Say no to B.B.Thapa

Rumors are in Kathmandu air that the out-dated economist who is not only a failed diplomat is again being brought to the same post of the country's foreign minister wherein he has failed miserably in the not too distant past. In effect it was this over garrulous good-for-nothing envoy who contributed much in damaging Nepal-Bhutan ties or else the relations could have been brought to track. It was this diplomat who happened to be the Nepalese Ambassador to Bhutan for years and years but could not break the ice in between the two estranged neighbors on matters pertaining to the refugee issue. Albeit, as and when this gentleman visited Thimpu, he was enticed by the other side to the extent that he at times gave the impression that his own country should be held responsible for all that had happened in between the two countries since the influx of the refugees began in 1990.

In a much more elevated political capacity he was allowed to settle the score with Bhutan but every time he was told to do so he returned empty handed but provided the country men with the impression that every thing would be alright in a month or so. However, the fact is that the Bhutanese side demoralized this country much exploiting from his immature diplomatic acumen as and when he has been told to negotiate with Bhutan.

It is this namesake diplomatic personality whose five-year term in India resulted nothing in favor of this country. How he served in India as Nepal's Ambassador could best be explained from the fact that India went extra miles in "recognizing" Dr. Thapa's contributions in taking Nepal-India bilateral relations to a height which no body knows in Nepal. Which height and what height best known to the recipient of the words of appreciation and the side which offered this appreciation. Sounds intriguing indeed.

More recently, Dr. Thapa's presence in the last BIMST-EC meeting held in Phuket, Thailand, too remained a faux pas claimed some at the ministry he himself headed that time. The Phuket meeting should have been best utilized by Nepal's representative for the country's benefits, however, Dr. Thapa returned Kathmandu all in a jovial mood as if he were the one who dominated the entire session of the said meeting and that none could match his performance. The fact is that he went there and attended many a photo sessions and then returned only to invite wrath from some ministries back home for his exceeding the ministerial limits.

Save a few who could have benefited personally from Dr. Thapa's post at the foreign ministry, rest of the intellectuals and the men in the Nepali academic consider Dr. Thapa as good as a dead horse the flogging of which carried no meaning.

With due respect to Dr. Thapa, a man who was some thing in the early sixties and did contribute to the gains of his country, we would wish that this personality be left where he is at the moment. Let he not be pressed to occupy the post which he in no way deserved. But then the fact is that Dr. Thapa is a man who could swing the Nepali power-centers the way he desired. For example, he was posted as Nepal's Ambassador to the United States. As the luck would have it, his qualified wife got transferred to a WHO Delhi post and look how Dr. Thapa managed his Ambassadorial post to continue even in Delhi. This is not the end of the story. Upon completion of his tenure in Delhi, a really providential Thapa got himself elevated to the ranks of Ambassador At Large, a post he in effect did not ought to have. As if this were not enough, he got yet another bumper prize in the form of being taken to the foreign ministerial post in the same ministry.

His diplomatic accomplishments are at best cipher but then yet he is going up and up. No body knows why the luck is favoring this outdated economist only? The fact is that we have some Nepalese who could far outshine Dr. Thapa in diplomatic coursework but they are not asked for or remain neglected by the power-centers. Why? Is Dr. Thapa a charismatic personality? He is not! He is a very simple man who needs rest now. If speaking English language fluently is made a criteria for such posts then we have several English language editors who in no way appear less fluent in the language that Dr. Thapa speaks.

Let the rumors of him being brought to FM post be a rumor only. There should be a search for some more dynamic and less loquacious personality who could negotiate with others on an equal footing basis. No more chance to chatty gentlemen.

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