Kuala Lumpur Summit
Redefined Role Of NAM

By Shirish B. Pradhan

THE 13th Non-Aligned Summit has vowed to eradicate poverty, attain sustainable development, counter terrorism, fight HIV/AIDS and achieve disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. Besides concentrating on issues of peace, development and security the 116 nation-organisation focused its attention on the needs of the least developed countries (LDCs).

World Order

Four decades have already passed since the NAM was founded by a group of 25 countries in Belgrade, Yugoslavia with an objective of freeing the world from ongoing ideological conflicts and arms race. The Non-Aligned Movement was created when the countries gaining independence from the colonial grips following the World War II felt the need of an organisation to check the growing military hegemony. Pioneers in the movement were Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of India, President Joseph Tito of Yugoslavia, President Gamal Abdul Nasser of Egypt and President Sukarno of Indonesia. The leaders of the world who propounded the concept of non-alignment were inspired by the aim of creating a world order free from both ideological groupings as well as arms race. The Non-aligned countries courageously rejected the idea of bi-polar world led by Soviet Union in the one hand and the United States in the other hand.

The movement gained popularity in a short period as the world witnessed growing tension between the NATO block and Warsaw Pact. Later, over one hundred countries joined it taking a tough stand against military grouping resulting in the bi-polar world. In fact, the end of cold war and cessation of bi-polar world in 1989-90 proved the legitimacy of the Non-aligned movement. Now after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and collapse of Communism from Eastern Europe ideological conflict became irrelevant. In this changing context a need has been felt that NAM's role be redefined. In fact, the end of cold war and collapse of the bi-polar world was a victory for the non-aligned countries. The domination of any single country in the world was not what the non-aligned countries have thought for. Non-aligned movement was aimed at establishing a world order on the basis of peace, security, justice, freedom and development. These issues are equally relevant even today when the bi-polar world has ceased to exist.

Disarming of Iraq, resolving Israel-Palestinian conflict and urging North Korea to adhere to nuclear non-proliferation treaty were the major international issues raised during the NAM deliberations in Kuala Lumpur. NAM opposed unilateral military action against Iraq and at the same time firmly asked Baghdad to disarm itself complying with the UN resolution. The Summit also vowed to fight against international terrorism and end arms race in the world.

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan addressing the Summit observed that the UN weapons inspection team must be allowed to do its duty urging Iraq to fully maintain transparency and cooperate with the inspection team. He also pointed out that war was not inevitable adding any action not backed by the UN lacks legitimacy.

New NAM leader, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad criticised the western world including the USA on the ground that they maintained double standard while dealing with the problem of terrorism. "It is no longer just a war against terrorism. It is in fact a war to dominate the world," said Mahathir Mohammed adding, "powerful countries no longer respect borders and international law."
Another issue that drew the attention of the Summit was related with the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Summit deliberations focused on the position of developing economies in the WTO. Developing and the least developed countries are not in a position to compete with the developed economies. Some delegates have argued that free and fair trade is possible among the nations with equal economic strength. Thus, the participating non-aligned member countries voiced for having a common voice to safeguard the economic interests of poor nations in the world trade regime.
Nepal is also one of the founding members of the NAM and has been committed to the principles of non-alignment since its inception in 1961. Addressing the NAM Summit Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has called upon the non-aligned countries to join hands to fulfilling collective commitments including eradication of poverty, creation of a fair world trading regime and adequate funding for development in a sustainable manner.

During the Summit, Nepal also stressed on the need for developed nations to provide deeper debt relief and open their markets for developing countries, particularly the least developed ones. In the interest of world peace and stability, Nepal would like to see all obligations regarding weapons of mass destruction fulfilled as well as all diplomatic avenues exhausted before any military options are mandated, the Prime Minister observed.

The observations made by Premier Chand that "hard-earned momentum of the post-Cold War era continues to be arrested by the frustrating waves of recession and terrorism, ethnic strife and complex conflicts and religious intolerance" were the hard realities of the present day world. In fact, end of the Cold War has not ended the sufferings of the world community. The gap between developed and underdeveloped countries widened, problems of poverty and hunger further worsened and terrorism and religious intolerance have reached an alarming stage. The September 11 attack on the World Trade Centre in New York must have opened the eyes of the powerful nations that they too are no longer safe in this world full of economic disparity and injustice. It is evident from our long experience that the concept of uni-polar world was to some extent responsible for spreading conflict and hatred among nations, which ultimately result in religious intolerance and acts of terror.

In this context non-aligned movement can play a vital role in maintaining a world order based on justice, equality and freedom. An order based on military power, threat and economic dominance would not last for long. Thus, non-aligned movement should focus on these burning issues. Instead of toeing to the dictates of powerful nations it should concentrate on the well-being of poor and underdeveloped countries.

Pressure Group

The resolutions adopted by the non-aligned summit should be implemented effectively and a monitoring mechanism should also be built to see whether the commitments made by the summit were properly implemented or not. The non-aligned movement should serve as a strong pressure group to direct the United Nations to perform its tasks free from dominations of the powerful nations. Some of the members of the UN Security Council are also the members of the non-aligned movement. They can prevent UNSC from making decisions that would lead to war and destruction.

Muscular Dystrophy, A Big Threat

By Indra Adhikari

HEREDITARY diseases are major challenges for human health. Medical science has been unable to control these diseases. and doctors have failed to find out effective drugs to combat them. These diseases are very sensitive and more dangerous as they take away the life of the infected persons.

Dreadful

We often take these hereditary diseases more simply than the effects they cause. We frequently say that Hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS and such other diseases are dreadful for they are noticeable. They show their symptoms and effects faster than the hereditary diseases. Thus, they are always kept at the top. The hereditary diseases are ignored because they are seen after some gap in the generations. We have always talked of the diseases that are seen physically and are transmitted from one person to another. As hereditary diseases are transmitted through genes from parents to offspring they are rarely visible.

Muscular dystrophy is one of such diseases. Karuna Pokharel's 12-year-old son has been suffering from muscular dystrophy since the last four years. Hers is not the only child suffering from this killer disease.

There are about 60 families, who have come in contact with the Parents Project Muscular Dystrophy, an organisation formed a year ago by six families having a child with muscular dystrophy. The increasing number of the people joining the project reveals that the cases of muscular dystrophy are high in the country. There is no official record of the persons suffering from the disease in the country.
A recessive gene in the X chromosome causes muscular dystrophy. The disease is passed on to generations through females, however it does not show its symptoms in females. In course of time the genes are passed to males and they fall victim to the disease.

The symptoms of muscular dystrophy are similar to that of polio. The muscles of the patient get gradually weaker and finally stop functioning. Even medical personnel find it difficult to distinguish between muscular dystrophy and polio. The symptoms of the disease usually start appearing when the baby reaches the age of two and begins walking or is at an advanced stage of crawling. But sometimes the symptoms are seen after the babies reach the age of five or more years.

Babies with muscular dystrophy usually start walking late. They cannot stand up promptly without support. They also need support while climbing stairs. The muscles of the calf, thigh, arms and the pelvic region get weakened and witness cramps and convulsions making standing up and walking difficult. The patients with the disease face difficult in raising hands. In advanced stages, the neck and head of the patients remain immovable.

The disease is caused by the lack of dystrophic protein in the chromosome. Physicians are heading for replacing the deficiency of the protein by other kinds of proteins but they are yet to receive a good result.

With proper regular exercise and balanced diet the effects of the disease can be reduced and life expectancy of the victims can be lengthened. But dystrophy patients in Nepal normally do not live beyond the age of 20. In Western countries there are examples of patients with the disease living up to 40 years. Two other treatments to prolong life are physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. There are also medicines available, but steroids have side effects after extended use.

The disease is divided into three stages. Usually the first six years of the child is the initial stage, the transitional stage is until the child reaches at the age of 12 years and the remaining period is the final stage. Patients do not die of the disease but of other factors. Even then the children's intellectual capacity is often normal.

As there is no cure the only way to avoid the disease is not to beget a child with the defective gene. Doctors advise DNA testing of the foetus after thirteen to fourteen weeks of pregnancy if the mother is a carrier of the defective gene or it runs in the family. If the foetus bears the defective gene, they advise termination of the pregnancy. But the facility for DNA testing is not available in Nepal. But it is not certain that all children born from mother having defective gene will suffer from the disease. There are equal chances that daughters born from such mothers will not become carriers or sons sufferers.

Muscular dystrophy, like HIV/AIDS or cancer has no cure. If effective measures to control the disease are not taken, it is no less a threat than HIV/AIDS.

Advice

If the parents are given counseling and advice, the number of cases could be decreased. The project recently launched a one-week awareness campaign against the disease. Two doctors-Dr. J. P. Agrawal and Dr. Rohit Pokhrel of the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital are working voluntarily, counseling the parents and advising them what to do.

A Macho Man Has 10 Wives

By Baburam Dhakal

ASMA Gyawali, a grade three student of V. S. Niketan, pulled out her book and pointed to her parents the phrase "daughter's birth, lost destiny" mentioned in the book. Then she questioned her parents about the meaning of the phrase. The parents became very uncomfortable with the grave questions that their daughter was putting forth. They tried to provide answers to their daughter but failed. They had no option but to tell their daughter that she was very young and that she would understand once she grew older.

The context is of the popular Nepali proverbs and their impact on the society. There are many proverbs in the Nepali language. Some of these proverbs challenge the whole value of humanity. These proverbs define women as low level human beings. Some examples are: daughter's birth, lost destiny; late birth but son necessary; a macho man has 10 wives, etc.

These are proverbs which common Nepali people use all the time and some of these are even included in text books. Although the proverbs look different in nature, all of them provide the same message that women are weak and vulnerable and they cannot be compared to men. Since their birth they are defeated by men and they can be either raised or thrown out.

Incidents in the world history have already proved that women are not weak in any sector and they are not slaves of men. In reality, they are co-friends and competitors of men. In the 21st century, the support of these proverbs is being taken in our society to cover this reality. Asma Gyawali is a proof that the patriarchal society is becoming successful in their venture. There are many more Asma Gyawalis. If a child is taught that women are inferior to men right from birth, how will they be able to compete in the future ?

According to journalist Purushottam Dahal, the proverbs should not be questioned since they only give sign meaning and are based on mythology. Dahal further adds that this issue must not be taken up in the name of women's equality. The proverbs do not discourage women who want to advance in any sector. The user has the right to use the proverbs accordingly.

Advocate Sapana Malla totally disagrees with Dahal's comments. According to her, the proverbs do create an indirect negative impact in the society. The proverbs help in developing negative thoughts among girls right from their childhood which does not let them become totally independent. Advocate Malla stressed on the need to find an alternative word for 'Mr' used in the court. 

The other thing is that social and political activists who advocate for women's equality use these proverbs all the time. On one hand they advocate for women's rights and on the other hand they use proverbs which degrade women. Therefore, their activities are questionable. According to Pratibha Subedi, President of Women Awareness Centre, the proverbs accidentally come out while speaking and the NGOs should be more aware of this.

Mina Poudyal, Chief of OXFAM mentions that there is a huge difference in the thoughts and views of those who have become feminists because of a job and those feminists who have been motivated thinking about the changes in the society. All these proverbs must be totally eliminated if women equality is to be achieved. The feminists who have been motivated for changes are aware of this. But, the feminists who have jobs and are influenced by the western culture do not show any concern in this issue.

Sancharika Samuha