French Immigration dispute: Tough road ahead for Socialist government

- Pramod Raj Sedhain
pramodsedhain@gmail.com

On October 9, 15-year-old Leonarda Dibrani was expelled from the eastern French town of Levier and deported to Kosovo along with her family. Leonarda’s expulsion has triggered anger against the Government. Emotional student protests and the deported case has been the centre debate over French immigration. Government spokeswoman Najat Vallaud-Belkacem has urged patience while the incident is investigated.
French President Francois Hollande has offered her return to finish her studies. In a live television speech, President Hollande said, “If she makes a request, and if she wants to continue her studies, she will be given a welcome, but only her.” Later in the day, Dibrani rejected President Hollande’s offer. Prime Minister Jean-Marc Aero had promised in the parliament to provide fixes a potential error in the right of the evicted family and said, “In the event proved an error, the expulsion order will be canceled outside the borders of this family will return to the re- determination of the dossier.”
On September 24, French interior minister Manuel Valls said most of some 20,000 Roma migrants housed in makeshift camps around French cities could never be integrated into the French society and should be “taken back to the border” for transfer to Romania and Bulgaria.
Migration policy has been a major political topic in the past few decades in France and seen a new cause for debate. Immigration has always been a controversial issue of France since 2000 French immigration law has been tight. Political debates expanded over time to include the role of immigration in such issues as national identity, migrant incorporation, security, and terrorism. President Hollande has intended making changes in the French immigration law.

The situation in France has seen some major improvements since he took office. France holds a record for legislative change in the area of immigration. The immigration-flow decreased by the early 1970′s when the economic crisis generated a low employment rate in the country. Since 1973, immigration policy in France focused primarily on stemming and deterring migration. Major reforms were passed in France in 1980, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1997, and 1998. Immigrants’ integration and promoting French identity, honoring the French tradition’s principle by welcoming political asylum to promote solidarity within the immigrant population was a policy that the country adopted.

France is home to more than five million people of Arab and African descent. It’s colonial past is a major contributing factor in the presence of a richly diverse multicultural population. French Interior Minister Valls criticized the hardliner immigration policies of the former French President and described as “random, discriminatory obstacle course” and expressed the view that immigration should, instead, be an “engine of integration.”
Career of charismatic leader: opportunity or challenges
Manuel Valls, a socialist charismatic leader, action-oriented French Interior Minister is widely considered as the country’s next Prime Minister. In the 2012 presidential election, the energetic leader was the communications director of Socialist party and one of the major pillars of the Francois Hollande election campaign team. The emerging figure of France Valls adopted the harder-line of security policy and now in battle against immigration.
The optimistic Interior Minister strongly defends his immigration policy and saying, “nothing will divert me from my course” following widespread criticism in the media and from his own political party after a 15-year old girl of Roma gypsy origin and her family were rounded up and deported. He said he would continue current efforts to return undocumented migrants to their countries of origin despite criticism. President François Hollande made a televised speech in which he said Leonarda could return to France to continue her studies, but without the rest of her family.
Opposition MPs on both the left and right have joined students in calling for Valls’ resignation. But he has no intention of stepping down, even if the family had been allowed to return to France. The minister popularity describe as “ray of light” and his tough stance on crime and immigration, has internal support but wide outside criticism. Speaking at most of immigrant backgrounds audience of youngsters, the Spanish-born youthful good-looking minister Valls said: “I was born in Spain. I had to learn French. I was naturalized as French. My parents taught me to love France. This country needs optimism.” He added “My stance is not populist”.
The most popular French Minister describing himself as “reformist rather than revolutionary,” he wants to “reconcile the left to the liberal approach.” He is involved in politics when he was 17 when he joined the French Socialist Party. This student of history had an experience of advisor on youth issues (1988 – 1991) for Prime Minister Michel Rocard and Communications Advisor (1997- 2001) of Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. Before being appointed Interior Minister he served as Mayor of the town of Evry, from 2001 to 2012. With the slogan of “The Left Needs Optimism” on June 30, 2009, Valls founded a political organization, for purpose of candidacy for the Socialist primary. But, first primary round in 9 October 2011 Valls defeated and endorsed François Hollande for the second round. A minister had frequently accused for Roma gipsies don’t integrate well in France and called to ‘return to Romania or Bulgaria’. Amidst a backdrop of fresh controversial cause Interior Minister Valls’ political future seems not big shift of popularity, but reflects his hardliner politic against illegal migrant.

Destabilization Role in Nepal: Overt and Covert

-Pramod Raj Sedhain
pramodsedhain@gmail.com

Foreign forces have been frequently questioned over their overt and covert role in destabilizing Nepal. Various international actors in Nepal seem to involve in protect their geo-political, economical, regional and religious interest. Unfortunately, covert activities far from the reach of Nepali investigators and overt participants seem to be out of control of the government. The recent and ‘visible’ controversial role of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Kathmandu can be dubbed as one of such instance.
Nepal seeking to stabilize situation but Norway and some western countries are alleged to have been using various tools to destabilize and encourage ethnic turmoil in the pretext of peace, which ultimately is sure to plunge the country into internal conflict or even worse. These allegations can be justified if we sincerely peek into their activities. Norway has remained a champion of inciting conflict either in Myanmar, Sri-Lanka or Israel and Palestine. Some seem to benefit by the de facto partition of a country, for instance creating ethnic tension in Nepal with the long-term purpose of destabilizing China and India and hold political control in Nepal. This is woefully a silent issue.
Norway, whose role has been criticized in Nepal in recent times, is famed for controversial peace role in a third county aimed at seeking a global role. In the name of imposing various agendas and proposals, this country appear to be involved in covert assistance to some vested interest groups trying to destabilize Nepal.

What Norway really wants in Nepal?
Norway has been often criticized of delving into controversial peace initiative in several war-torn countries. Norwegian role has mounted criticism of coercing ethnic and other conflict in conflict-affected countries, including Burma or Sri Lanka. Norway involves in multi-million dollar project in the name of peace or humanitarian assistance with covert objective to destabilizing the state to influence its interest. Interestingly, Norway’s tactic has failed in every region, including Israel-Palestine conflict to Burma or Sri Lanka.
If we analyze Norway’s role thoroughly, it has incited ethic tension, destabilization in the name of mediation and donations or humanitarian aid. Norway – in the last few years – has focused in destabilizing Nepal, which is multi-racial, multi-linguistic, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural to fulfill its vested interest, particularly by fuelling ethnic tension to pave way towards mediating in Nepal’s peace and constitution. Nepal’s multi diversity has been a consequential ground to meddle for Norway.

Amplified activities of Norway
Nepal and Norway established diplomatic relations on January 26, 1973 and opened its residential embassy in Nepal on January 12, 2000. Norwegian Embassy assigned its staff to Gorkha and other remote areas to explore possible opportunities to expand its possible role and influence. During Nepal’s insurgency, Norway had even desired to mediate between the then Monarchy and the CPN-Maoist but to no avail. Norway has not remained a priority for Nepal until conflict started owing to our geo-political proximity, intimacy and of course cultural similarity. With the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord, Norwegian role increased significantly after it showed interest to engage in the peace process. With this, there were several high-level visits to Nepal seeking an influential role here.
Most significantly, the visit of Former Norwegian Peace Envoy to Sri Lanka Eric Solheim’s visit to Nepal clearly indicated that it desired an influential role in Nepal’s peace process. His failed role in Sri Lankan conflict would not have been acceptable here as well. The role of Norway as a peace mediator in Sri Lanka has been the most controversial issue with Eric as the key person. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Development Assistant Committee of the Economic Cooperation and Development Organization and playing a controversial role in Nepal through Norwegian Embassy in the pretext of donation.
Mr. Solheim was a key player in Nepal’s engagement policy. He visited Nepal on May 2-5, 2006, March 7 to 8, 2007. His last ministerial position was less than three months. His motive in Nepal was to restore his failed effort in Sri Lanka.
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg also visited Nepal on 8 February 2008. Nepal’s then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal paid an official visit to Norway on March 29-31, 2009. Norway wanted to influence one side of the conflict – either the government or the CPN-Maoist. However, since it failed to succeed, Norway opted for a different approach by providing NOK 30.6 million for Nepal Peace Trust Fund seeking its engagement and bolster influence.
Minister of International Development Mr. Heikki Holmas visited Nepal on 4-5 June 2012. Every visit by a Norwegian authority had a clandestine mission. After all efforts failed, Norway started playing a different role to destabilize Nepal and wanted to play the role of a mediator to earn international fame. The role gathered speed by covertly supporting some ethnic groups in the name of human rights or transitional justice.
What we do?
Nepal, in fact, has a weak strategic and foreign policy. This is sure to give space to foreign powers or donors to interfere by taking advantage of the fluid situation. Norwegian provoking role or activities cannot be acceptable for Nepal’s traditional neighbors – China or India. Norway has been provoking several groups by making huge investments in favor of ethnicity-based federalism. Growing foreign influence in Nepal in the name of donation, human right, justice, inclusiveness, federalism has weakened nationalist forces as well as Nepal’s political parties in recent times.
Failing to act strongly to rein-in Norway’s role will – without doubt – lead to unfortunate circumstances. It is high time that Nepalese leaders and people work towards preserving Nepal’s unity in diversity. We must need to ensure the country’s diversity on an equal basis to create ethnic balance in all sectors by discarding the donor’s interests. Norway honestly does not want to contribute, preserve or promote Nepal’s ethnic diversity. It simply is hell-bent on destabilizing the age-old harmony through donations.
The policy and priority should not be to serve such country like Norway inciting ethnic conflict in the name of peace. These countries have been trying to play in the Chinese strategic region, Tibet, which is becoming an opening point for Nepal. If we fail to control such activities, these vested interest groups will not only destabilize Nepal but will also spread its wings to strategically destabilize both China and India. The increasing reliance of donors will only widen rift among Nepalese politicians and professionals. Nepal needs to maintain this effort and strength to safeguard its national interest by confronting any overt and covert plots.

Norway’s controversial role in conflict
Infamous for third party mediator, Norway has played controversial roles in several conflict-afflicted countries. Norway, the self proclaimed truly neutral peace broker, does not have a good history. However, it boasts of being a mediator in international peace processes, which began in 1992 between Israel and Palestinian leadership. The process started covertly and held 14 secret sessions but crucial negotiations process failed without progress.
Norway also engaged in the ethnic Kachin conflict in Myanmar. Peace Support Initiative under the Norwegian coordination initiative failed to achieve fruitful result. Norway played futile roles by providing multi-million dollar in the name of humanitarian and peace efforts in Burma. The Myanmar government has also accused Norway of donating without the government’s consent. 40 percent of the Burmese population is ethnic minorities. Therefore, the government fears that Norwegian donation might fuel ethnic tension.
Another instance of Norwegian failure was in Sri Lanka. Norway’s direct indication to negotiate or facilitate in the Sri Lankan conflict was in February, 2002. On 12 September 2006, Norway announced that the Sri Lanka Government and Tamil Tigers had agreed to hold “unconditional peace talks” in October in Oslo. But the Sri Lanka government criticized the Norwegian role and cancelled the talks since the announcement of the date and venue was made without the consent of the Sri Lankan government. Norway’s intention was not to bring peace in Sri Lanka. In early 2011, Norway offered to play another role aimed at reconciling Tamils living abroad, which Sri Lankan government flatly refused with the fear of ethnic tension. The former LTTE regional commander and a current Sri Lankan member of parliament Colonel Karuna exposed Norway’s role in Sri Lankan conflict in an interview. They disclosed Norwegian support for the LTTE and the existence of exchange money, goods, and expensive gifts to penetrate the LTTE leadership. Norway also sought mediation in the Pakistan conflict as well as Kashmir issue, which yielded no results.

PRAMOD SEDHAIN: नेटो– रुस विवाद परिणाम

नेटो– रुस विवाद परिणाम

नेटो– रुस विवाद परिणाम

प्रमोदराज सेढाई

pramodsedhain@gmai.com

Pakistan Elections: Hope and Fear

- Pramod Raj Sedhain (after returning from Pakistan)

After decades of military rule and political instability, this is the first time in the Pakistan's history that a civilian government will transfer power through ballot box. The landmark elections set for May 11 is in full swing. Despite the security challenges, Pakistan’s politicians have started boosting their election campaigning efforts for the final stretch. The Election Commission has set up more than 73,000 polling stations, with 20,000 earmarked as 'sensitive or most sensitive'. Pakistan will deploy more than 600,000 security personnel, including police, paramilitary rangers, tribal police and national volunteers in the upcoming election. The army has announced that 70,000 troops will be deployed in four provinces on the Election Day. According to Election Commission, five security personnel will be stationed at each polling station, and seven to 10 at sensitive and most sensitive polling stations respectively. The National Assembly of Pakistan consists of 342 seats - 272 general seats, 60 reserved seats for the women and 10 seats for the non-Muslims. Likewise, there are 272 general seats, 4671 candidates on the ground and 86,189,802 voters. Women represent about 44 percent of the total vote and the number of women contesting general seats has gone up to 161. In 2008, 64 women ran for general seats and 18 made it to the parliament.
Punjab has a share of 148 seats, Sindh has 61 seats, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province has 35 seats, and Balochistan has 14 seats, with 12 seats going to the FATA and two to the federal capital. A political party must secure 172 seats (51 percent of total seats) in the National Assembly of Pakistan to obtain a majority or else the elections will result in a hung parliament. If a political party with the most votes is either unable or unwilling to form a coalition government within a certain time-frame, a runoff election will be held. About 4.5 million registered voters are residing in other countries, out of which 3.5 million are in the Middle East. The Election Commission has earlier told the apex court that voting for Pakistanis abroad would ensure in 10 countries for the first time in the country's history.
The country will elect direct 849 members of the National and Provincial assemblies of Pakistan, who will further elect the Prime Minister of Pakistan at the national level and the Chief Ministers of Pakistan at the provincial level. Out of the total 15,515 candidates for the general seats in the National Assembly and other provincial assemblies, 355 women are currently in the fray. Women representatives in all assemblies have seen a rise. Elections will be held for Punjab Assembly, Sindh Assembly, Khyber Pakhtun Khwa Assembly and Balochistan Assembly as well National Assembly at the same time.
Polls indicate there could be a record turnout, higher than the 44 percent in the 2008 elections. Pakistan held six general elections in the past 22 years in 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997 and 2002. However, this election has its own significance. A total of 172 out of 272 directly elected seats are required for a governing majority in the National Assembly, although no single party is expected to achieve that.
At present a caretaker government is in place. An independent Election Commission has been created to oversee the polls, and international organizations such as the EU have agreed to send observers. Most commentators expect the election to produce another coalition government after a possibly prolonged period of political wrangling. Voter lists have been computerized for the first time. The Election Commission of Pakistan has allotted election symbols to 144 political parties. In 2008, 49 political parties had applied for the election symbols with the EC. In 2002, 77 political parties took part in the election process conducted by the then military ruler. Pakistan’s most important demographic in this election — are the youth. An estimated 40 million young Pakistanis will be eligible to vote for the first time. Pakistan's population totals roughly 190 million, of whom an estimated two-thirds are under 30. About 92 million of the total are adults aged 18 or over.
New Phenomena of Election Ground
In 2008, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) garnered more than 10 million votes. A party attracting some 17 million youth votes would have a powerful position after this month's election. PPP came to power in 2008 on a wave of sympathy paving the way for Asif Ali Zardari to become the President. This brought an end to Pakistan’s most recent period of military rule. PPP-led government and President Zardari completed the term despite the mismanagement, disqualified administration, growing unemployment and rising debts, loggerheads with the judiciary and military, lack of security, lack of public delivering services, unrelenting political, social turmoil and growing instability. However, despite all these, PPP's reputation and influence have witnessed a shrink. The PPP has been hurt by strong anti-incumbency sentiment among the electorate. Several pre-election polls indicate that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will be the winner in Pakistan's upcoming general election. The Punjab province, considered as a political power base, is Nawaz Sharif's birthplace, which is a home to sixty percent of total Pakistanis. Sharif twice served as Prime Minister and heads the second largest political party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He rose to national prominence with the support of the army in the mid 1980s and has been known as a pro-army politician. In October 1999, Sharif was dislodged from power by a bloodless coup staged by his hand-picked army chief, General Pervez Musharraf. Currently, he holds the support of right-wing forces, the business community, the commercial and professional middle class as well as some Middle East countries.
Meanwhile, some believe that former cricket star Imran Khan could become Pakistan’s next Prime Minister. After struggling for more than 15 years to grow his party, Khan’s Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party has massive youth support. They have shown up new phenomena in unprecedented numbers at rallies all across Pakistan. Polls show that an Oxford graduate Khan certainly will emerge as a new strong force in Pakistani politic either in the ruling coalition or as an opposition. Social media also plays an effective role especially among affluent younger voters (fewer than 1 in 10 Pakistanis enjoy internet access). According to Reliable Alexa ranking, Khan's election campaign website is one of the top 145 most visited sites in Pakistan. Other political parties like Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam), Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Awami National Party (ANP), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement or MQM among others too hold regional as well religious influence.
Pakistani public has witnessed uncertainties and insecurity for the last several years. They remain highly optimistic about the outcome of the elections. Terrorism, security, stability and economy have been the fundamental issues that Pakistan is facing at the moment. People hope to improve the worst law and order condition and promote good governance. Escalating violation, political, judicial and military tensions, corruption, among others are other problems currently faced by the Pakistani people. Replacing a democratically elected government with another is not a surprise. However, it certainly is a milestone of Pakistan's future course.

French victory in Mali: What next?

Pramod Raj Sedhain An average of 2.7 million euros is being spent per day in the ongoing "Operation Serval" since it was launched on January 11. The month-long operation saw massive air raid as well as ground offence. Al-Qaeda in Mali has no longer control of the northern region. But hundreds of militants are said to have been hiding in the vast and complicated area in the far northeast Mountain area of the country. They have been sheltering in one of Africa's harshest and least-known mountain ranges - the Adrar des Ifoghas. French-led military forces are still fighting to secure the north of the country. French fighter jets continue to pound the Militinic hideout Mountain area, including attacks on training camps and arms depots. The number of militants however remains in dispute, with estimates varying from a few hundred fighters to a few thousand. More than 6,000 troops have been promised by the West African Interim Force. There are also about 2,000 Chadian troops fighting alongside the French forces, who entered Mali on January 10. Mali's largest northern city witnessed blasts and street violence after a raid against Islamist insurgent guerrilla. Meanwhile, a suicide bomber blew himself up at a military checkpoint in Gao, wounding a soldier, an act that provided further evidence of the continued threat of the militants. Militants have not been completely flushed out of the whole territory. France's humanitarian mission dramatically increased the numbers of its boots on the ground attesting to the likelihood of greater French involvement. France said the recent Mali troop deployments weren't aimed at perpetuating Paris's grip on Africa, but at assisting allies. Operation in Mali counts 4,600 soldiers, 3,500 of which are serving on the ground. In the first week of beginning of the operation, the top US commander in Africa, General Carter Ham warned against "premature military action". He said immediate intervention would be likely to fail and set back the situation "even further". Some analysts, however, say the military intervention is not well-planned. After the third week of successful operation US analysis has seen a drastic change. US Defense minister Leon Panetta said that French forces rolled back Islamist militants in Mali "much faster" than the United States expected. "They have made tremendous progress; I give them a lot of credit," he added. French small special force gained surprise results in Mali. Many analysts said they were surprise with the French military victory over well-trained and heavily-armed Al Queda linked extremist fighters. But question remains: What might happen next in Mali? According to French Le Parisien daily, war in Mali had cost 70 million euros - an average of 2.7 million euros per day since it was launched on January 11. That figure compared to an average cost of 1.6 million euros per day for the intervention that toppled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, and 1.4 million euros per day for the NATO-led war in Afghanistan. Le Parisien Daily quoted the defence minister as saying that "transportation of soldiers and military hardware had cost 50 million euros so far". France had mobilised 10,000 tons of military material in 15 days in Mali. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the war represented “a great effort” for France, which is struggling to balance its budget while tackling with the low growth and high unemployment. But, Mali advance shows France's military superpower and regional influence. The French and Chadian forces, with remnants of the Malian army, have since retaken northern towns from the Islamist rebels, who had enforced a brutal Sharia law there for 10 months. But they are now engaged in raids on the militant groups who have pulled back to desert and mountain hideouts. The four weeks of French Operation have ousted fighters allied with al-Qaeda from Mali's main northern towns. French President Francois Hollande was on a one-day trip to the Mali accompanied by his ministers for Defence, Foreign affairs and Development. President Hollande said, "Terrorism has been repelled but not wiped out". "I'm saying to you the fight has not yet ended, terrorist groups are weakened, they have suffered heavy losses, but have not disappeared. France will remain with you as long as it is necessary." He also made it clear that French troops will stay in Mali until rebels are defeated and democracy and human rights prevail. Hollande told Malians it was time for Africans to take the lead but that France would not abandon them. What next ? Once a major draw for Islamic scholars from around the world, the extremist have destroyed ancient shrines, banned music, and banned watching TV. They were also involved in human rights abuses and public stoning death is normal in jihadist rule. Now, jihadists have been driven out and sharian law lifted. The people of Mali are dancing and singing for the first time in months but the future of Mali remains unclear. Malian authority regularly broadcast radio messages over the past few days asking for citizens to report suspects to state authorities rather than take matters into their own hands. In the capital Bamako, government soldiers have put down a protest by troops loyal to the ex-president, and a latest Gao violence indicate the future instability of Mali. But positive signs of Mali intervention, within a limited time of military victory, saw several high-ranking Islamists arrested. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian described the desert operation against the Islamism group as a "real war". French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France wanted a United Nations peacekeeping force to replace French forces deployed in Mali by April, incorporating troops offered by West African nations. France said it will start reducing its 4,600 military force in Mali in March and said it would take several weeks to complete planning for a UN force and to pass a Security Council resolution setting it up. Military analysts say: "It will be the place where Islamist militants are finally defeated or where they slip away to fight again". France called on the UN Security Council to send peacekeepers to Mali to take-over from French forces battling Al-Qaeda linked guerrillas and speed up the deployment of human rights observers. The force would support the stabilization of Mali after the French-Malian offensive and "help Malians to refound their country" with a "national pact" to end longstanding rivalry between the government and ethnic Tuaregs and Arabs. UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous also acknowledged objections raised by the Bamako transitional government but said a peacekeeping force is supported by the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States and key UN members. European Union said it would step up its financial commitment to defeating the insurgents in Mali, pledging €50 million to support a contingent of African-led troops and promising as much as €250 million for development aid. The fighting overshadowed the arrival of 70 EU military trainers, the first of what is to be a 500-strong mission tasked with whipping the Malian army into shape. French General Francois Lecointre, leading the mission, said there was “a real need to rebuild the Malian army, which is in a state of advanced disrepair.” (Source: People Review Weekly Article)

France Mali Intervention: Responsible, yet risky move

Pramod Raj Sedhain French President Francois Hollande took a dramatic, hard and fast decisive action by intervening in Mali. This was followed after a plea for help from Mali’s Interim President, Dioncounda Traore. The risky military operation happened much early than expected – merely two hours of receiving letter from the Malian President. On January 11, France began its military intervention in Mali. France is one of the few major global powers with the capacity to direct sole military intervention in a foreign country. In this surprised move, French government has promised its public a short war. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius last weekend said the intervention just “a matter of weeks”. But, during the initial day of air raids, French Military was surprised at the level of sophistication of the Islamist forces, which was well-armed, well-trained, experienced and determined than expected. Extremists clearly posed an imminent threat to southern Mali to Bamako, the entire regional security as well as the international community. France immediately decided ground operation and leading the regional military blocks. Ten months ago, a military coup in Mali ended more than two-decade stretch of elections, which had established the country as a democracy. The coup created a power vacuum in the north which the Islamist rebels would fill and now facing possible overthrow by jihadists. They came with loads of weapons hauled out of a chaotic Libya. The area is a vast desert region in the northern half of Mali - roughly the size of France. Ground troops began to prevent al-Qaeda from turning a country twice the size of France. France has deployed 2,500 troops and 3,300 troops deployed to members of regional bloc ECOWAS (The Economic Community of West African States). Regional group of sixteen countries ECOWAS tackles the Operational, Political & negotiating tactic as well as boost a French-backed offensive in Mali against Islamist rebels. Regional and international players accelerated the deployment of MISMA (International Mission for Mali Assistance). Certainly, former colonial power, French force maintained a high moral and confident frontline of Operation Serval (ongoing operation). The small French special force and air power was vital to achieve success against the jihadists in one of the most risk missions. Intervention is a clear indication that Mali is not another Afghanistan. French Mirage and Rafale jets, Gazelle helicopters increasingly destroyed the jihadi fighters' moral and warfare psychology in the desert, which clearly showed French intervention, was creating a right track and course. French interest of intervention In the context of Mali, the French position was bolder than that of the United States. French President Hollande says he is battling a "terrorist threat" on Europe's doorstep. He says the campaign in northern Mali will take as long as necessary. This could not be an easy choice for France, but the French leadership had no option than to risk letting the rebels reach Bamako and establish their headquarters in the capital city, as the Taliban did in Kabul in 1996. Al Qaeda linked rebels have repeatedly warned it could be another Afghanistan. Even several other groups and power centres in Mali have said that's not going to be easy for France. But at the request of the President of Mali, and respecting the United Nations' charter, France took the challenge to eject the terrorists, who are brutalizing northern Mali. But the intervention indicated President Hollande's statesmanship that took to surprise to many people for his hard and fast-risk decision, which has gotten a political boost in France. French media have praised the President's move, which includes the dire need to protect some 6,000 French nationals. In the African regional context, France still maintains strategic and military influence in the region. Relying on this region for nearly all the uranium that fuels French nuclear power plants. France has its military bases in Senegal, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Chad and Djibouti. Some 12,000 French troops are currently engaged in peace-keeping operations around the world, nearly half are deployed in Africa. France has diversified interest in Africa where some 240,000 of its nationals live and 5 percent of France’s exports. France’s humanitarian intervention there saved thousands of lives and stabilized the region. French engagement in foreign intervention is not a new matter. It has a substantial military action and legacy of colonial history. Since 1960, France launched 50 military interventions in the African region. In 2011/12 France carried out air attack in Libya and Ivory Coast that led to change of regime. The central African government had asked France for military assistance but France has not given a clear response. Surprise attack, quick support The "surprised and silent" French intervention in Mali has rapidly changed the situation in Mali. Most of the Malians celebrated the arrival of French troops; regional military, international diplomatic and logistic support found the French led operation. They flew flags to welcome the EU, UN, AU, and French flags. Hundreds of people have been donating blood every day. The French military is getting direct support from Regional Country and logistical and other support from the US and EU brushing aside all suspucions. More to it, the UN Security Council has given a nod. This surely cannot be compared to Iraq or Afghanistan wars. Even the multi-national African force intervened in the French-backed northern Mali. West African nations have also scrambled their troops, with soldiers from Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Nigeria being mobilized by the African bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The foreign-policy chiefs of the European Union Special Session approved a contingent of several hundred troops to train Mali’s armed forces. EU approved sending 450 to 500 non-combat troops, half of them trainers, to Mali as quickly as possible. The EU picked 50 years old Brigadier General François Lecointre to head the mission. He has served throughout Africa with French forces in Gabon, Ivory Coast, Somalia, Rwanda and the Central African Republic. The mission has a 15-month mandate and will cost €12.3 million. The mission should be formally launched mid-February once final operations plans are agreed. Challenges ahead Challenges are ahead. It might be difficult to set a timeframe. The battle is still under way in the operational area that is just more than the size of France. This kind of military action presents the danger but under these circumstances, French quick operation takes the leadership to a regional military action. French military intervention has blocked rebel fighters advancing from the north and alley force have been retaken some strategical towns from the rebels. Sophisticated and well-trained rebels have suggered heavy losses due to the French effective air power and special ground force operations. Another concern, however, is still unanswered. What if France doesn't achieve its goals? It's not only the Malian and entire regional stability it's far from African territory and expands the global necessary engagement of war on terrorism. French President Hollande has clearly said that the hostage crisis in Algeria is evidend that France's military intervention in Mali is justified. But resolving the crisis and restoring the political and social stability in Mali is not an easy task. Unity and stability will only improve the political, social and economic situation of this poor, land-locked West African country. Complicated political situation, weak administrative and security organ, lack of neutral judiciary system, poverty, ethnic and separatist tensions, drug trafficking, instability, weak social and national institutions, drought and corruption are major problems of Mali. Mali's stability may depend upon some kind of autonomy arrangement for the north (more than half of the territory). Therefore, so many players and power centers have been engaged in Mali's complex and complicated situation. Different interested wings and factions play a vital role of Mali crisis - for instance - extremist Islamist rebels, ethnic rebels, military, politicians, as well as regional and international powers in the country with a population of 15.8 million. The major ethnic groups in Mali are 50 percent Mande, 17 percent Fula, 12 percent Voltaic, 10 percent Tuareg, 6 percent Songhai, and rest 5 percent. Malian economy is highly dependant on gold mining and agricultural exports such as cotton. The country needs political stability and long term plan. Large landlocked territory with an area of 1,240,192 sq km, Mali is the world's 24th largest country. Regional border is another major challenge for security and regional stability. France's military intervention is a final test of the Malian and regional key players. Mali needs power-sharing arrangement, effective leadership, transition back to constitutional order and built Malian Army counter-terrorism capabilities. Source: People Review Weekly, Article)

Challenges ahead : western welfare state

Pramod Raj Sedhain (pramodsedhain@gmail.com) - At a time when most of the European countries have been reeling under economic crisis, France has still remained the world’s fifth-leading economic power and second largest economy in Europe. In recent years, some European countries, including Spain, Greece, Portugal, among others have adopted austerity measures. Despite the economic crisis in the continent, France, however, portrays a uniquely-cherished welfare state able to survive in the capitalist western world. In fact, over the past decade, France lost 700,000 industrial jobs, and the unemployment rate is now at 13-year high of about 10 per cent (compares competitor & main trading partner Germany with 5.4%). But, average wages in France are among the highest in Europe -- 20 per cent higher than Germany since the launch of the euro. French Socialist President Francois Hollande has promised to reduce France’s government deficit to below 3 per cent of economic output by next year from the current 4.5 per cent. Several analysts representing the capitalist countries have warned that France’s economic outlook would deteriorate if it failed to make deep spending cuts like Greece, Italy and Portugal. But, President Hollande is of the opinion that “austerity need not be Europe’s fate.” France has bucked the trend, abandoning austerity and protecting its social model. Despite all these, sustainability of the French welfare remains one of the major challenges to the French Socialist Government. The French government spends an estimated 30 per cent of the nation’s entire economic output on social services. In spite of the debt and deficits mounting, France hasn’t recorded a budget surplus since 1974. The pressure to control these expenses is becoming unbearable. Peeking into the French economy, till date, the policies have created a healthy, well-educated population with stable jobs at companies of international stature and an income level that ranks with the world’s highest. Recently, France’s public debt topped 90 percent of the value of everything produced in the economy in a year, well above the eurozone average of 60 percent (its debt level is not an enormous).French welfare-state programs have become entwined with Western nations’ economies, politics and societies, influencing how people spend and save, work and retire, educate children and care for elderly parents. Socialist government is also worried about France’s future welfare sustainability. This was founded on the noblest intentions -- to foster a more equitable society by ensuring that all, no matter what their social status, had access to the fruits and opportunities offered by an advanced economy – ranging from sound education, proper health care and a worry-free retirement. In many ways, its mission has been realized so far. France’s national health system is considered among the world’s best. Education System: The French government commits substantial resources to education with the goal to improve educational attainment. Some students even receive stipends to cover their rent. Health Care: The government provides free heath care to its citizens under the France’s modern Social Security system developed in 1945-46. The idea was to ensure health care and insurance for everyone to be covered by social insurance schemes or public assistance. Family Insurance System: Each family will receive the certain amount to a child until he/she is 16 years of age. Children with special needs are fully provided with the required amount. The Housing System: The government builds social housing and also provides housing subsidies for families in need. In the 1980’s, mortgage subsidies were introduced, which were intended to encourage home ownership. The Unemployment Insurance: The insurance is covered by a variety of separate insurance schemes. Those who are entitled to unemployment insurance receive 35 per cent of their previous income, among other sectors. Socialization of the economy As said earlier, France, as the world’s fifth-leading economic power & second largest economy in Europe, it has a long record of government nationalization of industry. The leading industrial sectors in France are telecommunications (including satellites), aerospace and defense, ship building (naval and specialist ships), pharmaceuticals, construction and civil engineering, chemicals, textiles, and automobile production. Although substantial progress had been made in the privatization process since the last decade, the government still own industries like aeronautics, defense, automobiles, energy, and telecommunications. The first elected National Assembly between November 1945 to April 1946 - after the Second World War - voted the nationalization of the Bank of France among four large deposit banks, public utilities, coal mines and two thirds of the leading insurance companies. In 1981, when Francois Mitterrand became the Socialist President of the Fifth Republic of France, his government put Socialist measures into the French economy. Mitterrand tried to create both job growth and wage growth by nationalizing some big industries. During that time above nationalized companies had a workforce of 800,000. The nationalization of 1981-82 involved seven of the largest twenty conglomerate industrial companies in France plus another five industrial companies. The iron and steel companies (already state-owned majority shares), electricity, gas, coal, railways and Paris transport; two French airlines were state-owned. By 1983, about one-third of French industries—among the 3,500 companies—came under the state control. However, there was some privatization during 1986–88, later resumed in 1993, with 21 state-owned industries, banks, and insurance companies scheduled to be sold. The successful automaker became a private company again in 1996, although the government retains about 15 per cent of its shares. All these indicate that French economy has been highly socialized. With the development of the European Market, certain nationalization programs as well as other economic reforms initiated by Mitterrand could not succeed as planned. However, challenges persist to keep up the economy high at a time when several European countries are reeling under economic crisis. Now, Mitterrand’s party – the French Socialist Party – is in the government. Obviously, the current circumstance is both an opportunity as well as challenge of the centre-left social-democratic socialist government to protect the country’s legacy, ideologically progressivism and welfare characteristics. (Source - People Review Weekly)

Women trafficking: Booming business
Pramod Raj Sedhain
Are you or a female member of your family planning to go abroad in search of better prospect or a better work? If so, think carefully and think twice before you make such important decision. It has been found in recent years that most of the women who strive to go to foreign countries for employment find themselves being sold by human traffickers. Due to the Nepal-India open border, some agents find women-trafficking a profitable business these days. What appears is that, these agents happen to be crafty fellows, who deceive women of rural areas with their luring stories of how much money they can earn once they go abroad. Eventually several women fall prey to such false stories. Women surrender to men with high hopes and aspirations of going abroad where they believe their life becomes lot much easy.
The main route for women trafficking is the Indian border of Raksaul, from where they are sent to other cities like Mumbai and Delhi. Their fake passports to enter Gulf countries are made in these cities and the agents handover these women to Gulf agents, who are responsible for taking them to their final destination. The agents get handful of money for supplying women and their job ends there. And the dreams of those poor women get shattered when they finally realize that they have not taken as domestic workers but have been sold to some rich elites as sex workers.
Various NGOs have been working in border areas to stop these illegal activities of human flesh but the efforts are simply not enough, and there is a need of more intensive involvement from all sectors of society. Service Awareness Centre and Maiti Nepal are among many organizations involved in border cites to stop women trafficking. Both organizations claim that significant numbers of women have been saved from being sold in the past years. The data of Maiti Nepal says it has saved 232 women in 2008 and 172 women until the month of November alone. But the fact and figures are far smaller than the actual number of women who are trafficked each year. Several meetings between security officials of India and Nepal are held annually to tackle the issue but have so far proved ineffective and the government has failed to address the issue effectively.
There is no accurate statistics on number of women trafficked from Nepal. The country has Human Trafficking Act 2043 to tackle these illegal activities but the government finds itself in a difficult position to implement the act effectively. The then government had even registered the “Human Trafficking Act” on 10th Falgun 2058 BS. The government is well informed about the illegal activities but has done very little to enforce the law.
Daughters go cheaper in Ichok
Interestingly, one finds it difficult to see young girls above ten years in the village of Ichok, which is neatly eight-hour walk from Melamchi bazaar. This small village with Tamang majority lies in a complex geographical position and the people here live in hand-to-mouth situation. Life is hard and what they earn is hardly enough to feed their family for six months. But the bitter truth of this village is that parents here even do not step behind to think before they sell their own young daughters and wives in fulfilling their daily needs. And some men have been trying hard to change that scenario here.
Pasang Tamang has been working to stop local women from being sold since a decade. Those who saw him as a major obstruction in their mission even tried to assault him physically, but that did not stop him. Numbers of girls who spent their lives in household in the village left for what the villagers here call the “big city” Mumbai. Many of them have returned with AIDS or other STDs but the wave of going to the “big city” has not ended yet. They have rather switched over to Gulf States as their destination in recent years. The locals of the village say that the agents have rather started to traffic women in more organized and legal way. They now assist women to make passports and recruit them as domestic helpers for some Middle East countries. Till this date, 20-25 women flock everyday in District Administration Office to make passports. Political interference and protection to the women traffickers has made the situation even worse. It is believed that hundreds and thousands of women abroad are forced to work as sex labors and the consequences they face are beyond one’s imagination. But the government’s effort to stop women trafficking has not been sufficient. The unemployment, expensive life, high price of daily commodities, and the social imbalance due to 13-year long insurgency have forced many women to leave their home behind in quest of money. Although there are handful of organizations that work for rescuing women, lack of coordination between them has not been able to produce significant outcome. Ichok is just one example. Several remote villages of the country share similar stories and with the continuing poverty; this is not likely to stop anywhere soon.
Gulf countries lure Nepalese women
Data shows that about 150,000 women are sold every year in South Asia for forced prostitution. According to independent statistics from different sources, 5-7 thousands Nepali women are among those 150,000 women trafficked for prostitution annually. The survey of World Population Foundation says that more than 100,000 Nepali women have been trafficked to this date and the number is increasing by 10,000 each year. The survey shows among them 75% are generally unmarried girls, 20% married women, and the rest 5% are girls below the age of 15. Another separate study of International Labour Organization further reveals that more than 12,000 Nepali women are sold for prostitution every year. It is estimated that there are currently more than 200,000 Nepali women working in Indian brothels. Similarly, the listing of 26 districts of Nepal as maximum women trafficking region further demonstrates the dire situation. Ironically, the government has no official figure of women who have been rescued and returned back. Furthermore, reestablishing or rehabilitating them in the society has been yet another major challenge. As the agents have started to supply women to other countries, the number of Nepali women in Indian brothels has decreased by 20% in recent years. That is largely because of the hefty sum of money the agents receive from supplying women to other countries than to India. Sources say Nepali women are sold for as much as 75 thousand NRS in India while the agents could double their profit if they are able to supply women to other countries. This has created shortage of Nepali women in India and the price for them has once again soared up.
Experts say poverty, open cultures, and wars are major factors for increased women trafficking and that the problem is epidemic in all South Asian countries. It is clear to all that women trafficking have complex chained networks expanded in many countries. More women are at risk of being potential victims of human trafficking groups unless governments of all South Asian countries do not form common standards to fight the problems.

Mystery behind Kidney Smuggling
Pramod Raj Sedhain
It is believed that the network of kidney smugglers is huge in Nepal. The Indian smugglers are the key players behind kidney smuggling while mobilizing Nepali agents in the country. The agents have time and again gone to Nepali villages asking people to give kidney instead of money but few have been arrested. The villagers are usually taken to India by giving hopes that they could find good jobs. Some do it believing the words of agents while others do it simply for money. Violence has been used on them who refuse to take their kidneys and even to those who have given in consent. But the ignorant villagers who give their kidneys with consent usually do not get the amount of money promised. Besides, the insulting behavior by the agents on the victims after taking out the kidney, beyond words. The price of kidneys rises to 10 times the original price one it reaches to other countries. Several cases of kidney smuggling have come to limelight but the police and the administration have not much to say about it.It has been revealed that a kidney donor gets just a small faction of the money from the smugglers; the large sum goes in the pocket of agents. The kidney sellers are forced to return home with guilt and potential danger of diseases due to unhygienic operation while the smugglers and agents accumulate huge sum of money. It is said that Indian smugglers make NRS 700,000 from a single kidney while just investing NRS 100,000 to buy it. Smuggling of kidneys has not lessened even after the arrest of major Indian kidney smuggler Amit Kumar. He was involved in kidney smuggling in Nepal and is learnt that he had extensive network of agents in the country. But his extradition to India by Nepal Police without sufficient investigation is primarily responsible for continuation of the business by the local agents. A secret camera had earlier caught Amit Kumar saying that major area of his business was in Nepal. The video showed Amit Kumar asking NRS 1,500,000 to his Indian client for delivering kidney. Nepal Police said it is uninformed about the hospital that carryout such operations in Nepal. Ramesh Thapa, a local accomplice of Amit Kumar has fled since Amit’s arrest and the police have no information about his whereabouts. Without proper awareness, enforcement of strict laws and provision of compulsory recommendation to transplant organs, it is most likely that the vicious business of human organs will prosper more than ever.
Madhav Baral of Kavre sold one of his kidneys seven years ago to run his household. But that really did not help to serve his problems. He neither got the amount of money promised for giving his kidney nor the post-medical care after the operation. The agent told him earlier that he would be handed NRs 150,000 for his kidney but he just got NRS 45,000, lot lesser than he was promised. Not only that, the agent physically assaulted him, and returned him back together with the pain of his surgery. He told that the agent beat him severely upon asking for more money. Baral said he has difficulty in working after the operation and has started taking alcohol to ease his abdominal pain. Baral is one among many people who have been a brutal victim of organized human organ smuggling. Similarly, a man who underwent an accident and was taken to the hospital in unconscious state woke up to find one of his kidneys missing. If one believes to what he says, then it clearly illustrates the fact that even the Nepali hospitals and its doctors are some how associated with kidneys smugglers. The small amount of money they have got from selling their kidneys might be sufficient to pay some loans and run their household for sometime, but the psychological torture and physical pain they have received is likely to remain for a long period.
Who is Amit Kumar?
Amit Kumar, an international kidney smuggler, had his wide network in Nepal and India. His targeted victims were generally poor Nepali people whose kidneys were taken out in India to be sold in Australia. It is reported that his networks expanded to 60 countries worldwide. But his major operation center was Australia. Born in 1956 A.D. at Akola, India, Kumar ran a small clinic in Khar until 1980. He was reported to have made contacts with kidney smugglers after 1980s. He had already befriended some Nepali people by 1990 when he started investing in C grade movies. But he was caught by police in 1994 and was put behind bars for 5 months. He opened a hospital in Gurgaun of Hariyana after being released from the prison and started mobilizing agents for kidney smuggle in Nepal and India. He went to Canada after some years and came back to Gurgaun in 1999 again but when the police filed a case against him in 2003, he fled to Canada with his wife and children. The police had arrested him in 2000 and 2001 with allegations of kidney smuggling but was bailed out in both occasions due to lack of evidences. He did not stay there for long; Kumar came back to India for another time in 2007. It had been a while since the case had been filed against him. He might have thought the potential danger has passed and started his business of kidney smuggling once again. It is said that Kumar was sharp minded and that he would transfer his business to province where laws regulations were weak.
How was he caught?
Kumar came to Chitwan in 7th of February 2008 to stay in Hotel Wild Life Camp. The manager of the hotel Shankar Sainju had kept his eyes on him as it occurred to him that he had previously seen Kumar somewhere. Actually, he had seen him in a newspaper, where his news was published with his photo. Sainju recalled that Kumar was in a casual dress up with a blue jeans and a jacket. Hotel staff Maheshwor Regmi had assisted Kumar to take his luggage to his room and gave him a cup of coffee he had ordered. Kumar’s suspicious activity and nervous gesture had prompted the hotel staffs to call police. In a while, a team of Nepal Police raided Kumar’s room, took custody of him. The police also managed to claim cash worth 15 million dollars with different mobile cards of Canada, India, and Nepal from him. But to everyone’s surprise, Kumar was extradited to India after 2 days without further investigation. Sources within the police force said “although Interpol was in search of him and that it was justifiable to extradite him to Indian police, proper investigation should have been made in Nepal, as there were already numbers of charges against him inside the country.” His prompt extradition to India due to pressure from Indian Police had exposed the powerlessness of the government. India’s internal intelligence agency, Central Bureau of Investigation has made investigations in the case but has not revealed anything to Nepal police, which played a key role in capturing the most wanted criminal. The Indian government’s pressure to extradite Amit Kumar has left many hidden secrets of human organ smuggling in Nepal unanswered.

Maoist hit second phase protest

Pramod Raj Sedhain

The Unified CPN-Maoists have hit the streets as part of their second phase of protest programs against what they say "President's unconstitutional move" to reinstate the then army chief. They picketed the District Administration Offices throughout the country. But the former rebels, who were accustomed to carrying guns, adapted to a different method of protest. They sang, danced and enjoyed instead of getting aggressive. +

The general concept was that Maoists are accustomed to guns, bombs and ambush. However, Maoist's method of protest in their second phase of agitation shocked the people. Instead of demonstrating their anger, the Maoists sang and danced to the tunes of folk music on the streets.

The venue seemed like a wedding ceremony. The whole air was filled with music and melodious tunes. There were traditional musical instruments like drums, including maadal and damaha. Even onlookers enjoyed the show on the streets. Most interestingly, it was a ticket-free show. Spectators were young and old; men and women – yet they were merrymaking. More interesting part here was that some school students were busy eating lunch in one corner. An innocent-looking person who was standing nearby was bewildered. He asked what was happening. Pat came the reply from one of the audiences -- "This is a protest against the President's move...this is an agitation to establish civilian supremacy in the country."

Other than songs and dances, there were poems filled with sarcasm and there were parodies as well. But what were they doing in front of the district administration office? The answer is simple: Barring the employees to enter the office as part of their protest program. Vehicles were stranded. General public were seen taking different routes to reach to their destinations. There were hardships. However, Maoists cadres were singing to the tunes of their party leadership of civilian supremacy.

An old woman was trapped in the crowd. She was shouting but her voice went unheard. Our unit tried to catch the scene of the old woman. But some Maoist comrades shouted at out crew and threatened them to pack up. Our team was helpless before them. Vulnerable journalist defended themselves saying that they did not shoot the scene. There are more incidences. This is just an example!

Maoist Internal Strategy

Pramod Raj Sedhain

he relation between Nepal's largest party -- the Unified CPN-Maoist -- and India has at all times come under controversy. The reason: Maoists top brass have recurrently blamed India for the turmoil in Nepal. More than this, they often accuse India of meddling in Nepal's internal affairs, which India denies. This, they argue, has adversely affected in the government formation process. The issue of Indian interference, as Maoists leaders claim, has hindered Nepal's peace process. However, unlike India, Maoist's relationship with the northern neighbor, China has been something atypical. Be it the episode of Maoist's demand of hefty amount to "purchase" lawmakers or the China trip of Maoist combatants – both these episodes have proved that the Maoists share unusual relationship with China.

Now that, the most recent bit of information acquired by this channel has revealed that the Maoists are preparing for a final revolt and that too with all sorts of assistance from the northern neighbor. The latest information acquired by this writer proves that the Maoists have sought Chinese assistance to wage a final and decisive revolt once again.

This shows that the largest party in the Constituent Assembly is preparing for a decisive war to establish their regime. Despite the fact that the Maoists 'used' the Indian soil during their underground decade-long what they call "People's War", they tilted towards the north after joining the mainstream politics. A report, submitted to party Supremo Pushpa Kamal Dahal by some Maoist leaders, shows that they are making preparations for a final war in the country.

The report had highlighted that they need Chinese support to wage a final war in Nepal. It should be noted that an eleven-member Maoist delegation had visited China between 2067 Asar 15th to 25th to seek support from China. During the visit, the Maoist leaders had informed the Chinese side of their decisive war in Nepal. However, the report does not mention anything about the Chinese version on the issue. The 9-page report signed by Maoist Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha has several pictures of the Maoist leaders' visit to China and their meetings with various Chinese leaders. Shrestha had led the delegation. The point number 4 of the report says that the Maoists have sought Chinese support to wage a final revolt in Nepal. The report also states that India has barred the Maoists to lead the government in Nepal. Similarly, according to the report, the Chinese side has assured of providing a web-server space, radio and television equipment, among others. The report also states that the Maoists discussed with the Chinese side to suppress the Tibetan movement in Nepalese soil.

The Maoist leaders had a three-hour long discussion with the Chinese side, according to the report submitted to party Chairman Dahal. This has explicitly exposed the Maoist's relationship with China. The report has also raised dissatisfaction over the dissolution of the Communes in China. Such a secret report has tried to drag power countries like India and China to in Nepal's internal affairs, which is sure to adversely affect Nepal's sovereignty.

Shobraj & crime - identical

Pramod Raj Sedhain

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal by convicted killer Charles Sobhraj over the murder of an American backpacker. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of US tourist Connie Jo Bronzich in 1975. Sobhraj has been serving term for the past seven years. Supreme Court Justices Ram Kumar Prasad Shah and Gauri Dhakal said that the verdict on the case will be announced after two weeks -- that is -- on July 30. Sobhraj was arrested by Nepal Police while he came to visit Nepal and was sentenced to life imprisonment on August 12, 2004.
Nicknamed "Serial Killer" and "Bikini Killer"
The 'bikini-killer' linked to murders throughout Asia, Charles Shobraj is a popular, yet disliked name for his heinous crime. Serial-killer Sobhraj has been an annoyance to many, especially to the police when it comes to his deceptive disguises, murder tactic and escaping from the jails. Throughout his criminal career, Sobhraj either escaped from jail or bribed the authorities to treat him preferentially while in prison. His knack for deceptive disguises, coupled with his tendency to target young women earned him the nickname, "The Serpent," or the "Bikini Killer." Sixtyfour-year old Sobhraj is also believed to have escaped from prisons in Afghanistan, Greece, Iran and India. So extraordinary has been his life of crime that after being released from jail in India - where he served a 20 year sentence for poisoning a busload of French tourists - the film and book rights were reportedly sold to a French actor-producer for 15m US dollars. Rejection by his father was an act which caused considerable resentment and bitterness in the young Sobhraj. His tactic, say his critics, was always the same. Between 1972 to 1982, Sobhraj has been implicated in more than 20 killings in which the victims were drugged, strangled, beaten or burned. His capacity for violence, critics say, is matched only by his ability to escape from prison. In 1971, he escaped from jail in India by feigning appendicitis and making his getaway from hospital. He was re-arrested in 1976, but 10 years later made an even more audacious escape: this time by throwing a birthday party in which guards and prisoners alike were invited. Grapes and biscuits handed around the guests were secretly injected with sleeping pills, knocking out everyone except Sobhraj and four other escapees. He often said as long as he can talk to people, he can manipulate them. As a fugitive, Sobhraj is reported to have behaved more like a holidaying student than a desperate prisoner prepared to stop at nothing to evade justice. He openly drank in bars and showed off an Italian made pistol to fellow drinkers. Needless to say, it was not long before he was re-arrested. But, it is alleged, there was a method in his madness. Critics say that he deliberately escaped towards the end of his 10 year jail term in order to be re-captured and face new charges for his escape. That way he could avoid extradition to Thailand where he was wanted for five murders and would almost certainly be given the death penalty. By the time of his release in 1997, the 20 year time-frame for him to be tried in Bangkok had lapsed. But the authorities caught up with him again several years later. In 2003, he was arrested in a Kathmandu casino for allegedly travelling on a false passport and for murders of a Canadian man and an American woman which he allegedly carried out 28 years ago. As in the other cases registered against him, Sobhraj denied the charges. But this time, police said they had a "suitcase full" of evidence against him. And the judge agreed, despite Sobhraj's appeal that he had been convicted without proof or witnesses. Sobhraj, a French national, was sentenced to life by a Nepalese court in August after holding him guilty of murdering American woman Konizo Brohich here in December 1975.

The Victims:

1975 - Teresa Knowlton (Seattle) - Pattaya, Thailand

1975 - Jennie Bollivar (America) - Pattaya, Thailand

1975 - Vitali Hakim (Sephardic Jew) - Pattaya, Thailand

1975 - Henk Bintanja, 29 (Dutch student) -Pattaya, Thailand

1975 - Cornelia Hemker, 25 (Dutch student) - Pattaya, Thailand

1975 - Charmayne Carrou (Hakim’s girlfriend) - Pattaya, Thailand

1975 - Laurent Ormond Carriere, 26 (Canada) - Kathmandu, Nepal

1975 - Connie Bronzich, 29 (California) - Kathmandu, Nepal

1975 - Avoni Jacob (Israeli student) – Calcutta, India

1975 - Jean-Luc Solomon (France) – Delhi, India

Arrested:

1963 – Paris – burglary1969 – Paris - evading police in a stolen vehicle

1973 – Delhi - armed robbery1973 – Afghanistan – robbery

1975 – Greece – robbery1976 – New Delhi - murder (Solomon)

1986 – Goa – jailbreak

2003 – Kathmandu, Nepal – murder (Carriere and Bronzich)Jails escaped by Charles Shobraj· French prison in 1969
· A hospital in India 1971
· Afghanistan prison in 1972
· Iranian prison in 1973
· Greece prison in 1975
· Tihad Jail (India) 1986

Nepalese language: A passion in lebanon Pramod Raj Sedhain (after returning from Lebanon)
Never in history has Nepal remained under anybody's dominance and control. Even the East India Company could not influence the Nepalese territory. And this has been a matter of pride to every Nepali. Since time immemorial, Nepalese people lived in dignity, harmony and honor and have been the same today as well. Even today, Nepal's flag flutters in a foreign land, Nepalese army holds their heads high with pride and the Nepali language sprinkles love, affection and passion. Love for Nepali language is immense even in a foreign land.

However, in recent times in the country, certain elements are making efforts to bring about fracas among different groups in the name of ethnicity and religion thus disrupting the age-old cultural as well as religious harmony. Some elements are even trying to impose their own ideology. Such tendencies have fuelled ethnic clashes. However, the Nepalese flag, culture and language have influenced people in various countries, including Lebanon. Nepal is the land of the world's highest peak, the Mt. Everest and is blessed with fortunes.

Unfortunately, arguments for and against changing the national flag is currently underway. That is not all. The issue of language is equally dragged into controversy. Parties and certain elements are making efforts to eliminate other languages, religion and culture, which can be dubbed a conspiracy to disintegrate the national harmony and unity.

The feelings and love of Nepali language could be easily seen when three youths of various occupations in Lebanon started their conversation in fluent Nepali language. A citizen of Lebanon named Karim Alaiyan but is commonly known as "Nepali Maila". This youth has neither visited Nepal, but is very much accustomed to Nepalese culture, tradition, geography and speaks Nepali language fluently. Sometimes, even the Nepalese peacekeepers get startled when Nepali Maila starts his conversation in Nepali language with them. Upon seeing a new Nepali recruit, Nepali Maila moves forward to shake his hands with him saying, "Namaskar, k chha haalkhabar?" (Greetings, how are you?). He instantly says, "My name is 'Maila' and I am from Pokhara." He, however, constantly reveals that he is a local of Lebanon but loves Nepal and Nepali language. He adds that he likes to introduce himself as "Nepali Maila." That is not all. This 37-year old married youth even sings typical Nepali folk songs in a typical Nepali way. His favorite folk numbers include – "Mayalu ko chitthi aayena, Khaau bhane suntali paani, Laibari lai…" among others. Interestingly, the Nepali Army peacekeepers gave the nickname of "Nepali Maila" to this innocent Lebanese.

Alaiyan, who works as a chef at the canteen of Nepalese peacekeepers since 1990, is the second son of his parents. He is so confident that he has been demanding the job of an interpreter. This "Nepali Maila" has spent three years in England.

Similarly, Danish army official Henrick, too, speaks Nepali language. "I like Nepali language and I love Nepal," he says. Like Henrick and Nepali Maila, two other Lebanese people, including a traffic police and a businessman are equally fluent in Nepali language. Businessman Ahamad Ali speaks in Nepali while dealing with Nepalese peacekeepers.

Back in Nepal, the national language, nationality and integrity have come under serious threat. Stakeholders, however, seem to be least bothered. Isn’t it high time that all concerned take lesson and get influence from a foreigner like "Nepali Maila".