Home Minister will have to be morally responsible for hijack

The whole country was shocked to learn of the hijacking of an Indian Airlines (IA) Airbus which had taken off from Kathmandu for New Delhi on Friday evening. This was the first time that a hijacking had taken place on an international flight that had originated from Kathmandu. So no sooner had word come in of the tragic incident, virtually the whole of Kathmandu was abuzz with the news.

This writer was at a function at the Yak and Yeti Hotel, where the Indian Ambassador was also present. As it was a programme which was attended by some prominent journalists, news of the hijack came in very early- through cellular phones  to some of the scribes present there. Though he stayed till the end of the formal part of the programme, the Indian envoy could be seen making a hasty exit after that.

This ordeal for more than 150 passengers and crew of the IC 814 was still going on till the time of writing this observation. Originally, the aircraft had 178 passengers, but 25 of them were released in Dubai.

One of the first questions that has come up after this unfortunate incident, is how the hijackers managed to get into the aircraft, in spite of the presence of so many security personnel in a small airport like Tribhuvan International Airport? Who is responsible for this serious lapse?

Speaking to the Nepal Television, Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka tried to shirk responsibility by saying the security process at TIA was at par with international standards. It has been a habit of his to brush away queries from the press by saying, "The government does not have to react or reply to all the questions put up by either the press or the opposition".  But this time, he cannot escape so easily. It has already been confirmed that one person has been killed by the hijackers. When the life of a man has been lost because of the lapse of security here in the country, for which the Home Minister is responsible, shouldnot he feel he is also to blame?

If there is even an ounce of moral integrity in Minister Khadka, he should resign from his post at once. He should take moral responsibility for this incident because of which the whole image of the nation has also been tarnished.

Also, just suspending officials on a mass basis is not the right thing to do. Not only will honest and hardworking personnel will be punished for nothing, the real guilty will also escape lightly. A thorough investigation will have to be made and those found guilty must be dealt with sternly. Like mentioned in a local weekly Sanghu, TIA is swamped by security personnel each trying to outdo the other. This scribe has had the bad experience of having been harassed by the officials, including police, when they feel you are carrying even such an amount like 100 US $ that you need while going abroad. When journalists who can speak up are treated in such a way, one can imagine what ordeal ordinary innocent passengers go through.

First there are the police personnel. They are present right from the entrance of the Airport till the time you actually go to board an aircraft. Then thee are the plainclothes officials of the National Investigation Department. This is the intelligence group. Then there are also representatives of the Army Intelligence. Besides them, there are immigration officials and also customs people. Where were all these government workers who are supposed to be responsible for the security and proper functioning of the airport?

But while we seek to get answers to such questions, the Nepalese government and specially the Foreign Ministry has an important role to play in seeing that the country's image is not unnecessarily soiled, in this proxy war that militants are fighting with India.

Political leaders of all hues have time and again said that they would not allow Nepal to be used as a ground to mount terrorist activities against any country. But different incidents, including the seizure of a large horde of RDX last year, the arrest of suspected LTTE militants and now the hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane, proves that Nepal has and is being used by such elements.

So it seems like glib talking Home Ministers like Minister Khadka and Pajero riding cops, are not effective against determined terrorists. This has been proved. However damage control will have to be done not only by revamping the security apparatus at the Airport, but also by initiating a diplomatic campaign in earnest. All the Nepalese missions abroad will have to be mobilised for this. Diplomats must be made to realise that they must work at times of need, though they may be feeling that their posting is some sort of a reward.

Back home, as far as the Tribhuvan International Airport is concerned, officials, no matter from which office, had also been taking it as if it was a reward when they were posted there. A stint at the airport meant earning extra money, most of the time illegally and also an opportunity to get duty free goods. Now maybe things will be taken differently.

But still the fact remains that one person has already died and more than 150 people are going through a harrowing experience of having to stay under threat in a most uncomfortable premise. Someone will have to take responsibility for this. The heads of the Home Minister, Civil Aviation Minister and police chief should roll. And at the same time, if there are some culprits who are directly involved in aiding the terrorists, then they should be severely punished.

But for now, all we can do is pray for the safe return of all the passengers and crew members of the aircraft who are still being held captive.