News, Views From Nepal

Yuba Nath Lamsal The present Nepali Congress-CPN-UML coalition government headed by Congress President Sushil Koirala has completed its 100 days in office. The 100 days for a new government headed by an inexperienced Prime Minister are just the period to get familiar with the matters relating to governance and it virtually cannot take any concrete actions within this period. However, this is the period that is sufficient for any government to prioritize its agendas and policies and set clear goals and action plan to achieve what it wants in a long-term basis. But the government with experienced prime minister and other cabinet members can do a lot during this period. Thus, the period of 100 days for a new government is called a honeymoon period to get things started. On the basis of the 100 days the performance of any new government cannot be evaluated and its activities generalized. However, this period is sufficient enough to set an appropriate course of future actions and ...

Yuba Nath Lamsal In the eyes of many, foreign policy and diplomacy are a purely elitist domain or the prerogative of the government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This belief, rightly or wrongly, is in vogue not only in Nepal but elsewhere as well. This, perhaps, is why foreign policy is kept away from public discourse and scrutiny. The general people are not allowed to participate in the discourses and decision-making related to foreign policy and diplomacy. Only a handful of elites of the ruling class have a say in foreign policy formulation and conduct of diplomacy. Sea change But with the march of time, there has been phenomenal change in the individual’s thinking, way of life and the conduct of public affairs. The realm of foreign policy and the conduct of diplomacy, too, have seen and undergone a sea change and transformation at the national as well as global scale, both in principle and practice. With the advent of democracy sweeping across the world,...

Yuba Nath Lamsal In the present interconnected and interdependent world due mainly to the revolution in the field of information and communication technology, diplomacy plays greater role in fostering greater cooperation among the nations and peace and just order in the world.   No single country in the world is fully self-reliant on all aspects and the countries are, in one way or the other, dependent on others for various reasons. This situation is more prevalent in the present world known as a technology- driven small global village than ever before.   A country cannot survive and prosper in isolation irrespective of how powerful and developed it might be. International links, relations and cooperation are necessary not only for one’s own survival and security but for a global peace and interest of the humanity at large. The necessity of mutual cooperation gave rise to the evolution of foreign policy and diplomacy in the world. Foreign policy is a strategy whereas...

Yuba Nath Lamsal Foreign policy is said to be the extension of domestic policy, which is true to a greater degree in idealist approach and theory of international relation. It is true that foreign policy is not an independent entity but a political tool to pursue and protect the national interest defined by a state at home, while diplomacy is a tactical procedure to ensure that the foreign policy goals and priorities are achieved. However, in the realist approach, this notion may not always and necessarily be true and applicable especially in a country like ours. When it comes to practical diplomacy taking the national interest into the uppermost account of a country, tactics and tricks change in pursuing the broader national interest. In such a circumstances, the immediate approach taken in the foreign policy front to cope with the changes taken place and events fast unfolding in the international arena or in the neighborhood, may appear conflicting between what we tradition...

Yuba Nath Lamsal The national convention of the UCPN-Maoist was recently held and concluded in Biratnagar of East Nepal with adopting a new political line and electing a new central leadership. In the conclave participated in by more than 1000 representatives, chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal ‘ Prachanda’ presented a political report concerning party’s new political line   whereas other leaders put forth organizational and other reports which were overwhelmingly adopted by the floor. In fact, there was no dissenting voice on the political report presented by party chairman Prachanda except a few suggestions for its improvement and perfection. It had been widely believed that the UCPN-Maoist Biratnagar conclave would instill more energy and enthusiasm in the party organization so that it may revive its old glory that the party had lost in the last Constituent Assembly election. However, the national convention concluded amidst controversy and even threat from a section led by ...