In depth Analysis

Disastrous course ahead !

Kathmandu:; The Surkhet ambush from which the country's Chief Justice managed a narrow escape has messages galore. Firstly, it demonstrates Maoists reach. Secondly, it is as yet the most outstanding example of Maoist information and attacking capabilities. Thirdly, although the Maoists are said to have denied the judicial target, the fact is that much of the Nepali countryside now affected by the Maoists movement is said to have been enthused with Maoists dictats on the judicial system. The fact is that parallel governments are in place and the slow arm of Nepali justice has been attracting the Maoists options. The fact is that, where the Maoists are present, even the civil and judicial offices of HMG/N are said to be under Maoists dictats. Clearly, whether or not intentional, the message of the attack is not altogether hidden from the public's point of view, particularly, from Surkhet.

Emerging Maoists capabilities apart, emerging government response also becomes highly significant. Firstly, the institution of the Armed Police Force gives a message that is clearly confrontational. Secondly, the new provision for regional "commissioners" make out that administrative strategies appear underway. Thirdly, the virtual absence of a political solution from points of view of government makes certain the understanding in government the lack of political solution. As a result and the public are very much aware of it, the country faces a virtual civil war. How the government is to capacitate itself financially to conduct an anti insurgency campaign given the Nepali terrain and the negative economic performance of the past years is now anybody's guess.

Adding to the confusion along with such government response is the virtual absence of any directional systemic response. Infighting in the ruling party prompts opponents of the Prime Minister to reject his attemmpts at expanding his cabinet reach. A united congress is certainly not the Nepalese reality. And then there is the role of the opposition outside the congress. The UML continues to court congress reaction by introducing yet another 'no confidence motion'. It is certain that they lack the required numbers on their own. Moreover, Lauda or no Lauda the general sentiment is that it is neither the UML nor the congress that is determining their place in government. Extra national forces now have the major say in determining the roles of major Nepali actors in Nepali politics. In essence, thus, the winter session is likely to be rowdy as promised by the UML. But the public is wary on whether it will affect the much-needed change demanded by the public.

Yet another aspect that adds a curious tinge in the pace of Nepali politics is growing donor disenchantment on Nepali performance. It is, if nothing, amusing to watch none less than American Ambassador Ralph Frank ventilating his disappointment on the matter in front of the Prime Minister G.P.Koirala following which he entertains none less than King Birendra and consort. That Royalty should be so feted and government derided makes for some thinking indeed.

Israeli envoy vows to expand bilateral ties

Kathmandu: The Israel embassy in close cooperation with the Nepal-Israel Friendship Association organized Monday a grand function to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Establishment of the diplomatic relation between Nepal and Israel.

A contingent of intellectuals, diplomats, businessmen, media men, lawyers, and social workers graced the function held at the Birendra International Convention Center.

Welcoming the attending guests, the chairman of the Friendship Association Pashupati Giri expressed his profound gratitude to the State of Israel for extending valuable support to the Kingdom of Nepal for the development of the latter's basic infrastructures. He also hoped that bilateral ties would expand to the mutual benefits.

The newly accredited Israel Ambassador, Abraham Nir in his speech lauded the courage of the then Nepal government and its leader B.P.Koirala for having established diplomatic relations with his country against all the existing odds.

To recall, Nepal became the first country in South Asia in the 1960s to establish diplomatic ties with Israel. It was considered to be a daring move on the part of Nepal because her neighbors till then had kept themselves at a distance with Israel for obvious reasons.

"'At present my country has diplomatic relations with more than hundred countries of the globe including those countries which preferred to keep a distance with Israel in the 60s", proudly declared the Israeli envoy.

Talking on Nepal-Israel ties, Ambassador Nir said that the existing friendly relations needed a real boost to strengthen it in all the possible levels of government, parliament and the private sector as well.

"I will do my utmost during my tenure in Nepal to bring out people closer to encourage them to engage with each other in all fields from commerce, trade to academy and culture", continued the Ambassador.

In this regard, said the Israeli diplomat, "'I will need your support, the support of the Nepali government and of the people as well".

The State of Israel has extended its help to Nepal in sectors such as agriculture, education, medicine, water projects, paratrooper training and etc.

A rough estimate reveals that some ten thousand Israeli tourists visit Nepal annually.

The chief guest of the function, Prime Minister Koirala hoped that Nepal-Israel ties will attain new heights in the future.

He also thanked the State of Israel for supporting Nepal in various developmental sectors.

The State of Israel awarded Mr. Kiran Sharma, a Nepali national, a certificate of merit for his outstanding service rendered to promote Nepal-Israel ties. Mr. Sharma has been serving at the Israel embassy since the establishment of Nepal-Israel diplomatic relations.

Telegraph adds: An Israeli exhibition entitled "Drawings of Jerusalem" by Yossi Chitrit was also displayed at the auditorium.

Who is safe in this nation?

Kathmandu: Intellectuals of the nation opine that as and when the country's minority groups are sidelined and their genuine grievances are not duly addressed by the establishment, the groups under duress and compulsion join the bands of those who oppose the government and the system as well.

These intellectuals conclude that the sudden increase in the strength of the Maoists insurgency in Nepal in a very short span of five years only could be the reason mentioned above.

According to them, a minority group at a particular period of history might emerge as a majority group and thereby could also control power and rule the former group in majority.

Be that as it may, the fresh analysis of the American Intelligence unit-STRATFOR- in which it says that well within two years or so this Himalayan Kingdom might see the rule of the radical communists that is the Maoists, apparently shook the nation from within. Then followed the American Ambassador's subtle warning to the present government in which the envoy had hinted at the ailments in which this country of late was in and suggested the establishment under Koirala to perform and provide good governance as well. Ambassador Frank also hinted in his famous last Tuesday's speech that Nepal's political parties must converge and arrive at a consensus on matters that were related with the nation's genuine interests.

Hardly a week had passed of this Ambassadorial meaning loaded comment, the Maoists targeted the nation's Chief Justice last Saturday when the latter was on a tour to some western parts of the country. He had a narrow escape, however, some of his accompanying colleagues had to lose their precious lives.

The Maoists have almost regretted over the attack on the nation's CJ and have clarified that "at least at this juncture we were not against such attacks on the officials of the judicial system of the country". The insurgents have told that they would constitute a commission to probe as to how this sad event occurred.

This means that the entire sad events happened unknowingly? It is rather difficult to digest their theory because the manner the insurgents attacked the CJ caravan in western Nepal forces us to conclude that the dignitary could be their target. However, the insurgents deny.

Now the question arises as to who could be the next target of the insurgents? To recall, the insurgents have already targeted ministers, congress activists in the districts, UML men and at times the men belonging to the RPP camp.

The fresh event in the western region has, to recall, come at a time when the insurgents have already declared that they will observe their sixth anniversary in a big manner and they will show their presence in the capital district to mark the occasion.

This advance notice of the insurgents and the deteriorating law and order situation in the country practically has disturbed the peace of the minds of the local inhabitants for obvious reasons.

Considering the attack on the CJ last Saturday, question could be asked as to whom was safe in Nepal? The answer should obviously come in negative.

The fact is that the security machinery in the country remains demoralised and apparently a sort of panic presumably prevails in the entire machinery. The situation has touched a new low and the government prefers not to assure the public about the measures it has planned for the safety of its voters and the international community based in Kathmandu.

Be that as it may, one high placed source says that the fresh attack on the nation's CJ could be that the latter had supported the formation of the Armed Police Force during a chat with some media. The source says that the Maoists could have retaliated in their own fashion to hint the CJ that his support for the formation of the APF was simply "unfriendly".

However, this has yet to be substantiated.

Predictably, the nation is already under tremendous strain. A sort of fear has gripped the nation. Any thing could happen any time conclude intellectuals.

However, what would happen no body knows. Who will make things to happen is any body's guess.

Russia favors creation of nuclear weapon free zones

Kathmandu: The Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Mr. Igor IVANOV has said that his country "favors the creation of nuclear-weapon free zones in different regions of the world and non-deployment of nuclear weapons beyond national territories as a substantial contribution to strengthening strategic stability".

Forein Minister Ivanov made these remarks February 1 at the plenary meeting of the Conference on Disarmament held in Geneva, Switzerland.

"'The era of globalization is bursting into our life making us change its traditional ways and confronting us with increasingly complicated tasks", said Minister Ivanov adding that the "international community will only be able to resolve them if it acts jointly and rationally, using the achievements of contemporary science and technology and the aggregate economic and intellectual potential for the benefit of all states of the globe.

In the opinion of the Russian Federation, not a single state, even the most powerful one in economic and military terms can find responses to new challenges that would really threaten international security in the 21 century and that all attempts to create isolated islets of well-being and stability in today's world are illusory and in our view were doomed to failure.

During the lecture in Geneva, the RF minister disclosed that his country was ready to "start immediately negotiations with the United States on the development of a START-III Treaty. The Russian side also proposed that deeper drastic reductions of strategic warheads should be undertaken in the new Treaty than agreed before that is down to 1,500 units instead of 2,000-2,500.

The Russian minister however, raised the issue of world concern related to the possibility of an arms race in the outer space. In this regard the minister said that "that was why we like the overwhelming majority of other states supported during the last session of the General Assembly of the UN the earliest start of substantive negotiations on outer space topic at our forum in Geneva".

At the conclusion of his speech, the Russian Foreign minister praised the role of the Conference on Disarmament by saying that "he would like to stress once more that his nation highly appreciated the role played by the Conference on Disarmament in building new stable and safe world order and would persistently strive to enhance its international authority and effectiveness."

Activities of SA professionals have increased

-Ambassador Nihal Rodrigo

Kathmandu: The Secretary General of the SAARC, Ambassador Nihal Rodrigo has said that "if the postponement of the SAARC Summit is said to have caused a slackening of high political activity, the activities of South Asian Associations of professionals, industry and business groups, artists and writers and the members of civil society have continued and increased which complement technical and functional work proceeding at the official level".

The SAARC Secretary General made these observation during the fifth South Asian economic cooperation conference organize by the SCCI and the FNCCI on "Government-Private sector partnership: A strategic alliance for 2010" held Sunday February 4, 2001.

Dwelling on the SAARC's role in facilitating in the growing collaboration between governments and the private sector, Nihal Rodrigo opined that SAARC continues to have consultative meetings with the Executive Committee of the SCCI during its Economic Cooperation Conferences and that those have been useful in identifying and discussing issues of concern to the private sector and have enabled the governments to be kept briefed of them and to take action as appropriate.

Shedding light on the topic of the conference Ambassador Rodrigo maintained that the government and the private sector need to work together in maintaining and developing the economy and this relation should be guided not by animus but a nexus.

"In the regional context, despite notable exceptions, SA's economic and social situation is grim and that the alleviation of poverty and more rapid social up-liftment requires a multi-dimensional, sustained effort which neither government nor industry can alone succeed in achieving", added Rodrigo.

According to Rodrigo, the rationale for a positive partnership between government and industry is no longer a theoretical abstraction rather it constitutes a realistic, and practical means of advancing national progress and development-a contract sealed not by legal clauses but through a balance of interests and obligations, managed and carried out as a common commitment to serve the people to whom they are responsible: the voter, the consumer and the shareholder.

Koirala told to resign; Koirala to visit France

Kathmandu: In their continued bid to oust Koirala from the chair of the Prime Minister at the earliest, Nepal's prominent political parties in opposition have apparently forged an alliance to achieve their avowed goal.

A sort of joint struggle will be waged against Prime Minister Koirala during the 19 session of the parliament that is schedule to begin from tomorrow, it is learnt.

The regional party, the NSP is reportedly to gherao the rostrum the moment the new session begins which will instantly be supported by the rest of the opposition forces in the alliance.

The top ranking leaders of the UML, the RPP, United People's Front, NMKP and National People's Front met the Prime Minister Monday afternoon and submitted a memorandum wherein they have demanded the outright resignation of the Prime Minister.

The memorandum presented to the Premier alleges that his rule contributed in the deterioration of all the possible sectors of the Nepali society and that he should resign on moral grounds and facilitate the way for next person who could give good governance and bring back the law and order situation of the country to its normal.

The memorandum also says that since the cabinet is involved in the Lauda air deal and hence the Prime Minister as the chief of the cabinet must resign.

Telegraph adds: Shital Nivas sources say that the French government has decided to welcome Nepal's Prime Minister in Paris early next month.

Intellectuals here say that the French government should think twice on the question of inviting the Nepalese Prime Minister at this critical juncture who is allegedly a party to the most infamous Lauda air scandal. Apart from this, the nation is reeling under the threat of a major violence from the Maoists insurgents and the powerful donors such as Finland, America and Germany have already hinted the failure of Koirala regime in delivering goods to the poor and provide basic security to the public and the international community at large.

A section of the intellectual say that France can invite Prime Minister Koirala some time later this year when the nation achieves political stability and embarks on the way to providing good governance.

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