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VOL. 27, NO. 34, May 09, 2008 (Baishakh 27 2065 B.S.)
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Food For Thought
An informal gathering of diplomats fuels speculations about formal developments
By SUHIL SHARMA
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PM Koirala: Food for thought |
It was a customary lunch-on Nepali Congress leader Narayan Khadka hosts every year for the Kathmandu-based diplomats. Few used to take notice of the event in the past.
This year, the event made headlines. Not over the gathering of the heads and the acting heads of the six western missions, as such. But over the presence of the officiating head of state and the prime minister of Nepal, Girija Prasad Koirala.
The apparently outgoing prime minister spent half an hour with the diplomats. They included the acting head of the US mission who is officiating in the absence of his boss currently in Wasinghton for consultations on how to deal with the prospects of a communist-led government in a country that borders Tibet.
Politics was the last thing Koirala said he wanted to discuss. “I am here just to share a few relaxing moments,” Koirala told the host and his guests as he stepped inside the Vedbas at Hepali, just outside the Maharajgunj ringroad.
As it turned out, it was politics that, understandably, dominated the chat over lunch.
The host, Khadka, refused to divulge the details. All he had to say was, “nothing substantive was discussed.”
No reason to doubt him. But the fact remains that most of the western democratic governments are still struggling to come to terms with the “shocking and surprising” poll performance of the red brigade in Nepal. Ditto with the influential neighbor, India
Public postures and diplomatic niceties notwithstanding, the international community is definitely not sure of the days ahead under a prospective Maoist-led government. Especially after the international election observers’ hasty clean chit to the Maoists win came under a heavy scanner.
As head of a Kathmandu-based prominent western organization asked, “how do you explain the fact that not a single Maoist winner figures in the list of 12 who had been challenged in the constituency assembly court over their victory in the CA election.”
“Sheer fear” he himself gives the answer. It is clear that the Maoist intimidation factor is very much in the minds of the western community. That is the reason they are not sure of the days ahead.
Combine this with Koirala’s infamous intoxication with power. All kinds of speculations would automatically follow.
