Reorienting foreign policy priorities

Sushil K Lamsal

Foreign policy is a mixture of continuity and change. Experience stresses the importance of keeping the country focused on its own agenda in order to avoid costly aberrations and embarrassing mistakes. It might be instructive to note what went wrong in the previous years. First, there was no evidence that foreign policy was a priority of the government. Second, the weakness of Foreign Service professionals and ineptitude of political leadership resulted in the defeat of Nepal in the election to a non-permanent seat in the Security Council. Third, the country lost enormous opportunities.

There is thus a need to chart a new direction in Nepal’s strategic vision, mission and plans.The government would do well to fill the diplomatic vacancies soon. On the one hand, Nepal needs to convince the international community that the peace process is irreversible and that it needs greater support from them than before to make peace permanent. Obviously, Nepal’s diplomacy should be aimed at retaining and if possible increasing the official development assistance from foreign countries and to narrow the gap between commitment and disbursement. On the other hand, if the peace process breaks down, the country will plunge into chaos, perhaps inviting foreign role in restoring order.

The diplomatic machinery needs to be revamped, too. A separate, professional diplomatic service with suitable incentive packages to attract the talented youth might be a step in the right direction. Foreign policy should be geared towards taking full advantage of economic opportunities and minimising the negative effects of globalisation.It is advisable for Nepal to focus on bilateral ties with its immediate neighbours. Though a renewed focus on Nepal-India and Nepal-China relations does not necessarily mean a reduced role in regional forums like SAARC and BIMSTEC, uninformed decision to join multilateral organisations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will do the country more harm than good. Nepal indeed has few alternatives to comprehensive, forward-looking and interactive relationships with its two neighbours based on two-way economic linkages.

Stress is also being placed on foreign employment. While remittances may help keep macro-economic variables in shape, foreign employment is no answer to domestic unemployment.In the short-term, our foreign policy goal will mean that the Labour Ministry does not make a mess of the Korean offer of providing annual employment for 5,000 Nepalis in South Korea. Equally important is bilateral MoUs on labour with Malaysia, Gulf countries and Israel. Besides, opening embassies in labour-importing countries shows how the fundamentals of foreign policy have changed. While critics argue that economic diplomacy is redundant, the economic dimension of diplomacy has lately acquired great significance. Hence, it is in keeping with the changed realities that Nepal’s foreign policy priorities should be reoriented.

Source: The Himalayan Times, May 31, 2007

TAAN's Woes

MINISTER for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prithivi Subba Gurung has given assurances that the government would implement the Trekking Registration Certificate (TRC) system in the near future to ease problems in the trekking sector and support the trekking agents. Speaking at a function organised by the Trekking Agents' Association of Nepal in Kathmandu on Tuesday, Minister Gurung said that as trekking was an important part of the tourism industry, the government had been working towards further developing and promoting this sector. Trekking is one of the important sectors of the tourism industry. Nepal's tourism industry boomed in the past because of adventure sports like mountaineering, trekking, rafting and others. The share of trekking business in the overall tourism industry is bigger than the other sectors. Many tourists come to Nepal for the thrill adventure tourism provides. Most of the tourists who visit Nepal do not miss trekking. Nepal has a difficult terrain and pristine nature. The foreigners want to see the natural beauty of Nepal. Thus, they go trekking, which provides them opportunities not only to enjoy the nature but also understand the Nepalese people and their unique culture. Although small in size, Nepal is rich in natural and cultural diversity, which has attracted many foreigners.

Tourism is the backbone of the Nepalese economy. The role of tourism in the Nepalese economy is very important. Be it in earning foreign currency or providing employment, the place of the tourism industry is vital. But the tourism industry suffered a big setback in the past due to the political unrest, instability and conflict. After the restoration of peace and democracy in the country, the tourism industry has started picking up. This is a matter of satisfaction for all. However, this sector is yet to fully recover. Nepal's tourism industry shows great potential. Thus, necessary attention and priority must be given for the development and promotion of this sector. Adventure tourism like trekking has an important place in this industry. However, the trekking business has also suffered from various problems. Those involved in the trekking business have demanded that the government take necessary steps to further develop the trekking sector. Considering the demand and concern of the trekking agents, the government has taken some measures towards this end. One of the demands of the trekking agents is the implementation of the trekking registration certificate. The minister has assured TAAN of early implementation of this system, which is expected to address many of the problems facing the trekking agents in Nepal.

Source: The Rising Nepal, May 31, 2007

Enhance Autonomy

Minister of Local Development Dev Prasad Gurung has stressed on strengthening the autonomy of the local bodies to make service delivery reliable and effective. Speaking at a programme organised by the Kathmandu Metropolitan Corporation on Tuesday, Minister Gurung pointed out that since the local bodies worked closely with the people, the role of local institutions should be made more relevant and stronger to enhance local democracy and development. Referring to new kinds of challenges faced by the municipalities due to urbanisation and unplanned settlement, Minister Gurung emphasised on the need to enact new laws consistent with contemporary social requirements and emerging challenges. As outlined by Minister Gurung, the interim constitution has given proper recognition to the instrumentality of the local bodies for strengthening local democracy and peace.

It is, therefore, incumbent upon the present government to assure that the provision relating to local government is implemented. Similarly, as people are heaving a sigh of relief due to the evolving peace in the country, the local bodies should take special note regarding development projects in congruence with the local needs and demands. The incomplete development projects for different reasons in the past should be completed without incurring any delays. However, it is worrying to note that the local government staff have not been able to operate in some parts of the country. Besides the inherent technical and institutional problems hampering the performance of the local bodies, some terror groups have intimidated the people and presented obstacles in their functioning. The government should be serious enough to ensure that the law and order situation is maintained properly and the local bodies are allowed to operate without any disturbances. Moreover, as required by the interim constitution, an all-party political mechanism should be established in the local bodies to ensure that local democracy starts functioning smoothly. Unless the local bodies are based on democratic values and deliver services appropriately, it is difficult to cater to the aspirations of the people.

Source: The Rising Nepal, May 31, 2007

Growing Insurgency In South Asia

Dr. Trilochan Upreti

The South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) is one of the poorest regions in the world. Inhabited by 25 per cent of the global population, the region exhibits, perhaps, the most disproportionate gap between the haves and have-nots as far as income is concerned.

Infuriated by such discrimination and the wide gap in incomes and opportunities, insurgencies against the status quo has become a common phenomenon in the entire region, and no nation has remained unaffected by the effect.Hot spotsNepal witnessed a terrible insurgency unleashed by the Maoists for over a decade. It claimed the lives of more than 13,000 people and destroyed property worth billions of rupees. At the moment, the problem is being sorted out by bringing the Maoists into mainstream politics and accommodating them in the parliament and the government following the conclusion of a 12-point agreement and a comprehensive peace accord between the Maoists and the Seven Party Alliance. However, the peace process has been witnessing several upheavals and twists and turns. The common agenda of all the political parties in Nepal is holding the constituent assembly (CA) polls, but whether it will be held remains a big question. The consequence of the insurgency has been suicidal for the economic development of Nepal, which has pushed the country back by at least 30 years in terms of stability and prosperity.In India, the far eastern region of Assam, Meghalaya and Manipur and Kashmir have been hot spots where an insurgency has been brewing for quite some time.

The problem of Punjab was thought settled forever, but it appears that there have been recent efforts in the United Kingdom to revive the Khalistan movement. A conference at a Gurudwara in Birmingham sought to revive the Khalistan movement and brought together secessionists from Nagaland, Kashmir and Assam on the same platform.It was supported by a member of the British House of Lords, Nazir Ahmad, and also a member of the British House of Commons, Khalid Mehmood, who endorsed the struggle for Khalistan. They spoke of the people's right to self-determination in other parts of India, including Kashmir. Various Sikh organisations operating from the UK and leaders like Jagjit Singh, among others, had participated in this meeting in which the message of Mr. Muivah was read out by the organisers. Besides, India has been engaged in a long dispute and insurgency in Kashmir and in the eastern states of Assam and Meghalaya. India spends heavily on the military trying to contain the insurgency, which again occupies a good deal of the government's time. If the money spent on the military in these states were to be spent on development activities, they might have achieved a lot more progress and stability. India has fought two wars with Pakistan over Kashmir and Bangladesh, and tensions continue to surface from time to time, which is a setback to economic activities.

India has become the largest arms importer in the developing world. It spent as much as IRs 44,009 crore (around $ 10.5 billion) on importing military hardware and software in the past three years.One can find the Singhbahini and Chakma insurgencies in Bangladesh, which are seeking independence. This has led to a resources crunch in the already poverty-stricken country. Apart from this, the increasing influence of the fundamentalists and their activities have become a major obstacle for stability and economic development of Bangladesh, where the gap between the haves and have-nots is increasing rapidly.Bhutan is also on the brink of a civil war. If the Druk regime fails to understand the sensitivity of the refugee problem and strive for a timely and fair resolution, then it is certain to be entrapped in a long civil war. That is bound to happen because the regime, rather than attempting to resolve the problem sincerely, is trying to expel more people from its territory. The Druk regime is buoyed by the American Government's decision to settle the Bhutanese refugees, who have been languishing in Nepalese camps, in the United States. Some other developed countries have also shown their interest in settling the refugees. The international community has failed miserably in preventing the exodus of refugees following a campaign of ethnic cleansing carried out systematically by the Bhutanese regime.

It is shameful for a country like India, which is referred to as a regional power aspiring for permanent membership of the UN Security Council and likes to be called the biggest democracy of this globe, to be supporting such atrocities of Bhutan. Pakistan has been suffering from the independence campaign emerging in the provinces of Sind and the North East Frontier.

A major problem is the fair allocation of water resources of the Indus basin. At the moment, there is complaint that Punjab has deprived Sind of its appropriate share of water and is destroying its agriculture. The border area with Afghanistan has always been a problem not only for Pakistan but the world community as well. It is strongly believed that the leader of Al Qaeda is hiding inside the difficult hilly terrain of Pakistan.Sri Lanka has suffered heavily from the civil war for the last 20 years, in which more than 70,000 people have been killed.

Its economy would have obtained near developed status had there been no civil war during this period. Maldives remains disturbed for the establishment of democracy. The democrats and government supporters have been fighting one another for several years. A few years ago, a group of mercenaries carried out a coup, in which the government of India protected the regime by sending its military to Male and defeating the mercenaries.Economic developmentThe south Asian nations need to find out why insurgencies are breaking out and accordingly sort out the problems and move forward for economic development. They can no longer afford to lose time, money and resources fighting their own people. They need rather to focus on development and make their lives prosperous. Otherwise, the region will be left far behind.

Source: The Rising Nepal, May 31 , 2007

Maoist Mayhem : Enough is Enough

Shashi P.B.B. Malla & Chandra Bahadur Parbate

The Maoists are bent on pushing through their own political agenda - at the expense of social peace. At the cost of nearly 8 million school pupils all over the country, they have enforced the indefinite closure of all schools to force the government, of which they are a part, to accept pay parity. Being communist, they cannot understand the lack of economic rationale in their actions, but it is deeply deplorable that they are willing to push through their misguided ideology at the expense of students.

However, the Maoists' student wing and their affiliated teachers' unions care a damn neither about the future of the students, nor their parents. Since the Maoist leaders' children are safely ensconced in posh private schools in India and abroad, they, of course, have no cause to bother about conditions here. They have not cared about the life and limb of others, so that they are not concerned at all about this being a blatant violation of fundamental rights should not come as a surprise.

As usual, national and international human rights groups that were so vociferous during the royal regime are silent. Thanks to the other seven sleeping partners in the 8-party tyranny of Loktantra, the Maoists are able, on the one hand, to give the impression of being an integral part of the political mainstream, and on the other, of acting as a violent opposition. In their latter function, they remain the minions of terror.

At the cost of regular administrative work and genuine negotiations with the Madhesis of the southern Terai, the constituents of the government are involved in marathon parleys among themselves! "The Kathmandu Post" proclaims: "Parties striving, making progress". What exactly are they striving towards and in what areas have they made progress? Home Minister, Krishna Prasad Sitaula who up to now has shown no inclination to confront the Maoists with regard to their continued atrocities, had announced last Saturday that the government would get 'tougher' with various 'armed groups' that have been involved in violent activities across the country. Without being specific as to what action will be taken and which 'groups' will be on the receiving end of this 'tough action'. This is empty bluster. Further, it is simply not the case that Sitaula, or the police force that he heads have been tough with such groups; therefore, getting 'tougher' is pure nonsense. Lastly, it is highly doubtful that his dire warning will also be applied to the Maoists, specifically the Young Communist League (YCL). The latter will likely not be dismayed by this hollow threat.

On Saturday, Maoist boss Prachanda issued a stern warning that they would call a nationwide general strike if the question of the Maoist camps was not resolved soonest. More or less promptly, it was announced that Nepal's government would pay an allowance to Maoist combatants and improve conditions in the camps housing them. Junior Labour minister Ramesh Lekhak advised that the government had decided "to give them (the combatants) Rs. 3000 as monthly allowance." He continued that the living conditions in the camps would also be improved. In turn, Maoist leader Ananta advised that the Maoists would now allow the UN to verify if the cantoned fighters had children in their ranks. While at first sight, this may seem like a gridlock being resolved, at a second glance this looks highly irregular at best.

Firstly, it should not be forgotten that thousands of so-called 'Maoist fighters' and child soldiers have been smuggled into the camps and are masquerading as combatants. Without the process of verification being completed payment should be out of the question.
Secondly, the amount to be paid seems rather high. At the lowest rung of the earning ladder, the toiling labourers who break stones, barely earn Rs. 100 per day. A soldier serving his country with distinction through thick and thin just earns Rs. 3 600 per month in basic pay. And now Maoist combatants are paid for - for what?

Thirdly, as a question of principle, on what grounds should combatants that are perceived as terrorists by a major portion of the population and responsible for the deaths of over 15000 innocent countrymen be rewarded? While steps towards national reconciliation no doubt will require arrangements (also of a pecuniary nature) for them, this seems premature at this time. The conduct of sister organizations such as the YCL does not warrant the conclusion that the Maoists have mended their ways.Fourthly, let us not forget that thus far the current government outrageously has ignored the plight of internally displaced persons (24 000 in the Kathmandu Valley alone). The Maoists have not even begun to honour their commitments towards the people they made refugees, and even worse, they remain vulnerable to Maoist thugs. If the provisioning of Maoist combatants is to be seen as a gesture of national reconciliation, then efforts in addressing the issues of internally displaced persons are sorely lacking. Neither the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal nor the national human rights groups are able or willing to push the internally displaced persons issue. So as a bottom line, the Maoists have once again managed to get what they wanted without having to put their mouth where their money is.

The Maoists are clearly the dominating force in the current political scenario. The CPN-United Marxists-Leninists, Madhav Kumar Nepal conceded last week that relations between the governing eight political parties were "cold" and put forward a 5-point formula to end the deadlock. His magic formula to solve contentious issues by consensus: a common stance on monarchy (meaning immediate proclamation of a republic without the working of the constituent assembly), finding ways to return property and land seized by the Maoists (this should be straightforward enough by taking strong and necessary action), ending the parallel government of the Maoists (this should have been a pre-condition to further consessions), announcing a definite date for the CA-elections (the dilly-dallying is incomprehensible for the common man), and introduction of a system of proportional representation (actually this should be within the purview of the future CA).

Since the government is unwilling or unable to bring the Maoists to order, and the communist leader's speculations has inherent defects, his formula is not likely to amount to much. Moreover, Maoist minister for Forests and Soil Conservation, Matrika Prasad Yadav, has already forewarned that his party would disrupt cabinet meetings, if the date for CA-polls were not announced soon.
In his new avatar as 'democrat' this same minister last week lashed out against the United States in general for still retaining the epithet "terrorists" with regard to the Maoists, and ambassador James F. Moriarty in particular for violating diplomatic norms by commenting on political developments here, specifically the Maoist participation in the government. Moriarty's harsh critique of the royal regime has conveniently been forgotten. In the era of globalization, nothing is strictly an 'internal matter'. Furthermore, the Maoists' international nexus is also a factor in the worldwide war on terrorism. Do they also object to the forthcoming visit of former US president Jimmy Carter (from the Carter Centre, and not someone likely to mince his words) and his objective in playing a facilitating role in the run-up to the CA-elections?

If the Maoists want to be accepted nationally and internationally, then they have to move within the parameters of truly democratic and good governance - but up to now they have shown no inclination to do that. Another Maoist, Minister for Physical Planning and Works, Ms. Hisila Yami-Bhattarai has fouled up international development efforts by adopting an arrogant and hardline attitude towards the Asian Development Bank with regard to the Melamchi Drinking Water Project, which now has been put on ice. For the Maoists, ideology has primacy over national interests.
In such an atmosphere of distrust, non-coherence and lack of discipline, orderly and good governance cannot be expected. Near chaotic conditions prevail. The interim legislature has not been able to reconvene amidst continuous disruptions and boycotts - by the government parties themselves. However, leaders of the 8-party government tirelessly extol their unity and stress that without it the country would go to the dogs! In the meantime, Prachanda has issued another warning that so long as the King remains, CA-polls would not be possible at all. This has been elevated to an ideological condition with no room for compromise.

The NC is in a major fix. Koirala made the feeble attempt to wriggle out of the hopeless situation by declaring that the monarchy in essence has already died, and that it is no use flogging a dead horse. This is wishful thinking on his part; he has been effectively cornered between the Maoists and the Army, both of whom he distrusts vehemently. The communist boss, M.K. Nepal recently made the weird suggestion that the Maoist fighters be integrated into the security forces - of course, with the express aim to further weaken the latter.

Source: News Blaze, May 29, 2007