National 1 (Spotlight Weekly)

Renewal Of The Friendship

The result of Deuba’s five-day visit to India remains to be seen

By A CORRESPONDENT

When prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Indian leaders back in New Delhi were talking about the Maoist insurgency in Nepal as a common threat and US ambassador to Nepal James Moriarty was encouraging the cooperation between Nepal and India against the insurgency, two bombs went off in two important places of valley.

The first bomb exploded at the American Center on the same evening (September 10) when U.S. Ambassador to Nepal Moriarty delivered his policy statement at a program organized by Nepal Council of World Affairs stressing the need for common program against terrorism.

The second bomb was exploded on Sunday (September 12) at Bagmati bridge in Baneshwor near Kantipur Publication and Space Time office. Prime minister Deuba returned the same night from India after completing his visit.

Although the first bomb just damaged a toilet, the Sunday explosion injured nineteen persons – most of them simple pedestrians - including three police constables. Indian police in Bihar had arrested two senior Maoist leaders in Patna (India) on Friday when Deuba was in Indian capital New Delhi.

The two incidents were meaningful in the sense that the ambassador of the world’s only super power had just endorsed an idea of Indian support to quell the Maoist insurgency.

In the joint communiqué issued on September 12, too, India has agreed to provide all kinds of support to Nepal in quelling the Maoist insurgency. It seems that the Maoists are against both the proposals.

If the Maoists are taking new stands, despite the Indian assurance of all out support - military and negotiations - to solve the Maoist problems, the insurgency seems to be taking a new turn.

The bomb exploded at Bagmati bridge was much powerful than those used in past explosions in the valley. “This is for the first time when bomb was exploded using a gas cylinder,” said a senior police officer. “Such bomb will cause more human loss.|”

Although the Maoists are yet to take responsibility, the police hold the view that it was their handiwork given their track record of using the explosive at public places to terrorize the people.

Upon his arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport, Deuba disclosed that Indian government would provide all kinds of necessary support to Nepal in quelling the Maoists. “I will open two fronts to solve the Maoist problems,” said Deuba attending the press conference at Tribhuwan International Airport. “I am happy that Indians have given me assurances that they will support my government to find out a solution to the Maoist problem.”

The twenty-five point communiqué issued by Nepal and India in New Delhi covered many bilateral issues including the water resources, trade and most importantly the security matter.

“After Deuba’s visit, Indian side has officially indicated to harden the stand against the Maoists,” said Yuvaraj Ghimire, a senior journalist, talking to Radio Nepal. “Whether the assurances will materialize or not, remains to be seen. Anyway, the visit helped to exchange views between the two countries.”

Former foreign minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat sees nothing new in prime minister Deuba’s visit to India. “The nature of agreement signed in New Delhi could have been done by any junior minister. Prime minister is yet to justify the importance of his visit. I cannot say much about the visit without knowing what he discussed with Indian prime minister.”

Whatever Deuba claims, the message of the two bombs that were exploded while Deuba was in New Delhi seems to indicate that the problems might be heading for further escalation.