EDITOR'S NOTE
The secretary level talks between Nepal and
India on the review of the highly controversial Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950
could be said to be long delayed step in the right direction. Since the beleaguered Rana
Prime Minister who was under big stress to save his authoritarian regime from tottering,
it had to be unequal. When some of his very close confidants (this scribe's very close
relations) entreated him not to sign the treaty, Mohan Shamsher, the last Rana ruler of
Nepal silenced them saying, "you don't know. It is a quid pro quo". And poor
chap, four months after signing the treaty he was dethroned with the active collaboration
of Nehru government of India. He got his quid pro quo. Since it would be utter foolishness
to cry over spilt milk, a reasonable has to be found to correct the harassing situation.
That Nepal has succeeded to make India agreeable to review the treaty could be taken as a
big achievement in itself. It is, indeed, very gratifying to note from reports that the
Nepalese foreign secretary Narayan Thapa has maintained a strong stand that the treaty
should be reviewed to make it more compatible in the present context and to set the tone
for mature relations in future. The report has further said that although India did give a
positive response to the Nepalese stand, she has requested for more time on their side to
discuss the issue, as if fifty years was not quite sufficient. Since Nepal is at the
receiving end, she has no alternative but to acquiesce. Since neither contracting parties
have abided by the terms of the treaty, any delay in reviewing, amending or scrapping it
would make little difference. More important than the treaty has become the issue of the
open border between Nepal and India. India's serious apprehensions that her enemies are
threatening her integrity through this open border and Nepal, if not abetting is doing
very little to check such activities, is becoming as unbearable situation for her. Even in
Nepal's long-term interests, the open border between the two countries has to be sealed as
soon as possible. We trust Nepal will not fail to initiate appropriate steps without undue
delay.
* * *
The United States ambassador Ralph Frank was
quite frank, as his name suggests, and forthright in stating his concern at the current
atmosphere of distrust and negativism that seems to be resulting in an increasing climate
of violence in expressing political dissent in Nepal. Coming from a country where
politicians practice extreme tolerance and seldom transgress the limits of human dignity
and patience, his frustrations over the behavior of Nepalese politicians is not at all
unnatural. The example of extreme forbearance was exhibited by former vice president Al
Gore and his democratic party when five judges of the U. S. Supreme Court snatched away
the presidency, the most powerful position in the world, from his grasp in a partisan
decision. Can anyone imagine what would happen in our part of the world if anything like
that were to take place? Since Nepalese politicians have developed the tough rhino skin,
no amount of disquietude expressed by anybody in the world can make any dent. They only
understand the language of brute force. Consequently, the people of Nepal only can pull
them down. Be that as it may, we too join others in celebrating the 50th year of U. S. AID
in Nepal. Indeed, it has contributed to building various infrastructures in our least
developed country. We do hope the U.S. government will not lessen its interest in the
speedier upliftment of poor Nepalese. We also take this opportunity to express, on behalf
of our poor countrymen, our heartfelt gratitude toward the American people for their help
and support.
| Chief-Editor & Publisher |
: Madhav Kumar Rimal |
| Editor |
: Sarita Rimal |
| Consulting Editor |
: Keshab Poudel |
| Senior Correspondent |
: Bhagirath Yogi |
| Senior Reporter |
: Navin Singh Khadka |
| Reporter |
: Sanjaya Dhakal / Sunil Kumar
Gupta(Nepalgunj) |
| Photographer |
: Shyam Chitrakar |
| Editorial Office |
: GPO Box 7256,Baluwatar,Kathmandu, Nepal. |
| Telephone |
: 977 1 423 127 |
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: 977 1 417 845 |
| email |
: spotligh@mos.com.np |
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