NATIONAL 3 -(Spotlight Weekly)

Overdue Debate

Intellectuals discuss the problems and challenges posed by the open border between Nepal and India

By KESHAB POUDEL

Does Nepal need an open border with neighboring India? Most Nepalis have an opinion. When it comes to articulating the pros and cons of an open border with the mighty neighbor to the south, neither officials nor intellectuals can produce persuasive arguments either way.

India-Nepal Bordar : Open for all

For long, a section of Nepalese intellectuals, including leftist and rightist politicians, have called for sealing the border. Others advocate limited regulation. Over the last few months, the Indian side, too, has found itself debating the issue, regularly accusing the Nepalese of ignoring criminal elements crossing into India. Indian media coverage of Nepal usually concerns the misuse of the Nepal-India open border to destabilize India.

At a time when people on both sides are realizing the need to take some steps to regularize the open border, the Institute of Foreign Affairs and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung organized a daylong seminar in the capital to discuss the prospects and challenges.

Regulating the Nepal-India open border requires intensive study and homework, as many Nepalese living in the southern plains need to pass through Indian territory before reaching home. A similar situation exists for many Indian citizens. Nepalese and Indian citizens are benefiting from this easy access to each other’s territory.

In such a situation, the open border could be used for the equal benefit of Nepalis and Indians. In economic and political terms, however, the facts are intimidating. Even a small fraction of India’s massive population flowing into Nepal would trigger panic in the kingdom. India as a big country, however, can easily absorb even a big exodus of Nepalese citizens.

The open border between Nepal and India has always been a matter of debate among the Kathmandu intelligentsia. The worries of intellectuals are understandable, as Nepal, a small country situated between two Asian giants, India and China, has long been struggling to preserve its identity.

"Nepal cannot keep open its border for longer period of time. The time has now come to take steps to regularize the open border between two countries," said Dr. Ram Kumar Dahal, a professor of political science at Tribhuvan University.

Interestingly, even before the start of the debate in Kathmandu, one of the largest Indian states, Uttar Pradesh, already announced its decision to fence its border with Nepal. "The Nepalese government has to take initiatives to regularize the border between the two countries," said Kamal Thapa, a former foreign minister and spokesman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party.

As a small country, Nepal’s economy and infrastructure cannot cope with the uncontrolled inflow of foreign citizens. This is why the Nepal-India Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950 also gives certain privileges to Nepal to restrict unlimited flow of Indian citizens into the kingdom. Clause 3 of the Exchange of Letters accompanying the 1950 treaty clearly accepted Nepalese vulnerability. Nepal shares a 1580-km boundary on the east, west and south with India.

Some experts want more studies to find out the implications of a regulated border. "The open border is not a major problem between the countries. Tens of thousands of Nepalese are employed in India compare to the few hundred thousands Indian in Nepal. Before taking any decision on regulating the border, the government must take intensive study," said Badri Prasad Ojha, general secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

To be sure, an open border per se is not bad for the country’s economic development. In many cases, an open border improves the possibility of achieving economic growth. The fact that Nepal has on its borders two emerging economic powers should be seen as an opportunity.

Nepal is not the only country that maintains an open border with its neighbor. Even developed countries like the United States and Canada share an open border. But there are differences in the two cases. "The most serious and adverse impact of open and uncontrolled Nepal-India border has been in the form of growing and anti-social and lawlessness activities. The ever-increasing crimes along the border have been a major concern for both governments since early nineteenth century, and the Treaty of 1855 was aimed at controlling these problems. However, the open border has rather enhanced such activities," said Dr Vidya Bir Singh Kansakar, of the Central Department of Geography at Tribhuvan University.

Although the debate on the open border between Nepal-India has begun, the intellectuals and politicians have to undertake intensive studies before making any decision on such an important and highly sensitive issue. "We have made a modest effort to start a debate on the issue," said Dr. Mohan Prasad Lohani, director of the institute.