Wednesday, September 28, 2005

In-depth analysis:
All eyes on the King!

Kathmandu: The King's resounding success in highlighting the mass support to which his actions are based in as critical a local as Katmandu valley has not gone unseen in the international community. Locally, its impact on the agitation has resulted in gradual diminishing numbers which is being attempted to be dismissed as a result of the agitating parties' effort to take the agitation to the districts.

As much as the agitators could want to waive the throngs that greeted the King as manufactured, the fact is that the people look to the King for a solution which the parties' would want the King to deny. Most likely the King will follow up on his regional tours with one to Pokhara early October next month where the results are likely to be equally resounding. This much change is expected by time he returns. He returns on the Fulpati day October 10.

As much as these are significant developments its results on the body politic is only likely to be equally impactual. Already Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala has made a casual retreat from active politics on grounds of health and flipped the pro-India republican lobby to the congress apex. The UML has become equally vociferous in its support for republicanism. Casual reports calculatedly leaked to the media speak of the Maoists sharing rostrum with the local party workers where the Maoists use the opportunity to lambaste the agitating parties for deserting the grassroots. It is another matter that the Maoists had over the years of their "people's war" encouraged this desertion.

Rumor has it that this calculated withdrawal will allow Girija Prasad Koirala a casual retreat to escape the reach of the anti-corruption commission and foster the congress closer ties with New Delhi in accordance to the Delhi agreement which prompted the change in the Maoists' standpoints. A confident New Delhi boosted by Western support will now be directing the "democracy" struggle in Nepal with arrogance, it is said.

What matters is the State's response. All eyes turn towards the King therefore.

Rumors predict change!

Kathmandu: Nepali politics continues to be in a confused state.

Contradictory statements are being made by different political quarters on the likelihood of the demise of the 1990 constitution now in force.

Some high-flying politicos presume that the 1990 constitution is being replaced soon by the monarch and in lieu a new constitution is being drafted by the palace that suits to its role in the now changed scheme of things in the country.

Surya Bahadur Thapa, the chairman of the Rastriya Janshakti Party Monday declared that the 1990 constitution could be described as one of the best constitutions in the world and thus there was no need for having an altogether new constitution.

"Through the effective use of the stipulations contained therein the 1990 constitution, each and every problem confronting the country can be resolved", Thapa beamingly said.

This means that Mr. Thapa differs with those who would want a new constitution to be drafted in order to accommodate the legitimate grievances of the people and those of the Maoists as well. But then does it mean that Thapa too has heard the rumors that a new constitution is being drafted ? Why Thapa all of a sudden begins talking of the constitution? Who else better knows than Thapa, a conspiratorial brain by all account.

In addition to this, former Chief Justice, Bishwa Nath Upadhyaya too holds that the constitution he drafted primarily could cure all the ailments currently plaguing the country.

However, the UML leader Madhav Nepal thinks it differently.

He says that the nation needed entirely a new constitution but then he suggests that the new draft of the said constitution could well be made by the support of the constitution now in force.

This is intriguing theory indeed. Nevertheless, former Chief justice too appears not to be in a mood to buy Mr. Nepal's theory. " Whether the people too should be taken into confidence or simply the leaders will decide on the drafting of a new constitution on the basis of the present constitution? I am confused, adds Justice Upadhyaya. This means he is also against the dismantlement of the constitution that he drafted primarily.

Well, when he says that 1990 constitution could well be the base of the new constitution, how could then the new constitution would satisfy those who talk against the institution of the monarchy when the 1990 constitution clearly maintains that a few standard practices and institutions can in no way be altered. These were unalterable provisions as per the preamble of the 1990 constitution.

This implies to the institution of the monarchy and of multi-party system, which have come in the domain of criticism of late.

The other day, the newly appointed GS of the Nepali Congress, Ram Chandra Poudel, too hinted that he have had indications that the monarch might scrap the constitution and could impose yet another one of his liking.

To come to the point, let's see how the matter stands.

Primarily, the Maoists (who apparently need a safe landing hopefully) not only reject the 1990 constitution but also would wish that the democratic system goes to the dogs. This means that the rebels would neither favor this constitution nor would wish to see the system surviving.

The other point that the rebels have made it clear in the recent days is that they "don't believe" in the restoration of the parliament scheme as accepted tentatively by the seven party alliances under Girija's pressure. This clearly means that they will go against the restoration of the parliament if by chance it gets a new lease of life.

And very recently, Dr. Shashanka Koirala, the younger son of late B.P.Koirala, now a congress elected CC member emphatically says that the Maoists no more emphasize on their republican agenda.

Dr. Koirala naturally says this after his fresh meetings with the Maoist leaders presumably in Delhi where he was sent to have dialogues with the rebels.

If junior Koirala's blunt claim were to be believed then what comes to the mind of the analysts is that the Maoists presumably would not mind if this constitution is dismissed once and for all and in lieu an "interim" arrangement comes into vogue that facilitated their smooth entry into the system through the conduct of elections at a later stage.

But which cards are under the sleeve of the monarch in order to satisfy both the Maoists and the political parties is very difficult to understand. Nevertheless, what is for sure is that as the rumors suggest and have spread like a wild fire, the stagnant politics will change soon.

Let's presume for a moment that the King takes a bold step without disturbing the prevailing system with a hope to accommodate the rebels and the political parties and claimed that this he did in the name of the country and for the restoration of permanent peace, will the political paraphernalia and the international community pleasingly accept such a move? This is important indeed.

Moreover, how the rebels would react to such a move too becomes significant. So far the insurgents have not commented on the rumors pertaining to the possibility of the promulgation of an "interim" constitution.

How the politics will take turn in the coming days will have to be carefully observed.

United Nations mediator role should be summarily rejected

-Mohan Gopal Khetan, Industrialist, Nepal

Kathmandu: United Nations or no United Nations in the resolution of the Nepali conflict has become a matter of talk and at times intense debate among the Nepali academia and the business sector who of late have begun taking due interest in the country's issues that definitely affect them very badly.

Nepali scholars of various shades appear sharply divided on whether or not the UN be allowed to facilitate/mediate/manage in a conflict that is solely a homegrown one.

While a commanding section of the Nepali society vigorously demands the UN intervention as it considers that the UN could well be a neutral and impartial authority to settle the Nepali discord, the other strongly and with equal force discards this contention taking into accounts the past dismal performances of the UN system as and when this world body has ventured to mediate on such an affair in various parts of the world. Strong argument undoubtedly.

Not very astonishingly then, Comrade Prachanda-the top hat of the Maoists' insurgency too has pinned high hopes on the UN's possible mediation efforts to settle his party's disputes with what he calls "old regime". Notably, the European community apparently backs Prachanda's views and some Nepali politicians too subscribe to Prachanda's views for a multiplicity of political reasons.

However, Nepal's noted industrial wizard, Mr. Mohan Gopal Khetan, a non-political personality indeed but then who concurrently more often than NOT prefers to dominate the media headlines through his political considerations and analyses opines that "it is all rubbish".

"The United Nations system is a world body undeniably but then its past records does speak volumes of its abject failures in resolving the conflicts as and when the body has dared to intervene into the resolution of the conflicts". Examples galore, Khetan declares.

Sri Lankan conflict, for example, adds Khetan, a classic example of UN's total collapse. If this were any indication, there was no use and utility of the UN system being invited to reconcile the Nepali conflict.

"The very establishment which is surviving through the kind courtesy of the donations from the United States and Japan and some other affluent countries of the globe and the world body which has failed in keeping its own house in order can in no way be a suitable choice for Nepal contrary to what is being claimed by the proponents of the idea that UN be told to mediate", continues Khetan.

In the same vein, Khetan concludes that the UN system is a corporation of officials who have been serving there not by theirs having "adequate and needed capabilities" that are demanded of them but have entered the system through the use of "source and force" plus with the countries' allotted quotas.

"Those who donate hefty amounts to the coffer of the UN are naturally respected and honored and for the rest, the UN has only "lip service", Khetan goes on to say.

The fact is that the UN, Khetan opines, is to serve the benefit of the members comprising the Security Council and of those donors who have kept alive the institution.

My judgment is, continues Khetan, the UN body's size should be cut-down as soon as possible in order to save money that could be diverted to the needy ones in the globe. Khetan considers UN mainly as a paper factory wherein only documentation works are accomplished which neither has any importance nor relevance in today's context.

"As an alternative, regional groupings be allowed to emerge who should be entrusted to solve the regional issues on their own", Khetan pushes his idea.

Talking on the very secret reason why the Nepali establishment would have rejected the UN mediation efforts, Khetan forwards his own elucidation.

"Not so many people in Nepal and around the world know as to why Nepal rejects the UN offer of its good offices. I presume that Lakhdar Brahmi, the Kofi Annan's special messenger who was recently in Delhi must have been told straight by the Indian establishment that India would object UN's presence in Nepal for settling the Maoists issue". "Don't eye on Nepal", is what the Indians should have said Brahmi.

India did so presumably to avoid its own embarrassment as UN"s Nepal entry would set a precedence for her own Kashmir imbroglio and scores of issues related to insurgencies in India itself that might facilitate the UN intervention in settling Indian disputes.

Talking on the integrity as such of the world body, Khetan said that the Secretary General of the world body, Kofi Annan, who was himself involved in an earthshaking scandal, how can he be trusted and allowed to mediate in an affair that does not at all demand third party mediation?

After the "food" scandal, Annan should have resigned but he did not do so, Khetan said.

Dwelling on the present state of the country, Khetan opines that it was the tireless efforts of King Prithivi Narayan –the Great that provided a shape to Nepal as a nation-state. "In the process the late King respected and honored the various ethnic tribes and groups and settled them in various places and maintained communal harmony and thereby consolidated the nation's integrity. King Prithivi Narayan was a great visionary leader in his own right.

Later King Mahendra used his own concept and vision for peace which allowed the country to become stable and manage a status of its own sort and popularity in the comity of nations.

The ruling monarch is having difficult times for himself, as political parties are not supporting him in his nation-building endeavors.

"He has to clear the back-log and bring the country to a shape that was so badly tattered by the successive governments in the past", Khetan went on to say.

Let me make one thing clear, said Khetan, if the King is cornered further and is pushed to the wall, the state might ultimately fail which would be a disaster for the country.

The King, according to Khetan, has taken high stakes in the name of the country and that unless he is allowed to transform his concept and vision in to reality, the country will remain where it is at the moment now.

"Ultimately it is the people who will benefit from the King's initiatives that is geared towards nation's overall development", Khetan adds.

Khetan forwards a piece of modest suggestion to the King as well. He says, "Handle the situation carefully by taking the people in confidence".

Maoists open arms factories in India

Kathmandu: Quoting the Asian Age, AKI, Italy reports that the Naxalite rebels in the Indian state of Bihar are now building small arms factories, providing references to the state security services.

The news report further claims that the traditional channels for refurbishment of arms for the Naxalites have until now been Nepal's Maoist rebels, who control large tracts of the country, or internal suppliers who control the black market in illegal weapons in Bihar and neighboring states.

Devise suitable mechanism to restore peace -Analysts

Kathmandu: The Maoists announce ceasefire.

The political paraphernalia welcomes the Maoists fresh political overtures towards the establishment of peace even if it were of a short duration.

The government rejects the Maoists offer citing various plausible and concurrently illogical reasons, which facilitates the image of the establishment to take a nosedive.

The government is being criticized scathingly for its indifference shown towards the Maoists announcement by the political creatures and laymen alike.

The government appears to have been amply briefed by the Royal Nepal Army of the internal nitty-gritty's of the ceasefire announcement.

Official quarters in Kathmandu presume that the Maoists announced truce only to embarrass the government and make the world believe that Nepal stood against peace and that the establishment in Kathmandu preferred to go on in for an all out war with the rebels.

Yet another contention of the government has been that why it should respond and reciprocate to such a ceasefire announcement when it has not come to it straight. The logic appears to be a valid one.

"The ceasefire from the rebel side appears to have come more for the political parties in lieu of the latter's kind sentiment being exhibited towards the rebels of late", say government authorities.

"This announcement will now allow the political representatives to dwell in their own constituencies which they voluntarily abandoned for years and years", add informed sources.

However, the fact is that the parties appear to be closer to the Maoists than ever before for some mysterious reasons.

Is it a calculated strategy of the political parties to threaten the King or pressurize him by exhibiting their proximity with the rebels? Question also could be asked whether the rebels were serious this time or were just buying time for understandable reasons? Who knows what is being cooked up? Equally interesting is to note as to how all of a sudden the political parties became friends of the rebels given it is the cadres of these very political entities whom the rebels have made their fatal targets in the recent years?

This makes the analysts to believe that some thing somewhere is being cooked up to bring about a change in the country's otherwise stagnant politics.

But how to guarantee that the rebels have now fully sided with the political parties?

If one were to recall, the Maoists possess the distinction of having swung the country's politics in a manner that suited them most at any given interval of time in the recent years.

By the same token, let's not rule out the possibility that the rebels who can pose that they were with the parties could well be equally closer to the King and could be forwarding their own bargaining chips for the perusal of the monarch.

Having said that, analysts at this weekly should have reciprocated the ceasefire announcement at least to avoid and avert adverse criticisms. The authorities in Singh Durbar should try to win the hearts of the rebels and bring them to the table. How this should be done or peace restored should be a matter to be charted by the authorities of the establishment.

Politics never moves straight. It prefers to move in a topsy-turvy manner.

After all, peace must be given priority say analysts and urge both the conflicting parties to devise certain mechanisms that restores peace in a permanent basis.

Republic of Korea intends to support Nepal in a significant way

-Ambassador Park Sang-hoon

Kathmandu: The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Nepal, Mr. Park Sang-hoon has acknowledged that "The visit of Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Parash Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Crown Princess Himani Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah was a milestone in the bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Nepal and the ROK"

These interpretations he made while granting a special dialogue to this weekly's editor on the eve of Korea's national day, October 3.

Talking on Korean grants being provided to Nepal, Ambassador Park made it abundantly clear that his country's assistance were mainly "focused on the areas where it has comparative advantages such as the promotion of human resources development and bridging the digital divide in order to transfer appropriate technology that we have acquired during our development process".

Hinting that some sound and significant assistance to Nepal were already in the pipeline, the Ambassador opined " the Korean government is discussing some projects with the Nepalese government, for which it could provide assistance in the near future".

Responding to a query on how his country justified the presence of foreign military forces in his territory, the Ambassador quickly defended by saying that, "it has worked as a “stabilizing force” in crafting Northeast Asian Security arrangements and as a “balancer” which could prevent destabilizing rivalry among regional powers and perhaps that should have been the reason as to why the regional powers too have favored the role of the ROK-U.S alliance.

To an inquiry on the state of democratic system in his country, the Ambassador beamingly declared that "Sovereignty was vested in the people, the source of all state authority and that “industrialization” in the 1960s and 70s have had created a broad socio-economic basis for the subsequent growth of democracy in Korea. By implication, the Ambassador hinted that the system had already been consolidated there.

Similarly, talking on the possibility of the unification of the two Koreas, the Ambassador maintained that a scheme towards this end could be "pursued through continued economic cooperation, dialogues, confidence-building and mutual exchanges in various areas" which finally could lead from the "de facto" to "de jure" unification.

The full text of the special interview with Ambassador Park on a range of bilateral and international issues are as follows -ed.

ENBREF:

Nepali ministers in fertilizer scam: India to probe

Kathmandu: Following a disclosure by a broad sheet daily newspaper in Nepal a plan to smuggle 20,000 metric tones of fertilizer from India through small checkpoints on the Bihar-Nepal border over the next two months and sell it at double the price in Nepal, Indian government has decided to probe the scam.

The newspaper claimed this state sponsored smuggling in which three high flying ministers are supposed to be involved later got foiled with Commission to Investigate Abuse of Authority (CIAA) deciding to act on complaints by some rival fertilizer importers.

The daily claimed that Home Minister Dan Bahadur Shahi, Agriculture Minister Badri Prasad Mandal and Finance Minister Madhukar Shamsher Rana were involved in the scam. The fertilizer was being imported through a company called as Binayak International, owned by a person named Gyanedra Shrestha.

Whereas newspapers close to the government claimed this tale as another India invented strategy to tarnish the image of present government by using local media.

US urges peaceful political solution

Kathmandu: Addressing the Heritage Foundation in Washington, State Department Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs Donald Camp said that the US supports freedom and democracy in Nepal and is urging King Gyanendra and the political parties to form a democratic framework to deal with the Maoist insurgency. Camp said Nepal is at “a crossroads now,” with the democratic process at a standstill since the king dismissed the parliament in February, and the Maoist insurgency now fueled by demonstrations against the King.

Although the Maoist rebels announced a ceasefire three weeks ago and asked for United Nations mediation, Camp said the Maoists will not be seen as “a legitimate political force in Nepal unless they give up violence.”

Speaking on the occasion Barun Mitra, director of the Liberty Institute in Delhi, India, said the situation in Nepal affects not only India but the whole South Asian region. Mitra said the Maoist insurgency has encouraged similar insurgencies in India.  However, he said India is constrained in its response because of its open border with Nepal and the presence of an estimated 8 million expatriate Nepalese workers in India and 60,000 Nepali Gurkhas in the India Army.

Japanese aid

Kathmandu: The government of Japan has announced a half-a-million dollar grant to help the country in implementing projects relating to food quality management and poverty alleviation.

The first project is to receive a US$ 520,000 grant under which a central laboratory for Food Quality Management Project would be constructed and also to procure some instruments.

The second project "Increasing Role of Potato in Poverty Alleviation of Nepal" amounting to USD 43,000 will be implemented by the National Potato Development Programme of the Department of Agriculture.

OPEC Fund

Kathmandu: The OPEC Fund for International Development approved a grant of US$350,000 in support of an initiative that aims at providing safe drinking water and sanitation facilities to four impoverished districts of Nepal. Created by the United Nation’s Children's Fund (UNICEF), the scheme is expected to reduce the incidence of water-related diseases and raise the overall quality of life for some 70,000 men, women and children.