-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.pramodsedhain@gmail.com
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.
