Weapons Do Not Respect Sovereign Borders", Nepal Envoy Nepal's outgoing Ambassador in India, HE Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, gave an impassioned call to all countries in the South Asian region to cooperate in curbing, if not eliminating, the culture of violence and fighting insurrectionists. "Weapons do not respect sovereign borders", the Ambassador said, while delivering a lecture on
India-Nepal Relations: Assessment and Prospects , at Observer Research Foundation campus, on August 12, 2003.
In his forthright talk, Thapa assessed the continuing political impasse in Nepal and the crisis emanating from lack of unity of opinion among various sections of the society, including the Government, political parties and the Maoist insurgents. The Maoists had launched, what they call, 'people's war' in February 1996 to violently overthrow the democratically elected government, as well as to turn Nepal into a Republic.
Since late-January 2003, an uneasy truce has been in place between the insurgents and government forces. The Ambassador expressed the general satisfaction that the truce has reasonably stood steadfast, notwithstanding occasional violations. He said it was ultimately people's destiny that was at stake and, therefore, the Maoists should leave it for the people to decide the form of government and value system that they wound want, rather than impose themselves on the entire population.
Further, the apparent support the rebels have among some sections of the Nepalese society was, in large measure, because of people's ignorance, rather than agreement with the insurgents' methods and goals, the Ambassador said.
International support and assistance was vital to defeat the insurgents. The 9/11 attacks on America and the subsequent declaration by the United States of the 'Global War on Terror" have further impacted on Nepal's resolve to fight the insurgents and the justification to seek global support, Dr. Thapa said.
Speaking on India-Nepal relations, the Ambassador expressed happiness at the upswing in the relations between the two countries, especially after they had turned somewhat cold in the wake of the December 1999- hijack.
He was, at the same time, rather dissatisfied with the existing water sharing arrangement between the two countries and hoped that Nepal would receive a better deal in the days ahead. Elaborating on the subject, Ambassador Thapa said even a minor erection of bund by either the Indians or the Nepalese, to seek protection from floods, along the river across the bordering areas between Nepal and the Indian States of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, causes tensions. He also sought better trade ties with India.
Concluding his talk, Ambassador Thapa said he was leaving for home with fond memories and hoped that relations with India would strengthen, with each passing day.
The views expressed above belong to the author(s). ORF research and analyses now available on Telegram! Click here to access our curated content — blogs, longforms and interviews.
PREV
