Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Politics ignores Susta tears

Could be a mere conjecture indeed but then the fact is that as and when Nepal as a nation-state becomes unstable and its politics remains in fluidity, neighboring India prefers more often than not to exploit this Nepali weaknesses. The fact is also that when these do happen and the Indian exploitation grows to a visible extent, Nepali leaders including the establishment in Singh durbar exhibit their indifference towards such "arm-twisting" by the "traditional" friend across the border. The repetition of such arm-twisting forces Nepali intellectuals, mainly in the academic sector, to understand that India remains ever alert in cashing in upon from such recurrences in Nepali politics in order to grab the opportunity.

It is not for nothing that this time around, when the Nepali leaders and the Palace are at loggerheads and the country has become politically unstable and pretty weak, Nepal's "age-old" friend either by design or otherwise has encroached upon Nepali landmass in the Susta area situated in Nawalparasi district. Experts say that the encroachment is to the tune of thousands of hectares of land that originally and yet should belong to Nepal.

The tragedy does not end here.

The crude reality is that the Indian nationals who have supposedly occupied Nepali landmass have done so well with the overt and covert support of the Indian armed forces posted in that area.

Nepali politics remains averse to such intrusions and encroachments by the nationals of the other side for unexplainable reasons.

At a time when the Nepali politics should have centered on this painful event as a matter of priority, the fact is that not even a single Nepali politician deem it necessary to raise this issue and make slogans against such a forceful encroachment. This is puzzling.

Should this mean that they, read the Nepali politicians, currently in agitation do not care if any alien nation forcefully occupied their land and would allow pleasingly and gleefully to take the land defying all the established norms of the conduct in between two nations? ? If the Nepali politicians belong to Nepali blood, then why this blood has become a passive one? Is the blood a frozen one at the moment for mysterious reasons?

Only last week a team of border experts traveled to the scene wherein Nepali landmass stood grossly encroached upon. The group that comprised of various noted personalities including a historian Dr. Surendra K.C., said that the situation in the Susta area is simply appalling and the group saw no presence of either the establishment or the protests from the local leaders.

The team that has just arrived Kathmandu upon assessing the Susta encroachment issue apparently has appealed all the sensible and responsible leaders, if any, to rise up to the occasion and take up the matter seriously as it involved nation's sentimental attachment.

Let's forget for some time that we have a constitutional crisis. Let's even forget for a moment that the King and the political leaders were at loggerheads with each other. We will sort out our differences later. But the SUSTA land-grab issue is of our national pride. Let's think on this seriously or else it would be too late even to repent. Let the country's politics not ignore this national issue. We hope that Nepali leaders will understand the gravity of the situation and act accordingly.

Korea's phenomenal growth

The Republic of Korea has pretty good and valid reasons to take pride in whatever she as a nation-state has accomplished or for that matter achieved today after its sad past dating back to the past five decades of the horrible war that most unfortunately not only ruined the nation but also torn apart the Korean landmass into two halves. The pain of separation yet persists in the minds of the generation that saw the partition and saw for themselves as to what it means when two families are separated here and there.

Practically a war devastated country as it was, the Korea of today is a proud nation for all that she has been able to show to the world, near and far, friends and enemies alike, that given dedication attached with logic, sense of intense patriotism and a feeling of enthusiasm to develop its own motherland, no force on earth can hold back the determination come what may. Today's Korea is a self-motivated and a pulsating country equipped with all the denominators and indicators that ascertain a nation, let's say economy wise, is not a free-gift of the highly developed West who were indeed Korea's intimate partners. What Korea has gained today is by the dint of her own Himalayan efforts and strong resolve. It is this firm pledge of the Seoul's political leadership, progress-oriented bureaucrats and the zeal of each and every Korean national, wherever they might be, to see their landmass turning into a world-class economy, which has made today's what the Koreans call a "dynamic Korea". It is their collective uninterrupted hard work that Korea today can boast of its own achievements amongst her friendly neighbors and albeit in the comity of nations. That Korean economy is a strong and forward-looking economy got reflected in the manner the Koreans managed to get rid of the last financial crisis. The landing from the financial crisis was not only safe but also a lesson to be learnt from the crisis. The quick recovery from the said financial crisis does amply speak of the Korean managerial skills in the economic sector and indeed the managerial skills of the top leadership that devised schemes to get out of what was almost near to an economic catastrophe in strict sense of the term.

The recent declaration of President Roh in New York, September 15, that his country would double the amount to the developing countries by 2009 as assistance is yet another good news for countries like Nepal. However, let's ask for expertise, technological know-how and mechanisms on how to proceed for development instead of asking money. The idea should be to become self-reliant one.

Korea is a highly developed Asian nation, which one could see through one's own eyes. Nothing is artificial. Korea's friends in Asia can take pride of these Korean highflying and outstanding accomplishments. A country with meager or even no resources has shown to the world that given the passion to develop and advancement, one can do so and that too quite professionally. Nepal as an intimate friend of Korea has reasons to exult over Korea's miraculous economic and technological progress and can learn so many things from Korea if she so desires and the other camp wishes to extend the needed support. Nepal believes that a highly developed Korea is in the larger interest of all the Asian countries, especially those falling in South Asia. We believe that a strong and well off Korea can be of incredible support to these nations at times of need. That Nepal and Korea are closer to each other becomes clear from the fact that it is China's landmass, a common neighbor of the both countries that separates us from one another. This close proximity has got to be exploited for furtherance of bilateral and other ties as well for our mutual benefits. The idea of having direct air links soon with each other could well be a very good beginning. However, it is sad that no efforts in this regard appear to have been taken by the Nepali side though the landing agreements in between the two have presumably been finalized a couple of months back itself.

Korea has technology. Korea has all the potentials and a sense of desire as well to extend tangible support to the nations in its neighborhood and beyond. Take for example, the LG electronics and the Hyundai motors. These two different identities and entities have brought about a sort of revolution in Korea whose positive after effects could be felt in the entire world. We the Asians can seek the transfer of technology, as India and Pakistan have already done so, as a matter of friendly gesture from them. As a matter of fact, Nepal does not come in the priority of Republic of Korea, which is in no way their mistake. It is the weakness of Kathmandu's political leadership that they have failed to attract the attention of such a country that today is the talk of the world, talking in terms of development in the economic and the IT sector. Nepal as a country should waste no time in initiating meaningful contacts with Korea which, we hope, if approached politely and diplomatically would not mind to come forward in supporting Nepal in her developmental efforts, to begin with the road-construction.

Looking at the tremendous progress achieved by Korea during these years one is forced to conclude that the Koreans have not slept for a night since the war. The Koreans apparently invested their entire energy and endeavors in building their own country rather than killing time and energy in fruitless talks. Certainly, from the length and the breadth of the country, Korea is one and the unity among the Koreans at least in building the nation is remarkable to be learnt by many. The entire country is connected through railroads, air and blacktopped roads. That Korea is a vast economy now could be felt the moment one lands at the Korean land either by rail or by air.

Finally, Korean leadership and the men who contributed their efforts in building the war torn nation a booming economy deserve deep appreciation. Korean economy has all the potentials to attain even greater and newer heights. Nepal as a smaller nation should try to gain from Korea's advanced technological gains over the years. To do so, our diplomats have got to awake from the slumber and effect certain changes in policies that have so far forced Nepal to look towards the developed west and neglect the Asian economic tigers or giants which are comparatively closer to us geographically speaking. Korea could be classic example for Nepal to learn how progress is made and what were the preconditions that allows countries to march towards progress.

Kudos to Korean leadership whose hard labor over the past decades made Korea a country that can now compete any country in the world on any count. Korean speed of development is remarkable which hopefully will increase more in the coming years.

Finally, on behalf of the Nepalese population we extend our best wishes to the Korean people, and the government on their national day celebrations. Long live Nepal-Korea friendship.