We all are with you America!

It has been rightly said that if the Almighty wishes to punish a person He first makes him mad and facilitates the way for his or her destruction later. Indeed, the person or the groups of persons who exhibited their sheer madness and bombarded the New York city and the Pentagon in Washington last Tuesday morning did so only to invite wrath not only from the country which had to face the brunt but from all peace-loving nations of the world. The terrorists engaged in this villainous-heinous crime must be brought to book at the earliest and all the democratic forces in the globe must summarily condemn such acts. It is high time that all the peace-loving countries of the world join hands with the United States of America and work together in order to wipe out this menace of terrorism once and for all. Acts of terrorism whether they are committed in the United States or for that matter in any part of the globe should be considered to be the crime against the entire humanity for such dastardly acts take hundreds and thousands of precious and innocent lives. Considering the Himalayan dimension of the loss of lives and the damage of properties in billions and billions in the United States due to the unpardonable acts of a bunch of fickle-minded fanatics, it is expressly also time to forge an all embracing consensus in and among the civilized States of the world in order to arrive at a common formulae-technique that takes due care of all the terrorists and their acts of terrorism henceforth.

No person or for that matter group possess the right to kill innocent people through the use of terror tactics. More over no one should be allowed to go fanatic of the sort witnessed in the deplorable blasts of last Tuesday.

While our hearts go to those who lost their precious lives in the hair-raising incident, we also wish to endorse the US decision to go in for a sort of war against the perpetrators of the said ghastly incident. We also highly appreciate the strong desire, in the meantime, exhibited by the allies of the United States in being of tangible support in tracing and penalizing the culprits of the Tuesday's blasts in the United States.

We now therefore encourage the United States and its allies plus the democratic world to come closer in combating this menace so that the world leaves in peace. The task will be not that easy. However, timely taken penal actions against the insane people will definitely be taken as a lesson by those who were engaged in such criminal acts and also to those who encourage such horrendous and deplorable acts to happen. However, all concerned ones should take utmost care while initiating penal actions against these mean creatures so that innocent civilians do not become the victims of such would be drastic measures.

The Nepalese population leaving at the moment in America would do well if they too share the moments of sorrow that has so suddenly befallen on friendly people and the government of the United States of America.

We all are with you America!

The impact felt in Nepal is real

The horrendous crime committed by a set of terrorists last Tuesday in America has definitely alerted all the peace-loving population of the world. This sad and ghastly incident which forced the Americans to declare a sort of war against the terrorists will perhaps have its visible impact one way or the other in the contemporary Nepalese politics too. To what extent it will find its place in the politics of the nation is hard to calculate, however, what could be best predicted at this preliminary stage is that the government led by Deuba will henceforth deal with the Maoists insurgency in a firm manner. Indications to this effect have already become visible from the security arrangements and the needed management made by the Deuba setup to face any eventualities arising out of possible conflicts with the insurgents in the future. The sudden spurt seen in the tightening up of the security system practically at all the places, more so in the capital district, gives an indication that the government under Deuba will go any length in maintaining law and order system in the country. The recent ban imposed by the government on holding of large gatherings, demonstrations and gheraoe-bunds and the like affairs by political paraphernalia of the nation for a month or so amply hints that the government wishes not to take risks of the possible deterioration of the law and order situation in the country come what may.

However, things might be not that easy for the government to deal with the Maoists in case the talks fail abruptly and the insurgents again take up the arms. Firstly, the government has already recognized the insurgency as a political issue warranting dialogues and in the process the establishment has had at least two round of talks with them. Secondly, the establishment is obliged to look into some of the demands put forth by the Maoists as these speak of people's genuine concerns. Thirdly, the government must remain true to talks to the last minute until the insurgents unilaterally decide to enter into the jungles again.

However, in that case, the government could go in for a sort of war with the insurgents but will have to declare the insurgents as terrorists.

Considering the world mood today, the Maoists would do well in reading the writings on the wall and renounce violence by joining the national mainstream. For they can do a lot for their cause by being in the parliament for which they must win the hearts of the people first. Will they do so?

2.23Nepal-Japan ties in post 1990 days

Japan during the Panchayat period not only endorsed unconditional support to King Birendra's Nepal's peace zone proposal but also favoured the strengthening of the democratic polity in Nepal in post 1990 days. Nepal-Japan ties, thus even grew stronger in the post 1990 days. The relation between the two royal families and peoples of both the countries also became more and more warmer and cordial during this period. Crown Prince Dipendra in 1990 participated in the Coronation Ceremony of Japanese Emperor Akihito, in Tokyo which was participated by 158 states of the world. (Gorkhapatra, Kartik 21, 2047). Prince Dipendra during this visit exchanged views with the Japanese leaders about the bilateral relations between the two countries. In a state banquet arranged by Japanese Prime Minister Tasiki Kaifu in Tokyo, Crown Prince Dipendra reinterated Nepal's strong faith in its relation with Japan. In a program organized by Nepal-Japan Friendship and cultural Association in Kathmandu on the auspicious occasion of Emperor Akihito's coronation ceremony the then Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Arichi stated that Japan was taking keen interest not only in Nepal's economic development but also in the development of cultural relations between the two countries. (Gorkhapatra. Kartik 28, 2047). Nearly after eight months of Crown Prince Dipendra's visit to Japan, the Japanese Finance Minister Riyutaro Hashimoto paid a four day official visit on July 20, 1991 in which he held extensive talks with Nepalese political leaders in power including Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Finance Minister and assured further economic and technical assistance to Nepal in the days to come. (Gorkhapatra. Shrawn 4, 2048 and Kartik 12, 2048). A Japanese Parliamentary Election observation Mission led by the President Keiwa Okuda of Japan Nepal Parliamentarians Friendship League observed the 1991 parliamentary elections of Nepal. (Rai. op. cit., p. 57; Gorkhapatra. Kartik 12, 2048). In the post-1990 days, the political party leaders also visited Japan and strengthened the existing bilateral ties between the two countries. The ex-Prime Minister and NC party President KP Bhattarai along with NC Youth Leader PL Singh paid a ten day official visit in October, 1991 on the invitation of Japanese government. The ex-Prime Minister Bhattarai held extensive talks with the Japanese leaders in power including the Japanese Emperor. (Gorkhapatra. Kartik 12, 2048) which undoubtedly strengthened the relations between the two countries.

The relations between these two countries during the none-month long CPN-UML government of Nepal (1994-1995) remained cordial and warmer. The CPN-UML Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal paid official visit to Japan in July 1995 in which he held extensive talks with Japanese Emperor, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and other leaders about various areas of Nepal-Japan relations. During this period Japan assured Nepal for further cooperation in the field of agriculture including providing irrigational facilities to Nepal and increasing agricultural outputs. (Gorkhapatra. Shrawn 13, 2052). In the NC Prime Minister SB Deuba led coalition government, Foreign Minister Prakash Chandra Lohani paid a three day official visit to Japan in 1995 in which Japan assured Nepal to continue its economic assistance to Nepal in the days to come. (Gorkhapatra. Bhadra 29, 2054). Moreover, during this period the Reiyukai International was given the responsibility of constructing International Buddhist Research Centre in Lumbini which was inaugurated by King Birendra. (Embassy of Japan, Kathamndu, "Major Events in Japan-Nepal Relations: A Chronology," a two page document, Kathmandu, 1996, pp. 1-2.)

During the period of the NC government (1999-2001) led by Prime Minister GP Koirala, Nepal Japan ties became more and more cordial and warmer. During this period, the Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori paid a one-day visit to Nepal which was a first visit of a Japanese Prime Minister to Nepal. This visit became fruitful for Nepal for many reasons. (Ram Kumar Dahal, "Nepal-Japan Sambandha," (Nepal Japan Relations), Rajahaas, a yearly publication of Baneswor Campus, Kathmandu, Year 7, No. 7, 2057, p. 41). In this visit, Japan declared to provide Nepal a cash amount of Rs. 1,14,24,54,264 as assistance to Nepal which would be spent in the construction of primary school in 2nd stage under the Basic and Primary Education Program; and provided scholarships to fifty students to assist Nepal in the field of information technology. Nepal's support for Japan's proposed membership in the extended UN Security Council was also sought and raised by private media. (Gorkhapatra. Bhadra 9 and 10, 2057; Kantipur, Bhadra 9 and 10, 2057; The Rising Nepal. Bhadra 9 & 10, 2057). The relations between these two countries during the three-day rule of King Dipendra (June 2-Jne 4, 2001) remained as usual. The relations between them is becoming more and more warmer and cordial during the period of King Gyanendra (June 4, 2001 onwards). The GP Koirala government and the present NC government led by Sher B. Deuba (July 22, 2001 on wards) have also done much for the sake of improving further relations between the two countries.

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