B. P.’s National Reconciliation Policy For The Sake Of Nation

-By Ram Chandra Pokhrel

IN Nepalese politics a great historic event took place but quietly in a chilly mid-winter day fourteen years ago. The event unfolded with the landing of an aircraft tht had taken off from Patna at Tribhuvan International Airport on December 30, 1976.

Historic Trip

B. P. Koirala, the helmsman of Nepalese democratic movement, was on board with his senior collegue Ganesh Man Singh and other comrades and supporters. It was a historic trip, for it heralded an end of his eight year long exile in India and a ushered a new chapter of political reconciliation with the King and nationalist forces inside the country. Hence it was a move towards the “national reconciliation” for the greater interest of the nation.

Different speculations spread out as he was arrested at the airport and taken to jail again. Panchayat hard-liners described it as ‘a surrender’, while the leftists, especially the communists, levelled it ‘an alliance between reactionaries’ against left. Moreover, they did not lose the chance of joining together for ‘a common cause’ and called for a move with a new strategy. But B. P. had clearly explained that the nation was ‘in danger’, and his move was directed towards the problem of the nation.

In those days of Cold War era the South Asian sub-continent was encircled by the dangerous sign of instability that had created a dark shadow of political uncertainty looming large over small nations like Nepal. B. P. had started to explain the gravity of the situation with a clear vision of the policy of national unity and understanding between democratic and nationalist forces to overcome the situation. Without the creation of an atmosphere of greater understanding, he visualised a serious threat to the exitence of the small nations in Asia. Therefore he had decided to end his exile and had entered his motherland with a committment and determination to face any danger that could come his way.

As he was arrested at the airport he was driven directly towards the military-run Sundari Jail, a solitary confinement where he had already passed as eight-year-long prison term since 1960.

After his arrest a silent resentment spilled over the country creating discontentment within it in the chilling winter of the Cold War. Everyone serious over the situation stood with a series of questions. Whey was he released from the jail earlier and arrested again? Why did he end his exile and entered the mouth of the dragon?

No doubt it was his great courage to take such a descision. Because there were cases of subversion and treason in the court against him that might lead to death sentence and even execution. Despite all he was ready to risk his own life for the sake of the nation. No doubt he had chosen the path of grave danger that could be the end of his life.

Explaining his policy of reconciliation, he once had said, “If Nepal has a future, if Nepal has a destiny, if Nepal has to prosper, if Nepal is not to remain only as a museum piece tucked away in the folds of Himalayas, then Nepal must first be united as a nation. “He further added, “that unity can only be achieved through the development of democratic institutions in which the people have vested interests.”

Senior leader Koirala had visualised that ‘new development’ were likely to take place in South Asia. In his view the sign of instability looming large over the subcontinent, could eventually aggravate a small country like Nepal. As an example he reffered to the political development in “Sikkim” that had lost its original existence from the map of Asia. He also mentioned and explained the situation developed in Iran and Afghanistan; and cautioned all patriots to come together for unity against any crieis that could come over the nation. Because he confidently used to say that Nepal had ‘to play a role in South Asia.’

Revolutionaries have led revolutions, fought battles agaisnt tyranny and despotic rules, and have been martyrs for their greater cause. But very few of them have dared to take such a courageous step as B. P. did. He led armed struggles for democracy twice in his life. First, he fought successfully to overthrow the century old autocratic Rana family rule in 1951. Secondly, in 1970s he led again another revolution against authoritarian rule of partyless Panchayat system. But later he surprisingly decided to suspend all activities and dared to move into Nepal with ‘no arms’ that naturally resulted in his arrest and jail for an indefinite period.

Meanwhile an international opinion was building up in his favour throughout Asia, Europe and in even America. Human rights organisations like Ammesty International and the political organisation Socialist International created moral pressure and appealed for his immediate release for his medical treatment. He was suffering from cancer. Ultimately he was released on parole and was provided an opportunity to travel the United States for further treatment. It was provided directly by the order of the King. Many had appreciated it as a gesture of the political reform in future. But the feeble cry for democratisation was virtually silenced in the wake of the execution of Capt. Yangya Bahadur Thapa and Bhim Narayan Strestha. As he was about to leave for his country from Europe suddenly he heard the shocking news of the executions. Both of them were his close comrades and Capt. Thapa was the commander of Okhaldhunga armed uprising in East Nepal.

B. P. took it as a conspiracy to discourage him towards his move for national reconciliation. But he remained silent and patient. It reminded him of the advice of his friends and well wishers who had vehemently opposed any move to enter into Nepal without creating a favorable situation. However, he did not lose his heart but continued his policy of reconciliation. When asked to comment on the executions once he had said, “....... They have created psychological difficulties for me because the killings would always be at the back of my mind... But ...the reconciliation process will not be abandoned.”

On his return from abroad he continued in his serious effort to make the process of national reconciliation, a success. Though the hard liners always turned a ear deaf towards his appeal, the moderates and the common people gradually started to understand and respect the spirit of his policy of reconciliation. As time passed, the King appeared to be positive. Announcement of ‘Referendum’ in 1979 was the King’s response, while the misuse of state power agaisnt multi-party side was the conspiracy of Panchayat hard-liners against the political development. Had the referendum been conducted in free and fair manner, the crisis and the heavy loss of lives and property would not have taken place in 1990. However the spirit of democratisation among the people grew stronger and it became more stronger in the policy of nation after referendum. Time and again he confidently used to say that Nepal had ‘to play a role in South Asia.’

Since then Nepal has undergone a great change. Today, the nation has already brought a democratic change and has eastablished a full-fledged multiparty democracy.

Still the nation remembers B. P. for his great commitment to the nation and the people. His life long hard truggle for democracy and its values and ideals, his passion for freedom and social justice for the people commanded great respect in the country and throughout the world. His advocacy for economic equality and struggle against all forms of exploitation in society will always place him as a distinguished personality among his contemporary political leaders in Asia.

In his politics the most important element was the people without which the geography of any country would be meaningless. He always laid emphasis on the citizens and he said that the nation should pay high attention them who had been toiling in the soil even in the state of acute poverty. He always stood with a clear vision in the hour of crisis; and led the people, educated them and mobilised them giving a touch of great nationalist feelings.

To truly remember B. P. it is high time to review the overall development of democracy and its achievement. If we are found to be still in a state of confusion let us not hesitate to take a handful of soil of the motherland and touch it to the heart to get a right answer for the problems of today.

Global Vision

He is no more living physically in this earth but the people in Asia especially the South Asian sub-continent remember him with profound love and respect. In its editorial Navbharat Times on July 1982, wrote; ‘the death of “B. P.” removes from the public life of this sub-continent a leader imbued with an international vision’.

Thoughts On Junk

-By S. N. Sharma

SCIENCE in the field of health research has unequivocally advanced especially within this last century and governments play a key role in relaying this information to the public. Based on the reliable, accurate, impartial and detailed studies of past health issues from acclaimed institutions, many governments throughout the world have moulded public health policy in accordance to the conclusions and guidelines reached in such reports. Credible studies into the proven dangers of asbestos and the pesticide DDT undoubtedly benefit us. Research into any suspected areas of public health concern should be encouraged and supported.

Disturbing

Yet a disturbing phenomenon of late is threatening to undermine the integrity of the eminent public health research arena now and in the future. The culprit is ‘Junk Science’ Junk Science was once described by AH Teich and MS Franked, in their paper ‘Good science and responsible scientists’. Meeting the challenge of fraud and misconduct in science’ as “The outright fraud of deliberate plagiarism falsifica-tion, and misrepresentation of data”.

Many products today are being deemed harmful without the benefit of careful scientific research; recent examples include cell phones, hot dogs, chlorinated drinking water, red meat and passive smoking.

Let’s take passive smoking as an illustration. It is an issue that has been ubiquitously discussed in recent years. Environmental Tobacco Smoke or ETS as it is sometimes referred to has recently led many people to believe that it is a cause of disease. However, this assertion is not supported by the sciences.

This premature conclusion is largely based on a 1993 report by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which conclude that second-hand cigarette smoke caused around 3,000 deaths per year among nonsmokers.

This report was utilised by anti-tobacco activists to secure bans (full or partial) on indoor smoking in the U. S. and Canada.

However, the vast majority of epidemiological studies on ETS and chronic disease do not report overall statistically significant increases in risk and worse, ETS has not even been established to be a risk factor for diseases such as lung cancer and heart disease. Embarrassingly for the EPA, a court ruling later invalidated their study claiming that the EPA had frequently shifted theories and cherry picked data in order to reach a preconceived conclusion.

Hand in hand with junk science comes junk politics. For the past 15 years the anti-smoking lobby has pushed the view that second hand cigarette smoke is a public health hazard. For, having failed to persuade the most committed smokers to save themselves, they could use proof that passive smoking harms non-smokers wives, children and co-workers to make the case for criminalising smoking. But the science fell off the campaign wagon when a definitive study on passive smoking, sponsored by the World Health Organisation (WHO), a long time foe of the cigarette industry, backfired and reported no cancer risk at all.

The controversial study, which looked for links between lung-cancer and passive smoking, concluded that a non-smoker living or working with smokers were not at significantly more risk from lung cancer than anyone else. The research coordinated by Radolfo Saracci of the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), was a seven year long study of 650 lung cancer patients. Since it was one of the biggest single pieces of research conducted on the issue, the medical world and lobby groups eagerly awaited its results.

But instead of being released with a fanfare, they were summarised in three short paragraphs and buried in a bulky WHO internal document. The WHO was accused of trying to suppress its data and blamed for bowing to political pressure rather than publishing unpalatable research findings. This sort of behaviour by such a recognised body raises some serious questions on the allegiant nature of their work and puts a black mark on their reputation. Thus, are ulterior motives at play? Nevertheless, public opinion is swayed to believe these ill-founded reports mainly for two reasons. Firstly, governmental agencies are considered credible and secondly, a significant number of people think smoking is unhealthy.

Menace

The jumping on the bandwagon fashion of late and the subsequent incoherent reports published by groups out to make a name for themselves, not only on passive smoking but on other alleged health concerns also, is seriously distorting the good name of science. It is a menace that needs to be checked by governments and other public research and policy bodies. Third rate scientific hypotheses, methodology, research and data need to be stopped because it will create more problems than solutions  and the victims will be the public. Without this, there is a scenario for a mortal abuse of power waiting for us just around the corner.

World Bank’s ‘Four Lessons’ For 21st Century

-By Juan L. Mercado

“FOUR critical lessons,” distilled from development experience of the past 50 years, could help the Philippines and other countries chart their way, in a turbulent 21st century, through interlocking trends of localisation and globalisation.

The World Bank documents this theme in the millennium edition of its annual development report: Emerging Into The 21st Century.

“An increasing proportion of economic value will be weightless transmitted over fiber-optic cable rather than transported in a containership,” as globalisation spreads, the Bank notes.

A wave of “localisation” is simultaneously pushing “national governments to reach donw to regions and cities, as the best way to manage changes.”

“Fifty years of development experience”, the Bank claims, “yielded four critical lessons.” These are:

“Macroeconomic stability is an essential prerequisite for achieving the growth needed for development.”

“Growth does not trickle down. Development must address human needs directly.”

“No one policy will trigger development. A comprehensive approach is needed.”

“Institutions matter. Sustained development should be rooted in processes that are socially inclusive. (They must also be) responsive to challenging circumstances.”

These lessons could help in cobbling “new rules and structures to serve as a foundation for development policy inn the 21st century,” the report notes.

“The message of this report is: new institutional responses are needed in a globalising and localising world ... To capture the benefits of growth in the 21st century,” all countries must engage in twin-track institution building.

The 20th century search for “a magic formula that will inspire development in all times and places” has proved futile. Mainstream development thinking is seeking instead “broad pragmatism.”

What policies worked in 1960s or 1980s were specific to time and place. “Nor are they likely to be appropriate in the opening decades of the 21st century.”

Development policies are interdependent, the Bank notes. Countries need institutional environments that reward performance.

Despite the welcome growth of people organisations, governments play a vital role. But governments tend to be inefficient. “There is no simple set of rules that tell them what to do.”

“Rule-based processes increase the transparency of policies.” A sound legal framework helps all on “building firms rather than looting them.” A well-run civil service and an independent judiciary are prerequisites for efficient programmes.

“Contours of the new landscape” include issues of poverty, water scarcity to implosion of cities, cultural loss and environmental decay.

These (call) for urgent action because “burgeoning population, combined with the relatively slow growth in the productivity of food grains in the 1990s is, once again,, raising fears of food shortages,” the report adds.

The gap in per capita income, between the rich and poor countries, widened sixfold between 1970 and 1985. In fact, only East Asia saw incomes converge towards those of the industrial regions.

“They show how difficult it is to close the gap.”

The Philippines will have to set up safety nets for workers displaced by trade and whiplash financial flows, as well as use more effectively World Trade Organisation mechanisms. It must reinforce the capacity of local governments.

“If managed well, these forces could revolutionise the prospects for human welfare,” the report notes. “The same forces are also capable of generating instability and human suffering.”

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