Indepth Analysis

Crisis mounts amidst contradictions

Kathmandu: The crisis deepens. Much may not be expected of the CIAA action against the government on the Lauda scam. The CIAAs move, however, will woo reaction either way. Much, on the other hand, is expected from the UMLs announced three-day nationwide bundh beginning Sunday. The opposition party has much at stake since it has a one-point agenda, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s resignation. This, however, is not forthcoming. The Prime Minister and his well wishers insist that this demand defy the constitution. The Prime Minister holds the legitimate majority in parliament and, thereby, has the confidence of the house. It is evident, therefore, that Girija babu’s congress is in a mood to confront the UML tooth and nail.

Reality, however, says that the Prime Minister’s majority is brittle. Decisions for a successful confrontation depends largely on the manner of the opposition that the decisions within the congress to Girija babu will observe. At a UML gathering to honor the late Madan Bhandari rival Krishna Prasad Bhattarai demonstrated his proximity to the UML by taking the chair of the ceremony. Whether this lobby will support the government’s confrontational stance is clearly in doubt.

And so the direction less situation continues with a series of provocation adding to the crises. If the CIAA Lauda decision is one, the three day impending Nepal bundh will be another regardless of the fact that next week sees yet another Nepal bundh called by ethnic groups and there is the budget session of the parliament that should open soon. There is also, of course, the fact that the private schools were still in a dilemma and finally the Maoists problem itself remains the number one problem.

Adding to the crisis, moreover, is the obvious disintegration of the law and order problem in Kathmandu valley itself. Robberies, street fights, threats and the likes, have, by official admission, increased in the valley. Police officials admit that morale is an all time low. And the government acknowledges the widespread disenchantment among the public through the repeated messages carrying the democracy-under-threat cliché.

Indeed, as is often resorted to the recent trip here of the Chinese Prime Minister was hardly a cashing point for the government. The temptation to divert to foreign policy gains at times of domestic crisis has been denied the government. Chinese Prime Minister came and went but the low-key official treatment suggested reluctance on part of government itself. The significance lies, however, more on Chinese gestures than on Nepal reciprocation.

Clearly, something is about to break or an environment inviting sudden collapse is being wooed. Their own party men are building up the congress crisis. Dissidents in the government party appear to want Girija babu to enforce a split. Girija babu will not do so. And so the dissidence NC will continue, paralyzing the government. The problems will thus be left to settle itself, which is impossible.

RF embassy donates cash, gifts to Biratnagar village school

Biratnagar: The village of Malhanawa in Biratnagar greeted the visiting Russian Federation diplomat, Nokolay Listopadov, with their modest style on Sunday when the diplomat stepped in their huts to hand over a packet of gift to the kids of that village.

Dr. Listopadov, the Counsellor at the RF embassy in Kathmandu came to Biratnagar specially to offer the gifts prepared by his embassy staffs for the poor kids of the said village. To recall, in the month of March this year, Israeli Ambassador Abraham Nir too had visited the same village and had handed over a considerable amount for the benefit of the kids there.

Dr. Listopadov was greeted by the office bearers of the Panchamukhi Bal Bikash Kendra upon arrival at the site of the school which is in essence not more than a cowherd or a stable for animals.

The visiting envoy handed over a sum, which had been collected through the internal donation from among the embassy staff members for the benefit of the school and the children studying there.

On the occasion, Dr. Listopadov appreciated the role of the local NGO more so of its chairman, Mrs. Mira Aryal, who had remained instrumental in creating a sort of awareness among the illiterate women of the village in sending their children to attend the school. The Russian Federation diplomat assured the villagers and the members of the NGO operating the school for the village children stating that in the future also his embassy could be of some support to the school.

The chairman of the RF-Friendship Association, Morang branch, Professor B.R.Pandey appreciated the support of the RF to the school. President of the Press Club, Jiveshwar Lakhey commended the role of the Panchmukhi Kendra and the female members of the NGO for having initiated such programs which directly benefited the rural underprivileged children.

Mrs. Mira Aryal, the chairman of the Kendra gave the salient features of the school and sought support from various organizations in their bid to construct a new concrete structure for the school. According to Mrs. Aryal, the money thus received as donation from the Israel embassy and the Russian Federation would be used to buy bricks and cement needed for the erection of the school. The municipality has already allotted a small strip of land for the school.

The chief editor of the Telegraph had coordinated the whole affair.

RF is flexible towards NMD says RF diplomat

Biratnagar: The visiting Russian Federation diplomat, Dr. Nikolay Listopadov has said that his country’s approach towards the new American proposal-the NMD- is not rigid.

"We have exhibited our flexibility towards this NMD proposal and that we are at the moment in ‘consultation process’.

Dr. Listopadov made these remarks talking to a select group of media men here at the Hotel Xenial last Saturday evening. Elaborating the Russian Federation position regarding the New Missile Defence scheme advanced recently by the BUsh administration, Dr. Listopadov said: " Neither we reject it, nor have accepted as yet. However, after a series of consultations with the Americans, we will come out with our views on the matter".

To queries of the media men, the Russian envoy hinted that the "NMD demanded a change in its overall approach so that it becomes acceptable to all". Commenting on Indian support to the NMD, Dr. Listopadov made it apparently clear that since the times have changed so it is only but natural that we differ on certain matters of global interest.

To recall, India has already hinted the United States that it is not averse to their new proposal that is the NMD.

However, Indian foreign policy experts of the stature of J.N.Dixit have said that India’s ready acceptance to the NMD scheme has only surprised many brains in India. He however, has forwarded his remarks suggesting the Indian establishment to remain ’cautious’ to the US proposal.

Notably, since the visit of President Bill Clinton to India last year, Indian establishment apparently prefers not to annoy the United States for obvious reasons. However, India’s "relations" with the Russian Federation continues to be excellent.

Nepalese intellectuals wonder as to how the Indian establishment could "satisfy" the two super powers concurrently on issues of the sort of the NMD where the RF has yet to come to terms with the US.

China and Pakistan have out rightly rejected the NMD saying that it would act like a catalyst for the proliferation of nuclear arms race in the region and the world.

Nepal, the sick country in South Asia, has perhaps even not heard of this US proposal for obvious reasons.

The branch office of the Telegraph weekly in Biratnagar had organized the press gathering.

Impending three-day bundh might invite mild intervention!

Kathmandu: The Lauda investigating authority, the CIAA, is yet to take its final decisions. Naturally all eyes were towards the CIAA now. More or less it appears that the national politics will remain stagnant for a few days more.

However, the CIAA sources though were tight lipped at the moment, yet high placed sources in government maintain that Premier Koirala’s blunt letter addressed to the CIAA in response to their earlier letter has remained far from satisfactory and hence the authority is "all set to send yet another strong worded letter to the Prime Minister seeking more clarifications on the involvement of his cabinet on the procurement of the Lauda air". The CIAA will, say sources, finalize its impending procedures to be taken in regard of the Lauda scandal by the end of this week. This might include summoning of the Prime Minister for face to face interrogation or at least a strong worded letter from the authority awaits the office of the Prime Minister.

Understandably, the entire Nepali administration is in a fix and is anxiously waiting for the next moves of the CIAA as its final decision would facilitate the smooth functioning of the institutions under Koirala government.

This notwithstanding, the UML and its allies are on the move to bag a total and grand success in their already declared and much publicized three days Nepal bundh. Corner meetings, cycle and motor cycle rallies are being organized to create awareness among the less interested population about the Prime Minister’s alleged involvement in the Lauda scam and the raison d’être of the bundh. Fortunately or unfortunately, the rest of the Communist factions, save the ML led by Bamdev Gautam, too have joined the UML and its allies and have tentatively formed a joint alliance for the ouster of Prime Minister Koirala.

"We expect that the impending bundh will force Koirala to resign", said a UML activist to this scribe."We hope that this bundh will affect the normal international flights for three consecutive days", added yet another Communist veteran. Imaginably, the bundh that begins this Sunday would be more chaotic anddangerous as well compared to previous bundhs witnessed by this ever-beleaguered country.

This notwithstanding, Koirala sources in Baluatar say that Koirala will not resign under threat but would rather prefer to throw the nation to yet another polls come the budget session. Reacting to such comments from the Koirala quarters, the sponsors of the bundh claim that Koirala’s days were numbered. They expect that the budget session would be more chaotic than the previous session which ended miserably.

Be that as it may, whether the three-day bundh fulfils the desire of the UML and its allies or not remains yet uncertain. However, what is for sure is that this bundh would be a chaotic and dangerous one, which amply possesses the potential for a mild intervention from a very powerful quarter.

Telegraph adds: UML newspapers claim that the impending bundh sponsored by their party enjoys support from the Korean and Japan embassy as well. Sounds interesting.

Regulation of Open Border with India Essential

Birgunj, April May 18. The Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) organized a one-day seminar on "Nepal-India Open Border: Positive and Negative Aspects" in close cooperation with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES).

Working papers related to the said theme was presented by Dr. Vidya Bir Singh Kansakar, Chairman, Central Department of Geography, Tribhuvan University. The basic objectives of the seminar, being conducted in series, were to collect feed-backs on both positive and negative aspects of open border syndrome and furnish appropriate measures to control negative aspects, such as cross border smuggling, drug peddling, girl trafficking, terrorism and other anti-social aspects while promoting mutuality of interests as well as healthy social, economic and cultural cooperation between the people of Nepal and India.

Among the three options, such as sealing of the long and porous border, regulating the border and maintaining status quo, consensus emerged in the proper management of border through proper regulatory frameworks. Participants also viewed that before the management of border, the problem of citizenship of the people of Terai must be solved, ID card for all the cross border visitors must be introduced including the registration of their names and addresses, the purpose of visit and the location of their activities.

Participants attending the one-day seminar were from the sectors such as, for example, security, revenue, immigration, district administration, elected representatives, business community, representatives of all the major political parties, lawyers, etc. The IFA had organized similar types of interaction programs in Nepalgunj and very recently in Biratnagar.

The last round of interaction program will take place in Kathmandu next month, revealed the organizers.

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