http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/2008/englishweekly/spotlight/may/may09/national4
Although the peace process is yet to complete, some political leaders have already started talking about ending the presence of UNMIN
By KESHAB POUDEL
The tenure of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) will not be further extended," said Maoist leader and chief of international department CP Gajurel addressing a press conference on April 18. "We thank the UNMIN for its support to Nepal's peace process, which has already taken solid shape. We will integrate the Nepal Army and the People's Liberation Army to form a national army after making a new constitution. We don't see any role of the UNMIN in our future process,” he said addressing an interaction program at the Reporters' Club."
Two weeks after C.P. Gajurel's statement, Indian communist leader Sitaram Yechury, who was one of the supporters of international mediation in Nepal's conflict, backed Gajurel's point of view. "The presence of UN body will not be required beyond July 23 as the new government will be able to settle the issue of management of arms and armies," said Yechury.
The tenure of UNMIN is going to end on July 23, 2008. Maoist leaders under whose insistence seven parties had agreed to invite the UN mission in Nepal are now leading the debate to end UNMIN presence. The role for UN in the peace process was envisaged in 12 points agreement- which was reportedly mediated by Indian officials - signed in New Delhi in November, 2005.
Gajurel and Yechury were first to press for international observers but now they have joined hands to campaign against UNMIN. At a time when other major political parties are yet to speak about the issue, nobody knows what prompted Gajurel to raise such vital issue. After two weeks, Nepal's revolutionary communist leaders have found an Indian communist leader as a buyer of their idea.
“The decision will be taken only after the consultations with all the constituents of seven parties,” said CPN-UML leader minister of foreign affairs Sahana Pradhan.
The question now is, which will prevail or the meeting of seven party leaders or the interim constitution or the likes of Gajurel and Yechury? The article 166(3) of Interim Constitution, the Comprehensive Peace Accord concluded between the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on Mangsir 5,2063 ( November 21, 2006), and an agreement relating to
"Agreement on the Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies" reached on Mangsir 22, 2063 (December 8,2006) are part of schedule 4 of the constitution. (See box)
As per the constitutional provisions, the UN monitoring role relates to five areas: the management of arms and armed personnel, the ceasefire arrangements, the elections, human rights and compliance with the Basic Operating Guidelines for the delivery of development and humanitarian assistance.
The question is not whether the UNMIN should go or not go but whether the peace process has been completed or not, for which UNMIN was invited in Nepal under a seven party consensus.
To give legitimate status to the UNMIN, seven political parties have even inserted its position in the interim constitution with a long lasting role.
"The Mission is a special political mission established by the United Nations Security Council, Resolution 1740, to support the peace process in Nepal. The process is still on. It has its importance and usefulness. It is not advisable to shut it down before the process is completed." said Dr Bipin Adhikari, a lawyer and constitution analyst, who also worked with several United Nations agencies in the past.
According to Adhikari, when the Mission kicked off on 23 January 2007, its mandate included monitoring of the management of arms and armed personnel of the Nepal Army and the Maoist army and assisting the parties through a Joint Monitoring Coordinating Committee in implementing the agreement on the management of arms and armed personnel of both the Nepal Army and the Maoist army. It was also mandated to provide technical assistance to the Election Commission in the planning, preparation and conduct of the election of the Constituent Assembly in a free and fair atmosphere. While the third mandate has been accomplished, the first two need revised framework to work on. The works in these areas are still lagging behind. The Mission could still be useful to deal with the question of settlement of all Maoist combatants.
Leaders of seven political parties and Maoists reached into an understanding and formally invited UNMIN to play a role in Nepal's peace keeping task, which is yet to be completed.
"Before demilitarizing all Maoist combatants living in cantonments, why there have been so much hectic reactions not only from the one of the constituents of seven party alliance but from an external watchman Yechury, an unofficial facilitator for Nepal's peace keeping? It shows India, too, is partly against the stay of UNMIN in Nepal," said an analyst. “The same persons who insisted Nepal to involve UN in its peace keeping task- are now asking UNMIN to pack its bag and leave without completing the tasks. One has to get a convincing answer for such vacillating stand even from a player like Yechury from the neighborhood."
When UNMIN came to Nepal, there were so many backers. Now when it is under an attack, nobody is defending it.
"People - who are in the frontline of politics of this country- welcome the hegemonic player but don't have guts to speak for a peace keeping mission like UN," said the analyst. "Where are those loud speaking persons from so called civil society who demanded involvement of United Nations when United Nations was not much needed? Now when United Nations has started its work and its role is much important, a section of motivated persons are asking it to go back leaving the task unfulfilled and those loud-speaking persons have gone silent."
For politicians and so called members of civil society, Yechury is more acceptable than anything else. "Nobody in Nepal questions the role of Yechury whose purpose and timing of visit to Nepal is an open secret to all. The country had got rid of the "active leadership" of monarch of Panchayat system. But, now the other "active leadership" has been imposed upon Nepal which no Nepali politician dares to question," said the political analyst.
As annexure is also inseparable part of constitution, the government needs to amend the constitution in case it wants to contain the role of UN. "It is not difficult to understand why at once there are so many voices against the UNMIN and why some newspapers are suggesting that it should pack up and go. As far as I know I have not seen ordinary people of Nepal asking the Mission to dismantle. Obviously, there are outsiders who think they can pass on without hiccup if the UNMIN vacates its premises from here. The challenge before the Mission is to maintain its independence and avoid being a tool in the hand of any country overtly interested in Nepal. The UN must meet this challenge, or it will find its potential and actual influence ebbing away in other countries. Certainly, this is not in the interest of Nepal," said Adhikari.
According to Adhikari, the complexity of international life, combined with the reluctance of leading states to act where their national interests are not at risk, will create many occasions when the UN provides the only arena within which an acceptable pattern of response can be fashioned.
"I always advocate advisory roles for the Security Council. In fact, my idea from the very beginning was to have some political advisors from the Security Council to advise the Government on all these issues, rather than deploying a full-fledged political mission doing so many works that Nepalese people otherwise had enough experience of working on. Nepal needed these advisors at Singh Durbar to help it with independent decision making at that time. Such advisors would have given the government, or any peace authority it would have created, necessary Security Council back up to deal with the Maoists. But people who had little ideas on how political missions work prevailed in the decision making, then."
"But now since the Mission is already here, and it has already done part of its assigned works, it should be allowed to achieve what it has been mandated with. It is the time to reassess what still needs to be revamped. The peace process is also the arrangement of the interim constitution.
The process will come to an end only after the new constitution is adopted by the Constituent Assembly and promulgated in the name of the people," said Adhikari.
The UN Mission came to Nepal on the request of the government. Can UNMIN leave its main task unfinished that may lead to resumption of armed conflict?
Friday, May 9, 2008
Mission Incomplete
Mission Incomplete
http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/2008/englishweekly/spotlight/may/may09/national4
Although the peace process is yet to complete, some political leaders have already started talking about ending the presence of UNMIN
By KESHAB POUDEL
The tenure of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) will not be further extended," said Maoist leader and chief of international department CP Gajurel addressing a press conference on April 18. "We thank the UNMIN for its support to Nepal's peace process, which has already taken solid shape. We will integrate the Nepal Army and the People's Liberation Army to form a national army after making a new constitution. We don't see any role of the UNMIN in our future process,” he said addressing an interaction program at the Reporters' Club."
Two weeks after C.P. Gajurel's statement, Indian communist leader Sitaram Yechury, who was one of the supporters of international mediation in Nepal's conflict, backed Gajurel's point of view. "The presence of UN body will not be required beyond July 23 as the new government will be able to settle the issue of management of arms and armies," said Yechury.
The tenure of UNMIN is going to end on July 23, 2008. Maoist leaders under whose insistence seven parties had agreed to invite the UN mission in Nepal are now leading the debate to end UNMIN presence. The role for UN in the peace process was envisaged in 12 points agreement- which was reportedly mediated by Indian officials - signed in New Delhi in November, 2005.
Gajurel and Yechury were first to press for international observers but now they have joined hands to campaign against UNMIN. At a time when other major political parties are yet to speak about the issue, nobody knows what prompted Gajurel to raise such vital issue. After two weeks, Nepal's revolutionary communist leaders have found an Indian communist leader as a buyer of their idea.
“The decision will be taken only after the consultations with all the constituents of seven parties,” said CPN-UML leader minister of foreign affairs Sahana Pradhan.
The question now is, which will prevail or the meeting of seven party leaders or the interim constitution or the likes of Gajurel and Yechury? The article 166(3) of Interim Constitution, the Comprehensive Peace Accord concluded between the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on Mangsir 5,2063 ( November 21, 2006), and an agreement relating to "Agreement on the Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies" reached on Mangsir 22, 2063 (December 8,2006) are part of schedule 4 of the constitution. (See box)
As per the constitutional provisions, the UN monitoring role relates to five areas: the management of arms and armed personnel, the ceasefire arrangements, the elections, human rights and compliance with the Basic Operating Guidelines for the delivery of development and humanitarian assistance.
The question is not whether the UNMIN should go or not go but whether the peace process has been completed or not, for which UNMIN was invited in Nepal under a seven party consensus.
To give legitimate status to the UNMIN, seven political parties have even inserted its position in the interim constitution with a long lasting role.
"The Mission is a special political mission established by the United Nations Security Council, Resolution 1740, to support the peace process in Nepal. The process is still on. It has its importance and usefulness. It is not advisable to shut it down before the process is completed." said Dr Bipin Adhikari, a lawyer and constitution analyst, who also worked with several United Nations agencies in the past.
According to Adhikari, when the Mission kicked off on 23 January 2007, its mandate included monitoring of the management of arms and armed personnel of the Nepal Army and the Maoist army and assisting the parties through a Joint Monitoring Coordinating Committee in implementing the agreement on the management of arms and armed personnel of both the Nepal Army and the Maoist army. It was also mandated to provide technical assistance to the Election Commission in the planning, preparation and conduct of the election of the Constituent Assembly in a free and fair atmosphere. While the third mandate has been accomplished, the first two need revised framework to work on. The works in these areas are still lagging behind. The Mission could still be useful to deal with the question of settlement of all Maoist combatants.
Leaders of seven political parties and Maoists reached into an understanding and formally invited UNMIN to play a role in Nepal's peace keeping task, which is yet to be completed.
"Before demilitarizing all Maoist combatants living in cantonments, why there have been so much hectic reactions not only from the one of the constituents of seven party alliance but from an external watchman Yechury, an unofficial facilitator for Nepal's peace keeping? It shows India, too, is partly against the stay of UNMIN in Nepal," said an analyst. “The same persons who insisted Nepal to involve UN in its peace keeping task- are now asking UNMIN to pack its bag and leave without completing the tasks. One has to get a convincing answer for such vacillating stand even from a player like Yechury from the neighborhood."
When UNMIN came to Nepal, there were so many backers. Now when it is under an attack, nobody is defending it.
"People - who are in the frontline of politics of this country- welcome the hegemonic player but don't have guts to speak for a peace keeping mission like UN," said the analyst. "Where are those loud speaking persons from so called civil society who demanded involvement of United Nations when United Nations was not much needed? Now when United Nations has started its work and its role is much important, a section of motivated persons are asking it to go back leaving the task unfulfilled and those loud-speaking persons have gone silent."
For politicians and so called members of civil society, Yechury is more acceptable than anything else. "Nobody in Nepal questions the role of Yechury whose purpose and timing of visit to Nepal is an open secret to all. The country had got rid of the "active leadership" of monarch of Panchayat system. But, now the other "active leadership" has been imposed upon Nepal which no Nepali politician dares to question," said the political analyst.
As annexure is also inseparable part of constitution, the government needs to amend the constitution in case it wants to contain the role of UN. "It is not difficult to understand why at once there are so many voices against the UNMIN and why some newspapers are suggesting that it should pack up and go. As far as I know I have not seen ordinary people of Nepal asking the Mission to dismantle. Obviously, there are outsiders who think they can pass on without hiccup if the UNMIN vacates its premises from here. The challenge before the Mission is to maintain its independence and avoid being a tool in the hand of any country overtly interested in Nepal. The UN must meet this challenge, or it will find its potential and actual influence ebbing away in other countries. Certainly, this is not in the interest of Nepal," said Adhikari.
According to Adhikari, the complexity of international life, combined with the reluctance of leading states to act where their national interests are not at risk, will create many occasions when the UN provides the only arena within which an acceptable pattern of response can be fashioned.
"I always advocate advisory roles for the Security Council. In fact, my idea from the very beginning was to have some political advisors from the Security Council to advise the Government on all these issues, rather than deploying a full-fledged political mission doing so many works that Nepalese people otherwise had enough experience of working on. Nepal needed these advisors at Singh Durbar to help it with independent decision making at that time. Such advisors would have given the government, or any peace authority it would have created, necessary Security Council back up to deal with the Maoists. But people who had little ideas on how political missions work prevailed in the decision making, then."
"But now since the Mission is already here, and it has already done part of its assigned works, it should be allowed to achieve what it has been mandated with. It is the time to reassess what still needs to be revamped. The peace process is also the arrangement of the interim constitution. The process will come to an end only after the new constitution is adopted by the Constituent Assembly and promulgated in the name of the people," said Adhikari.
The UN Mission came to Nepal on the request of the government. Can UNMIN leave its main task unfinished that may lead to resumption of armed conflict?
http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/2008/englishweekly/spotlight/may/may09/national4
Although the peace process is yet to complete, some political leaders have already started talking about ending the presence of UNMIN
By KESHAB POUDEL
The tenure of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) will not be further extended," said Maoist leader and chief of international department CP Gajurel addressing a press conference on April 18. "We thank the UNMIN for its support to Nepal's peace process, which has already taken solid shape. We will integrate the Nepal Army and the People's Liberation Army to form a national army after making a new constitution. We don't see any role of the UNMIN in our future process,” he said addressing an interaction program at the Reporters' Club."
Two weeks after C.P. Gajurel's statement, Indian communist leader Sitaram Yechury, who was one of the supporters of international mediation in Nepal's conflict, backed Gajurel's point of view. "The presence of UN body will not be required beyond July 23 as the new government will be able to settle the issue of management of arms and armies," said Yechury.
The tenure of UNMIN is going to end on July 23, 2008. Maoist leaders under whose insistence seven parties had agreed to invite the UN mission in Nepal are now leading the debate to end UNMIN presence. The role for UN in the peace process was envisaged in 12 points agreement- which was reportedly mediated by Indian officials - signed in New Delhi in November, 2005.
Gajurel and Yechury were first to press for international observers but now they have joined hands to campaign against UNMIN. At a time when other major political parties are yet to speak about the issue, nobody knows what prompted Gajurel to raise such vital issue. After two weeks, Nepal's revolutionary communist leaders have found an Indian communist leader as a buyer of their idea.
“The decision will be taken only after the consultations with all the constituents of seven parties,” said CPN-UML leader minister of foreign affairs Sahana Pradhan.
The question now is, which will prevail or the meeting of seven party leaders or the interim constitution or the likes of Gajurel and Yechury? The article 166(3) of Interim Constitution, the Comprehensive Peace Accord concluded between the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on Mangsir 5,2063 ( November 21, 2006), and an agreement relating to "Agreement on the Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies" reached on Mangsir 22, 2063 (December 8,2006) are part of schedule 4 of the constitution. (See box)
As per the constitutional provisions, the UN monitoring role relates to five areas: the management of arms and armed personnel, the ceasefire arrangements, the elections, human rights and compliance with the Basic Operating Guidelines for the delivery of development and humanitarian assistance.
The question is not whether the UNMIN should go or not go but whether the peace process has been completed or not, for which UNMIN was invited in Nepal under a seven party consensus.
To give legitimate status to the UNMIN, seven political parties have even inserted its position in the interim constitution with a long lasting role.
"The Mission is a special political mission established by the United Nations Security Council, Resolution 1740, to support the peace process in Nepal. The process is still on. It has its importance and usefulness. It is not advisable to shut it down before the process is completed." said Dr Bipin Adhikari, a lawyer and constitution analyst, who also worked with several United Nations agencies in the past.
According to Adhikari, when the Mission kicked off on 23 January 2007, its mandate included monitoring of the management of arms and armed personnel of the Nepal Army and the Maoist army and assisting the parties through a Joint Monitoring Coordinating Committee in implementing the agreement on the management of arms and armed personnel of both the Nepal Army and the Maoist army. It was also mandated to provide technical assistance to the Election Commission in the planning, preparation and conduct of the election of the Constituent Assembly in a free and fair atmosphere. While the third mandate has been accomplished, the first two need revised framework to work on. The works in these areas are still lagging behind. The Mission could still be useful to deal with the question of settlement of all Maoist combatants.
Leaders of seven political parties and Maoists reached into an understanding and formally invited UNMIN to play a role in Nepal's peace keeping task, which is yet to be completed.
"Before demilitarizing all Maoist combatants living in cantonments, why there have been so much hectic reactions not only from the one of the constituents of seven party alliance but from an external watchman Yechury, an unofficial facilitator for Nepal's peace keeping? It shows India, too, is partly against the stay of UNMIN in Nepal," said an analyst. “The same persons who insisted Nepal to involve UN in its peace keeping task- are now asking UNMIN to pack its bag and leave without completing the tasks. One has to get a convincing answer for such vacillating stand even from a player like Yechury from the neighborhood."
When UNMIN came to Nepal, there were so many backers. Now when it is under an attack, nobody is defending it.
"People - who are in the frontline of politics of this country- welcome the hegemonic player but don't have guts to speak for a peace keeping mission like UN," said the analyst. "Where are those loud speaking persons from so called civil society who demanded involvement of United Nations when United Nations was not much needed? Now when United Nations has started its work and its role is much important, a section of motivated persons are asking it to go back leaving the task unfulfilled and those loud-speaking persons have gone silent."
For politicians and so called members of civil society, Yechury is more acceptable than anything else. "Nobody in Nepal questions the role of Yechury whose purpose and timing of visit to Nepal is an open secret to all. The country had got rid of the "active leadership" of monarch of Panchayat system. But, now the other "active leadership" has been imposed upon Nepal which no Nepali politician dares to question," said the political analyst.
As annexure is also inseparable part of constitution, the government needs to amend the constitution in case it wants to contain the role of UN. "It is not difficult to understand why at once there are so many voices against the UNMIN and why some newspapers are suggesting that it should pack up and go. As far as I know I have not seen ordinary people of Nepal asking the Mission to dismantle. Obviously, there are outsiders who think they can pass on without hiccup if the UNMIN vacates its premises from here. The challenge before the Mission is to maintain its independence and avoid being a tool in the hand of any country overtly interested in Nepal. The UN must meet this challenge, or it will find its potential and actual influence ebbing away in other countries. Certainly, this is not in the interest of Nepal," said Adhikari.
According to Adhikari, the complexity of international life, combined with the reluctance of leading states to act where their national interests are not at risk, will create many occasions when the UN provides the only arena within which an acceptable pattern of response can be fashioned.
"I always advocate advisory roles for the Security Council. In fact, my idea from the very beginning was to have some political advisors from the Security Council to advise the Government on all these issues, rather than deploying a full-fledged political mission doing so many works that Nepalese people otherwise had enough experience of working on. Nepal needed these advisors at Singh Durbar to help it with independent decision making at that time. Such advisors would have given the government, or any peace authority it would have created, necessary Security Council back up to deal with the Maoists. But people who had little ideas on how political missions work prevailed in the decision making, then."
"But now since the Mission is already here, and it has already done part of its assigned works, it should be allowed to achieve what it has been mandated with. It is the time to reassess what still needs to be revamped. The peace process is also the arrangement of the interim constitution. The process will come to an end only after the new constitution is adopted by the Constituent Assembly and promulgated in the name of the people," said Adhikari.
The UN Mission came to Nepal on the request of the government. Can UNMIN leave its main task unfinished that may lead to resumption of armed conflict?
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Nepal : Unguarded Borders
http://www.nepalnews.com.np/archive/2007/others/guestcolumn/may/guest_columns_08.php
From smuggling to criminal activities, extortions and terrorism, Nepal’s southern border has been facing all kinds of destabilizing activities
By KESHAB POUDEL
Cadres of Jwala Singh-led Jantantrik Terai Morcha traded gunfire with security personnel at Sitlapur Barganiya village development committee Rautahat, close to Indian border - The Himalayan Times (May 14, 2007)
Five members of a family were injured when a group of dacoits attacked them at Miguliya VDC in Morang district - Kantipur (May 13)
There were celebrations in Birgunj when one of the dreaded criminals Chhotelal Sahani was killed in India. Sahani was extorting money and kidnapping Nepalese businessmen from across the border in India. (Gorkhapatra May 10)
An engineer of district road office Navaraj Bista was shot dead by Terai Jantantrick Mukti Morcha (Goit) in Lahan and they kidnapped two others. (Kantipur May 12)
Ajaya Yadav, district president of Jwala Singh, was shot dead by Goit group in Rautahat district. Similarly, an unidentified gunman killed 23 years old Dilip Raya in Sarlahi.
Proprietor of a medical store in Bara, Hridaya Narayan Yadav who was abducted by an unidentified group on April, fled from the clutches of the kidnappers from unknown location in India. (The Himalayan Times May 15)
More than nine tons of red sandalwood was discovered in Swayambhu. In Imadole of Lalitpur, over ten tons of red sandalwood was seized. The smuggling of sandalwood is reportedly carried out from Indian state of Andhra Pradesh to smuggle to Tibet.
After upsurge of smuggling activities in border, chief district officer of Morang constituted five members coordination committee. According to Chief District Officer, everything is coming from Indian border to Nepal. (Annapurna Post May 13)
A group of Maoists were detained in Nautunwa when they were traveling to Gorakhpur, India carrying Maoist literature. (Nepal Samacharpatra).
These are some sporadic news coming out in major newspapers from Nepal’s southern terai. One can read these kinds of news every day in various newspapers. From robbery to act of terrorism, extortion and kidnapping, such things have become commonplace in Nepal’s southern border and plain areas.
Incidents of killings, extortions, rapes and heinous crimes of this nature have become everyday news in the country. It is said that this upsurge is for liberation of suppressed populating in Madhes, which is in the south of Nepal. Some times it is seen as an ethnic cleansing against the population of hill but the violence has no border and no identity as a race or the region.
Lots of Madhesis many of whom are supposed to be of the Indian origin are also facing same kinds of cruelties and kidnappings along with the population of hilly origin. “The open border between Nepal and India has been one of the main contributing factors to the increasing magnitude of international migration. Illegal trade associated with free movement of people across the border has been a matter of grave concern for both countries. It is therefore necessary to regulate the movement of people along the border between Nepal and India,” late Dr. Harka Gurung had recommended in his study on internal and international migration.
After the atrocities and destructions unleashed by one decade long Maoist insurgency, all had expected that peace had come to Nepal and it would prevail. Sadly, this is not turning out so.
“After a series of arguments and discussions, ultimately, Maoists have procured substantial share in parliament of nominated persons as well as in the government. Soon after the announcement of the end of insurgency by arrangement of interim constitution on January 15, another phase of violence has erupted as a bolt from the blue. Nobody had any apprehension that a new kind of violence and insurgency would erupt in whole of southern belt of Nepal under several leadership with similar motto. All are preaching violence, extortion, kidnapping and crimes of these natures,” said a political analyst.
Beside various criminal groups, Madheshi Tiger, Terai Cobra, Jantantrik Terai Mukti Morcha - Goit and Jawala Singh, Chure Bhawar Ekata Samaj, Nepal Defense Army (a religious group more active in Birgunj), Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, Terai Army (which owned up the responsibility for exploding a bomb in Chandranigahapur of Rautahat on May 14 injuring 14 persons), TM Don Group (active in far western terai region) have been launching violent activities.
“Outwardly, it does not seem like calculated and coordinated terror. But whatever general idea one has about the method of terrorism as a weapon of extracting concessions from a regime, is clearly seen in this situation. This is a completely new experience of terrorism for Nepalis,” said the analyst.
A veteran Indian journalist Rajinder Puri describes the situation as, “The silent cooperation between terrorist groups with diverse aims.” The inference is that these groups function under a central command. In his recent write-up in The Statesman regarding terrorism in India, Puri writes, “Broadly there are three kinds of terrorists. The dupes who believe in a cause and are the cannon fodder for terrorism; the criminals who take to extortion, murder and rape under protection of political banner; finally there are the few moles that are aware of hidden agenda of their masters. The hidden agenda of terrorism here is to destabilize and weaken India.”
What Puri diagnosed in Indian condition is as much appropriate in the case of Nepal. Nepal has been suffering from the curse of terrorism since a decade. Now a new dimension has been added in this crisis under the garb of regionalism, ethnicity, religion and language.
The country was supposed to have a lasting peace to get rid of poverty and illiteracy and usher a new Nepal- a credible Nepal.
“All didn’t share that kind of wishful thinking and day dreaming. The root cause of one decade long terrorism was not at all any upsurge of any ideology and noble ideals. It was an outcome of disguised conflict based upon strategic interest of broader dimensions. The new phase of political instability and rampant lawlessness and violence is the continuation of the same design under new facets and jargons. What veteran Indian journalist Rajinder Puri in his recent article in The Statesman ‘Anatomy of Terror’ had explained is not only the problem with India. All neighbors of India suffer from almost similar problems,” said the analyst.
Nepal had very peaceful borders with its neighbors in the past which is now a matter of history. It has two most powerful neighbors both economically and militarily powerful compared to which no security arrangements of Nepal can effectively insulate troubles from across the border. During the past one decade, slowly and gradually, Nepali border with the south became very fragile and uncontrolled as most of the police posts and check points were destroyed and devastated by Maoists. Although an effort was made to restore them following the ceasefire, last Madhesi uprising again devastated it.
The situation is now that there are virtually no police post and custom office in the Nepalese side of border where any element can come and go without any identification.
“We will take necessary steps to strengthen the security in terai. The government will prepare a log term security plan for terai,”said Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula.
According to the analyst, when Nepal was being burned by Maoists, all prominent Maoists leaders had enjoyed safe haven in India - which is an open secret now. Even Maoist leaders who have returned back to Nepal have revealed as much.
In the last few months after the upsurge of new violence under the name of Madhesis, Maoist cadres have become the first target. What happened in Gaur in March was quite cruel and dreadful.
“After all what all these great games are gaining on at the cost of lives of the common people and their peace and self respect. One need not go far away to find a clear perception of this crisis,” said the analyst. “There are some respectable columnists who have expressed their anguish while analyzing the violence of Nepal.”
Swapan Das Gupta, in Pioneer (29 May 2005), had long backed this view when he stated, “However, that does not gave it right to undertake a covert war in Nepal. How is this any different from the operation mounted by Pakistan, in Jammu and Kashmir and north India?”
“In one stroke, heads of intelligence service and the MEA have demolished ethical grounds of India’s diplomacy. We too are guilty of encouraging terrorists and acknowledging them as freedom fighters,” writes Gupta.
“These are some highly sensible and respectable Indians analysts who see troubles in Nepal as an outcome of a covert operation to promote an ulterior interest which is unethical and in the long run counter productive to them,” said the analyst.
In his recent article in Indian Defense Review, its editor Bharat Verma writes,” By humiliating its national army and making them surrender their weapons, Koirala government has opened itself to Maoist blackmail. It is a matter of time before the gun-wielding Maoists throw Koirala and rag -tag liberal political parties out of power. In terms of Indian foreign policy, it is blunder of epic proportions. The stark question is, if New Delhi cannot handle Nepal then what exactly can it do?”
A peaceful neighbor is the best guarantee of one’s security. Destruction in the neighborhood ultimately engulfs key players, too.
“ Nepal is not an isolated case in crisis rather it is more orderly and peaceful than any other smaller country of this region. Nepal has open and unguarded border due to which any disorder and violence in Nepal may ultimately spill away beyond its territory. It will be too late if the border with Nepal is kept unsafe and unguarded as it is at present – despite a huge deployment of Indian paramilitary border force SSB and all security system in the Indian side of border,” said the analyst.
The SSB came into the limelight for the first time through a report in Times of India supplement in 30 August 2001 soon after the Royal Palace massacre in Nepal. That dispatch reveals that it was created to use for subversive and clandestine activities deep within the Tibet. As the relations between India and China had improved, it was withdrawn from that task and deputed into a new task of guarding India’s border with Nepal against the ISI’s threat.
“After its deployment, there has not been any sensational news in the Indian press regarding ISI activities from Nepal’s border. But since then Nepal itself had become much more disturbed and chaotic in many respect,” observes the analyst.
“Now the question is of the statesmanship from big neighbor who could see that the border between the two countries is guarded properly and convincingly. Politicians in a democratic order are accountable to the people as well as their representatives. Therefore, they have to prevail over all kinds of administrative and security agencies,” said the analyst.
Courtesy : Spotlight
From smuggling to criminal activities, extortions and terrorism, Nepal’s southern border has been facing all kinds of destabilizing activities
By KESHAB POUDEL
Cadres of Jwala Singh-led Jantantrik Terai Morcha traded gunfire with security personnel at Sitlapur Barganiya village development committee Rautahat, close to Indian border - The Himalayan Times (May 14, 2007)
Five members of a family were injured when a group of dacoits attacked them at Miguliya VDC in Morang district - Kantipur (May 13)
There were celebrations in Birgunj when one of the dreaded criminals Chhotelal Sahani was killed in India. Sahani was extorting money and kidnapping Nepalese businessmen from across the border in India. (Gorkhapatra May 10)
An engineer of district road office Navaraj Bista was shot dead by Terai Jantantrick Mukti Morcha (Goit) in Lahan and they kidnapped two others. (Kantipur May 12)
Ajaya Yadav, district president of Jwala Singh, was shot dead by Goit group in Rautahat district. Similarly, an unidentified gunman killed 23 years old Dilip Raya in Sarlahi.
Proprietor of a medical store in Bara, Hridaya Narayan Yadav who was abducted by an unidentified group on April, fled from the clutches of the kidnappers from unknown location in India. (The Himalayan Times May 15)
More than nine tons of red sandalwood was discovered in Swayambhu. In Imadole of Lalitpur, over ten tons of red sandalwood was seized. The smuggling of sandalwood is reportedly carried out from Indian state of Andhra Pradesh to smuggle to Tibet.
After upsurge of smuggling activities in border, chief district officer of Morang constituted five members coordination committee. According to Chief District Officer, everything is coming from Indian border to Nepal. (Annapurna Post May 13)
A group of Maoists were detained in Nautunwa when they were traveling to Gorakhpur, India carrying Maoist literature. (Nepal Samacharpatra).
These are some sporadic news coming out in major newspapers from Nepal’s southern terai. One can read these kinds of news every day in various newspapers. From robbery to act of terrorism, extortion and kidnapping, such things have become commonplace in Nepal’s southern border and plain areas.
Incidents of killings, extortions, rapes and heinous crimes of this nature have become everyday news in the country. It is said that this upsurge is for liberation of suppressed populating in Madhes, which is in the south of Nepal. Some times it is seen as an ethnic cleansing against the population of hill but the violence has no border and no identity as a race or the region.
Lots of Madhesis many of whom are supposed to be of the Indian origin are also facing same kinds of cruelties and kidnappings along with the population of hilly origin. “The open border between Nepal and India has been one of the main contributing factors to the increasing magnitude of international migration. Illegal trade associated with free movement of people across the border has been a matter of grave concern for both countries. It is therefore necessary to regulate the movement of people along the border between Nepal and India,” late Dr. Harka Gurung had recommended in his study on internal and international migration.
After the atrocities and destructions unleashed by one decade long Maoist insurgency, all had expected that peace had come to Nepal and it would prevail. Sadly, this is not turning out so.
“After a series of arguments and discussions, ultimately, Maoists have procured substantial share in parliament of nominated persons as well as in the government. Soon after the announcement of the end of insurgency by arrangement of interim constitution on January 15, another phase of violence has erupted as a bolt from the blue. Nobody had any apprehension that a new kind of violence and insurgency would erupt in whole of southern belt of Nepal under several leadership with similar motto. All are preaching violence, extortion, kidnapping and crimes of these natures,” said a political analyst.
Beside various criminal groups, Madheshi Tiger, Terai Cobra, Jantantrik Terai Mukti Morcha - Goit and Jawala Singh, Chure Bhawar Ekata Samaj, Nepal Defense Army (a religious group more active in Birgunj), Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, Terai Army (which owned up the responsibility for exploding a bomb in Chandranigahapur of Rautahat on May 14 injuring 14 persons), TM Don Group (active in far western terai region) have been launching violent activities.
“Outwardly, it does not seem like calculated and coordinated terror. But whatever general idea one has about the method of terrorism as a weapon of extracting concessions from a regime, is clearly seen in this situation. This is a completely new experience of terrorism for Nepalis,” said the analyst.
A veteran Indian journalist Rajinder Puri describes the situation as, “The silent cooperation between terrorist groups with diverse aims.” The inference is that these groups function under a central command. In his recent write-up in The Statesman regarding terrorism in India, Puri writes, “Broadly there are three kinds of terrorists. The dupes who believe in a cause and are the cannon fodder for terrorism; the criminals who take to extortion, murder and rape under protection of political banner; finally there are the few moles that are aware of hidden agenda of their masters. The hidden agenda of terrorism here is to destabilize and weaken India.”
What Puri diagnosed in Indian condition is as much appropriate in the case of Nepal. Nepal has been suffering from the curse of terrorism since a decade. Now a new dimension has been added in this crisis under the garb of regionalism, ethnicity, religion and language.
The country was supposed to have a lasting peace to get rid of poverty and illiteracy and usher a new Nepal- a credible Nepal.
“All didn’t share that kind of wishful thinking and day dreaming. The root cause of one decade long terrorism was not at all any upsurge of any ideology and noble ideals. It was an outcome of disguised conflict based upon strategic interest of broader dimensions. The new phase of political instability and rampant lawlessness and violence is the continuation of the same design under new facets and jargons. What veteran Indian journalist Rajinder Puri in his recent article in The Statesman ‘Anatomy of Terror’ had explained is not only the problem with India. All neighbors of India suffer from almost similar problems,” said the analyst.
Nepal had very peaceful borders with its neighbors in the past which is now a matter of history. It has two most powerful neighbors both economically and militarily powerful compared to which no security arrangements of Nepal can effectively insulate troubles from across the border. During the past one decade, slowly and gradually, Nepali border with the south became very fragile and uncontrolled as most of the police posts and check points were destroyed and devastated by Maoists. Although an effort was made to restore them following the ceasefire, last Madhesi uprising again devastated it.
The situation is now that there are virtually no police post and custom office in the Nepalese side of border where any element can come and go without any identification.
“We will take necessary steps to strengthen the security in terai. The government will prepare a log term security plan for terai,”said Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula.
According to the analyst, when Nepal was being burned by Maoists, all prominent Maoists leaders had enjoyed safe haven in India - which is an open secret now. Even Maoist leaders who have returned back to Nepal have revealed as much.
In the last few months after the upsurge of new violence under the name of Madhesis, Maoist cadres have become the first target. What happened in Gaur in March was quite cruel and dreadful.
“After all what all these great games are gaining on at the cost of lives of the common people and their peace and self respect. One need not go far away to find a clear perception of this crisis,” said the analyst. “There are some respectable columnists who have expressed their anguish while analyzing the violence of Nepal.”
Swapan Das Gupta, in Pioneer (29 May 2005), had long backed this view when he stated, “However, that does not gave it right to undertake a covert war in Nepal. How is this any different from the operation mounted by Pakistan, in Jammu and Kashmir and north India?”
“In one stroke, heads of intelligence service and the MEA have demolished ethical grounds of India’s diplomacy. We too are guilty of encouraging terrorists and acknowledging them as freedom fighters,” writes Gupta.
“These are some highly sensible and respectable Indians analysts who see troubles in Nepal as an outcome of a covert operation to promote an ulterior interest which is unethical and in the long run counter productive to them,” said the analyst.
In his recent article in Indian Defense Review, its editor Bharat Verma writes,” By humiliating its national army and making them surrender their weapons, Koirala government has opened itself to Maoist blackmail. It is a matter of time before the gun-wielding Maoists throw Koirala and rag -tag liberal political parties out of power. In terms of Indian foreign policy, it is blunder of epic proportions. The stark question is, if New Delhi cannot handle Nepal then what exactly can it do?”
A peaceful neighbor is the best guarantee of one’s security. Destruction in the neighborhood ultimately engulfs key players, too.
“ Nepal is not an isolated case in crisis rather it is more orderly and peaceful than any other smaller country of this region. Nepal has open and unguarded border due to which any disorder and violence in Nepal may ultimately spill away beyond its territory. It will be too late if the border with Nepal is kept unsafe and unguarded as it is at present – despite a huge deployment of Indian paramilitary border force SSB and all security system in the Indian side of border,” said the analyst.
The SSB came into the limelight for the first time through a report in Times of India supplement in 30 August 2001 soon after the Royal Palace massacre in Nepal. That dispatch reveals that it was created to use for subversive and clandestine activities deep within the Tibet. As the relations between India and China had improved, it was withdrawn from that task and deputed into a new task of guarding India’s border with Nepal against the ISI’s threat.
“After its deployment, there has not been any sensational news in the Indian press regarding ISI activities from Nepal’s border. But since then Nepal itself had become much more disturbed and chaotic in many respect,” observes the analyst.
“Now the question is of the statesmanship from big neighbor who could see that the border between the two countries is guarded properly and convincingly. Politicians in a democratic order are accountable to the people as well as their representatives. Therefore, they have to prevail over all kinds of administrative and security agencies,” said the analyst.
Courtesy : Spotlight
'India is located in tough neighbourhood'
K Anurag in Guwahati
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/17uk1.htm
May 17, 2007 19:23 IST
The United Kingdom seeks cooperation with India in fighting terrorism even as it reiterated its support to India's claim for a permanent membership in the United Nation's Security Council.
Britain's Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Kim Howells, who was in Guwahati to inaugurate the British Information Centre for the North East India on Thursday, said, "We are facing with similar problem of terrorism and we will benefit from sustained sharing of information and intelligence in fighting the menace of terrorism."
Howells pointed out that India was located in a 'tough neighbourhood.'
"India is surrounded with countries with great problems. If those states transform into failed nations, it will pose a threat not only for India but the entire world. India has already suffered much due to the confusion in Kashmir, problems in Afghanistan and Taliban movement along the border with Pakistan," he added.
In response to a question whether Britain will put pressure on Bangladesh and Myanmar to respond to India's request for eviction of North East Indian militants' camps in those countries, Howells said the interim government in Bangladesh had shown positive attitude in this respect.
He hoped that the new government that will be installed in Bangladesh after elections will continue with the attitude of the interim government.
Regarding Myanmar, however, Howells said, "Britain has poor relations with Myanmar due to the tyrannical rule in the country. They treat their own people in a very brutal manner and Britain can never support it."
He said killing of innocent people in conflict-ridden North East India should stop and that his government was extending cooperation to New Delhi to tackle the situation.
"India shares borders with countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan. It should share any information of suspicious movement of terrorists in those countries in the interest of global security," Howells said.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/17uk1.htm
May 17, 2007 19:23 IST
The United Kingdom seeks cooperation with India in fighting terrorism even as it reiterated its support to India's claim for a permanent membership in the United Nation's Security Council.
Britain's Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Kim Howells, who was in Guwahati to inaugurate the British Information Centre for the North East India on Thursday, said, "We are facing with similar problem of terrorism and we will benefit from sustained sharing of information and intelligence in fighting the menace of terrorism."
Howells pointed out that India was located in a 'tough neighbourhood.'
"India is surrounded with countries with great problems. If those states transform into failed nations, it will pose a threat not only for India but the entire world. India has already suffered much due to the confusion in Kashmir, problems in Afghanistan and Taliban movement along the border with Pakistan," he added.
In response to a question whether Britain will put pressure on Bangladesh and Myanmar to respond to India's request for eviction of North East Indian militants' camps in those countries, Howells said the interim government in Bangladesh had shown positive attitude in this respect.
He hoped that the new government that will be installed in Bangladesh after elections will continue with the attitude of the interim government.
Regarding Myanmar, however, Howells said, "Britain has poor relations with Myanmar due to the tyrannical rule in the country. They treat their own people in a very brutal manner and Britain can never support it."
He said killing of innocent people in conflict-ridden North East India should stop and that his government was extending cooperation to New Delhi to tackle the situation.
"India shares borders with countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan. It should share any information of suspicious movement of terrorists in those countries in the interest of global security," Howells said.
India objects to Kashmir reference in Islamabad declaration of ICFM
http://www.newkerala.com/news5.php?action=fullnews&id=30595
New Delhi, May 17 : India has objected to the reference of Kashmir in the Islamabad Declaration of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) that was adopted on Thursday.
"We note with regret that the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) has once again chosen to comment upon Jammu and Kashmir in the Islamabad Declaration adopted by the ICFM," official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said here today.
"Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the OIC has no locus standi in matters concerning India's internal affairs. We reject all such references or resolutions on Jammu & Kashmir," the spokesperson added.
The annual meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) today ended in Islamabad calling for greater social and economic development of its 57 member countries, and tackling the growing 'Islamaphobia' in the world.
The declaration stated that the conference was committed to defend the Muslim world's major causes, in a range of world conflicts, from the Middle East to Somalia to Afghanistan to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Contact Group of Organisation of Islamic Conference - on Kashmir, which met under the auspices of the ICFM on Wednesday, expressed its full support for the right to self-determination of Kashmiri people.
New Delhi, May 17 : India has objected to the reference of Kashmir in the Islamabad Declaration of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) that was adopted on Thursday.
"We note with regret that the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) has once again chosen to comment upon Jammu and Kashmir in the Islamabad Declaration adopted by the ICFM," official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said here today.
"Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the OIC has no locus standi in matters concerning India's internal affairs. We reject all such references or resolutions on Jammu & Kashmir," the spokesperson added.
The annual meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) today ended in Islamabad calling for greater social and economic development of its 57 member countries, and tackling the growing 'Islamaphobia' in the world.
The declaration stated that the conference was committed to defend the Muslim world's major causes, in a range of world conflicts, from the Middle East to Somalia to Afghanistan to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Contact Group of Organisation of Islamic Conference - on Kashmir, which met under the auspices of the ICFM on Wednesday, expressed its full support for the right to self-determination of Kashmiri people.
Pak need not suspect US ties with India: American scholar
Islamabad, May 20 (ANI): A senior fellow for US Foreign Policy at Brookings Institution and a former director of European Affairs at National Security Council under US President Bill Clinton has said that Pakistan should not suspect Washington's growing relations between India.
Dr. Philip Gordon said that ties between the U.S. and India should be simply seen as America wanting to be a friend to the world's biggest democracy and having access and exposure to the important South Asian free market.
Speaking at a roundtable here, Gordon was quoted by the Dawn as saying that, "It is in America's own interests to have good relations with such a free market. It does not mean we give preference to India over Pakistan, but the US foreign policy can't revolve merely around a single country no matter how important that country is."
He also claimed that many people in Pakistan looked at the present India-US relations with glasses of religion and consider it as America's anti-Islam agenda, which was wrong.
Such an impression could not be substantiated as the war on terror had nothing to do with Islam as religion, he added.
Replying to a question on the Taliban, Gordon said the Taliban could not be termed as representatives of Pakhtuns and giving them any chance to re- emerge would not only put the security of the region at risk but, in fact, the whole world at risk.
"The Taliban have been tested in Afghanistan and, we have seen how regressive such people could be when in power. We had tried our best to separate Taliban from the Al-Qaeda but it proved futile," he observed.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/070520/139/6g0la.html
By ANI Sunday May 20, 12:46 PM
Ironically, none of the dozen veteran diplomats who had gathered around a huge wooden table could convince Dr Gordon that Taliban were a legitimate part of Afghan crisis.
Explaining US policy towards Iran, Dr. Gordon said that a nuclear Iran was a threat to its neighbours and could put the whole region into a race for nuclear technology. Iran could even transfer its nuclear technology to its neighbours.
He said the US was against the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline because of the designs of Iran to become a nuclear power, which, if materialised, could destabilise the whole region.
The US still saw Pakistan as a vital partner in the War on Terror and wanted long-term relations with it, he said. (ANI)
Dr. Philip Gordon said that ties between the U.S. and India should be simply seen as America wanting to be a friend to the world's biggest democracy and having access and exposure to the important South Asian free market.
Speaking at a roundtable here, Gordon was quoted by the Dawn as saying that, "It is in America's own interests to have good relations with such a free market. It does not mean we give preference to India over Pakistan, but the US foreign policy can't revolve merely around a single country no matter how important that country is."
He also claimed that many people in Pakistan looked at the present India-US relations with glasses of religion and consider it as America's anti-Islam agenda, which was wrong.
Such an impression could not be substantiated as the war on terror had nothing to do with Islam as religion, he added.
Replying to a question on the Taliban, Gordon said the Taliban could not be termed as representatives of Pakhtuns and giving them any chance to re- emerge would not only put the security of the region at risk but, in fact, the whole world at risk.
"The Taliban have been tested in Afghanistan and, we have seen how regressive such people could be when in power. We had tried our best to separate Taliban from the Al-Qaeda but it proved futile," he observed.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/070520/139/6g0la.html
By ANI Sunday May 20, 12:46 PM
Ironically, none of the dozen veteran diplomats who had gathered around a huge wooden table could convince Dr Gordon that Taliban were a legitimate part of Afghan crisis.
Explaining US policy towards Iran, Dr. Gordon said that a nuclear Iran was a threat to its neighbours and could put the whole region into a race for nuclear technology. Iran could even transfer its nuclear technology to its neighbours.
He said the US was against the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline because of the designs of Iran to become a nuclear power, which, if materialised, could destabilise the whole region.
The US still saw Pakistan as a vital partner in the War on Terror and wanted long-term relations with it, he said. (ANI)
Appeal for peace in South Asia
Feb 1, 2000, 18:57
http://www.tamileelamnews.com/news/publish/tns_6357.shtml
In a joint statement issued by the participants for the South Asian countries who attended the Neelan Tiruchelvam Commemoration Program in Colombo have made an urgent appeal to the leaders of India and Pakistan to take decisive measures to defuse the tensions before it is too late and to revive the Lahore process so that both Indian and Pakistan along with other South Asian neighbours march together building a vibrant and prosperous south Asian community.
The first signatory of the statement is a former Indian Prime Minister I. K. Gujral. Several other prominent personalities from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India have also signed the statement.
Excerpts from the statement are given below:
At the 1999 Lahore Summit, the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan initiated a process for peace and co-operation. They demonstrated their political commitment to transcend the burden of their tension ridden relations of the pass fifty years.
The people of both countries and indeed of all South Asian countries were heartened by the historic development and perceived that a new dawn of hope and harmony will usher in the new era of prosperity and well being. Within less than a year the vision for a better and peaceful future has become a distant dream. Peace is once again in peril in the subcontinent raising grave apprehension of the imminent danger of outbreaks of armed conflict between India and Pakistan. Such a path will result in unimaginable human and material destruction not only in the two neighbouring countries but also in the entire region.
South Asia is already marginalized in the world community and an armed conflict will only retard ,if not reverse even the faint hope of the South Asian people , who constitute one-fifth of the total world population, to respond to the challenges of the emerging interdependent and globalized world community.
Time has come for South Asia to make a critical choice between war and peace, destruction and development, poverty and prosperity.
Therefore, we the participants for the South Asian countries who have assembled in Colombo to honour the memory of a colleague who sacrificed his life for peace, make an earnest appeal to the leaders of India and Pakistan to take urgent and decisive measures to defuse the tensions before it is too late and to revive the Lahore process.
http://www.tamileelamnews.com/news/publish/tns_6357.shtml
In a joint statement issued by the participants for the South Asian countries who attended the Neelan Tiruchelvam Commemoration Program in Colombo have made an urgent appeal to the leaders of India and Pakistan to take decisive measures to defuse the tensions before it is too late and to revive the Lahore process so that both Indian and Pakistan along with other South Asian neighbours march together building a vibrant and prosperous south Asian community.
The first signatory of the statement is a former Indian Prime Minister I. K. Gujral. Several other prominent personalities from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India have also signed the statement.
Excerpts from the statement are given below:
At the 1999 Lahore Summit, the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan initiated a process for peace and co-operation. They demonstrated their political commitment to transcend the burden of their tension ridden relations of the pass fifty years.
The people of both countries and indeed of all South Asian countries were heartened by the historic development and perceived that a new dawn of hope and harmony will usher in the new era of prosperity and well being. Within less than a year the vision for a better and peaceful future has become a distant dream. Peace is once again in peril in the subcontinent raising grave apprehension of the imminent danger of outbreaks of armed conflict between India and Pakistan. Such a path will result in unimaginable human and material destruction not only in the two neighbouring countries but also in the entire region.
South Asia is already marginalized in the world community and an armed conflict will only retard ,if not reverse even the faint hope of the South Asian people , who constitute one-fifth of the total world population, to respond to the challenges of the emerging interdependent and globalized world community.
Time has come for South Asia to make a critical choice between war and peace, destruction and development, poverty and prosperity.
Therefore, we the participants for the South Asian countries who have assembled in Colombo to honour the memory of a colleague who sacrificed his life for peace, make an earnest appeal to the leaders of India and Pakistan to take urgent and decisive measures to defuse the tensions before it is too late and to revive the Lahore process.
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