Nepal-Mongolia Relations
Bagabandi Visit To Set Vision

By Nischal Nath Pandey

THE President of Mongolia Natsagiin Bagabandi and the first lady Azadsurengiin Oyunbileg arrived Friday at the invitation of Their Majesties the King and Queen. This is the first highest-level visit from Mongolia while Late King Mahendra and former Prime Minister Late Man Mohan Adhikari from Nepal visited Mongolia.

Known as one of the World’s oldest countries. Mongolia reached the pinnacle of its power in the 13th century when Genghis Khan and his successors conquered and extended their influence as far as Hungary and Poland. In later centuries, the empire became a province of China and even after its independence in 1911, the country remained detached from the rest of the world. One of the principal and interesting characteristics of this landlocked and high plateau mountainous country is its relatively scant population in comparison to its large geographical area covering salt lakes, vast grasslands and deserts. Only after a new Constitution was introduced in 1992, the victory of a democratic alliance in the legislative elections in 1996 and the success of the current President in the presidential elections in May 1997, did this long nation actually started to resurrect and reenergize itself. Today, Mongolia has chosen the path of democracy and economic reform desiring to develop according to modern standards. The literacy rate has reached 83 per cent and one telephone line to 30 persons, which is regarded as extraordinary among the developing countries. At this backdrop, it is worthwhile to pull together the outstanding achievements that Mongolia has achieved during the tenure of the present President. In fact, he is one of the most widely and frequently travelling head of state from among the countries of the developing world. A glance at the President’s itinerary of 1999 will ascertain facts and acquaint us of the vigor with which a landlocked, poverty-stricken mountainous nation has strived to make a mark in the international arena. President Natsagiin Bagabandi who is an engineer-technologist by profession visited Almaty (Kazakhastan), Kuwait, Ankara, Tokyo Beijing, Hong Kong, Bishkek (Kyrguzstan). The Hague, Warsaw and Moscow during that same year. He has maintained continuity in foreign policy and "efforts have been made to divert the state and government policy towards ensuring through diplomatic means the independence, security and vital interests of Mongolia. and creating favourable external conditions for the advancement of the economic and social development."

Both Nepal and Mongolia being landlocked, mountainous and developing countries, there are several areas where our interests meet and focus should be to chalk out such fields where collaborative ventures can take place. According to analysts, tourism, trade of agro-based products and other commercial inter exchanges can be the best way to set the relations into the right tone so as to frame it to the environment of the 21st century.

According to Joint Secretary and Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gyan Chandra Acharya both Nepal and Mongolia that have many similarities will have an occasion to interact and discuss areas of mutual interest during the President’s sojourn. "Mongolia is a wool producing country and since Nepal’s carpet industry is a growing industry, we will be focussing on this aspect as well", he stated while talking briefly with this scribe.

The President accompanied by the First Lady will be visiting Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, which is a revered pilgrimage for Buddhists. In fact, our ailing tourism industry would get an added boost if we were to sell Nepal as a pilgrimage destination and encourage more and more Buddhist tourists to visit Nepal not only from Japan but likewise from China, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, the Koreas and elsewhere. The President will at the same time be visiting the Royal Nepal Army’s Peacekeeping Training Camp at Panchkhal in Kavrepalanchowk district. This shows his deep desire for the maintenance of peace around the world’s trouble spots. It is rewarding to recall at this point that while addressing the offices and staffs of the intelligence services of his country some time back, President Bagabandi stated, "there is growing tendency of the intensification of terrorism on an international scale. It is natural that the increase in the damage and loss of human lives owing to such an adventuristic action, 23, per cent of the international terrorist activities in 1998 took place in our neighbouring countries and in our region."

Nepal’s foreign policy and its conduct of international relations must be adhered to the furthering of the country’s national interests. It is this particular constituent that is not only most crucial but also must be clearly defined and articulated. Nepal should expand and develop relations with nations of the world community and especially those that are in South Asia’s vicinity particularly Central Asia. It is hoped that the President’s visit will be a beginning of many such visits, interactions and mutually fruitful understandings between Nepal and Mongolia that are faced with similar challenges and prospects in the 21st century.

Primary Health Care Hampered

By Balaram Chaulagain

RECENTLY around 2000 representatives from more than 92 countries of the world enthusiastically took part in the People’s Health Assembly (PHA) held in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. The PHA 2000 concluded with the endorsement of the people’s Health charter. The assembly unanimously called upon the international health authorities and the respective governments to put health care system above all the political and economic concern. Globalisation, commercialisation and privatisation of health services, gaps between haves and have-nots, wars, conflicts etc. are believed to be main hurdles which marred a century of gain in the medical science. Delegates at the P.H.A. 2000 vehemently criticised the World Bank. International Monetary Fund and other third world economics for adopting the financial policies detrimental to primary health care (PHC) package.

According to Alma-Ata health conference held in the then USSR in 1978, World Health Organisation (WHO) has adopted a goal of "Health for all by the year 2000 A.D." To attain this laudable goal of health for all PHC package of eight basic elements are considered to be inevitable pillars of basic health service. Treatment of common disease and injuries, supply of essential drugs, prevention and control of endemic diseases, immunisation vaccine against preventable disease, maternal and child health care including family planning basic sanitation along with pure drinking water, balanced diet and health education are sought basic components of PHC package. In the context of Nepal, let alone the matter of secondary and tertiary level of health care the people who have no money, no voice and lobby are deprived of primary level of health care, too. The minimum level of health care had not been yet insured despite a substantial amount of money from within the national coffer and international sources have been poured in the country’s health sector.

It is known to all that Nepal is small mountainous country where majority of the peoples are living below the abject poverty line with a per capita income of around 200 dollars. The nation’s health service statistics reveal that most deaths occur due to vaccine preventable diseases and other minor ailments like diarrhoeal diseases, acute respiratory infection (pneumonia) and such other. Nepal’s health infrastructure serves only about 15 per cent of the people and the remaining people have to rely on the traditional healers and even quacks. Currently, there are nearly 650 Ilala health posts, 3,900 or so sub-health posts and around 75 primary health care centres throughout the country. Besides, district level hospitals and a few tertiary level hospital are also providing health services to the people. In our country, there are nearly 2000 or a few more medical doctors. Among them around 1,000 or less doctors are working in the government sector. Moreover, the reluctance on the part of the doctors on government’s payroll to stay in remote district hospitals has created serious problems in delivering health services to the rural people. On the other hand, for various reasons other basic health providers like health assistants, A.H. Ws and other paramedics are not involved in the mainstream of health care delivery system. Due to the lack of Governmental initiation, particularly in the absence of further opportunities for enhancing the professional skills they are in a state of stagnation.

Being signatory to Alma Ata Health Conference Nepal had pledged to meet the PHC to the people residing across the country. But it is quite unfortunate to note that, despite the government along with other line agencies’ high sounding slogan of meeting the global target of "Health for all by the year 2000 A.D", it still remains a distant dream.

As per the government’s projection, the average life expectancy of a Nepali is around 55 years, infant mortality rate is 79 in every 1,000 live birth, child mortality 118 in every 1,000 and fertility rate is 4.6 per cent. Besides, the another health index indicates that there are 5.39 per cent of mortality during pregnancy and 20 per cent maternal mortality from other cases. In practical field figures tell a different stories. As per a World Bank’s recent report on Nepalese health care system total investment in the field of PHC has been considerably declining. As things stand, the government and other line agencies the WHO, UNICEF as well as other NGOs/INGOs involved in the health sector have a long way to go before if attains its goal of access in PHC packages. Even though the government has earmarked around 6 per cent of total budget to the health sector. Besides other line agencies the WHO, UNICEF, JICA, BNMT (British Nepal Medical Trust) etc are also pouring substantial amount of money in Nepalese health sector, the money appears to be going down the drain. Till date, the health authorities have very little to say by way of achievement except that sub-health posts have been set up in almost all VDCs of the country. Underequipped and undermanned as they are, these sub-health posts hardly provide even the bare minimum of services. It is so because that the mandatory provision of CMA community medical assistants) with just 10 months training from any privately run health institution as a sub-health post incharge in such a condition how can be manage the PHC of his assigned VDC as a front-line primary health care provider. Besides, the animal budget for a sub-health post for medicines & other accessories is just 25 thousand or less, too.

Twenty two years have passed since the Alma-Ata declaration of "Health for All by the year 2000 A.D", the first international commitment on primary health care, was signed in 1978. "Health For All" was a kind of dream slogan of all government right from the inception period. But this softy goal too has been turned into an illusive dream. We have never come so close to seeing the attainment of Health for All. Health is not a commodity which can be brought from any shop at a competitive price. Ironically, it is an woeful to note that the government has washed off its hand to provide health care to its citizens. The minimum health care has not been yet insured despite the mushrooming of costly private nursing homes, clinics and hospitals around the metropolitan core of the cities constructed for rich people. The trend seen in this sector glaringly manifest the pathetic plight of poor people who have no money to buy health care like others needful commodities. Who then is to be blamed for the jeopardised situation of health service to the poor. In this regard, the recently concluded PHA 2000 would be a reliable breakthrough to end the massive commercialisation of health care system. The recently endorsed preamble of the PHA 2000 clearly reveals that health is social, economic and political issue and above all it is fundamental human right.

Gorkha: The Kingdom Of Nepal

By Guna Dev Bhattarai

KULMANDAN Khan, the ruler of Kaski, was decorated with the title of Shah by the Mughal Emperor of India. Yasobramha Shah, the youngest son of Kulmandan, became the ruler of Lamjung. Drabya Shah was installed on the throne of Gorkha because the former’s predecessor, a Khadka chief, had neglected the interests of the ‘high caste’ people. In short, Drabya Shah with the cooperation of Bhagirath Panth, Ganesh Pande, Narayan Arjyal and other ‘high caste’ people became the rulers of Gorkha in 1559 A.D. Narahari Shah, the elder brother of Drabya Shah, had no friendly relations in their dealing. However, Drabya Shah successfully ruled for eleven years.

Of all the successors (Purandar Shah, Kshetra Shah) of Drabya Shah, Ram Shah was renowned for his military exploits, economic development, literary activities, efficient administrative policy and, above all, sound legal system. Besides, he had regular contacts with the neighbouring principalities including Patan and was revered by the rulers of the Choubise and Baisi principalities. During his reign, it was said, "If you are denied justice, then go to Gorkha."

Ram Shah was succeeded by Dambar Shah, Krishna Shah, Rudra Shah, Prithivipati Shah. Virbhadra Shah died as Yubaraj. Narabhupal Shah (1714-42 A.D.), the grandson of Prithipati was a minor when he ascended the throne of Gorkha. When he came of age he attempted to extend his boundary but was defeated by the forces of Jayaprakash Malla, the ruler of Kathmandu, on the banks of the Trishuli. The defeat stunned him so much so that he became despondent. He died in 1742 A.D.

After the demise of Narabhupal Shah, his son, Prithivinarayan Shah (born Paush 27,1779 B.S.) ascended the throne of Gorkha in 1742 A.D. Queen Chandraprabhavati, the eldest queen of Narabhupal, had given birth to a son but he died untimely. Queen Kaushalyavati was the mother of Prithivi but Chandraprabhavati became the guardian mother of Prithivi. She played a major role in shaping the destiny of Prithivi. Under her proper guidence Prithivi could become a promising youth. In course of time he became militarily sound. The defeat of his father in the hands of Jayaprakash Malla made him determined to launch military expedition against Jayaprakash. Prithivinarayan Shah occupied Nuwakot in his second attempt. In the courses of time he occupied Makwanpur, Kirtipur and the adjoining regions of the valley. At that time, the valley rulers had been entangled in their domestic rivalries. That is why he found a golden opportunity to exploit the degrading situation of the valley.

Jayaprakash Malla, the last ruler of Kathmandu, inspite of being valiant, courageous and patriot was the most unfortunate ruler. As soon as he succeeded his father, Jagajjayamalla in 1736 A.D. he had to face a series of troubles created by his own courtiers including his queen Dayavati. As the treacherous courtiers and Dayavati, associated with Toudhik Kazi in particular, installed Jyotiprakash, son of Jaya, on the throne of Kathmandu. Jaya fled for four years. At last, he thwarted the evil designs of his staunch enemies and regained his throne. Nevertheless, he found himself in trouble because Prithivinarayan Shah was busy occupying the outer regions of Kathmandu.

The Pradhan of Patan and some nobles of Kathmandu were in league with Prithivi against Jayaprakash. As the valley rulers were divided Prithivi missed no opportunity to strike there one by one. Under such circumstances only Jayaprakash stood firm to face the gauntlet thrown by Prithivi. He tried his level best to make other rulers of the valley realise the imminent danger of being vanquished if they failed to come to his rescue but they turned a deaf ear to his farsightedness.

Jayaprakash, by holding the last straw for survival, requested the authorities of the East India Company to give him military assistance so that Prithivinarayan Shah might be driven out of the valley. The concerned authorities of East India Company (E.I.C) complying with the request of Jayaprakash sent a contingent under the command of Capt.Kinloch.

Accordingly, the captain set out to capture the fort of Sindhuli. The forces who were not accustomed to fight in the hilly regions were routed by the Gorkhalis to the effect Jayaprakash was left alone to reconcile to his fate. Eventually in 1825 B.S. Jayaprakash fought tooth and nail but to no purpose. First he fled to Patan where he could not get asylum, then went straight to Bhadagaon. After reaching Bhadgaon Jayaprakash took the other two rulers on his side to fight to a finish but it had become too late.

Eventually the whole of the Valley came under Prithivinarayan Shah. Jayaprakash, wounded during the fight, died at Aryaghat. Ranjitmalla, the ruler of Bhadgaon, was sent to Kashi and Tej Narsimhamalla of Patan was imprisoned. Thus the valley rulers repeated their follies and lost their crowns. Only Jayaprakash can be regarded as a great hero who preferred a glorious death to an ignoble life.