Diplomacy in Nepal

Public View on Diplomatic Productivity of Nepal

Krishna Hari Pushkar

It is interesting to see that the general public of Nepal are yearning to know and learn about the productivity of the Nepalese Foreign Ministry and its entire mechanism inside and outside the nation.

Previously, it was a matter of special concern for royalty and so called public celebrities, but now perspectives have been changed and almost all Nepalese peoples are starting to judge their own relationship and plus-minus shares in the productivity of Nepalese diplomacy. However, the need and interest of the general public does not seem to receive any response from the diplomatic operators of Nepal.

It is great to know that nowadays, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has been spending huge efforts for restructuring, reengineering and reorganizing its entire institution to achieve better professionalism and huge diplomatic productivity in the changing context of diplomatic world. The working approach in integrated terms is known as an Organization and Management (O&M) survey. This is the current fashion and considered a seasonal activity of the entire civil service system of Nepal, and also, prohibitory policy in general of the Administrative Restructuring Commission (ARC) of Nepal.

It is well known that the Nepalese constitution building process is in limbo. The Constitutional Assembly (CA) has not yet decided on the overall governance structure of the upcoming federal model of Nepal, including the diplomatic affairs and potential structures. It is harmful to move forward without knowing the destination, priority and path forward or being unclear over possible questions about the move. So, everyone is trying to do O & M, which is like shooting bullet into the dark.

However, a few ministries, including MoFA also obtained special permission from ARC for an O & M survey. It is believed that a detailed O & M cannot be materialized now, until after approval of the governance structure of Nepal, in the federal context. Therefore, there are only possibilities of small changes or minimal organizational amendments that are mandatory to work and function at minimum level.

Normally, an O & M survey is a fact based work and document, it should be neither based on values nor influenced by any ill-intention. So, it should be purely based on national and institutional desire and interest. In fact, the major basis of the survey are programs, workload, job nature, rationality, and human resources of the particular institution. Therefore, the O & M is a scientific term, and technically well defined, structured set of activities, that performs under the theology of administration and management sciences.

It is itself a most complex, multi-connected, multiparty, time taking and sensitive job. So, it is essential to express gratitude to MoFA who dared to undertake such tough works. Actually, the O & M Survey is mandatory in Nepal for each and every civil service mechanism that wishes to make any productive changes in its existing organogram and job. In principle, it is required for all degrees of maximum or minimum changes in structures, hierarchy and functions

In any O & M survey, a scientific and technically justified workload analysis is crucial to judge the enlargement, enhancement and enrichment or reduction of an organogram and its system. Now, MoFA is asking central agencies to support them in increasing the numerous numbers of new institutions and divisions, joint secretaries and other high-ranking diplomats inside and outside the nation.

MoFA officials have been asked that O & M survey workload analysis or detail performance analysis be based on the various dimensions of diplomatic productivity and its related determinants, in accordance with the international practice and theory of administrative and management science.

Unfortunately for MoFA, the people and state authorities in Nepal also know that diplomatic productivity does not include any tangible value of money or quantitative calculation that can be easily shown in figures in sense of tax, custom or tourists.

MoFA in our developing nation does not mean anything alone to the country and its people, other than being a white elephant. Theoretically, MoFA is a type of bridge or means of connectivity or aligning authority between domestic and international affairs. It is a kind of road or highway or means of transportation made to link bilateral and multilateral forums and other relevant international community to achieve domestic goals and interest in a defined manner.

For example, if there is war between two states, MoFA officials can't fight since they are not trained for warfare, they have no expertise in war management, so they need state military to attack the enemy state under the umbrella of MoFA or other diplomatic mission.

Similarly, they only have diplomats with generalist backgrounds, so principally, they are not experts in labor affairs, economic affairs, trade affairs, commerce affairs, defense affairs, immigration affairs or security affairs etc. Therefore, the existing MoFA system cannot be productive without having proper, rational and adequate representation from sartorial authorities and institutions in the system and composition of MoFA and its diplomatic mechanism. This may be the ground that alone MoFA has either zero or negligible diplomatic productivity.

Diplomatic productivity has been a hidden or ignored word until now, for MoFA officials in Nepal, so it is important to spend a few lines to define the word. Diplomatic productivity has various dimensions, scope and understanding and it varies, country by country or institution. For instance, determinants and dimensions of diplomatic productivity can be different for mega developed, developed, underdeveloped, and post conflict transitional nations.

For a country like Nepal, the areas or dimension of diplomatic productivity may be described under several subheadings such as foreign direct investment, foreign aid, trade and commerce, foreign employment, tourism, bilateral-multilateral trade and commerce, defense cooperation, intensity of peoples cooperation and contacts, frequency of high-level visits, energy, election and representation, peace building, relief and rescue, consular and immigration service, national competences, international leadership, public accessibility, remittance, exchanges, governance and migrant security.

Diplomatic productivity does not look for direct and instant benefits as everyone knows that the advantages of effective and efficient diplomacy generally come in the long term. It is not like exchanging money for goods from a shop. It is difficult to quantify or calculate the exact quantitative or numerical value of diplomatic effort but it does not mean that it is impossible. It is an area of subjective and qualitative study.

For instance, it can be interpreted on the basis of cases and issues while weighing its achievements in accordance with the goals, priority and interests of what the nation wants to get from its diplomatic apparatus. It is about success (positive) or failure (negative) results that deals with the status of achievements of the state's goal, policies, plans and programs as assigned to MoFA and its mechanisms.

Forty thousand illegal Nepalese jobs came under crisis in Iraq, because MoFA stamped passports "not valid to enter Iraq." MoFA was also totally silent on rescue issues on Middle east/Gulf political unrest until national media and the Ministry of Labor repeatedly demanded immediate action.

It can be seen while studying the status of Asian, European or American markets for Nepalese products and also analyzing the declining positive trade and commerce transactions with Indo-Nepal. Moreover, major countries have changed on arrival visa facilities for Nepalese citizen due to our poor diplomatic performance. In the past, Nepalese enjoyed on-arrival visa facilities in many more countries including Europe, Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Declining Nepalese representation, participation and leadership in multilateral and bilateral institutions, including the UN can be considered one of the most pathetic consequences of existing negative diplomatic performance. Similarly, decreasing quality foreign employment market, growing human smuggling in the name of foreign employment and failure to provide basic rescue and relief timely in destination countries for labor migrants shows the real face of the lack of Nepalese diplomacy.

In public opinion, Government should not waste much if the Nepalese diplomat abroad either stands to take part in reception ceremony, hospitality management or just to fulfill their own vested interest. Wearing formal dress, sleeping in meetings, losing in negotiations, enjoying dollars, torturing people for passports, and drinking whisky cannot be the successful code of a diplomat, nor a positive outcome for a state's investment. Changes, restructuring, and correction need to be accepted for immediate reform inside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that it needs more manpower, resources, new institutions and more because these are essential for their self-claimed and self defined economic diplomacy and foreign employment system without realizing the need and involvement of respective authorities and its stakeholders inside their diplomatic system.

In Nepal, MoFA ignores the reality and contemporary need of a successful diplomacy and international relations system. MoFA must study and learn more about the shifting dynamics of contemporary diplomacy, otherwise it will not be worth making any changes and reform until and unless it rethinks its existing mindset and horizon. MoFA should join hands with concerned agencies on an equal and rational basis. It should reflect on their ongoing O & M, if they really want to go forward to fulfill the need and interest of the nation and its people.

Source: Newsblaze.com

General Strike: End Political Deadlock of Nepal

By Krishna Hari Pushkar

International Labor Day this year was fouled by a crude general strike in Nepal, which was declared by the opposition Maoist Party. In the beginning, it was seen as a peaceful and disciplined movement. However, it is being unexpectedly longer.

Public patience is running out, poor are forced to live without food, sick people are being barred from treatment. People are not allowed to work. The majority have crises to solve with day-to-day, hand-to-mouth problems. Public movement, economic transactions and transportation are in a state of frost. Human rights and fundamental rights have been kyboshed. General life and its activities are totally stopped. Even humanitarian emergency activities are suspended due to the general strike around the nation.

Everything seems out of order. The public's patience has died and seems uncontent to have this general strike. Generally, people have started the war against the strike both inside and outside of the valley. People came on the road to confront Maoist cadres and its supporters. Peace rallies are also being held across the nation in initiation of various professional and commercial organizations.

The direct and indirect confrontational activities are being more & more violent, so the state has ordered curfews to counter possible causalities in various districts. The numbers of equipped security personnel have heightened to riposte the general strike of Maoist.

The fourth, fifth and sixth day of the general strike were dreadful to observe and accounted for lots of incidents of confrontation between Maoist supporters and others in various valleys and cities across the country. Moreover, the government has also decided to use the army for protection of special areas and places in accordance with comprehensive peace accord. In this regards, the representatives of ruling political parties and opposition Maoist leaders have held series of dialogues in luxurious hotels to end the political deadlocks; however results of the efforts were not found until now.

The diplomatic and international community have also put huge pressure and interventional efforts on both government and Maoists. India and China have already expressed and used their open concerns and diplomatic therapy against the ongoing deadly political situation. The UN, US and EU are continuing their special efforts to address the standstill. They are keeping up continuous pressure on both parties to find quick common ground for political consensus. However, these efforts have not yet been effective.

Consequently, the length of the general strike is being increased while at the same time, the state of topsy-turvydom is adding up out of the blue. There are dual interpretations of the ongoing general strike. Maoists explain it is held to achieve the motto of the comprehensive peace accord, to obtain a new constitution within deadlines and to constitute legitimate multi party consensus government under the prime ministership of Maoist leader Mr. Prachanda. The second viewpoint is that the government and its ruling coalition claims that the general strike is unethical, undemocratic and unconstitutional. They contend it is just being held to change the prime minister, and ruling leaders claim the hidden goal of the strike is to just establish Maoist party's' chairman Mr. Puspa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda as prime minister of Nepal, and the party as a major pillar of government.

The ruling party also accuse Maoists of wanting to put the nation into chaos and plotting to boot out the exiting democratic forces from political mainstream. They want to capture overall state functions and functionaries into captivity with muscle, and integrate its former political combatants into state's defense and security mechanism without following the national and international rules and standards.

Furthermore, democratic forces blame Maoists of acting beyond the constitution and rules of law. Government blames the opposition Maoist party as neither respecting the constitutional provisions nor paying honest attention towards the comprehensive peace accord. Hence, the practices and performances of constitutional assembly have become totally defunct and the execution of comprehensive peace accord is paralyzed. Simply stated, currently the overall state affair e.g. constitution assembly, cabinet, peace process etc, are out of whack and jeopardized.

Before beginning, and after enforcement of the ongoing general strikes, there have been series of meetings and dialogues between Maoist parties and representatives of ruling parties to win common ground for political consensus. However, both parties have not yet found any common grounds, which is an opprobrious and clear proof of their incapability. It has openly proved the deficits of the involved politicians.

Maoists believe that power is taken, not given anywhere in the world, so, they will take power and acquire all their demands. Ruling parties say that this viewpoint will only happen in their dreams. The government and its coalition parties won't compromise at all in the legitimate constitutional process.

The road is not a way to remove the prime minister, and the existing prime minister will not resign at all till he is removed through due constitutional process. Hence, the state of differences seems enormous between the parties. It is rib-tickling to imagine both parties sitting to talk and looking for gentle negotiation without compromising their slanted need and demand.

Strategically, the ruling parties have requested Maoists to come through constitutional assembly, if they seek to change the government, rather than general strike or other means that may be painful to people. The Government has also repeatedly requested them to fulfill at least the minimum degree of former commitments before getting the resignation of Prime Minister Mr. Nepal. Minimum commitments include transforming the young communist league (YCL) from paramilitary force to democratic student wings or its desolation, suitable integration and management of ex-Maoist combatants, giving back of seized and captured properties to its true owners without any condition and fully free and transform the Maoist party from militant or paramilitary groups into civil parties. In addition, ruling parties are also asking to stop force donation culture, devastation of parallel government system, stop criminal activities and all activities that are against the norms of democracy and rule of law.

Surprisingly, beside the series of meetings and dialogues there have been no progresses at all. Of course, the Maoists and the government both have plenty of weaknesses, and both parties are not able to honestly enforce the previous commitments and agreed issues in accordance with national need and corresponding political roadmap.

The first series of five dialogues and meetings failed because of the autarchy nature and anarchical characteristics of the confronting parties and its leaders. Both of the parties are putting forward their logic while ignoring the sensitivity of political deadlocks. Both parties are not found serious enough about public and national interests. Neither of the leaders have been able to achieve peace or a constitution in due time.

So, representatives of both teams are not found technically sound. In public eyes, both groups are crazy to capture the cabinet, but they do not foresee the impacts of the ongoing political chaos. Therefore, both parties must rethink and reorganize their representatives, and strategic ways for peaceful dialogue, putting the people and national interest into center-focus. They must come above its political and individual selfishness respecting the mandate of general people's movement, sprit of constitutional assembly and comprehensive peace accord.

Specially, to get true success of peaceful dialogue, the negotiation team must take authorized consent from the respective parties, mentioning clearly about the degree of flexibility along with efficient roadmap, which may able to bring the parties into easy consensus. There are also difficulties and conflict of interest among inter-intra parties and leaders, so, the governments' representatives must participate as valued observers during the pre-ongoing and post dialogue phases to resolve the crisis constructively. Equally, the dialogue team must be inclusive and should incorporate the representation of all parliamentarian forces with new ideas and approaches, otherwise out-dated models and traditional political leaders will not be able to reach a peaceful destination as expected by general public of Nepal.

Both parties must be liberal and compromise in political consensus. Specially, it is important to execute first the previous agreements and commitments duly. Both government and opposition should stop ignoring previous commitments and agreements.

All political parties should practice the philosophy of constitutionalism and rule of law until it works. They must sit together in parliament/ or constitution assembly for necessary dialogues and systematic negotiation. Both parties may also use the system of high-level political mechanism for the purpose. They should also include more, or invite other relevant leading leaders from the respective parties, government and independent personalities from civil society and others necessary groups.

Politicians must understand the needs and interests of the nation and its people, otherwise anarchic and autocratic politicians and parties will gradually collapse as happened in past regimes. Nepalese people want long-lasting freedoms from all types of political confrontation and conflicts. Nepalese are peace-loving people and want to see peace, peace and more peace, so all should stop all types of violence, strikes and political confrontations from their political paths and strategies.

Source

Politics on Peace and Constitution in Nepal

By Krishnahari Pushkar

Nepal's much awaited highlevel political mechanism (HPM) finally has constituted, but there is much confusion. It is viewed differently in the national and international arena. Some political pundits look at the mechanism as an important milestone while others see a strategic conspiracy. Major national and internationally stakeholders including the UN conditionally and carefully welcomed the new mechanism, with the hope and belief it will lead to positive outcomes.

Interestingly, the voices of favor and dissent in HPM began on the day of its establishment. Senior leaders from some parties are against the mechanism and see it as a serious conspiracy.

Many people say they do not understand this dramatic development of how the political parties and leaders came so easily to join together on this political mechanism without compromising and building consensus over the conflicting political agendas.

The important issue is that HPM is neither politically-democratically approved, nor is there a clear working strategy. So people are curious to know how such a mechanism will cope with the existing paradoxical scenario where the ruling and opposition parties are being confronted and endlessly conducting political marathons against each other. Frankly speaking, the ruling and opposition parties are not on the right track. All are focused on power-games rather than contributing towards the logical end of the peace process and building the constitution for New Nepal.

The parties and their leaders have forgotten their principal mandates, and they have deviated from the path they committed to. Specifically, peace building through successful implementation of a comprehensive peace accord (CPA) and restructuring the state through constitution building should be the principal goals of the national polity. However, both issues are in limbo and have become matters of lower priority.

I believe what is needed is a clear and visionary roadmap, using HPM, with really positive goals and objectives working towards the peace process and constitution building. Otherwise, it will be understood publicly as a continuation of a strategic conspiracy culture against the existing coalition government.

The mechanism should able to expose clearly how they will handle the issue of Maoist version of civil supremacy, madhesi and other ethnic version of inclusion and federalism, the confused and misguided version of PLA integration and many more contemporary issues that have become issues of mutual face-offs among the parties. In addition, HPM should describe the agreed structure of the cabinet and how they work to address the national agenda and priority.

These are really crucial questions for all Nepalese as well as concerned institutions and agencies, so it must be clarified beforehand to see the HPM as a part of positive effort and commitment for the peace process and constitution building.

Experts illustrate that peace process and constitution writing will not be successes until Nepal gets a multi party coalition government and common political consensus on the aforementioned issues. The peace process and constitution writing may be further paralyzed if even a single political actor is ignored or excluded from both the peace and constitution building processes. Therefore, all parties and political forces should be given equal importance and treated democratically in a rational manner.

In plain view, the peace process should reach almost a logical destination once the cantonment based former Maoist guerrillas are successfully managed in accordance with the letter and spirit of the CPA and Interim Constitution of Nepal (ICN).

The ruling party and opposition both are avoiding the major issues by using various crosscutting power-politics, and switching day by day the public commitments. In addition, in the name of democracy and politics, all of the Nepalese political parties are acting beyond political ethics. The general Public are irritated and fed up with Nepalese political culture, the smaller and bigger all parties believe that criminalized politics, militarized activities and roughshod impunity are the ways to oppose the government while they live in the opposition room.

Nowadays, no political parties look at legacy, legitimacy, rationality, relevancy and utility of their political activities, rather they have a blind desire to capturing the cabinet. In such context, how can Nepalese people expect positive value from HPM without experiencing the forthcoming impacts into practice? The people are in confusion. The HPM has created a huge illusion among the stakeholders of the Nepalese peace and constitution building process.

The international community, specially the UN believe that HPM is a product of continuous efforts of United Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) and also the UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon, but it is just a misconception. It is because the HPM was not constituted in accordance with the spirit of diplomatic efforts, peace accord and constitutional provision.

It is sad to say, in many ways, the UNMIN is a failed mission, not able to achieve its even minimum assigned tasks and responsibilities.

It has not done much except to have a nominal role in technical affairs of cantonment management, verification, political marketing and to pay just limited diplomatic courtesy. The UNMIN is observed as an ambiguous agency that raises the situation of confrontation among the major political parties.

One can ask why does the UNMIN still stand, given such failure and low performance? Experts say it is only to respect the UN resolution and to maintain the relationship with UN for future support and continuation of ongoing development process and post conflict affairs of Nepal.

The UNMIN is seen by opposition political parties in Nepal, as a pro-Maoist institution, however, this is not completely true, even though politicians blame it for being so. The UNMIN became unpopular due to weak diplomacy of its managers; most of them have been unable to even deliver proper diplomatic output and failed to maintain the minimum diplomatic code of conduct. Most of the UNMIN officials poorly manage their assigned roles and dutiess in the peace and conflict affairs of Nepal.

They are unable to manage effectively even the cantonment, verification process etc and to deliver diplomatic pressure on respective politicians to enforce CPA efficiently, duties assigned by UN resolutions.

The Politicians are polarized on UNMIM performance, some of the politicians have strong affection and some of them are alienated, so the public are under serous confusion to identify who is right and who is wrong. The reality is that UNMIN failed to maintain balanced relationsips and deliver impartiality, neutrality and diplomatic capabilities. That being the case, the HPM must unite and make necessary common consensus to deal with UNMIN. The HPM needs to exploit the positive features of UNMIN systematically, that could be helpful to facilitate the ongoing peace process to a logical end.

Nepal has a history of the sorriest experiences of constitutional instability, changing its constitution so often. The HPM must succeed, to include the needed characteristics in the new constitution to make it more sustainable, visionary, reliable, and people and nation centric.

The HPM must learn from the countries where the constitution functions well over decades, especially from the US, Canada, Australia, India, France, Switzerland. Those constitutions have nice characteristics, are well established and considered good constitutions by their people and the world.

Among these constitutions, we found some common similarities; holding enough public legitimacy, having greater public and political trust and respect, addressing the greater degree of domestic and international affairs. The constitutions are also successes in transforming diversity into pluralism, addressing the need and desire of excluded, marginalized and deprived groups and societies of the nation, delivering good governance, making rational redistribution and maintaining social justice.

The assurances of public rights and high level of liberties is a common feature among them; they also guarantee civil supremacy, good governance, constitutionalism and rule of law. However, the meaning, definition and understanding of the discussed characteristics may be differed in each country and context. In addition, the constitutions are capable enough to deal with the possible peace building, conflict management and to handle the contemporary issues of the respective nations.

The rational flexibility of the constitutions allow them to respond to unexpected matters and future affairs of the nation. These constitutions are considered very homely and nationalistic, and developed in accordance with the need and importance of the nation. They mention international dignity and cope with international diplomacy by leading their images in the international arena. Indeed, providing good national security and maintaining national unity and integration is also a principal strength of these constitutions.

One of the most essential strength of the constitutions is that states are efficiently and significantly providing all basic and common goods, services and opportunity to the people without disorder and discrimination. The scientific provisions of justified power sharing, constitutional provisions to respect the majorities and preservation of minorities on the basis of equality and equity are additional strengths.

The justified social inclusion and scientific representation provisions are major, to provide the opportunity for national mainstreaming. The constitutions have assured discrimination free society and necessary legal arrangements against any disqualification of people's life and governance.

In short, these constitutions have capabilities to bring and maintain peace and harmony in the nation. The exemplified constitutions are well capable to manage conflicts in efficient ways; proved capable to keep their people and nation happy, healthy, and prosperous. The constitutions are capable of providing solutions of the majority of national sociopolitical issues.

The ruling and oppositions parties pay equal respect to the constitution. It does not a matter whether the countries are practicing capitalism, socialism, or a mix of governance or adopt unitary, federalism, confederation or any other type of government or governance. The illustrated constitutions provide different types of approaches for governances or government, but all are considered successful to a greater extent because they have been delivering and bearing those characteristics lucratively in a systematic and scientific manner.

Generally, every constitution should be capable of keeping their nation and people more happy, healthy and prosperous, which are considered major characteristics of a sustainable constitution. Therefore, the HPM must be careful and capable to include those essential characteristics in the upcoming constitution of Nepal, if they are committed to making the new constitution sustainable and successful, otherwise unpredictable forces will go in revolt and start fighting for new constitution as happened in the past.

In this regard, the HPM has many challenges and opportunities ahead with huge possibilities of successes, if they act honestly, jointly and continuously in accordance with the people's mandate and spirit of the Interim Constitution of Nepal, by keeping the national interest and people's wishes at teh forefront as a guiding principle of their duties and responsibilities. It seems the principal conditions for HPM are to unite all active parties and politicians to get common political consensus from inside and outside of the power-gameboard to deal with the issue of the peace and constitution building process.

They must achieve national consensus and an all parties coalition government to ensure the logical end of CPA and to achieve the successful and sustainable constitution in due time. The HPM must concentrate on common national agenda and priority rather than focusing on changing the particular parties or leader from the Government.

So I wish Good Luck to the HPM!

(Mr. Krishnahari Pushkar writes about social issues, security and conflict management, often in relation to Nepal. An Under Secretary of Government in Nepal, he is well honored as a Peace, Security and Conflict Management Professional, who contributes regularly to national and international nongovernmental organizations as a peace and conflict management expert.)

Source: http://newsblaze.com/story/20100111132807abha.nb/topstory.html

Nepal: Disappearing Security in Occlusion

Nepal: Fully responsible and accountable governance and government, both are the essential conditions to a successful security system. The national security leaders as well as high ranking officials must work hard to resolve the security lapses problem properly, otherwise they should quite immediately from their public posts in ethical and moral ground.

Please see detail,

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Nepal-Disappearing-Securi-by-Krishna-Hari-Pushk-100110-734.html

Monday, January 11, 2010
Nepal: Disappearing Security in Occlusion
Nepal: Fully responsible and accountable governance and government, both are the essential conditions to a successful security system. The national security leaders as well as high ranking officials must work hard to resolve the security lapses problem properly, otherwise they should quite immediately from their public posts in ethical and moral ground.

Friday, December 25, 2009
Security Sector Reform in Nepal:With reference to UNSCR 1325
The United Nation Security Council Resolution 1325 and Security Sector Reform is significantly relevance to each other. So, the meaningful incorporation of 1325 into national security and defense mechanism of Nepal may only bring expected impact in favor of women during conflict or post conflict situation as expected by UNSCR 1325.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Nepal:National Security System is under Threat
It is urgent need for Government of Nepal to find out immediately that how did NIDN's secret reports become public besides its sophisticated secret proceedings system. Please find out who is guilty and where is the fractures in our system?

Saturday, December 12, 2009
Nepal: Polity for Peace
The article deals with the political dilemmas of ongoing peace and constitution building process of Nepal and it provides possible ways out of the topsy-turvydom. It highlights the contemporary affairs of Nepalese political culture. Specially, it prescribes the proficient ways to end all types of political impunity, undemocratic practices, and finally discuss the ways to bring out the off-track politics into peoples' platform.

Monday, November 2, 2009
Nepal's Dual Citizenship: A Suicidal Decision?
Dual Napalese Citizenship will be a big threat to democracy, sovereignty, integration and harmony as well as to society too. Such a policy could push our nation towards serious problem, if the government introduces the policy without analyzing the potential impact. Therefore, the government should have an open referendum before approving the policy.

Sunday, November 1, 2009
Asking for a Rethink on US Immigration Diplomacy
The US must introduce and practice universally approved norms of immigration diplomacy that will help to know and identify the right of people in right manner. In the name of security the US should not boost the number of enemies.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Nepal's Tumbling Peace
It is unfortunate that some vested politicians' declares that re-insurgency or re-warfare is held in search of peace, however it has proved blunder to impel for “Breach Peace for Peace”.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Nepal's Special Security Plan: Political Stunt?
Nepal is a one of the most leading domicile of many ethno-political insurgents. Since longtime, the country has lost its normalcy of law and order, good governance, civil supremacy, and democratic practices due to fast growing ratio of institutional and private criminal and their rebellion activities. Sadly, the country is terrorized and under control of ochlocracy.

Monday, August 10, 2009
Diplomacy for Visa Lust?
The radical visa strategy which is imposed by the developed world over the developing countries helps spread conflict, discrimination, exploitation, segregation, terrorism, and also swells the gaps between the poor and rich world. It denies human rights and lessens the dignity, development and sovereignty of people.

Monday, December 8, 2008
Security
(2 comments) The developed nations must help developing countries to improve and enforce a better meaning and practice of efficient and effective security systems to cope with their emerging challenges.

Monday, November 3, 2008
Nepal: Non-Madhesis Occupied Madhesi Quota: An Open Challenge to Constitution
The concerned parties and affiliated authorities should be careful and need to work immediately on this issue; otherwise it could add another tension over the Madhes conflict.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Empower Home Administration in Nepal
Nepal is suffering with lawlessness, and even our Government presence is in crisis in entire rural areas. Therefore, immediate empowerment of Home Affairs through restructure, reengineering, and betterment in legal, structural, financial, physical, personnel, academic, and development areas are most essential.

Friday, September 12, 2008
Conflict Sensitive Strategy in Nepal
Nepal Government should immediately impose a rule or directive to adopt the conflict sensitive strategy into practice in entire development or possible administrative sectors of Nepal.

Saturday, August 30, 2008
The Prejudiced Nepalese Media and Anti-Khas Madhesis
(2 comments) The nationalization and mainstreaming of Hindi in Nepal is not well received among Nepalese citizens due to neocolonial grand design of India. Madhesis will not agree to lose their mother tongue and promote or accept Hindi as a means of common language of communication in Madhes region at any cost.

Sunday, July 13, 2008
Communalism Is Superior to Nationalism
Nepal Minister of Home Affairs: Communalism is superior to, and influences insurgency more than, nationalism. The higher degree or intensive influences of communalism are dangerous to sustainable peace and security. It can adversely affect social harmony in pluralistic society. But communalism can be managed by adequately addressing economic discrimination and political exclusion, and by preserving ethnic heritages.

Thursday, December 20, 2007
Seeds of Ethno-Civil War in Terai
There are many issues of concern in contemporary Nepali politics, including the stalled peace process. A new twist is visible now with the resignation of some Madhesi lawmakers. Some say that the senior leaders of seven-party alliance must be blamed for pushing Madheshi ethno political movement one-step forward to the separation of Nepal or the formation of a new nation in the South Asian periphery.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Guerrilla's Merger into Army? : Unfortunate!
It is about Nepal concerning the Guerrilla's Merger into Army issue. It is very research based strategic article with suitable solution, so it is very significant and worthy.

Nepal’s National Security is Under Threat

To,

1. Rt. Hon. Prime Minister

Government of Nepal

2. Hon. Home Minister,

Government of Nepal

3. Respt. Chief Secretary

Government of Nepal

4. Respt. Home Secretary

Government of Nepal

Subject: Open Letter: “National Security System is under Threat”

Dear Extraordinary,

I am very sad and feel huge terror to see the functional pathos of National Investigation Department of Nepal (NIDN), which is the government’s principal intelligence agency collecting, analyzing, and managing information related to country’s internal security and related affairs. Byelaw and practice, the national spy agency NIDN and its overall functional and administrative activities are considered as one of the most secret at all time. Internationally and nationally, the secretiveness of the NIDN’s activities is most indispensable, so universally it is protected by constitution, professional Act and law related to right to information.

Dear extraordinary, the conventional and modern governance system and polity also have no rights to go beyond the universally legitimated parameter of concealment. As we all know that NIDN plays significant role to maintain effective and efficient security system, especially in terms of harmonizing internal security. It prevents from the possible threat on inter-intra national security, equally, it has huge role in balancing the Nepal related diplomatic quandaries between China and India. Also, we know the secrecy is a breath of the any intelligence institution, so no way to maintain intelligence or spy system without respecting the ethics of secrecy.

Extraordinary, I would like to draw your serious attention about the recent publicity of NIDN’s secret report on “Buddhist monasteries involvement in the Free Tibet movement and anti-China activities” that how such secret report came into media besides its huge security and secrecy system. It made me very annoyed and KO'd. You might know that such publicity can damage our bilateral diplomatic relation and could raise further tensions to deal within the neighborhoods. Similarly, I have heard that many NIDN’s secret report is being out via some dishonest officials. Some of the NIDN’s report is being misused against our national interest. Some criminals may have benefitted too. Therefore, it is urgent need for our government to find out immediately that how NIDN’s secret reports become public besides its sophisticated secret proceedings system. Please find out who is guilty and where is fracture in our system?

Extraordinary, please be serious and constitute immediately an experts’ taskforce to find out first that how such important reports came into media? Further, the culprits should be immediately removed out from the NIDN and Home Ministry’s intelligence system. I think Government needs to rethink in overall management and reengineering of NIDN institution, otherwise national security will come under serious threat and national sovereignty may push into crisis, if such thing continues. Please take necessary precautions without delay.

Therefore, as a capacity of Nepalese citizen, I would like to draw your urgent attention to concentrate on the above mentioned issue and address the problem with high priority.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Krishna Hari Pushkar,

Suga-4, Mahottari, Nepal December 8, 2009

Email: khpushkar@gmail.com

(Note: Mr. Pushkar is Peace and Conflict Management Professional and Under Secretary of Government of Nepal)

Asking for a Rethink on US Immigration Diplomacy

By Krishna Hari Pushkar

The US immigration diplomacy is ridiculous and inimical for the developing world. It fuels anti-American anger in the developing world, and it assists terrorists who always keep an eye open to see weakness in the US position. Therefore, urgent reform is needed to address the horror of the exiting immigration diplomacy.

The enduring US immigration diplomacy has become frosty for non-US citizens. Every time, foreigners have to pass through a hapless screaming while facing the visa process or to get immigration clearance at the port of entry in the United States. Foreigners are not against the existing law and process but the behavior by US Immigration authorities. It is sad to describe that most of the travelers are not happy and get upset while they face the US officials. Foreigners clearly experience the racism, humiliation, domination and discrimination while passing through US visa and immigration processes.

After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the US applied and enforced all possible powers and strategies for better national security, which is appreciated in many ways. However, to tighten up and maintain the dignity and rights of travelers during the visa and immigration clearance process at the point of entry does not require lowering of proper manners and professional ways of the US officials. The US is being highly criticized abroad for its actions. There are plenty of examples that the US has extended direct and indirect apologies for such wrongdoings in many cases, but there has not yet been any serious reform to address the issues.

The process should be delivered in a professional and courteous manner as Americans have been enjoying and expecting in other countries. A US official may examine the documents and conduct needed inquiries in a decent, disciplined and respectful manner. Almost all developing countries have experienced that even their VIPs were insulted during the visa obtaining and immigration clearance process.

There are international laws and universally accepted diplomatic norms concerning the immigration and border security policy, approved and accepted by almost all international communities and nations.

It is always sad to hear a US spokesperson reporting that outsiders were detained or inhumanly interrogated, refused or delayed or barred from visa or clearance due to some security or technical reason, which often is questioned by others in the world. Human rights defenders and international communities question US authorities about their conduct of immigration and security clearances. Many say the US visa and immigration clearance procedures are unacceptable. Poorly designed processes and procedures are an assault on the dignity and rights of sovereign people.

The US immigration process is like a curfew for foreigners. It is well accepted that continuous "curfew" cannot be a perfect tool to control violent groups or to protect life, liberty and property of the people. The curfew is one of the most important tools for security. Curfew cannot be imposed for long term because when security is tightened, public freedom is kept under strict control. This is why the US visa and immigration clearance procedure seems like a curfew. The US authority must transform the curfew into a professional regular process otherwise it will be tagged like the ineffective curfews during ethnic insurgency.

The currently imposed visa and immigration procedures degrade the national and public prestige of the US. Such policies increase the anger against the US and it's Government. There are many examples the US visa and Immigration policy have turned foreign people and experts to act against the interest of the US. Consequently the time will come when few foreigners will remain to work in and interest of the US and finally the lonely US will be in the global enemies list for rest of the world. Supremacy is nice but loneliness is painful, so the US must understand this horrible symptom and should be careful to guard against this vulnerability. The growing population of anti-American foreigners could be assistive to the terrorists' strategy, whose principal goal is to create an anti American environment across the world and to depose the US from it's existing prosperous position.

Some experts raise a question to the immigration and border security officials, asking how they can judge the profile of a person in so short a time? Physical profile may be examined by submitted or presented documents but psychological or mental status may not be judged until the traveler speaks during their inquiry, which is almost impossible that any people wants to be fail by his/her own causes.

How can an official judge someone in a minute or even in an hour? Researchers claim that security is mainly related to psychological affairs rather than physical perspective. Document examination and a short FAQ are not enough to judge someone on their affiliation with anti-security activities. If it was so, then why were terrorists able to obtain visas successfully, through tight and sophisticated visa interviews? If the visa and immigration offers can judge properly then why do they not deny the visa application rather to conduct inhuman and insulting behavior during the immigration and security clearance at the port of entry in the US? Sometimes, if there is strong proof against someone then there might be some exceptional cases that they have to pass through very strict and abnormal process in the port of entry.

The developing countries have many examples that the US embassy helps their citizens even when doing punishable acts. US authorities extend official protests when US citizens face delay, or a hard time while clearing security and visa even in normal manner. US citizens enjoy privileges in terms of visa and immigration clearance process in many countries. There are very rare incidents of visa refusal or refusal from the entry clearance of US passport holders. The US seems to consider visa refusal and entry refusal of its citizens as a national insult. It also considers as a big question over the national prestige and poor-ranking of its diplomacy.

The US often refuses citizens of developing countries in the visa and entry clearance processes. It is not a matter whether the visa or entry seekers is minister, parliamentarian, celebrity or approved vip, they just see the passport book, if it is found issued by any developing government. The US authorities should keep in mind that what happens if the developing countries also ask for equal treatment or "Tit for Tat? Does the US accept and ready to face similar cost? Of course not, so the US authorities also need to think about such pitiable situation that how they are acting against the people of developing countries.

Most foreigners are neither in negative list nor have bad intentions, so the people who have no bad intentions should not be terrorized in the name of security provisions and immigration diplomacy. Normal travelers should be handled normally. The US is very prosperous, exemplary and the richest country in the world. So, the US may develop special tools, techniques and mechanism to control the activity and movement of the foreigners while they are in the US.

Hong Kong and Singapore are good examples for immigration diplomacy. It is hard for foreigners to get a visa and immigration clearance in Hong Kong, Luxemburg, Norway, Macau and Singapore but the manner of the officials with foreigners is not so rude. These have the lowest crime rate in global ranking index but are considered most successful for their immigration diplomacy. In these places, foreigners are controlled with laws and they keep foreigners efficiently and tactfully under security surveillance. For the US, it is hard to get visa and clearance from the immigration at the point of entry, but once you enter, foreigners are not stressed for further activity. Foreigners who enter often live there for a long time, if they live in a normal way. There are many foreigners living in the United States breaking visa laws but the authorities are silent.

For example, people obtain tourist visa but they work or study, students obtain study visa but they work indefinitely after completion of study, no matter whether you are living without having the proper category of visa stamped in the passport. Even in the US Bank, the over stay or illegal alien do not requires visa strictly for banking transactions. People can join and continue the academic and training institution without obtaining the respective visa.

There are no authorities who have exact and updated records and files on the foreigners' activity. Of course there are many institutions and mechanism developed by the US laws however they are limited in formalities. There is minimal supervision and control over foreigners' activities, once inside the US.

It is totally erroneous to know the US authorities still believe that only tightening visa and immigration clearance at the border security point can save the country from possible danger. To outsiders, this seems unbelievable.

They should also think immediately about the negative impact of such terror that how general foreigners may react over such behavior. The US is a country of prosperity, opportunity, power and freedom. People have extreme craze to travel, live, work, study, and stay in the US. Such charming and attraction continues only while the US maintains and offers the minimum standards of humanity towards the outlanders.

The US universal commitment and avowal towards pluralism, diversity and broader human rights will be broken if the US is unable to pay attention and transform into a friendly and acceptable immigration diplomacy.

The US must introduce and practice universally approved norms of immigration diplomacy that will help to know and identify the right of people in right manner. In the name of security the US should not boost the number of enemies. The US government should be very careful and realize that such ridiculous policy is also somehow helping the terrorist strategies who have been always acting to weaken and keep the US from global friendship.

I believe the Government of United States should rethink the current defective Immigration Diplomacy.

(Mr. Pushkar is a Peace, Security and Conflict Management Professional and Currently Works under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Nepal, khpushkar@gmail.com )

Published by News Blaze,

Web link: http://newsblaze.com/story/20090816121842zzzz.nb/topstory.html