In depth Analysis

It’s government versus all!

Kathmandu: It is now increasingly clear that the government has no agenda in the resolution of the Maoists’ problem. It retains its traditional standpoints that the insurgency is the law and order problem. No new breakthrough is expected from talks of which there is no indication of the resumption. It is not for nothing that the Maoists’ continue to score points in the very law and order sector that government says it is concentrating upon.

It is this that points out that a major disturbance in the law and order sector is itself brewing. Outside, the repeated violence demonstrated by the insurgents is the possibility that its political aspect will emerge in Kathmandu itself fairly soon. The foremost to be hit will be the educational sector. Kathmandu campuses are already approaching closure. Union activities that currently are the monopoly of the congress, which staff lucrative university and campus positions are now being targeted. Schools that have yet to open fully see teacher union activities from the Left. The labor markets of the few industrial institutions that remain open are being agitated. It is not for nothing that government has already declared that strikes and agitation in the crucial medical sector are illegal.

These indications adequately reflect that Kathmandu is poised for a major agitation. It is also revealing that the valley districts have virtually been encircled by districts where Maoists’ activities abound. Makwanpur appears one exception evidently for strategic reasons.

The ruling party and its media continue their obsession with internal politics. Elections to the general convention now having been virtually over, supporters of the Prime Minister continue the campaign of mobilizing cadre opinion for Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s "indispensable" leadership.

One major development minimized by the Koirala media but highlighted by his opposition congress is K. P. Bhattarai’s trip to India. Observers are aware of changes in congress leadership being influenced by the party’s individual relations with the Indian political establishments. It is the timing of the KP visit that is significant in this context.

Observers however, feel that the KP visit is too little to late. Girija babu has already swung the party organization to his side. The Pokhara meet is only expected to endorse this.

Regardless, Girija babu’s opposition will have votes granted it at Pokhara. The elections have helped organize it bottom-up. It is the effects of this organization on the functioning of the congress that will have to be watched. It is not for nothing that candidate Sher Bahadur Deuba is still expecting some votes committed to Koirala to come his way.

But congress knowledgeables insist that the trend will be the other way. One indication of this is the yet to materialize ‘no confidence motion’. Evidently committed signatures have not been visibly forthcoming and indications are that the Deuba group is dwindling in numbers in Parliament itself.

Clearly, the stalemate remains. Nepali politics has arrived at an impasse. Congress majority rule has been at the expense of the virtual emasculation of the opposition. It is now increasingly government versus the rest.

Kathmandu meet of elderly statesmen of South Asia vow to supplement SAARC official process

Kathmandu: The first meeting of the Citizens’ Commission for South Asia has concluded. The South Asian elderly statesmen, former diplomats, senior economists, politicians, constitutionalists and human rights activists in the Commission have vowed to supplement the official SAARC process which they have reiterated in the press statement released after their three day deliberations in Kathmandu.

The senior citizens of SA felt the need to jolt the leadership of the region regarding the reconvening of the SAARC Summit which has not taken place since two years or so. The Kathmandu meet decided to activise the civil societies in their respective countries so that joint efforts could be made in promoting the regional cooperation. The meet also concluded that the SAARC official process must continue come what may. In this regard the senior diplomats of SA region vowed to act in tandem with the civil societies, media organizations and other social institutions to improve the quality of the teeming millions of the people living in this part of the globe.

The Telegraph approached most of the participants for their exclusive comments regarding the future activities of the commission and its would be impact on the resumption of the now stalled SAARC Summit. Below the results: Chief editor.

Mr. Manfred Haack, FES Chief of India Office.

Frankly speaking, we are an International NGO having based our activities on ideas instead of being guided by any political interest or profit motives. We have been working closely with the CASAC, Coalition for Action on South Asian Cooperation, since its very inception. Our support to CASAC is motivated by the fact that it is a sort of civil society working to strengthen the SAARC process and adheres to the norms of the track 2 diplomacy in strict sense of the term. The present meeting of the Citizens’ Commission for South Asia which comprises of the elderly people of the region who command respect and honor not only in their respective countries but in the entire region and their presence in the Commission bodes well for the enhancement of the friendly ties in and among the SAARC countries. The region will benefit from their vast experience. The future of the Commission currently headed by Rt.Hon’ble Inder Kumar Gujaral appears to be very bright. The meeting is also timely in the background of the stalemate seen in the SAARC process and it could be hoped here that the Kathmandu meeting of this forum will help ease the tension thereby facilitating the resumption of the now suspended SAARC Summit. At the conclusion of the meeting I do hope that a statement would be issued appealing the governments of the region to work for the resumption of the SAARC process. And I am hopeful that the appeal, which will be a joint work of the elderly statesman of the region, will be given due attention by all concerned SAARC countries in the larger interest of the teeming millions of this region. I am confident that the Kathmandu meeting will bring new ideas which will facilitate the institutionalization of peace in this region. No region can afford to remain in a standstill position in what we find SAARC today. The men involved in the commission are all free and learned men who possess wide knowledge about their own region. The SAARC will benefit from their vast experience. Widely revered persons like Gujaral, Amartya Sen, Sartar Aziz, Asma Jehangir, Mohamed Younus, Kamal Hussein and others in the forum can make a difference. The gathering is very impressive and let us hope that this "meeting" makes a difference. We in the FES wish the SAARC process revived and we are ready to support the Commission’s maiden initiatives in this regard. I also appeal the South Asian media to support the Citizens’ Forum noble cause and make the Kathmandu meeting a resounding success.

Ambassador Ms. Manel Abeysekera, Sri Lanka:

The timing of this meeting is very good in the sense that we all are concerned by the abrupt suspension of the SAARC Summit. With the changing times, we the South Asians also must change. So far we were confined to the SAARC process where the governments of the region were the prime actors. Now, it is the civil society which has emerged very strongly in the region which should work in tandem with the inter-governmental process of the SAARC so that the people of the region benefit from such cooperation. The Citizens’ commission should not be confused as an alternate to the SAARC process, instead we or say our new forum will complement their effort. I would wish to see a new paradigm developed in between the SA civil societies and the SAARC’s inter-governmental activities. The process of the SAARC and the Summits must get going. The impact of this Commission would be felt slowly. The impact would come in the form of a pressure from SA civil societies that will press their respective governments to act fast for achieving the targets set by various SAARC Summits in the past. Governments’ might have constraints for obvious reasons. But forums like this one can talk plainly and forcefully on topics that have a direct bearing on the teeming millions of this region. We must prove that we are a forum, which means business. In this regard, the role of the media is tremendous. However, their role should be well within the set parameters. The Commission perhaps should form a cell comprising of various media men from the region so that our recommendations, proposals or for that matter the vision and the schemes meant for the people goes to them. Media networks could be a part of the Commission. However, the media must act responsibly.

Kant Kishor Bhargabha, former SAARC Secretary-General, India:

The civil societies all over the world are becoming vibrant and meaningful. The role of the State is changing. I believe that the civil societies here have also become vibrant and was fully well competent enough to face the new challenges. The issue before us today is how can the civil societies could work in tandem with their respective governments in South Asia so that the people of the region benefit from such joint efforts between the two. To recall, the SAARC process has ever championed the cause of the civil societies in our region. We therefore wanted to build consensus on the effectiveness of the role of Citizen’s Forum in easing the political impasse currently that has plagued the SA region. We saw our role in this regard. We are happy to note that FES has supported this endeavor as well. However, it is difficult here to predict the early resumption of the SAARC Summit given the magnitude of the problems currently SA is facing. We need to change the old and outdated mindset of our political leaders. If they change their mindsets as per the changed international realities, I see good prospects for South Asia. This will enhance our capabilities to exploit the vast opportunities, which we have in the region for the benefit of the people of this part of the globe. The establishment of the Citizens’ forum is timely and time permitting it would address all the issues on a collective basis. I’m optimistic about the success of the new forum under Inder Kumar Gujaral. However, the role of media is also very crucial to make the Citizen’s commission endeavor a success. With the vast knowledge and expertise, which the commission members command, it would definitely bring about a dramatic change in the quality of friendship in between the members of the SAARC process.

Hon. Ibrahim H. Zaki, former SAARC secretary-general:

Why a group of such persons have come together? The prime concern is that the official SAARC process has come to a standstill. I think the SAARC process must go in the hands of the people. I fully endorse Laxman Kadirgamer’s statement made last month in Colombo. The Citizens’ forum in Kathmandu has come in the name of the people of the region and out abiding concern is the current stalemate seen in the SAARC official process.Who is the victim? The leaders?/ The bureaucrats? Not at all. It is the people who have become the victim of the slow pace of the SAARC and that of the current stalemate. The resumption of the SAARC Summit is our prime concern. My feeling is that the citizens’ forum can supplement the official SAARC process. How to get out of the present impasse would be our prime job in the days ahead. The commission should address the question of globalization, liberalization and market integration and the likes. Our prime objective should be to see how South Asia can cope with the changes seen in the world of today. We must also see the greater role of the civil societies in South Asia. The commission can take initiatives on power generation, child issue, women and the likes in the social sectors and the huge list of issues that confront us today. What could be expected of this commission is that since the forum is equipped with the men who possess vast wealth of knowledge and expertise, the SA region will benefit immensely. The media role in making the commission’s efforts a success is also crucial. Unless you the people in media help us, we can’t move to achieve the goals set by the Citizens’ commission here in Kathmandu. The media is a bridge in between the commission and the people. Report honestly which will enhance the understanding in between the people of the region. Our commission is basically a sort of civil society, which wishes to work in tandem with the official SAARC process.

Nihal Rodrigo, SAARC Secretary-General, Kathmandu:

The attending participants in his new Citizens’ Commission are very distinguished personalities of South Asian region. They all have strong involvement in the over all process of the enhancement of regional cooperation. Their presence in the Commission will definitely have some positive impact for the benefit of the region. It is my firm belief that what ever they say will have some weight and hence will go in favor of the prosperity of the South Asian region. Their statement can’t be ignored for obvious reasons. However, how the final document that will be issued at the conclusion of this meeting will be put in front of the governments’ in South Asia has not yet been decided. I hope that the presence of eminent personage of the stature of Hon. Inder Kumar Gujaral in this Commission will definitely make a difference.

Mohammad Younus, Founder of Grameen Bank, Bangladesh:

The fresh start of the Citizens’ Commission in South Asia is a very good initiative. The Citizens’ commission and the SAARC official process together can look at the issues which have slowed the SAARC official process. The Summit has stalled. It should resume at the earliest. The commission houses experienced South Asians who can now criss cross the situation for the benefit of the region. The group will look in to several aspects of regional cooperation. We must now act together or else will have a risk of getting left far behind the economically advanced countries of the globe. It is the beginning of a process that definitely possesses a very promising future and ultimately would benefit the entire population of the South Asian region. In my opinion, the SAARC Summit must be held at the earliest.

Hon. Sartaz Aziz, former foreign minister of Pakistan:

One of the main functions of this newly established Citizens’ forum is to complement the official SAARC process. The draft declaration that we have issued Dec.3, 2000 in Kathmandu says about it. We feel that civil societies in South Asia have to play a bigger role than ever before. We see that such societies could supplement the process which we have initiated in Kathmandu. Media’s role is also very important in this context which in itself is a sort of civil society. We the commission members have unanimously voiced that there should be the resumption of the official SAARC Summit without any further delay. We remain all united in this regard and stand for its early resumption.

Farooq Sobhan, former foreign secretary, Bangladesh:

I think it is an important initiative. We felt the need to house some top-notch personalities of the region who understand the region better by being in government in their respective countries in the past. They possess immense knowledge regarding the SA region. In my opinion, civil society today is at the apex followed by the government. We in the past followed the government. One of the reasons SA is lagging behind is the sluggish state of governance and poor qualities in our leadership in our countries. Governments’ are now only facilitators. The days of spoon-feeding have gone. Now we in the civil society domain must stand on our own. Globalization is already there and hence we can’t remain aloof from the world process. Our whole horizon has changed. We can’t wait for our government’s to take up the lead. They are fighting the old-battles of the Stone Age. Now civil society has come of its age. Our commission is not the one in the region. Other also might come for the promotion of the reginal interests with much vigor and courage. We will also support them. The Citizen’s commission will support the official SAARC process. It should not be understood as an alternative to the official SAARC process. We will complement and supplement the official process. We fervently hope that the SAARC Summit resumes at the earliest.

Y.K.Silwal, former SAARC secretary-general:

The Citizen’s commission is yet to evolve in the months and years to come. I suppose it does not have a specific time frame. Basically this commission should direct its energy in re-energizing the SAARC process. First of all lobbying for the Summit to take place and continue. This commission can start an awareness campaign through media, civil societies and the people at large so that all the SA leadership are reminded of their pledges made in 1985 and thereafter, remind them of the point that time is running out as compared to other regional organizations.

By and large the initiative is timely and relevant.

SAARC Summit should resume says Inderfurth

Kathmandu: The US Assistant Secretary of State, Karl Inderfurth, has said that the US administration has increased its emphasis in South Asia and as a result of that his country has raised the level of meetings with the South Asian leaders.

Inderfurth made these observations while meeting Nepalese press last week immediately upon his arrival in Nepal.

Talking on the Bhutanese refugee issue, Inderfurth opined that the "resolution of this issue constituted a priority task for the US administration. The US dignitary was here in course of his four-nation tour in South Asia e.g. Nepal, Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka.

"Bhutanese refugee issue is in the priority of the outgoing US administration" said Inderfurth adding "’we will finish all the unfinished business prior we will be leaving office early next year".

The US high level team left for Bhutan Monday morning.

"’We are hopeful that the Bhutanese side will accept the formula, which we have developed for the repatriation of the refugees currently languishing in Nepali camps", said a beaming Inderfurth.

He however refuted that Clinton administration had developed special relations with India. "We do not possess any sort of tilt in favor of India", the US minister clarified.

Regarding a question on the abrupt suspension of the SAARC Summit late last year, the Assistant secretary of State said that the "SAARC Summits must take place at the earliest".

P.L.Singh’s fury against Koirala

Kathmandu: The politics of the Nepali Congress appears to be heading for a collision-course in between the forces that wish to see the continuation of the Koirala rule in the party and those who prefer to get rid of the Koirala family-cracy in the party for good.

Senior congress activists who feel that the freshly concluded primary elections of the congress at district levels have been massively influenced and manipulated by Koirala lobby in its favor using foul means, have indicated that the impending Pokhara meet will not go Koirala way and that if the distortions seen in the party of late were not done away with at the earliest then this group could go to any extent.

Perhaps representing the sentiments of this group, P.L.Singh, a senior congress activist and former mayor of the Kathmandu metropolis, has issued a strong worded letter addressed in the name of the party president Koirala urging the latter to correct the blunders committed by his coterie men and more specifically by the general secretary of the party to influence the just concluded elections in Premier Koirala’s favor.

"How could the persons will vote in Pokhara for a new president who themselves have emerged victorious through foul plays. More so what would be the status of the leader who gets elected enjoying votes from those who were themselves held suspect", asks P.L.Singh.

He has also appealed President Koirala to convene the meeting of the central committee and form a committee to investigate various charges that have been labelled upon the persons who manipulated the primary elections to go in some one’s exclusive favor.

" If the CC meet is not convened and the charges not investigated at the earliest, the utility of my being in the party’s CC loses its significance and if you decide not to convene the meet, please consider this letter as my resignation from the central committee as my continuation in the same body will tantamount to agree to the blunders committed by some at time of the elections", concludes Mr. Singh.

Germany assists 3 New Projects

Kathmandu: The German Development Bank KfW, acting on behalf of the German Government has provided grant assistance of DM 31 million (NPR 1.0 billion) for three development projects in Nepal.

• DM 15 million for the financial support of 63.500 Biogas Plants under the Biogas Support Programme, a cooperation project between Nepal, the Netherlands and Germany;

• DM 14 million for the second phase for the Town Development Programme to finance loans and grants for investment in municipal infrastructure;

• DM 2 million for upgrading the Road between Malekhu and Dhading Besi.

The Financing Agreements were signed last week on November 30, 2000 by Dr. Koirala, Secretary, Ministry of Finance on behalf of His Majesty's Government of Nepal and by Mr. Uwe Ohls, First Vice President, and by Mr. Christian Thomsen, Division Chief, on behalf of KfW.

The German Ambassador, Mr. Ruediger Lemp, was also present at the signing ceremony.

This has been stated in a press statement issued by the Kathmandu based German embassy.

Mrs. Adhikary awarded Doctoral degree

Kathmandu: Mrs. Milan Adhikary (Chalise) has recently been awarded the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) on Agricultural-Economics subject from the prestigious Justus-Liebig University, Germany, availing the DAAD scholarship. Her title of the thesis was, "Resource Allocation in the Agricultural sector in Nepal:Analysis and Impact of Policies".

Mrs. Adhikary’s study has attempted to analyze the impact of fertilizers’ subsidy removal policy of the government on farm’s economy. Her research works also has explained the possible long and short term measures for improving the socio-economic and environmental situation of the farms in Nepal by taking into account of a combination of Cobb-Douglas production function and Non-Linear programming Model.

Mrs. Adhikary’s findings were based on the primary data collected from the Mountain, Hill and the Terai regions of Nepal.

Mrs. Adhikary who has already experienced of working in institutions like GTZ (PLBP) and Winrock International had obtained her M.Sc degree in Agricultural System from Chiangmai University, Thailand by winning the prestigious Gold Medal of the University. She had won USAID fellowship through HMG’s ministry of education to pursue her B.Sc. Agriculture from Haryana Agriculture University, India.

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