepal nor India should take each other for granted. The open border is a hindrance to the friendly relations and since the home secretaries did not have the political mandate to resolve the issue, it is to be hoped that the Prime Minister will be able to do something about it.

Corrupt culture in Nepal

By Dr D P Paudel

Democratic polity which has completed ten years, has provided opportunity to most political parties to rule the country. However, political stability has been missing. This in turn has not given the conducive atmosphere to pursue a medium and long-term policy vision. If one goes through the election manifestos of major political parties, the write-ups do not vary so much. But the rule of thumb insists that the economic policies of the opposition party should be assessed with a political bias even though they may be commendable. For instance, the budget for the next fiscal year has made efforts to review a comparative macroeconomic scenario between pre-and-post democratic period.

The Finance Minister has made a sincere effort in the budget, but a lot of questions are being raised for the sake of criticism. He has been called a poetic economist, but nobody has come forward with concrete and creative suggestions for the budget's successful implementation. One can easily understand that there is no lack of understanding in the needed economic policies and programmes, but there is lack of gust to abide by the commitments of major political parties.

In the context of a developing country like Nepal, transparency and accountability count a lot. If there is an unbridled monetary and policy corruption together with biased view even with regard to feasible projects, the country, with constrained resources cannot imagine (i) delivering quality services, (ii) accelerating development expenditure and, (iii) creating passion among the people by ensuring the good intent of the government. Most major political parties in Nepal have missed the golden opportunity to reform or restructure the economy. It would be unfair to refer merely the politicians ignoring the other sectors such as civil servants, industrialists, traders and so on. Because of the leading role of political leaders, the trickle down theory is being violated since they did not maintain a clean character in essence. With such morals the legislation cannot be prepared to give a big push for stern punishment unless the leaders are ready to be exemplary. In socioeconomic planning and policies, especially in an underdeveloped context, there might exist high probability of errors, which can duly be deleted on a trial basis.

Civil servants have moral obligations to keep their performance very high in response to the significant hike in their remuneration by providing timely and quality services. Now the government also has the right to punish non-performance to control bureaucratic inefficiency. Similarly, the time has come to reorient the highly politicized unions in the essential services like civil service towards performance and discipline by providing them with an efficient grievances -desk for working towards fulfilling reasonable demands. Otherwise, it will not be possible to create a healthy working atmosphere. The point is that an indisciplined bureaucracy is not less harmful than corrupt characters. As is common in Nepal too, leaders and bureaucrats, not all but some seem to be basically responsible for intentional policy errors and for creating directly or indirectly an aptitude for corruption linkages with clients like industrialists, traders, etc.

Practical experiences of the past thus suggest that political parties are required to show unanimous view for a solidarity effort to eliminate all possible corruption in whatever level and magnitude. For this, the government with publicly notified views should expose corrupt activities. However, the nexus between political parties has been reflected in the recent budget wherein with the absence of any logical support the government has just doubled the so-called unaccountable budget allocated to MPs. In a purely economic sense such distributory approach is treated as synonym for Hundi.

Based on the economic fundamentals, the budget should have been allocated at least on an institutional basis. As such, it is a glaring example that indicates the cartel-type nexus of political parties to share the personal petty resources. If not so, why should a government with comfortable majority be loyal to the idea of enlarging the politically motivated distributory approach in allocating money on personal basis. It, therefore, raises the question about the attitude of prominent leaders Furthermore, it is an open secret and not just based on biased media opinion, but also on the situation witnessed in the party forum and meetings regarding corrupt characters who have become indispensable for running the government and party. If so, it is more reasonable for major political parties to build institutional character by disclosing the share on commission in globally acceptable norms on a proportional basis, of MP's quota to run the party. Otherwise, those leaders who prefer money and power will all the time dominate the party resulting in ultimately no attainment of the objectives of a multi-party system and this will cause anarchy in the medium and longer term.

In a purely democratic world, people have not only the right to doubt but have the moral ground to question how a substantial number of leaders and bureaucrats have been able to build bungalows with all amenities. Similarly, unethical political characters have demonstrated nakedly how the MPs, constitutional heads and secretaries of the ministries can afford to buy duty-concession Pajeros and Prados. Now it is already late for democratic leaders to demonstrate sincere attitude for developing a culture of honesty and democratic culture to convince their voters. Therefore, the majority of the people are of the opinion that the major political parties are afraid of going through eco-biopsy and thereby not ready to administer needful therapy to prevent corrupt characters from being at the top level so that the trickle-down theory could be automatically applicable to the rest of the sectors. It becomes the high moral duty of the NC government and party to show sensitivity on such issue and compel other leaders to become honest.

Summer bonanza for parliamentarians

By Razen

Taking the declining number of parliamentarians in the House into consideration, a Nepal-based INGO has launched a programme to bring some soothing salvations to the threatening situation.

At a press conference held in a deluxe hotel, the INGO informed the journalists that it was starting a package to attract parliamentarians to the House sessions. At least by increasing the number of listeners, it believes, the programme will help Nepal to stabilize democracy and multi-party system.

Needless to say, it is the fundamental landmark of People’s Movement that people belonging to different thoughts can go and sit in the couch of the beautifully wall-painted parliament. It is not less difficult than scaling Mt Everest. You have to hire porters and guides to have your name printed in the newspapers. For the public too, those lucky 205 winners from all over the country are the foundations of hope. They have the key to everybody’s happiness. Even though they can’t bring a bird called development to their villages, the villagers are still optimists.

Then there is a good news for such optimists. The INGO is going to launch Summer Bonanza for Parliamentarians. If baseless finance companies can lure hundreds of people with a bonanza package, why can’t this be successful with the ever demanding lawmakers? The INGO will hand a lottery coupon to each visiting parliamentarian when they enter the elegant gate with the pair of lions.

The first prize will be a two-way ticket to the USA. For a whole month, he or she will enjoy every door of entertainment and every opportunity of part-time jobs. A five-star hotel will be booked for the winner. Don’t worry at all, he or she won’t have to pay any thing, even for the beer in the hotel rooms.

The second prize will be a brand new duty-paid four wheeler. This will be the first time a parliamentarian will be seen driving a duty-paid vehicle of his own. That way no journalist will ridicule him. And, the government will take responsibility that he or she won’t have to return the vehicle to the party afterwards.

The third prize is a bit off-beat. Three of the winners will be given tickets of discotheques for a whole night. Each of them will have a loaded pistol too. He or she will choose any dress to wear and the music in the disco will also be of the winners’ choice. He or she will have full right to choose any partner from the group of teenagers.

After boozing to the last drop and shaking hips till the music fades, he or she can shoot rampantly at any person in the disco. The INGO will take care of the victims and all cost of treatment (or cremation) will also fall upon its back.

Apart from these door prizes, there will be a variety of welcome cocktails at the entrance. The range will stretch from Black Label to local twant. Throughout the session, soft drinks and snacks will be served. For the health-conscious parliamentarian’s kind information, the snacks will be served from starry hotels, not from the filthy canteen.

Has CIAA contained corruption ?

The Kathmandu Post and Mercantile Communications conducted a survey on "Has the CIAA (Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority) contributed positively in controlling corruption?" on the Net last week. Of the total 179 respondents, 139 persons said "No", 22 persons said "Yes" and 18 persons said "they did not know".

We regret the inconvenience, if any that may be caused on account of the non-mention of original names by some respondents.

No. Everybody is abusing authority in Nepal including the Prime Minister. Does it make any difference, whether the CIAA is required or not, when you have a commission monitored by the government? There is no point arguing on this score because CIAA has not contained corruption but it has been contained by corrupt leaders.

- Sabita

CIAA - is a paper tiger with no claws and teeth. The political heads are more powerful than the paper tiger. Has it been able to catch any big thugs ?

- Damachi

CIAA also has been involved in corruption. The ruling party has remote control over it. The only thing is that Nepal could not produce even a good single leader who loved the country. CIAA is the most careful and obedient wing of political leaders and officials. In such a situation, what could the CIAA do? People must be careful in choosing a leader. CIAA protects corrupt leaders.

- Kanta

Why blame CIAA only? What do we think about our judicial system? Take for example the recent case where former head of RNAC was involved. Or take the case of Padma Sunder Lawati. Were not evidences enough to nail down these culprits? Most corrupt ones are these judges. We should not blame CIAA only.

- Sharah

CIAA is made of a bunch of old jerks who have neither capacity nor commitment towards work. Unless it is managed by bright, young and dynamic professionals, it is naive to expect something out of it. The sad reality of Nepal is our corrupt politicians hardly listen to others’ ideas.

- Shiv

What is CIAA or the Nepal police for that matter? They are government’s organs to protect, make better and mint wealth for the ruling political party. Sometimes one wonders how come people remain silent when taxpayers' money is used for personal purpose. The names and departments are occupied by Koirala cronies and they are the central force driving the country and minting money. This is a Nepali kind of democracy and I am glad not a single Nepali has the courage to speak up against the dictatorship. So basically there are no investigation authorities in Nepal.

- Pracha

We have failed to choose leaders, review the management system, learn the social justice, maintain the law and order and reform the whole Nepalese economy. There has been talk about the CIAA's involvement in corruption and assistance to the corrupt. We do not believe the government and its agent CIAA. What we need in Nepal is a special body of CPA (Certified Public Accountant) from the USA to control the corruption.

- Lochan Kumar Shrestha

As long as you have people in the CIAA who are loyal to politicians, you cannot have an organisation which functions correctly. CIAA is the biggest laughing stock occupying the centre stage in the country. It is a toothless creature which cannot bite. They need to make the body totally independent so as to make it function without fear.

- Sajan

Who is interested to read and know what these animals (who went to greener pastures) have to say. CIAA or no CIAA, this is how Nepal works and shall always work. In Hindu society, a priest preaches what we should do and takes away whatever is given as alms. This has been the tradition, not religion. So, having or not having CIAA office does not make any difference. Policemen, army personnel, civil servants, industrialists, shopowners, ministers, doctors, engineers, etc, etc are all waiting to perform their rites. CIAA can just close its eyes, plug in dope into its ear and shut its mouth.

- Rai

CIAA is nothing more than a child’s toy given as a pacifier to the loudest critics of government corruption. The corrupt government is slapping our face with this ridiculous CIAA. The government does not care about problems, they are too lazy to fix them, and they just want people to be quiet and do as they are told. To get rid of these fools is to make ourselves fools. Show me the man who has the courage to lead a simple life, who loves Nepal and is willing to work diligently for the benefit of his countrymen, and I honestly believe that you will have shown me the man that has the support of all the good people of Nepal.

- A P Bista

Corruption will be there forever as long as we believe in leadership in the society. CIAA means first corruption then corruption in investigation? So what? CIAA is also one of the organs that produces leaders where leaders and the government are not working for the people.

- L B Khatri

Who is not corrupt in Nepal or in the UNDP or the World Bank or the IMF or any business firm? Civil servants, judges, doctors, teachers belong to the same category. CIAA is but one organization only.

- Balle

An article on TKP’s front page reads that "Nepal ranks 144th out of 174 on the Human Development Index" partially due to violation of certain rights. Another article reads that "Nepal has one of the worst health care situations in Asia" partially due to resource distribution inequity. This is a blatant abuse of power if someone elected or hired to do, doesn’t do the job. This is not only abuse of power or abuse of responsibility but also abuse of trust and dignity. People do not need the report from CIAA to find the truth.

- Diwakar Thapa

We should give some credit to CIAA for its efforts to curb corruption. It should be made stronger not in a physical sense, but morally, professionally and ethically, too. We should definitely empower CIAA in its mission. But the quality of their performance does not depend upon external support/factor only. It has to do with their sincerity, honesty and commitment. We have to work hard and sacrifice for it. It is like a mirage to think that one-day government will empower CIAA and we will do better. The government has become visionless with no dedication to physical property. The general impression is that lawmakers are more corrupt than ordinary people. We must come to reality to correct ourselves first. I think all the organizations must develop their capacity to discharge their duty honestly and sincerely and should be ready to fight if necessary.

- Satyal