EDITOR'S NOTE
The eleventh round of bilateral talks between
the Nepalese and the Bhutanese delegations held recently at the Bhutanese capital Thimpu
to repatriate the Bhutanese refugees to their lawful homes in their own country has again
concluded without any significant achievement. It, however, failed to generate any ripples
since this was an expected development. Although one of the senior members of the Nepalese
delegation to the talks Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, who is Nepal's ambassador to India and
concurrently accredited to Bhutan also, manifested some kind of optimism (see interview
inside), he has not really impressed us much. That is all goody goody diplomatic
pronouncement. While appreciating Bhutan's concerns on the large number of Bhutanese of
Nepalese origin, we can, in no way condone the harsh and inhuman measures the Royal
Bhutanese government has applied in the ethnic cleansing. We also are fully aware that the
Bhutanese could not have taken recourse to such brutalities without the tacit support of
their big brother and friend (?). What surprises us most is to see the bigger nations who
do not tire to call themselves champions of human rights all over the world but are
shamelessly giving the Nelson's eye to the miserable plight of over a lakh helpless men,
women and children for such a long time. If this is not an example of sheer hypocrisy will
some one tell us, what is? And this reminds us of William Hazlilt who has said, "the
only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy". Be that as it may, it is high time
the votaries of human rights should not give in to discrimination. People in Yugoslavia
(Bosnia, Kosovo etc) and Kashmir and refugees in Nepal or Pakistan deserve same kind of
humane treatment. After all, they are all human beings although the color of their skin is
different. Will the powers that be take note? We will wait and see.
The Nepali Congress seems to be standing
firmly behind Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba for whatever he does in solving the
nation's problems. Since this kind of development is a very strange phenomenon in the
history of Nepali Congress, many knowledgeable eyebrows are being raised. Influential
people in the ruling party seem mystified to find such a big change in the behavior of
their President and are meticulously trying to find the reasons that might have
contributed to this change, if it is genuine. Some big Nepali Congress stalwarts have
confided to this scribe that despite his extraordinary generosity and cooperation, the
Nepali Congress supremo is laughing in his sleeves at Prime Minister Deuba's predicament.
There is some sinister method in his unprecedented cooperative attitude. It is, indeed,
not worth to delve into factuality of the above statements. It, in no way, mitigates the
gargantuan problems Prime Minister Deuba is facing. Unfortunately, he is very poorly
equipped to tackle the difficult issues. The Maoists are not making things any easier for
him. His impetuous announcement has landed him in greater troubles and is sure to
complicate matters more. His obsession to appease the Maoists may impel him to yield in a
manner which could be his undoing. The congress committee's decision to investigate the
ill-gotten wealth of politicians after the restoration of democracy at this juncture is
sure to add to Deuba's discomfiture. The unsavory past of the senior members of his
cabinet, the Dhamija and Lauda affair embroiling his party president and his own palatial
building in Budhanilkantha may demand some precipitous action. How is this over ambitious
young leader of Nepali Congress going to emerge from all these mess has become a matter of
great interest to all Nepalis. And even greater headache for the Prime Minister would be
the trade treaty with India that has to be renewed before the end of the year. If the
behavior of the Indian delegation that was in town lately is any indication, some perilous
days seem to be in the offing. Unless Prime Minister Deuba can revolutionise his thinking
and behavior, and sacrifices personal and partisan interest in the broader interest of the
nation, he may not have a long stay at the crease in his second innings.
| Chief-Editor & Publisher |
: Madhav Kumar Rimal |
| Editor |
: Sarita Rimal |
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: Keshab Poudel |
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: Bhagirath Yogi |
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