Collective Spirit A Must

Prem N. Kakkar

THE enthusiasm and commitment with which the first anniversary of the April revolution was marked as Loktantra Day was quite encouraging. It gave the political leaders, the civil society and the people in general an opportunity to evaluate the gains that had been made in the past one year and the shortcomings as well. What was interesting was that the political leaders came up with clear ideas for further steps to be taken in the run up to the constituent assembly (CA) election.

CA polls

The focus in the recent times and on Loktantra Day as well dwelt on the CA elections. The commitment of all is there, but the delay has been quite pressing on the eight political parties that are represented on the interim government. It is true that the transition phase is characterised by many problems. And this is the reason why the date for the CA polls has not been declared so far. In principle, the leaders of the eight political parties had agreed on June 20, but the Election Commission's statement that it needs 110 days to hold the election set in motion the uncertainty.Meanwhile, the meting of the eight political parties, too, has not taken place in recent times to thrash out various issues including, predominantly, the date for the polls. This is quite disconcerting, given that the eight parties want to maintain unity all along. So far there is broad agreement on working together though now and then minor issues do crop up. This is not unusual with parties that have different ideologies. This calls for compromises. They all realise that this is crucial for achieving the objectives set forth.

Herein, it may be important to mention that all the leaders talk of the mandate of the people in high flying rhetoric. Yes, the people had given the mandate by participating in such great numbers during Jana Andolan II, the success of which has led to the present times and the political situation. Even now the focus is on the CA polls as it will elect the representatives to frame a new all-inclusive constitution to take the country forward. In it the dream of a new Nepal is ever present. But on the question of creating a new Nepal, very little information seems to be coming from the leaders concerned. First of all, the need for sincerity must be there among all the parties. To say one thing during a meeting and then go out on an assault later on at mass meetings do not behoove well on their part.In recent times, the blame game, too, is picking up, with mud slinging in full swing. This is not good for the times that the country is passing through. It is true that every person has the right to put forth his or her viewpoints or ideas. This truly calls for discussion. This is a time when new ideas must come up, and the stakeholders must discuss them thoroughly. For the moment, the Maoists have decided to declare a republic from the legislature parliament. At the same time, the CPN-UML wants a referendum to decide the fate of the monarchy.

They are suggestions, but they carry weight. This calls for full debate and discussions. On the issue of monarchy, the Nepali Congress has always maintained that the CA will decide on its fate. Here lies the bone of contention among the parties that are in the government.The government is there, but it works only on the direction of the eight parties. So blaming the government for something may not seem appropriate. It is the top leaders of the eight parties that decide on the future course of action. This necessarily means that the eight political parties are responsible for everything that is taking place in the political front. As for the announcement of the date for the CA polls, it is up to the leaders of the eight political parties to decide. They should make it their foremost agenda and hold the meet as fast as possible to remove doubts and confusion among the people.

Foundation

Instead of stalling the proceedings of the legislature parliament, the leaders of the eight political parties must come up with definite plans to resolve the various issues that have surfaced. It needs collective effort from all. In this, blaming this or that person for whatever has happened is not appropriate. A collective effort is most important at the moment. In this rests the foundation on which the CA polls will be held in all earnest.

Source: The Rising Nepal, April 27, 2007

Diplomacy In The Nepali Context

Madhavji Shrestha

The common concern of diplomats and diplomatic performance is seen and interpreted by various governments according to their set standard and values. However, in Nepal, forgetting the essential of what must be done in representing the country and its interests abroad, each aspirant for the position of ambassador or envoy runs after the authority in power to fulfill his desire.

Criteria for appointment

Undeniably, the person in question may have been lured by the glamour and comfort of life once appointed as the highest diplomatic agent abroad. In our context, the aspirant never thinks of his capability and suitability. The decision-makers, too, never imagine if they have been doing the right thing in sending someone who is linked with a political party or familial and other unspecified ties.

This mode of appointing ambassadors and envoys had developed in the past, and a similar trend is happening at present. This has happened because no criteria have been set as of now, nor have rulebooks been made to develop the much-needed diplomatic service. Under no circumstance will this evolution be restrained unless some great disaster of far-fetched impact takes place.Evidently, it has been more than five decades that Nepal started getting exposed to the external world. Despite such a long span of time, no convincing step has been taken to develop the Foreign Service. The conscious people have greatly felt the void, but no real progress seems on the way to organise the service. Mere passing of the Foreign Service Act is not sufficient to make it effective and responsive unless it is supported and strengthened by regular and timebound practices and orientations to present a good image of Nepal abroad. The conspicuous absence of an appropriate training and research institute in Nepal is also taking a toll in ensuring a constant supply of good personnel required for the country to promote its national interest abroad. Nor do we have any good faculty under any recognised university in Nepal to impart a fair knowledge of international affairs to those who desire to join the Foreign Service and work as competent diplomats. Still bewailing is the fact that the national political parties, which are either set or prepared to take over state power, do not have any mechanism of their own to conduct diplomacy, thus, depriving themselves of diplomatic capabilities and skills.

Meanwhile, one very important point to note is that the diplomatic domain, which was until a few decades ago confined to the government circle alone, is now visibly being pushed to the people and people-oriented arena. Previously, a diplomat was considered to represent his government in the country where he is accredited. This concept and consideration have now undergone changes, and as a result, the scope and activities of a diplomat have gone far and wide to reach and cover the spheres of people and people-concerned interests in the highly interdependent world today. Government-concerned diplomacy alone is no solution now. Some broader approach and style of working are unmistakably on the card now. If one is just concerned with the government-to-government diplomacy, one can hardly become a successful diplomat in the newly emerging situation. The diplomat in question needs to embrace the stream of public diplomacy to reach out to the people and the related organisations to win their opinion and affection for the country he represents abroad. If done sensitively and assiduously, this modern practice and behavior would do greater service to the country. To materialise the success of public diplomacy, both extensive ability and knowledge are highly required. These qualities are immensely important to mingle and get entrenched in the society of the country of his residence and other places.

The changes in the international scenario and the ever-expanding facilities to get information have now led to the evolution of the diplomatic concept toward the newer field. If diplomacy was formerly considered an art, it has now become an accepted craft. Everyone knows that art is a concern of taking up a theme of one's own selection, but a craft is a subject to work with the material available, with the correct application of one's own method and style of actions and dealings. In a modern sense, diplomatic craftsmanship has appeared more significant in view of the existing linkages and issues between and among nations of the concerned relationship, which can be taken as given materials to make diplomatic venture an object of craftsmanship. Hence, for this craftsmanship to flourish in a more satisfactory way, deeper knowledge of and closer intimacy with materials of relationship remain as overriding concern for any improvement. The method of bettering diplomatic performance, if well versed with this craftsmanship, could be safely ensured to get along with the recent trend. Efficacy and unbounded choice come up as heightened concerns in the performance of his duties.

Construing a reliable trajectory for public diplomacy to reinforce official diplomacy and embracing modern diplomacy more as a craft than as an art would pave the way towards the success of diplomatic activities and moves because these basic things remain at the root of success. But these important things are not easy to master. Intelligence and devotion remain in great demand.However, in Nepal, those indispensable elements are yet to be taken up with seriousness and gravity. Diplomatic activities attached with assignments are not carried in a way befitting the position and responsibility. The culture of appointments for important diplomatic places has not yet changed for the better. Unquestionably, its style and substance that have come down from the time of the Rana autocracy even to a now transformed Nepal, are, regrettably, not changed. Only the hands have changed, and the core contents have not because political patronage and political linkage remain at the same obsolete fashioned strata. Decision-makers need to go a long way to get well acquainted with their intent and practice.

National interest

Undoubtedly, ambassadors and envoys are sent abroad not for any particular party interest but to promote national interest. Modern diplomats are also not meant for the limited government duties alone. They serve as representatives of the entire country and as official agents of the entire population. Representation of any political party at any place, whether important or non-important, cannot be considered as national representation. This concern is indeed vital to national interest.Finally, what is most needed is that ambassadors and envoys must be adept at handling public diplomacy along with the dexterity to use diplomacy as a craft to ensure success. Will the decision-makers have the time and mind to heed this concern of national importance?

Source: The Rising Nepal, April 27, 2007

Absorptive capacity

Most Nepali people think that we do not have enough resources to support development activities. They believe that our bridges and roads are not being built because we do not have money. Surprisingly, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat has been burdened with Rs 17 billion as reserves, having no clue as to how and where to spend that much money. The mid-term budget review by the Finance Ministry predicts that the country would be able to spend only Rs 97 billion out of appropriated Rs 143 billion, by the end of this fiscal year. The minister sought proposals from government agencies to utilize the swollen reserves, and altogether they showed capability to absorb a mere 2 billion rupees. Interestingly, our government is not in a position to be delighted to have achieved the revenue target set by the budget. This year it is kind of worried about overshooting revenue target because of lack of a capacity to spend it.

Why is Nepal's absorptive capacity so low? Obviously, the bureaucrats would be loathed for their lack of competence to spend money properly. More than competence, it is said that the lack of initiative among the concerned authorities is a bigger impediment. The absorptive capacity is also intrinsically related to infrastructure, skilled labor force, macroeconomic balance and other economic factors. The low absorptive capacity also repels the donors from providing financial assistance to Nepal. In fact, the donors calculate the absorptive capacity of a country and aid-effectiveness before sanctioning new support. As per international practice, absorptive capacity is the ability to use additional aid without pronounced inefficiency of public spending and without induced adverse effects. Unfortunately, in our case we have been losing installments of the sanctioned aid for failing to provide a report of the preceding work.

Lack of initiative on the part of the bureaucrats is definitely the crucial area to be improved to enhance our spending capacity. If any officer is worried that he might be penalized for the work he accomplishes, with the change of the minister or the party in the government, he/she would not take any initiative. Also the infrastructure and skilled labor force are pertinent issues. Our failure in the development of roads, bridges, energy, education etc. have severely hampered our capacity to spend more. Similarly, we do not have enough manpower to execute the projects. Moreover, due to the 11-year long insurgency, there are not even enough unskilled laborers to work in the projects, not to talk about skilled ones. So, the absorptive capacity is not only an economic problem, it is also a political issue. Until and unless our political parties agree on common minimum economic issues, we will always be facing these and other issues as impediments, always forcing us to remain under poverty and deprivation.

Source: The Kathmandu Post, April 27, 2007

US to Keep Treating Maoists as Terrorists: Moriarty

Rekha Shrestha

Kathmandu, April 25The United States ambassador to Nepal, James F Moriarty, whose tenure ends on July 15, still hopes that the Maoists will give up “violence and extortion” and he will get to shake hands with Prachanda.“I would very much like to shake hands with Pushpa Dahal but that will happen only when the Maoists give up violence and extortion,” Moriarty said in an exclusive interview.Moriarty, who admires the “courage of the Nepali people” and considers his three years in Nepal one of the highlights of his life and career, said he hoped to see “meaningful change in the behaviour by the Maoists.”The US sees no evidence of the Maoists stopping violence and extortion, said Moriarty.

“As long as the Maoists do not end these practices, they cannot be considered a normal political party and the US will continue to treat them as a terrorist organisation.”Moriarty added, “For free and fair constituent assembly elections the continuing Maoist violence and extortion must stop and the demands for inclusion by traditionally marginalised groups must be addressed.”On his recent visit to eastern Nepal, he said very few people felt confident that the constituent assembly elections would be free and fair if the Maoists continue their violent acts and if the concerns of marginalised groups were not addressed.He congratulated Nepali people for their successful and historic efforts on the first anniversary of Jana Andolan II.

“Their sacrifices and commitment for democracy were truly inspiring.” He reiterated that the future of the monarchy should be decided by the people of Nepal, and added, “The US respects and will honour the decision of the Nepali people.”The US provided nearly $50 million as development assistance in 2006 and anticipated giving a similar amount in 2007. “American aid supports peace building, democracy and governance, health programmes, rural road construction, agricultural services, and humanitarian aid. No ministries led by Maoists are receiving US funds directly.”“We urge all parties involved in Jana Andolan II to meet their commitment to peace and democracy,” stated a press release issued by the American Center.

Source: The Himalayan Times, April 25, 2007

Nepal says king must go as nation marks 'democracy' anniversary

KATHMANDU : Nepal's new government celebrated on Tuesday the first anniversary of the end of King Gyanendra's absolute rule as Maoist chief Prachanda called for an immediate end to monarchy. "We want the interim parliament to declare a republic immediately," Prachanda told thousands gathered at a ceremony marking last year's victory of the "people's movement" that forced the monarch to relinquish direct rule. Polls to elect a body to decide the future of the monarchy and rewrite the constitution are due to be held this June, but the former rebel leader called for scrapping the monarchy without staging an election. "If it (the declaration of a republic) doesn't happen, we will come to the people and launch protests to declare a republic," said the once elusive leftist whose nom de guerre means "the Fierce One."

Last month, the rebels joined the government under a peace deal with mainstream parties ending a decade-long insurgency. The crowd thronged Durbar Square, the historic heart of old Kathmandu, for a rally commemorating what has become known as the "People's Movement." The movement forced King Gyanendra to agree to restore parliament on April 24, 2006, 14 months after he seized power in what he said was a bid to crush a Maoist revolt. "On this day, Nepali people successfully fought for their rights," Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said, as a helicopter showered flower petals over a flag-draped parade ground ceremony marking "Democracy Day" earlier on Tuesday. "This day has given us the responsibility to build a peaceful, prosperous and a new Nepal by ending all sorts of problems and conflicts," he said as an army band play lively martial music and children paraded past carrying banners. The army - once fiercely loyal to the monarch - played a central role in the celebrations, in what observers said was a signal aimed at dispelling talk about cracks in the peace process.

"It's a long way for a country to come after 10 years of bitter armed conflict," said Ian Martin, the head of the UN mission in Nepal. "The Maoists have come from the countryside into the political process, the Maoist army has placed its weapons under storage and UN monitoring and we now have the interim parliament and government that the Maoists have entered." As the former rebel leader called for an immediate end to the monarchy, King Gyanendra and his wife visited a temple on the outskirts of Kathmandu to sacrifice animals and offer prayers. The trip to the temple is an annual ritual for the monarch revered by devout Hindus as a reincarnation of the god Vishnu. King Gyanendra dismissed the government in February 2005 and seized absolute power, claiming that the country was headed for anarchy. But his heavy-handed crackdown on free speech - including mass arrests of protesters and tight media controls - led to a surge in anti-royal sentiment. The king has already lost his title as head of state and no longer is army chief.

"The king has been the biggest loser and he has nobody to blame but himself. He gambled the institution of monarchy for his own benefit," said Kapil Shrestha, who teaches politics at Tribhuvan University. At least 19 people died and 5,000 were injured in last year's protests, which forced the king to abandon direct rule. But a range of problems threaten to make the road ahead a rocky one. "The future looks bright and promising but greater challenges lie ahead," said Shrestha. The Maoists, who still feature on Washington's list of foreign "terrorist" groups, are facing continued allegations of mafia-like conduct including extortion, kidnappings and beatings. The government is also wrestling with fallout from deadly clashes between Maoists and Mahadhesis - a major ethnic group in the southern plains - with the leftists accusing the king of provoking the violence. - AFP/de

Source: Asia Pacific News, April 25, 2007