Nepal-Bhutan bilateral talks have fallen flat

-Prof. Shrestha, T.U

(Professor Anand Shrestha is not a new name for those who have been regularly reading this newspaper. Professor Shrestha is currently managing the affairs of the Nepal Foundation for Advanced Studies-NEFAS. Find his comments on the European Parliament’s fresh decision urging India to mediate the Bhutanese refugee issue-Chief editor.)

TGQ1: Professor Anand Shrestha! Only recently the European Parliament concluded that India must ‘mediate’ Nepal-Bhutan bilateral talks for sorting out the decade old refugee issue. How you see the EPs fresh decision? Your comments please!

Prof. Anand Shrestha: The Bhutanese refugee issue since 1990 has been like a festering wound with deep political, economic and sociological implications. The solution to the problem is: 1) bilateral talks between Nepal and Bhutan. 2) India’s mediation. 3) Internationalization of the issue.

The first option even after eight rounds of bilateral dialogues between Nepal and Bhutan has fallen flat in spite of undue optimism being shown by both parties. Insisting on the first option is like flogging a dead horse. More so, after Nepal having agreed to the four categories of the refugees put forward by the Bhutanese side, perhaps constituted a major blunder in the conduct of the Nepalese foreign policy.

The second option that is the Indian mediation is something that Nepal has been looking forward to but India has so far skillfully skirted the issue on grounds that the problem is bilateral and mediating would be taking ‘sides’. The conclusion of the European Parliament that India must mediate is apt, especially on grounds that Nepal’s border is not contiguous with that of Bhutan and that the issue therefore can not be bilateral.

When the Bhutanese refugee entered Nepal, they came through Indian Territory and if Bhutan takes them, they would have to go back by the same route. This is enough to suggest that India in future will have to mediate and resolve the crisis failing which Nepal will have no choice but to internationalize the issue.

The third option: India’s rigidity in refusing to mediate and at the same time ‘warning’ Nepal not to internationalize the issue is chiefly responsible as to why the Bhutanese refugee issue stands exactly where it was at the start.

The view of the European Parliament that India must play a mediating role to resolve issue is most welcome. But if the Bhutanese refugee issue is a master move by India on the Himalayan political chessboard stalemating both Kathmandu and Thimpu then India may not concede to mediate a solution without pushing forward its vested interests. May be "security" vis-à-vis Nepal will figure more prominently. Let’s see.

The future of Nepalese economy is very bleak

-Prof. Sharma, T.U

(Professor Sharma in the past has contributed several articles on Nepalese economy to this weekly. He is a very senior economist of the nation. Find his impressions regarding the present state of the nation’s economy- Chief editor).

TGQ2: Professor Gunanidhi Sharma! Do you agree that the Nepalese economy is in shambles? Your exclusive opinions please.

Prof. Sharma: I do not know which economy you are talking about. Whether it is a national economy, the real economy or an economy working for a few rent-seekers. There is also a parallel economy. So far as the national economy is concerned, it is losing in terms of its identity and strength. Even activity of the national interest is downward moving, whether we express its contribution in terms of employment, output, trade surplus, or in terms of the distribution of the fruits of development. The rural economy is deprived of almost all-modern facilities. Income there is highly depressed. People are living at the margin. The rural economy is also deprived of the opportunities to participate in the development process.

In the urban centers too, the low-income people are suffering from price hike and the low productivity caused by unused capacity.

Instead, the rent-seekers, development brokers and the ones with access to international market are gaining overnight. They are capable of earning a lot through bribing, commission, corruption etc. Foreigners too are gaining.

The parallel economy is strongly emerging.

These trends have contributed to inequality and mass poverty. Resources are misused and wrongly directed. If the ongoing trends are not checked, the future of the Nepalese economy is very bleak, and the foundation thereof vulnerable.

NC is taking the nation building task very lightly

-Dr.Pokhrel, T.U

Dr. Gopal Pokhral is a political scientist of repute and is currently teaching at the Patan Multiple Campus under Tribhuban University. Find his impressions on the present congress conflicts-Chief editor).

TGQ3: Dr. Gopal Pokhrel! How you see the present non-ending conflict in the Nepali congress-the ruling party? Your comments please?

Dr. Pokhrel: Nepali congress as an organization is taking lightly the task of the nation building. After receiving the mandate by the people in the last general election, the party in power should have come with clear vision and programs to ameliorate the situation confronting the society today. Nepali people at the grass root level are forced to live in a dehumanized condition that has further aggravated smooth transition of the multi-party democracy.

Looking at the current affairs and the involvement between and among the members of the ruling Nepali congress, the party in power is making a mockery on democracy.

Chaos, confusion prevails in alarming proportion. Corruption is on the rise and the basic question of law and order is seriously threatened and the country is stated to be governed by the Mafia.

In short, the conflict that is going on with the ruling Nepali congress circle has mismatched the reputation of this party as a democratic force. The stubborn tendencies and the behaviors as displayed by some of the heavyweights in the party hierarchy is indeed a testimony of a futile exercise which is a serious concern for all the democratic minded people.

Maoists issue is a political challenge

-Dr. Dhakal

Dr. Suman Dhakal too is not a new personality for the readers of the Telegraph weekly. He is a political scientist teaching political science at the Tri-Chandra College. Find his personal iimpressions about the Maoists’ issue- Chief Editor).

TGQ4: Dr. Suman Dhakal! How you see the Maoists insurgency? Is it a terrorist or a political insurgency one? Your exclusive comments please?

Dr. Dhakal: The present multi-party democratic system of the country is instead of heading towards upgrading the political, economic, social and other aspects of the lives of the Nepali people, is practicing immoral political conspiracies for their vested interests. The political leaders and the activists of most of the ruling and opposition parties are becoming more and more corrupt. So it is clear that the ongoing undemocratic practices in the name of democracy itself gave birth to the Maoist activities. Therefore, in my opinion it is not a terrorist activity but a political challenge, which should be solved only through a political way.

Leaders have corrupted the beauty of this system

-Hari Gautam, Political Scientist

TGQ5: Mr. Hari Gautam! How you assess the past ten years of the restoration of the multi-party order performance wise?

(Mr. Hari Gautam is a political scientist. Until recently he had been the General Manager of the Janakpur Cigarette Factory which he steered for full three years. At the moment he is closely watching the congress events as an activist of the same party. Find his personal impressions on the functioning of the ten years of this system in Nepal-Chief editor).

Hari Gautam: It appears to me that the champions of the last popular movement only struggled for the restoration of the present system. It is by now clear that the leaders of all the political parties have given less priority for the stabilization, consolidation and the strengthening of the democratic system in the country. The partisan and the promotion of the self-interest by the leaders manning the system all have corrupted the beauty of the democratic system. It should in essence should have been just the other way round. Though some achievements have been recorded due to the pressures from the civil societies formed after the dawn of the system, yet in the overall assessment, the result has been far from satisfactory. To enhance the beauty of the system now in place, some charismatic leader, some day will assume the country’s leadership which will contribute to the installation of the democratic norms and the values later to be emulated by us all-the people and the politicians at large. The charismatic leader will set a system in which we all will contribute.

Headline | National | Editorial | 2nd Impression | International | Past |