COMMENT

PM’s India visit

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala started the official part of his visit to India yesterday (Tuesday). When he arrived at New Delhi on Monday evening, he became the first Nepalese Prime Minister to have come on an official tour to India after four years. Considering the complex, yet close ties the two South Asian neighbours share, it was indeed a "long gap" to have occurred in the visits at the top level. The last Nepalese Prime Minister who went to India on an official visit, was the head of the fragile coalition government, Sher Bahadur Deuba. He had created some ripples at that time, when he had taken the stance that Nepal did not have to ask India while buying arms as India too did not inform Nepal while doing the same. There were even rumours in Kathmandu at that time, that Deuba may have been eased out of the Prime Minister’s post because India was displeased with him. Much water has flowed down the Bagmati since those days and now Nepal has a majority government at the helm of affairs. However, it will be a surprise if the present delegation can take a firm stance as the then coalition government officials did.

There are a plethora of issues that have been posing as irritants in the relations between India, a major player in the world today and Nepal, a small landlocked country. While some issues like the 1950 Treaty are decades old, others, like the Special Additional Duty (SAD) and the Laxmunpur Dam crisis, are pretty recent ones. Government officials here have been saying that all the issues will be brought up by the Nepalese side during talks in New Delhi, but the crucial question is, will they be able to convince the Indian side to do anything about it? Like always, the Nepali officials don’t seem to be too well prepared to deal with the more experienced and well versed Indian bureaucrats. Of course, even if our delegates were very capable, it would be naïve to expect instant solutions to complex matters like the Kalapani issue, other border problems and the 1950 Treaty among others. However going by the optimistic note expressed by Prime Minister Koirala regarding SAD, it can be hoped that the Indian government will be sympathetic to Nepalese demands. Nepalese exports to India suffered greatly because of this additional duty. As it is, Nepal already has a huge trade deficit with its much bigger Southern neighbour. For now, if Nepalese officials can just convince their Indian counterparts that Nepal has no ill-feelings towards India, it will be a good way to bury the mistrust that had been brewing in the recent past and make a fresh start for the future.

For equal opportunity to women

The issue of women’s right to parental property has been one of the most widely discussed and debated topic in the social milieu of the country. It is true that women in Nepal have been deprived of some of the basic rights such as right to education, right to be indiscriminated both at home and the society. But the issue of inheritance has been a bane of discord among those who are for women’s right to inherit parental property and those who are against it. However, many advocates of women rights have been spearheading the campaign for women’s equality demanding for right to inherit the parental property in the same way as the male offsprings at the top of the list of priorities. Recently, the government introduced in the parliament a bill to amend several provisions of the Civil Code of the country mainly to address several issues related to women, one of them being the issue of inheritance. Although, the proposed amendment do not fulfill the demand of inheritance by 100 per cent, but it is a big step towards giving women the right to inheritance.

According to Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Mahanta Thakur the provisions of the amendment will not disrupt the social fabric of the society. Similarly, Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Mrs. Kamala Pant said that the bill should not be looked at with a single perspective of inheritance. She said it has several other provisions which are meant to empower and elevate women’s status in the society. So, it would be a wise step of the government. If the bill is passed by the parliament it will give more opportunity to women and at the same time maintains the social harmony. However, many also accept that women should be given more opportunity in all sectors to make them capable to take decisions on their own and also make them financially independent. Again, there is also a third opinion that the inheritance system should be based on will of the parents rather than by birth.

The basic fact remains that girl or boy, both are children only with biological differences and nothing more. Each have to be provided equal opportunity to develop themselves and to stand up for themselves.

PM Koirala's India Visit: For Strengthening Ties

By Shanker M. Singh

The Official visit by the Prime Minister Koirala to India is aimed at broadening the basis of mutual friendship, understanding and confidence between the two countries. Nepal and India enjoy close, friendly relations, on account of geographical proximity and close cultural and economic bonds. The basic parameters of this relationship are defined by the bilateral Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed on 31st July 1950.

PM Koirala on a pre departure press conference said that he would try to bring the "off track" relationship between Nepal and India "on the right track" during his visit to India. He said that there is a need to review the 50 years of friendly relations between the two countries in order to give new dimensions to the relationship. He however, did not specify a single issue over which the talks would be concentrated. Replying to a query whether the 1950 Peace and Friendship Treaty would be renewed, he said that the talks will be concentrated on all issues be it Kalapani, the issue of Bhutanese refugees, Maoists, security perception or border in totality. "These issues would certainly come in if we try to evaluate the 50 years of association between the two countries."

The exchange of high level visits has greatly contributed to strengthening the friendly relations existing between the two countries. Such visits provide an opportunity of broadening co-operation by identifying various areas of mutual interest in the field of trade, agriculture, sports, tourism, water, power sectors etc.

Signing of the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship ushered in a new era of understanding and cooperation for both the countries. This has been reinforced by exchange of visits at different levels and signing of Treaties and Agreements in different areas. In the recent times, Prime Minister I.K.Gujral paid an official visit to Nepal in June, 1997; President K.R.Narayanan was on a State visit to Nepal in June 1998 and Their Majesties the King and Queen paid a State visit to India in January, 1999 when His Majesty the King graced the Indian Republic Day celebrations as the Chief Guest.

The democratically elected Prime Minister’s visit to friendly countries should be viewed as a responsibility entrusted to him by the people. As all are aware, the democratic upsurge of the Nepalese people about ten years back installed a popular government with people’s mandate. Democracy and good governance are essential for economic and social progress of all countries. His Majesty’s Government, comprising of democratically elected representatives of the people, is committed to democracy, human rights with her development partners, especially the neighbours.

There have been exchange of visits also at the ministerial level between the two countries after the restoration of democracy in Nepal and the present official visit of PM Koirala will pave the way for better understanding of the mutual good will and trust between the two countries.

India happens to be not a geographically proximate neighbour of Nepal but also a close friend. There are ancient ethnic, cultural and religious ties between the two countries. Both countries being non- aligned and members of Group of 77, share similarities of approach in many outstanding international problems. SAARC has added some more areas for the two countries to work together for achieving the goal of collective self-reliance within the region.

Due to geographical reasons and traditional linkages, the trade and economic relations between India and Nepal are very close and unique. The bilateral trade relations are centuries old, trade having been carried out traditionally on barter basis. Till the 50s and 60s, trade with India constituted over 90% of Nepal’s overall trade. With Nepal’s opening up to rest of the world, and gradual diversification of its trade, India’s share in Nepal’s trade has declined to 30% in 1998-99.

India is one factor, Nepalese politicians can never underplay, nor overlook, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala during the run-up to the Third General Election held last year, might have said it as an electoral ploy, but he must be regretting the words he uttered about not going to India till the Kalapani issue was resolved. Yet, the Kalapani issue is where it was before, it has not been washed away. The former Foreign Minister said, " Although officially, Nepal -India relations is described as deep and friendly, problems in between the two countries are mounting and misunderstanding is being increased. Hijack of Indian aircraft, Nepal game plan, and Laxmanpur dam is bitter experiences on the level of general public. Return back of Indian army from Kalapani, resolution of border issue and border regulation are the present challenges".

India should withdraw the Special Additional Duty (SAD) levied in all imports entering India during the Prime Minister’s visit to India. Under the SAD provision , all imports entering the Indian territory are slapped a four- percent additional duty. Nepal has requested that India reconsider this provision in case of Nepali exports.

Equally attention - grabbing is the prime minister’s following smooth and balanced remarks: "We appreciate the respect for our sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity shown by our neighbors and we respect theirs". No less meaningful is Koirala’s statement that any difficulties that might surface at times in the neighborhood could be overcome together through goodwill and mutual understanding.

As such developments of Nepal- India relations in the past ten years have been the signing of separate treaties on Trade and Transit in which Nepal managed to get the concession it wanted from India. But with the recent Budget Speech, Special additional duty of 4 percent is also applicable to Nepal and export from Nepal, which some argue is against the spirit of the Trade Agreement signed in 1996.

There was an across -the -board consensus among politicians that the Indo-Nepal 1950 Treaty on Peace and Friendship needed to be reviewed. The context in which the treaty was signed in 1950 has changed now. There is a need to review the treaty and sign another, which can address the need of the hour.

Bhutanese refugees, the bone of contention between the two sides once again is a prominent feature. Some opine that India should help Nepal solve the problem of Bhutanese refugees. During the PM’s India visit all the bilateral issues have to be raised. Nepal has to look into the fact whether the concerns raised by India on security matters are genuine or exaggerated.

Nepal and India have been co-operating in national development of both countries in wide ranging fields including harnessing of water resources, trade and transit arrangements, health, infrastructure, education and training. This partnership has contributed to the welfare of the people in both countries and taken the relations to a higher plane; changes in Governments of both the countries have not made any difference to the depth of friendship which both cherish. New areas of co-operation are being added constantly maintaining the dynamism of friendship and mutual trust

Close economic linkages between the two countries manifest themselves, inter-alia, through Indian investment and joint ventures in Nepal. Nepal also offers free access to large Indian market as major incentive to foreign direct investors. As of July 31, 1999, there are over 170 approved Indian joint ventures and investment projects in Nepal.

Thus the visit of Prime Minister Koirala should prove successful in maintaining cordial friendship with India while at the same time preserving his freedom of action.

Talk Back

Late captain Ganju Lama V.C.

I would like to express my heartfelt condolence to the family members of late Captain Ganju Lama V.C. We fought the war against the invading Japanese forces in Burma at the same front. I was attached to the unit fighting from the right flank. There is a lot to mention about the bravery of Ganju Lama who fought against the Japanese army in Burma during the WWII, but I have decided to focus on Ganju Lama’s bravery during the fierce fighting in Chin Hills where he earned his V.C. The citation was based on the following action.

"In June 1994, the Gurkhas launched a counter-attack to throw the enemy out for the considerable footing they had obtained in their position. They were stopped dead by tanks. So, Ganju Lama crawled forward with his anti-tank mortar and some hand grenades. Severely wounded in arms and legs, he somehow managed to knock out the two leading tanks and killed their crew. He came back for more grenades and crawled again, with ebbing strength. He attached a third tank and destroyed it. On surged his platoon, the attack went on and the Japanese were driven from the position. The Jap will certainly not forget the Nepalese highlander."

Captain Ganju Lama was known to his comrades as "The Tank Killer". Awarded the Military Medal (MM) for an exploit on the Burma Front in which he knocked out a Japtank; he later earned the Victoria Cross.

Gone but not forgotten. The endless war still breed.

Maj (Retd) N.B.Chhetri
Balaju, Kathmandu.