EDITOR'S NOTE

That the five day long talks for the resumption of the suspended Indian Airlines flights to Nepal could not arrive at an understanding has come as a shocking surprise. The Indian Airlines had abruptly stopped all its flights to Nepal in the aftermath of the hijack of its flight IC814 after it had taken off from Kathmandu a few months back. As it is, the suspension of all flights for months because one was hijacked in itself can be termed as an extreme step. Such steps do not reflect the age-old friendly and brotherly relationship between the two countries. Indeed Nepal must heed the Indian concern and beef up the security arrangements at their international airport so that such incidents do not happen again. Hijack like accidents do happen. We can find instances when planes have been hijacked despite the best and tightest of security. Consequently, the hijack of IC814 was just one of such incidents and should not have generated the chain of reactions both the countries have witnessed. It is customary for media to get carried away and cook up sensational stories. Distortion of news are apt to inflame passions and are not conducive to maintaining normal relations. Even though the Indian envoy to Nepal KV Rajan reportedly tried to smoothen the ruffled feathers of the Indian delegation, it seemed beyond his usual authority to channel the talks to a successful conclusion. Since neither delegation was ready to be transparent and willing to talk about the cause of deadlock, the media have to put two and two and make four. No wonder it would make them overstep their calling or make wrong assumptions. That the delegations lacked statures and mandates have become evident by the mere fact that the talks had to be prolonged for five days with one day of total rest in between. That neither side was ready to give in has not only raised the importance of the issue but also brought into sharp focus the attitudinal change that has come into the stance of the Nepalese delegation. Talking to this scribe Rajan had expressed confidence that the talks won't be aborted. Even though there is a sour taste in the mouth, there is no cause for despair. The talks will be resumed shortly. Despite his loyalty to his own country, Rajan can still play an important role in the solution of this small problem that is assuming undue importance. providing security at the TIA is the sole duty and responsibility of His Majesty's Government of Nepal. There can be no room for any compromise. Rajan has to bring this simple axiomatic truth home to his people in Delhi. If he can do that, that may be his parting gift to his host country.

The call by the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to make globalization work for the poor people of the Third World is indeed very noble in spirit. It is not the first time world leaders like him have expressed serious concern for the deprived people of the world. But, it is indeed a great pity that the lot of these wretched people does not seem to improve. And the main reason is the uneradicable corruption among the third world politicians. Corruption in the poor developing countries is more serious than the dreaded disease of HIV AIDS. And unless the Secretary General can find some formulae to eradicate corruption and punish the corrupt leaders, these kinds of pious works are not going to help the poor people in any manner. It can be debated that no country, rich or poor, is free from corruption. Indeed, corruption in rich and developed countries does not hurt the poor. But, in poor developing countries a handful of corrupt leaders are amassing wealth at the cost of millions of poor, making them more wretched and miserable. And as long corruption flourishes, the billions of poor people will find no succor. Consequently, Mr. Secretary General, if your concerns for the poor are genuine and not hypocritical, devise some ways and means to root out corruption from the poorer countries. Otherwise, your empty protestations will be nothing more than crocodile tears.

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