Times of India Editorial:

Nepal Under Siege

[ TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2004 12:00:01 AM ]

Maoist rebels bring Himalayan kingdom to standstill

We have long warned that the situation in Nepal is fast spinning out of control. Recent events suggest that in fact things might get worse than we thought. For almost the past week Maoist rebels who operated only in far-flung areas of the country have now sealed off Kathmandu from vital supplies by blocking routes from India. At the same time, police outposts in the further realms of the country are still under attack. On Sunday evening, at least one government soldier was killed and six policemen taken hostage when rebels launched a major offensive in Khangala town in western Nepal. New Delhi repeats that it is 'watching the situation carefully'. But it is becoming increasingly obvious that a more energetic engagement needs to be made by India in this strategic and sensitive backyard. The grapevine has it that India has stepped up supplies of arms and materiel to help the Nepalese forces combat the Maoists. There must have been back-door diplomacy to try to bring the contending parties to the negotiating table. However, so far a solution has remained elusive, with the rebels insisting that a total ceasefire and the calling of a constituent assembly should be the precondition for talks.


The palace would be reluctant ý to put it mildly ý to liquidate itself. However, some concessions have to be made by both sides. The point is ý which party or parties are best suited to play the honest broker? Considering India's close economic, social and cultural ties with the Himalayan kingdom, New Delhi would seem to be ideally suited for the role. But India has, for far too long, been seen as a big bully, not only by Nepal but by other smaller neighbours as well. Any talks held under the obvious auspices of India would be doomed to failure. So, what are the alternatives? The present situation obviously cannot be permitted to continue. On their part, the Maoists, splintered as they are, have said they would be willing for a UN-monitored process. New Delhi and other friends of Nepal should try and persuade the palace to accede to this request. The donor agencies and NGOs, whose presence in Nepal cannot be wished away, could also play a positive role by endorsing such a move. Insurgency has brought Nepal's tourism-driven economy to a grinding halt. The prospect of India being saddled with another refugee problem is not exactly remote.