India – Nepal – China. New hot spot in Southeast Asia. After precepts of Mao Ze Dong

Kingdom of Nepal is on the verge of civil war. Lawful power could be broken neither by many-year meddle in the country, nor by continuous constitutional reformations. Even bloody skirmish inside the regnant dynasty was only a sensation, that did not cause any serious consequences. Though their black deed committed Mao Ze Dong’s followers. Nepal asked the world community for military help to fight against Maoist rebels. India responded. During his yesterday’s telephone conversation with Nepalese king Gyanendra, Indian prime-minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee proposed to render any assistance in suppression of terrorist activities of the leftist groups. India considers Maoists to be terrorists, what was declared by the prime-minister. Three days ago, in the country the state of emergency was declared. This step was the result of negotiations with Maoists that have been continuing since this June. For the time of the negotiations an armistice was concluded. The armistice was broken by the rebels, who declared the further dialogue having no prospects. Last Friday, the leftists attacked police stations and administrative objects all over the country. Now, battles with Maoists are being carried out in several regions, and, according to recent declarations of the authorities, namely Maoists are winning. The regular army was sent to fight against them (earlier, only the police was battling with the rebels), though this brought no success to the legal authorities. The negotiations seem to have permitted to the Mao’s followers to seriously accumulate forces and to step forth with arm not fearing to be defeated. In the modern history, the critical situation in Nepal has been remaining since 1990 (in general, owing to the neighbours, this situation has been existing since the middle of 20th century). Namely, at that time, after passing the new constitution, activities of political parties were legalized. In addition to other political unions, including Communist Party of Nepal, whose main ideology was Marxist-Leninist (that still actively participates in political life of the country), an alternative Communist party appeared in the country, politically based on Mao Ze Dong’s precepts. The party survived and expanded its political activities during further political events in Nepal (according to some data, not without Chinese special services’ support). In 1996, Maoists launched an armed rebellion in Nepal, that is still continuing. Nepalese political life of recent decade is hard to imagine. The most typical episode, showing political passions’ tension, was an unprecedented skirmish inside the royal family. This June, prince Dipendra, who took offence at everybody and drank a lot, committed a great skirmish in the palace, while killing 8 people, including the ruling king, and afterwards shot at his own temple. Then a new king of Nepal was proclaimed, the younger brother of died monarch, Gyanendra. This event looks unbelievable and shocking only from outside view. Extraordinary and sometimes even curious occurrences are continuing for several decades. For example, today’s monarch Gyanendra was crowned twice: for the first time – in the age of 3 years. The today’s worsening of the situation in Nepal could cause serious consequences for the whole world, especially taking into account that namely India decided to render an assistance. It is not a secret, that now China dominates in Southeaster Asia, therefore the Maoist rebels’ connection with Chinese special services cannot be excluded. Though, on the whole, Chinese interest in this region is obvious. On the other hand, India has many times expressed its interest in Nepal’s issues . India did not want the despotic monarchy to adjoin it. Since 1950, India has been mentioned several times while speaking about Nepalese events. Namely at that time, India received immigrants from Nepal, moreover, on Indian soil, Nepalese Congress party was created, that launched partisan activities in Nepal. Later was a curious disappearance of one of Nepalese king Tribhuvan, who once went for a walk and did returned to the palace. Afterwards, it was found out that the ruler with his family departed for Indian embassy to declare his support of democratic changes. Then, Ran’s family that has been privately ruling in Nepal over 100 years and has retained its ruling cognizance, encircled the embassy with its troops. The king was operatively transported to India by Indian Air Force’s aircraft. In this chaos, the royal family left behind its youngest grandson, the three-year-old Gyanendra. Ran’s family found him and crowned, though the crowning was acknowledged neither by Nepalese nobility, nor, of course, by India. So, for the first time, little Gyanendra was reigning only for several months. While the Rans had to agree to negotiations that were personally controlled by Indian leader Javaharlal Neru. As a result, in 1951 Tribhuvan returned to Nepal, and subjected the whole family of Ran to repression, and took power in his royal arms.

From manuals: “Taking into account Nepal’s strategic location, its biggest neighbours India and Chine do not want to manifest too much activity there. Because if one of these giants decides to subdue Nepal, its rival could not be indifferent to it, what is fraught with a serious conflict.”

Today (actually, as in 19th century) Nepal is being called a soft fruit between two braziers – India and China. Both countries have their historical interests here. Nepal seems to have done a complicated choice, while asking for help at first India, and only afterwards the world’s community. The consequences of this step are hard to be predicted. Though diplomatic confrontation between India and China is very possible. It looks like in Southeaster Asia, a new hot spot is maturing, which is all the more unique, that both sides are presented by USSR former allies and by today’s allies of Russia. Russia hardly will any way react to Nepalese events. Though Indian statement is significant characterizing Maoist groups as terrorist ones. Therefore, the conflict perfectly blends with the world anti-terrorist operation and ties hands of the supporters of this situation’s prolongation (that is evidently profitable for Maoists) and, indirectly, turns the Nepalese war into a “world hot spot” in the war against terrorists. Taking into account the recent events, India seems to have received a blank check. Now, will China say to it? Sergei Snegov PRAVDA.Ru

P.S.: Encyclopaedic data: Nepal One of the most poorest countries of the world, whose yearly income makes 200.00 dollars per capita. 24 million people populate in Nepal, who speak 60 languages and dialects. 60 percent of population are illiterate. Radio appeared in Nepal in 1951, while television – in 1986; at the moment, only 10 percent of population can watch TV. 14 percent of the Nepalese do not possess electricity. Most of Nepalese soils belong to risky agriculture zone. Nepalese peasants have to work three times more than Indian ones, while building supporting walls and terrace fields. Today, there are several dozens of political parties in this country, while only six of them are represented in the parliament.

Read the original in Russian: http://www.pravda.ru/main/2001/11/28/34330.html