Hijack Report

 The worst of incidents can unexpectedly take place in any country of the world. Most of the time such incidents take place when they are least expected. Even the most advanced and developed countries suffer from such eventualities time and again. For example in the United States, there have been several tragic shooting incidents by young school children, in spite of the government and other authorities making all out efforts to stop such incidents. There is virtually no fool-proof way to stop such accidents or eventualities. But still, for all Nepalese it indeed was a great shock when an airliner taking off from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, was hijacked by some unidentified men on December 24, 1999. The ill-fated Indian Airlines Airbus, had almost 200 passengers and crew, including over a dozen Nepalese in it. Perhaps because it was the first time in the history of aviation in the country that such an incident had taken place, there was shock and surprise everywhere. It can be assumed that even the government and the authorities were stumped about what to do initially. That is why there were some conflicting statements from different political leaders in the initial stages of the hijack, and this allowed the foreign media to make irresponsible statements about the security system at TIA. But soon after, the government swung into action and formed a high level independent probe committee to look into how the hijack may have occurred. The committee, headed by former IGP Hem Bahadur Singh, submitted its report to the government last Monday and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Bijaya Kumar Gachhedar  organised a press conference some days later to inform the public on what measures the government was taking to ensure such incidents did not occur in the future.

Minister Gachhedar informed at the press conference on Thursday that the government will take action against 18 officials on duty at the Tribhuvan International Airport that day when the hijack incident occurred. Three of these officials are departmental chiefs. Minister Gachhedar further revealed that this action could mean suspension or even sacking of the officials. This stern action from the government should alert all other government officials, specially those on duty at sensitive places, that they just can’t afford to be lax in their work. In the hijack incident, apart from the traumatic experience of the passengers and crew, one unfortunate passenger even lost his life. Perhaps that man may have been saved had the security authorities here had been more alert. Yet, in the midst of irresponsible allegations being made by the foreign media, specially those in India, it is a vindication of sort, that the probe committee has completely ruled out the participation of any Nepalese in the hijack. The probe committee has also done well by suggesting to the government to take some short term and long term measures to further tighten security at TIA. It can be hoped, with the help of the different pointers given by the committee, the government will take serious steps to ensure dastardly incidents like the IA hijack, will not take place in the future.  

Book Review

Karnali: By Ramesh Khadka; Published by Media Service Nepal

Price: Rs. 200
Pages: 267

By Our Correspondent

A lot of books have been written about Nepal, in general, but a very few have been written on particular zones or districts.  The Karnali zone that lies in the trans-Himalayan region is alienated from the developed parts of the country. The Karnali zone has several geographical and other significances. This is the largest zone in terms of area. This zone has the biggest lake in the country, Rara.  It is also the area from where the present Nepali language  originated.  Still, it is the  most backward and the remotest of all the 14 zones of the country.

Despite efforts of the government and some NGOs, the economic and social condition of the people in the area have not changed.

The people living in that area are still facing several types of problems. This is the only zone in the country which is not linked by motorable roads. The whole zone faces shortage of food foodstuff crisis every year because majority of the land there is no arable. Lack of roads, education and health facilities and other basic infrastructures are totally lacking in all the five districts of the Karnali zone.

The book under review has given the detailed information about all the five districts of Karnali zone.

The book depicts a live picture of the geography, socio-economic condition, culture, population, ethnic groups, transportation condition, communication, health and education of the entire Karnali zone.

The book shows that the people of the area are still leading a traditional type of life. Meanwhile, the traditional and largely untouched culture and tradition is a big asset of the entire zone.

It is a collection of investigating reporting on different aspects of all the districts of the zone.

This book can be a very useful guide for the policy makers and also the local government.

The book has make several recommends to the policy makers to adopt and devise plans and programmes for the development of the area.

Since the book reveals various aspects of this part of the country, it is also useful for students, teachers, journalists as well as for those who want to know about the area. 

The book may ne an eye-opener for the policy makers in the country. Last year alone, several people in Karnali zone starved to death. Due the lack ofhospitals and doctors in this zone, several people have been compelled to lose their lives prematurely.

The book can also be helpful for the parliamentarians elected from various districts of the zone.

The MPs of this zone may not have been acquinted with every aspect of the zone as the author of this book has aquired by visiting different people and places of the area.

Being a  journalist, the author has used very simple language while presenting the facts and historical backgrounds of the districts.

The handy book gives every information of the local people. The social evils like polygamy, early marriage are still in practice in the area.Many people in the area are found going to India to work as laborers. Some come down to the Terai region to settle down.

The zone, which is rich in natural beauty like Rara Lake and unique traditional culture of the local people, can also be developed touristically.

The book can be one of the most relevant documents for the overall development of the zone.