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EDITOR'S NOTE Zhu Rongji, Prime Minister of the friendly country in the north is coming to Nepal very soon. All patriotic Nepalese are enthusiastically waiting to welcome him with open hearts. It is reliably learnt a large section of the ruling party does not want the government to become over exuberant and not to go out of the way to pamper the distinguished visitor. One need not go very far to understand the reason behind it. But, it will in no way effect the Chinese Premier's behavior. We know well and are greatly assured of the help our Chinese friends have always offered us in times of need. The Chinese ambassador in Kathmandu has minced no words in stressing his country's unveering support (see the interview inside). Since they don't believe in shallow rehetorics they prefer to maintain a low key. Even through the visit of the Chinese Prime Minister is taking place after more than a decade, relations between two neighbors have blemished that there are no problems whatsoever that would engross their attention. A couple agreements on Chinese Cooperation to Nepal are expected to be signed. We do hope our honored guest is sure to set at rest any concern the Nepalese people might be harboring when he meets the Nepalese monarch. We exhort all the twenty three million Nepalese to accord our Chinese friend very hearty welcome. * * * Two recent events have blackened the already soiled image of Koirala government to such an extent that all the water in the Koshi will not be able to cleanse it. One is the Bill to amend the citizenship act which was presented to the Head of the State for his final approval. The hue and cry the bill generated in the country forced the King to seek the advice of the Supreme Court. Now, the Supreme Court has expressed its opinion that the bill is unconstitutional. Since the Supreme Court had no political axe to grind there could be no ground whatsoever to doubt the gosmine objectivity of the Supreme Court in arriving at such a conclusion. The Bill, if it had become the law of the land, would have opened the flood gates for aliens to acquire Nepalese citizenship and ultimately the sovereignty of the country would have been gravely endangered. Nothing could be more sinister than the intentions of the Nepali Congress that to assure their prospects in future elections their lawmakers did not even hesitate, for a moment, to pawn the independence of their country Granted that the two septuagenarian leaders tried to assert their loyalty to their motherland. But what about other law makers who were born in Nepal? Has their blood also turned. White? And even more surprising and bewildering has been the behavior of the opposition law makers. How could they permit the bill to have such an easy passage in the House? Kudos to King Birendra and the judges of the Supreme Court for safeguarding the integrity of the country. * * * The other event is the ignominious expulsion of the diplomat of a friendly country. Indeed, Pakistan is an enemy country to India. Is it also an enemy country to Nepal? Why should have the government of Nepal put the Pakistani diplomat to such a humiliation is beyond one's comprehension. After all, who is running the government here? Is Girija Koirala Prime Minister of Nepal or Chief Minister of one Indian State? All proud Nepalese must hang their heads in shame. Indeed, diplomats are turned persona non grata and expelled. But there are certain diplomatic norms and conventions that guide such actions. Why should have the Vienna convention be so blatantly violated? In whose interest? Has the Dean of the diplomatic crops any obligation towards the accredited diplomat? We want answers to all these question. Will any body oblige?
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