NATIONAL 4 - (Spotlight Weekly)

‘We Have Taken All Measures For SAARC Summit To Take Place’

— PAMELA J. DEAN

Sri Lankan ambassador to Nepal, PAMELA J. DEAN, has been here for the last two years. A career diplomat, DEAN spoke to KESHAB POUDEL at her office on various issues. Excerpts of the half-an-hour interview.

How do you see Nepal-Sri Lanka relations at the moment?

Our relations with the Kingdom of Nepal are very cordial and satisfactory and we don't have any bilaterial problems. Our relationship is centuries old and is said to have started from Ram-Sita period. Ramayana mentions early period of our relationship. Originally, our relationship with Nepal is based on Buddhism. We consider Nepal as a heaven as it is a birth place of Lord Buddha. This is a holy land for Buddhists and every Buddhist wants to pay visit to a holy place like Nepal. Nepal and Sri Lanka established dipolmatic relations in 1957.The high level visit started after the visit of late king Mahendra to Sri Lanka. After that we have seen several state visits by the leaders of both countries. The last state visit was paid by presdient Chandrika Kumaratunga in 1998. The high-level visits have cemented our close relations between the two countries. The two countries have already taken many important steps in economic sectors with an aim to increase the volume of bilatarial trade and investment.

What is the situation of economic relations between the two countries?

Economic relations have come up to certain level since 1990. In 1993, we established our resident mission in Nepal. We have three joint ventures here and more and more Sri Lankan companies have expressed their desire to come to Nepal but there are still some problems. We would like to sign an industrial and promotion agrement though we have laready signed the agreement for the prevention of double taxation. We signed trade agreement long time ago. More and more companies are coming here. Three months ago one of the leading Sri Lankana Tea Company Dalima has started the distribution of tea with Nepalese partnerneship.

What do you think should be done to develop and strengthen the bilateral relations?

Air-link should be developed immediatly between the two countries. Nepal is a landlocked country so it needs to link Sri Lanka by air. If it links Nepal by air, it will be very convenient to increase the volume of trade and other issues. We have a very good harbor and Nepal can use the harbor to increse its export to other countries. I think direct Air-link will improve Nepal-Sri Lanka ties immensely. It will also help to improve the cultural and religious link as well and people to people contacts. Since there are no direct flights between Kathmandu and Colombo, people have to go through either New Delhi, Bangkok or Dhaka to fly to Kathmandu. These routes are inconvinent for intending travallers.

Air Sri Lanka has any plan to start its service to Nepal?

Yes. That is one of the decisions we have already taken. Since 1st of July, Air Lanka has been directly flying to Dhaka. Within a year or so, our airline will start its flight to Kathmandu also. The decision in this regard has already been taken but it is in the implementation process.

In what way do you think South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) benefits Sri Lanka?

SAARC not only benefits Sri Lanka but also all countries of the region. Since the last one decade, the regionalism has achieved tremendous success in the region and now it has reached the highest level. We need to have regional bodies to promote the development in the region. If a country cannot acheive some success, it can achieve the same through the collective efforts of the region. In 1940s almost all nation in Europe were fighting each other but now they are united in a form of European Community to promote regional cooperation. European nations have even agreed to have one currency. We can also do similar things in future. Our improvement is slow but it is gaining momentum.

After 15 years, do you think SAARC constitution needs amendments so as to permit discussions on bilateral issues?

It is the question we ask in 1980s because we also wanted to discuss the bilaterial issue officially. When the leaders of the region get together during the previous SAARC summits, there were informl talks regarding the issues of amendemnt of the constitution. We have to improve relationship to solve the bilaterial problems. There are certain things which are difficult to discuss openly. As ours is very new regional organization, we cannot compare it with other regional cooparaion bodies like European Union. It took EU 70 years to shape up to present situation. So we don't impose any things that will hamper the situation. After 15 years time, we may bring the bilateral issue in the meeting. If we continue the regional meeting, we will easily find out the way to solve the thorny issues.

The Tamil Eleam problems have adversetly affected Sri Lanka's development.What is the possibility of its early solution?

After so many years, we have seen tiny light in the tunnel last week when the Norwegian special envoy Ericson met LTTE leader Pravakaran.The Norwegian envoy also informed Sri Lankan president and other leaders about the talk. We don't know how genuine is the message Pravakarn is giving to the world. So many times in the past, we have not seen any sincerity on the part of LTTE leader for peaceful negotiation. Whenver the LTTE have military disadvantages, they push the agenda for talk. We don't know whether this offer given to the Norwegian envoy is genuine? Will Prabhakaran want to join at negotiation table or it is just another ploy to reorganize. Sri Lankan president has often stressed the need to settle the issue through peaceful means.

The two bigger members of SAARC becoming nuclear powers, do the smaller nations face any kind of threats? What should they do, if anything, for their security?

Nuclearization of the region is a concern for all of us — the smaller nations like Nepal, Srilanka, Bangladesh and other. Both Nepal and Sri Lanka have proposed this region be declared a Zone of Peace. If Nepal wants it to be a Zone of Peace Sri Lanka wants the Indian Ocean be declared a Zone of Peace. This shows that Nepal and Sri Lanka are both peaceloving countries. Nuclearization of the region is very much concerned for us. We have to take initiative to prevent any kinds of confrontation that will destroy the region.

How can Sri Lanka play more active role in revitalizing SAARC so that it may make positive contribution to the development of the whole regions?

As the Chairman of the SAARC, we have taken all measures for SAARC summit to take place. Sri Lanka has already organized this week the meeting of senior officials of the SAARC countries. Our foreign minister has already discussed the possibility of resuming the talks. We have always promoted the idea to resume the summit as soon as possible. All the committee meetings have already been completed and we are trying to organize the meeting of senior officials. We are pushing all kinds of formal and informal means to vitalise the SAARC.

How hopeful you are on the meeting?

We can't give up hope. As I have already mentioned that it will take a long time to frame up the idea of regional coopeation and better understanding among the nations.In fact, even the EU is promoting SAARC as they have said that they are interested to see the strengthening of SAARC. Some particular countries are also stressing for the need to promote the regional cooperation. We will definitely have the summit soon. There is always difficulty to achieve progress. You need to cross many hurdles to complete certain cycles. The progress in SAARC regionalism has also been slow but it is definetly gaining momentum. We had also similar problems in 1992 and we postponed the summit for one year. We don't have to lose faith in SAARC just by facing small problems.

‘Nepal Must Protect Indian Interests’

— RAJENDRA MAHATO

House of Representatives member RAJENDRA MAHATO is also a general secretary of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP). Mahato, who lost the first two elections after the restoration of multiparty democracy, won last year from constituency No. 4 of Sarlahi district. Mahato spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on Nepal-India relations, the role of the NSP and other issues. Excerpts:

You were one of the MPs who accompanied Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on his visit to India earlier this year. Did that visit bring any significant changes in the relations between the two countries?

Nepal-India relations are very close and very special. No two countries share such cultural and religious similarities. So there is no question of expecting a major shift in the state of our relationship after high-level visits. The people-to-people relations between the two countries are so close that they cannot be broken by the political class. For centuries, Nepal and India have maintained close and friendly ties. This is not because of the role played by any leader or government but because of wide people-to-people contacts. As a sovereign country, Nepal has established diplomatic relations with many other countries. But they cannot match our relations with India. Whether one likes it or not, Nepal cannot survive without the support of and close cooperation with India because of our history and geography.

Why are Nepal-India relations so close?

Our relations are bound by nature. This is why friendly relations at the people's level remained strong even when government-to-government relations deteriorated. Relations have been forged by mutual respect and matrimony. I prefer to say that ours is a relationship based on blood. If the people across the border face any trouble, we immediately experience it. Personal relations have guided the ties between the two countries. Since our relations are so close, the government must handle it with great sensitivity. No government can break the people-to-people relations.

What was your experience during the India visit?

We received a very warm and hearty welcome in India although the visit was organized after a gap of four years. The people in the different Indian states we visited gave us a warm welcome and agreed to share their experiences in economic development. It is unfortunate that Nepalese leaders took such a long time to pay a visit to India. In view of our close relations, we need to have frequent exchanges of high-level visits.

If Nepal and India share such close relations, why do certain political parties and intellectuals always express anti-India sentiments?

Some of our political leaders believe that raising anti-Indian slogans bolsters their nationalist credentials. To prove their nationalism, they exploit our relations with India. They sometimes use very derogatory language, without remembering India's major contributions in the economic development of Nepal. It is very unfortunate that some leaders choose to blame India for everything that goes wrong in Nepal. I blame our left parties for taking an unreasonable anti-Indian stand. We must realize that harping on anti-India slogans will not benefit anyone over the long term. Nationalism means protecting the interests of one's country; it should not be directed against any other country. Unfortunately, some of our intellectuals and political leaders use anti-India slogan to project themselves as nationalists. I don't understand what kind of nationalism that breeds. Will it really help Nepal? I don't think such a mentality will serve the interest of the country. We have to thank India for its contributions towards the economic development of Nepal. Moreover, Indian leaders have always supported Nepal's struggle for democracy.

Why do Nepalese leaders fail to understand these realities?

I don't understand the argument behind their criticisms. I think criticizing a friendly neighbor like India will only harm Nepal's interest. How will Nepal stand to benefit if we destroy our relations with India. We may be able to survive by ignoring other countries, but we cannot survive without India. Antagonizing other countries may force us to live without the economic aid they provide. But our real survival depends on our relations with India because of the facts of history and geography. As a neighboring country with such a long open border and a long history of cultural and religious ties, India's friendship and cooperation is vital for us. The 1988-1989 stalemate clearly showed us why Nepal needs friendship with India. Even if there are minor irritants here and there, we can settle them in a friendly manner.

How important are economic relations with India?

We see all major economic powers coming to India to invest in the local market. However, we are doing nothing to exploit this trend for the benefit of our people. Worse still, we have been allowing anti-Indian activities in our territory. In some parts of the Terai region, an external power is very actively involved in destablizing India. The time has come us to realize the importance of friendly relations with India. We must stop anti-Indian activities in Nepal. If we need to break our relations with a particular country in the interest of forging better ties with India, we should be prepared to do that. The fake currency scandal, the hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane and the confiscation of RDX explosives have already proved how actively this external power is working in Nepal to destablize India. If we don't realize the realities of history and geography, we will have difficulty in surviving as a nation. We can raise our annual revenue collection only if we increase our imports to India. A large number of Nepalese, who are working in the Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, West Bengal and in north-eastern India, also are pouring money into our economy.

How do you see the prospects of exploiting our hydropower potential?

Once again, it is India which has the capacity to absorb the electricity generated in Nepal. Nepal has the potential of generating 83,000 MW of hydro electricity. If we do not have friendly relations with India, where we can sell all this electricity? Nepal needs a market. Since electricity cannot be exported via airplane, we need an easy and accessible market which India can provide. Nepal and India share an open border. In terms of size, India is really a huge market. But if we want access to the Indian market, we need to have good relations.

Our party has always stressed the need for friendly and special relations with India in order to promote our own national interests. Why don't the other parties understand this reality?

During the Panchayat period, the government promoted anti-India slogans. Today the left parties have taken the mantle of anti-Indianism. I think such slogans represent empty nationalism. We have to realize the importance of economic relations between two the countries.

How can we benefit from India's moves to open up its economy?

We have a good opportunity to benefit from economic liberalization in India. Unfortunately, our government does not have plans and programs. We are busy whipping up anti-Indian sentiments rather than formulating economic programs to benefit Nepal. We can industrialize the Terai region as a whole. In the border areas, there are possibilities to develop new industrial zones.

Would it be possible to close the Nepal-India border?

This is a figment of the imagination. I don't think it is possible to close the border. Nepal stands to benefit more by leaving the border open. But some pseudo-nationalists and political parties, including ultra-leftists, are making this demand. We have already told the government that the open border has not created a problem between two countries. Closing the border would not be in the interest of Nepal. We have large number of people working and studying in India. Since Nepal is virtually an India-locked country, how can we expect to move from one part to another without an open border with India. We must understand our geographical reality.

Do you expect our political parties to give up their anti-India slogans?

If they want to see a prosperous Nepal, they must do that. Unfortunately, we don't have enough political leaders who realize such realities. Because of our anti-India bias, we have not been able to convince the Indian people that Nepal, a Hindu kingdom, can never pose a threat to India.

How do you assess India's economic assistance to Nepal?

Nepal has received a huge amount of economic assistance from India. From industrial areas, highways and power production units to health and education, India has given us continuous support to uplifting our economy.

What programs is the NSP taking to the people?

One of the aims of our party is to end discriminations against the Madhesiya population living in the fertile land of south. Throughout Nepal's history, Madhesiyas have been treated as second-class citizens. A large segment of the country's population has been denied citizenship. In the last 10 years, the NSP has succeeded in making the people of the Terai aware of how they are being discriminated against and what they have to do to gain their rights. Over the last decade, we have been able to bring the discriminated population from the east to the west on one platform.

What are your programs for the next 10 years?

Over the next ten years, we are planning to organize backward communities of the Terai and the hills against discrimination. The people have lost faith in big parties like the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the RPP because they have been unable to end discrimination. If this situation continues to exist, the citizens of the Terai will revolt against all the major parties and will support the NSP.