In depth Analysis

New Delhi talks likely to be dicey!

Kathmandu: Long public queues welcoming King Birendra back home Thursday reflect public anticipation from the monarchy. Allegations on part of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba that his resignation from the now definitely defunct government committee for negotiations with the Maoists’ was prompted by non-co-operation on part of the government reflect clearly the widening schisms within the ruling congress party. The opposition parties in parliament have now clearly taken to the streets making the anticipated electricity price hike an issue but timing the public actions with demands pressed on government for transparency in the talks with India visit.

These factors clearly belie that Nepal’s decade year old multiparty system is poised at a crucial threshold, it will, once more, be Nepal-India relations that will signify the directions of possible change. The Prime minister must deliver soon. What he delivers India may not necessarily suit the political interest of his opposition. How he appeases the opposition need not necessarily coincide with the Indian position at New Delhi.

The point of the matter is that Nepal has over the years calculatedly eroded its own instruments of negotiations with New Delhi making it difficult to project a position of strength for this country in its bilateral situation with an overly assertive neighbour, India.

Trade, aid, water resources, borders, and security are, in gist, the primary agenda to be taken up at New Delhi regardless of the fact that several prior talks, the latest by foreign minister Chakra Prasad Bastola followed by Indian security advisor Brajesh Mishra and Indian home secretary Komal Pandey have yet to prompt the declaration of agenda on part of Nepal to its public.

It is this hush-hush environment that hints at hesitancy on part of Nepal to assert its national interests on fear of wooing Indian wrath. The fact is that the Nepali political process has been so weakened as to prevent the Prime minister from negotiation in a position of strength. The economy over the years has been so positioned as to prevent such a standpoint from Nepal. Moreover, Nepali foreign policy has so distanced itself from other alternatives as to provide this country little bargaining strength apart from share good-will on part of its larger neighbour India which is clearly in a mood to assert its advantages over Nepal on virtually all of the issues likely to be taken up at New Delhi.

Box news:

Annan urges civil society to tackle globalization challenges

Kathmandu: Having warned about a mounting backlash against globalization nearly a year before last November’s disrupted WTO meeting, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has put together the kind of coalition that he believes is necessary to deal with globalization’s many challenges.
Today, July 26 2000, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is to convene a high-level event at the United Nations, which brings together leaders from global business, the international labor movement and civil society organizations including environment and human rights to tackle critical issues raised by economic globalization. They will put into practice the Global Compact that Annan announced at Davos, Switzerland, in January 1999, when he first warned that markets must be embedded in shared values and serve broad, shared objectives if they are to survive and thrive. A press release issued in this regard states.

The Global Compact is intended to promote the implementation of nine principles in the areas of human rights, labor and the environment derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ILO’s
fundamental principles on rights at work, and the Rio Principles on environment and development, all of which enjoy universal consensus among the world’s governments, adds the press release.

Nearly 50 companies are attending the meeting including such well known global giants as DaimlerChrysler, Unilever, Deutsche Bank, BPAmoco, Novartis, Ericsson and Nike, as well as a significant number of corporations from developing countries. All are committed to implementing the principles of the Global Compact in their own corporate management practices. They will also engage in a variety of partnership projects with the United Nations that are intended to advance the goals of the United Nations, especially poverty reduction in developing countries.

The partners from labor and civil society include the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, Amnesty International, the World Wildlife Fund, the World Conservation Union IUCN and a consortium of
developing country non-governmental organizations. They will lend their expertise and support to designing and implementing these undertakings by the United Nations and the business community.
Kofi Annan is hoping to succeed where others have failed said John Ruggie, Special Advisor to the Secretary-General. All the relevant parties have to pull together if globalization is to work for
everyone, he added. The formulated 9 principles of the Compact A Compact for the New Century
At the World Economic Forum, Davos, on 31 January 1999, UN Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan challenged world business leaders to "embrace and enact" the Global Compact, both in their individual
corporate practices and by supporting appropriate public policies. These principles cover topics in human rights, labour and environment among others, the release concludes.

Miscellaneous:

Telegraph/FES seminar on good governance

Kathmandu: The Telegraph Weekly in close co-operation with the Germany based Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, FES, is organising a national level seminar on "Role of Media in enhancing Good Governance".

The seminar will be held somewhere by the end of August or early September this year.

Two prominent Nepalese scholars of international standing, Professor. Dr Sushil Raj Pandey and Professor Dr.Ram Kumar Dahal have accepted Telegraph’s request for their valuable working papers to be presented at the proceedings of the one-day seminar.

To recall, Telegraph weekly in the past has already successfully conducted five media seminars of which the FES had assisted four and the fifth one had been in collaboration with the FINNIDA.

Within a week or so the names of the chief guest and the keynote speaker would be announced.

This will follow the dates and the venue of the seminar.

The seminar will be as usual attended by Nepal’s intellectuals and senior mediamen.

NSJF inducts editor Shrestha

Kathmandu : The Nepal-SAARC Journalists’ Forum, NSJF, at its recently held meeting of its executive committee members has decided to grant membership to Mr.Pushkar Lal Shrestha.

Mr.Shrestha is the chief editor of a broadsheet daily in vernacular language-The SAMACHAR PATRA.

Majority of the NSJF members voiced in support of Mr. .Shrestha.

The NSJF welcomes the new member in its team and hopes to benefit immensely from his knowledge and experience gained over these years, says a press note issued by the forum. The forum is intending to induct some more competent editors in its team in the future.

Strip News:

B’desh ready to buy power from Nepal; can export gas

Kathmandu: The Nepal-SAARC Journalists’ Forum, NSJF, last weekend threw a welcome reception in honour of the visiting State Minister of Health and Family welfare, Professor.Dr.M Amanullah at the Hotel Everest Sheraton.

Dr. Amanullah was accompanied by his wife Mrs. Amanullah who herself is a renowned Gynaecologist in Bangladesh.

Welcoming the distinguished guest from neighbouring Bangladesh, the chairman of the SAARC Journalists Forum, N.P.Upadhyaya gave the salient features of the existing Nepal-Bangladesh ties and assured the minister that the forum would spare no efforts unturned to enhance the bilateral ties at the people to people level.

He urged the minister to convince his government back home, which facilitates the exchange of cultural contacts between the two friendly nations. On the same occasion chairman Upadhyaya also reminded the minister that a similar meeting the Forum had with Bangladesh foreign minister who had assured the forum members then that he would talk to his government for awarding short training courses for the Nepalese journalists in his country.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the Kingdom of Nepal, Cyril Sikder, also briefed the minister about the valuable contributions the Nepal-SAARC Journalists’ Forum had been extending to his country.

Ambassador Sikder made a fervent appeal to the journalists attending the reception to remain instrumental in the expansion of trade and commerce in between the two countries.

"Economic diplomacy must go together with political diplomacy", added Ambassador Sikder.

He, however, revealed that the impending visit of his commerce minister next month would open new vistas for bilateral co-operation. A number of agreements are expected to be signed by Nepal and Bangladesh during the commerce ministers’ much awaited visit here.

Dr. Amanullah, the chief guest of the function, said that since Nepal and his country shared similar issues and problems so the two countries must come together in arresting these similar problems confronting the friendly nations.

" Nepal and Bangladesh can go a long way in fighting common diseases with which we both suffer due to almost common geographical settings", said the minister adding "poverty" was one which could be described as our common enemy.

Lauding the efforts of the SAARC Journalists’ in Nepal he maintained that such forums in essence contribute to the expansion of the people to people ties which later attracts the attention of the governments’ and the latter does the needful in cementing the bilateral bonds both at the government and the people level.

"This in fact enhances the SAARC spirit among the people of the region", continued the minister.

The minister assured the gathering that he would also convince his authorities back home for the materialisation of a direct bus service beginning the end of this year from Dhaka-Kathmandu and vice versa. This will support the tourism industries in both the nations, opined the minister.

Talking on the trade and commerce sector, the minister made it clear that B’desh can buy electricity from Nepal and export gas for her internal consumption. "You have excess of electricity which we need and we possess plenty of gas which you need", said the minister.

To recall, Ambassador Sikder has been voicing his country’s eagerness for initiating this bus service which links the tow SAARC capitals, Dhaka and Kathmandu.

Several prominent editors attended the reception. NSJF executive committee member’ Puspa Pradhan and Vice-chairman of the Forum, L.D.Thapa were also present on the occasion.

Sunday afternoon, the minister under the initiation of the Forum visited the NORVIC health centre at Thapathali. The NORVIC officials greeted the honoured guest and briefed the activities of the newly established cardiovascular centre.

The same evening, minister Amanullah met the press at his Ambassador’s residence.

During this meet, the minister talked about the Kathmandu conference of the SAARC -Cardiac society in which he was himself one of the participants from B’desh.

Thus concluded the SAARC Journalists’ Forum’s activities.

A crisis averted; new crisis in offing

Kathmandu : The dangerous verbal duel that continued for quite some time last week between Prime minister Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba through the extended use of the media regarding the Maoists issue has suddenly taken a blissful turn.

To recall, till the other day the two congress top hats had been contrasting over the issue of the insurgents with Deuba boisterously reiterating that Koirala has not given him the real command to talk with the Maoists which was refuted by Premier Koirala with equal force contending that Deuba enjoyed enough mandate.

While the verbal duel continued between the two, suddenly minister J.P.Gupta made a scathing attack on Deuba stating that he had only been told to compile the suggestions regarding the ways and means to contain the threats emanating from Maoists’ quarters. J.P hinted that Deuba was not a government nominee for the official talks with the Maoists’ leaders.

Understandably, minister J.P attacked Deuba through the use of media again on Prime ministers’ behalf as he is supposedly very near and dear to Koirala.

However, the sudden change of heart of the Prime minister towards his nearest political rival is full of mystery, say congress watchers.

Sources close to Koirala say that had the Prime minister not heeded to Deuba’s statements, it would have its grand bump on the impending convention of the party scheduled for early next year. One source maintained that Koirala needs to keep Deuba in good terms simply because the latter has become a impregnable challenge to him politically and more so because the majority of second-generation leaders prefer Deuba for the country’s top seat.

"If Deuba is happy then Koirala could explore the possibilities of influencing his party men at time of the next convention in favour of the candidate(s) whom Koirala wishes to bring up", added the congress source.

However, Koirala is yet to read the internal mindset of Deuba who by all means enjoys extensive support from the party’s rank and file. Add to this the exposed support of the saint (?) leader K.P.Bhattarai.

In essence, Deubaites say that Prime minister Koirala was left with no options other than to provide him the mandate for initiating talks with the insurgents because the Maoists too hinted through their own private channels to Koirala that they would wish Deuba to take the lead.

Perhaps these hint from Maoists quarters capped all Koirala possibilities for recruiting men other than Deuba.

Interesting as it might appear, the fact is that the Maoists’ special preference for Deuba too appears to have puzzled Koirala for obvious reasons. Added to this is the fact that a large section of the Nepali intellectuals too remain appalled over the clandestine Deuba-Maoists’ nexus, if any. What could be the reason of this meaningful "socialisation" between the leaders of the Maoists movement and Deuba? Keep on guessing.

Be that as it may, Deuba appears to be happy with this new mandate provided him by Koirala. However, how he steers the talks with the republican rebels will perhaps determine the degree of the political acumen he possesses under his sleeve. Unquestionably in doing so, Koirala has minimised the Deuba wrath for the time being perhaps with a view to proceed to Delhi pilgrimage with a clear and unruffled mind. But how long he could keep his mind undisturbed would perhaps be determined by the steps his fellow parliamentarians are about to take against him if he does not declare the convention date and effects a major reshuffle prior to Delhi trip that gives berth to some of Bhattarai-Deuba men. A paper close to this lobby has announced that if Koirala does not pay attention to the demands of Bhattarai-Deuba men, his tenure could come to an end this Nepali month that is third week of August.

A clever Koirala has made close accord in the meantime with kingmaker minister Khadka only to ditch Deuba-Bhattarai grand designs. Khadka, has been assured home ministry upon return from Delhi.

Not very surprising then, Deuba too nurtures a strong desire in his heart to become a national hero through his talks with the insurgents. Indeed, if a Deuba emerges triumphant in this Himalayan task and brings the insurgents to the main body politic time permitting, his chances of becoming a hero are real. However, the Maoists too have put certain conditions to be met by the establishment prior to the talks. The conditions include a truce till the talks are on; release the whereabouts of their activists and a probe into the Khara village carnage.

With Deuba again leading the talks, chances of military mobilisation in Maoists affected areas at least for the time being has deferred. Contray to this, Koirala wishes the military men taking the guns to quell the Maoists insurgency. Unfortunately, the King’s nod is not there in his favor.

Indeed interesting events unfolding in national politics especially after King Birendra’s home coming.

Where would the sacked officials go?

Kathmandu: The Nepali congress government under Prime minister Koirala has in the recent days has sacked thousands and thousands of temporary officials working at various corporations and government offices.

In effect, these freshly sacked officials some way or the other were close to the leaders of the men manning the system since all along these ten years. Undoubtedly, the congress party had a major share in such temporary recruitment as it is this party that has ruled the nation for almost nine years or so.

Informed sources say that the government had to sack these officials under the instigation of the powerful donors such as the IMF, WB and the Asian Development Bank.

That the sacking action has made about 20,000 plus officials jobless, question automatically arises as to what this heavenly number would do in want of jobs? One probable answer is that this sizeable mass will create problems to the government in so many ways. A jobless and quite frustrated person can go to any extent in getting his or her things done. When no other options remain open for this mass, they would join the ranks of the gangsters and the ruffians who have already made the people’s life miserable in Nepal.

A sizeable chunk of this population might jump into the folds of the Maoists for obvious reasons thus adding further strain to the already deteriorated law and order situation of the country.

And the chain will follow which would only add to the load of the government.

In effect, the government should have taken this drastic action against the temporary officials when some alternative arrangements were made to adjust these penniless destitute. Now it is too late undoubtedly.

Ambassador Lummaux winding his Nepal tenure

Kathmandu: The French Ambassador to the Nepali court, Michel Lummaux, is winding up his Nepal term by the end of this month.

Ambassador Lummaux spent almost four good years in this Himalayan Kingdom.

He is considered to be one of the French diplomats having gained expertise in Asian affairs.

He began his diplomatic career from Jakarta and later was posted in Beijing. Bangkok was his destination prior to his arrival in this Himalayan nation.

His next ambassadorial assignment is Dhaka, Bangladesh.

This means that France attaches great importance and significance to her relations with small SAARC nations where in democracy were a recent phenomenon. 

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