Home

Chairman Mao to this day

Foreign Bureau

After a "quite and relaxed" one week in China, King Birendra returned home September 1 with Queen Aishwarya, Prince Nirajan and Princess Sruti. Understandably, the official circles are not quite willing to share with the press the substance of the "very important" discussion the King had with Chinese President Jiang Zemin in Beijing August 28. Political analysts, however, believe that the Chinese leadership impressed upon the visiting dignitary that the Middle Kingdom continues to regard Nepal as a "dependable friend" and the Chinese view is based basically on the "continuity" provided by the King himself from Mao era to this day.

Informed sources told The Independent that the royal visit has once again brought into focus the excellent understanding existing between the two close neighbours and the need to cooperate with each other within the limits set by their respective national priorities. Private sector collaboration has been re-emphasised for mutual benefit. It is expected that Tibet's proximity factor will receive a new impetus and Beijing may now seriously consider allowing Nepali entrepreneurs to participate, in some form, in the five-year multi-billion dollar industrial development programme for the Himalayan plateau.


What's in a routine visit?

Foreign Bureau

Contrary to reports, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Robin Raphel is not sticking her lovely neck out to Jhapa and Mahakali in the neighbourhood of Nepal-India-China tri-junction in the far west, even though, coincidentally, her current South Asian trip which begins with Nepal, September 4 (today) has been planned to cover these very countries. Raphel leaves Nepal for India September 8 and then goes to Beijing from there.

Does the Assistant Secretary have any specific mission, say, expressing American support to the Mahakali Treaty in line with the British Undersecretary Liam Fox's some days back? "No, she is coming here on a routine visit similar to the previous trips she has made to Nepal," U.S. Embassy spokesman David Queen told The Independent. This is Raphel's third visit to Nepal in equal number of years.

Raphel is expected to have an audience with the King Birendra. Observers attach considerable importance to this event because she is going to China and the King has just returned from there. She is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Deuba, Foreign Minister Lohani and Water Resources Minister Rana and senior coalition and opposition leaders.

According to Queen, she is also spending some time with the Peace Corps Volunteers in Pokhara September 7 although the trip to the picturesque town is supposed to be a get- away from-it-all.


Getting closer

Political Bureau

It has taken such a long time but in the end, it seems, commonsense and concern for the nation will supersede all other peripheral considerations. The controversial Mahakali Treaty, barring new and unexpected hitches, may indeed be on the verge of being ratified. But as the key holder, the CPN-UML, insists the Deuba Government would have to make a 'firm commitment' that it will immediately initiate dialogue with New Delhi for the rectification of certain 'built-in flaws' in the bilateral document.

Former Minister Prem Singh Dhami, who was a member of the Khadga Oli Study Team, told The Independent September 3 that the report turned over to CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal focuses essentially on three broad political and technical aspects of the bilateral deal, namely, issues having a direct relationship with the Mahakali Treaty, issues concerning development of water resources as a whole and issues relating to 'good' neighbourly relations between Nepal and India.

The CPN-UML's Central Committee meeting scheduled for September 3 was postponed till today because of differences among the Politburo members over the question of how to approach the nine-point recommendations articulated by the Study Team. According to former Minister Pradeep Kumar Nepal, the Central Committee members have been given copies of the report submitted by the Team so that they may be able to intelligently argue their points at the meeting today.

Asked about the party's latest stance on treaty ratification, he said, "The CPN-UML has never opposed the treaty. If our suggestions concerning the overall facets of Nepal-India relations are accepted, we are in favour of endorsing the Mahakali treaty."

The main among the nine points stressed by the Team are that Mahakali be designated a border river throughout the western front, that the government should settle the dispute over the land Nepal had lost when Sarada Barrage was built some 70 years ago, that the origin of Mahakali river be clearly identified, and that there is and will be no border infringement.

The treaty signed in New Delhi, February 12, between the two countries has defined Mahakali rivers as 'a boundary river on major stretches between the two countries."

The CPN-UML, it seems, is committed to, once and for all, to resolve the controversy over the origin and course of the actual Mahakali river along the hilly parts of Darchula district where, as some CPN-UML local leaders allege, the river has been arbitrarily identified from among the various streams which pass through the area. This has finally resulted in the loss of about 1600 hectares of Nepali territory.

Explaining the reason behind the postponement of the Central Committee meeting, Nepal said, "The decision to ratify or not to ratify the treaty will be reached in a day or two, since the basic mandate of the Study Team was only to compare the treaty initialled in Kathmandu with the one signed in New Delhi and not to say "yes" or "no" to the treaty. Hence, the decision will have to be taken by none other than the Central Committee itself.


'No compromise on passengers' safety'

By A Staff Reporter

"Leasing an aircraft always entails a lot of problems, I agree. But we have to have it anyway. We either have to buy it or take on lease. This time around, we are more cautious," RNAC's Managing Director Udaya Bir Gurung told The Independent September 1.

In an effort to clarify the RNAC management's position in the face of recent controversy over the proposed leasing of a Boeing 767, Gurung let it be known that personally he preferred outright purchase of aircraft to avoid unnecessary controversy.

"The RNAC is fully aware of the concern shown by a section of German tour operators and friends regarding the credibility of the company from which the national flag carrier is thinking to acquire on lease a wide-bodied Boeing 767," said the young RNAC executive head.

"This concern has all the more strengthened the RNAC's determination to choose an aircraft with more caution" Gurung remarked, adding, "Anyway, we are satisfied with the technical details on the said aircraft made available to us by the Boeing Company of America".

Furthermore, he said, Boeing 767 can easily be flown by the Nepali pilots which will save a lot of money and reduce the overall cost for RNAC operations. The Nepali pilots have been flying Boeing 767. So the switch over to the 767 series will not be a difficult task for them.

Gurung dismissed the rumours that the aircraft in question has no credibility. "We are not that foolish to go for an aircraft to be flown to Frankfurt and other European destinations, where there is a doubt over the aircraft's credibility" he said. "If we do so the whole exercise will prove to be absolutely suicidal."

"We will not just rush to lease the aircraft only because we badly need one. Unless we are completely satisfied with the aircraft's airworthiness, we will not take on lease any aircraft from anywhere. We may be in dire straits due to the lack of aircraft in the peak season but we will not compromise the safety of our passengers," Gurung assured.

He said that he was still very much hopeful that everything would go well, and the national flag-carrier would be able to lease the most suitable aircraft before the peak season breaks open.

This service is brought to you by The Independent Publication Pvt. Ltd.and Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd.