Original contributions in the international fora have been few and far between or even none from the Nepali politicians of the democratic or the republican era
Prime Minister Prachanda has made two addresses in his visit to the United States before his departure to China on a goodwill visit. Firstly, he spoke at the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit as the President of the Least Developed Countries (LDC). Soon after, he aired his views on the podium of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Speaking about the LDCs, he said that they were not likely to meet the SDGs unless they were offered a stimulus financial package. In this context, he reminded the developed countries to stand by their commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of their GDP and thereby deliver 0.15 to 0.2 per cent to the LDCs. He lamented that the support had declined by 30 per cent in 2022 compared to the previous year. Only nine countries, namely, Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, United Kingdom, Ireland, Finland, Belgium and the Netherlands have fulfilled their commitments so far. The other countries have been turning a deaf ear to this living reality. Talking about Nepal, he said that the SDGs have been integrated into the national plans and policies and it was seeking to graduate into a developing nation by 2026.
In the General Assembly, he basically raised three issues. Firstly, he said that countries like Nepal had to bear the brunt of the adverse effects of climate change when its emission was close to zero at 0.22 per cent. It may face a worse situation than Libya where 11,000 persons died because of the collapse of the dam upstream. It is because of the presence of 3,624 glaciers in its Himalayan belt, out of which 47 have been already identified as potentially dangerous for likely glacial lake outburst flood downstream.
In fact, 26 such incidents have already claimed several lives and precious property in the past.
Secondly, Nepal is trying its best to bring the peace process to an amiable end for which it needs the support of the global community. Thirdly, he expressed grave concern about the conflicts increasing recently in the world and called for peace, prosperity and progress.
Small states can make a mark in the UNGA. For example, the Arms Trade Treaty, adopted by the General Assembly in April 2013, was the offshoot of a concept and early documents introduced and coordinated by Costa Rica, a small state. Similarly, in 2009, the Pacific Small Island Developing States drafted a resolution calling for the security implications of climate change to be acknowledged and addressed. Their resolution was passed by the General Assembly by consensus, and they enjoyed co-sponsorship from more than 100 states.
Another notable contribution of small states is the process of negotiating the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which came into force in 1994. It has now been ratified by 165 states and was driven throughout by small maritime states, with countries such as Malta, Singapore, Fiji and New Zealand playing significant roles.
Yet another gift of the small countries was the revival of the long-neglected idea for the establishment of an International Criminal Court. It came into being after a speech to the UN General Assembly by the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago in 1989. It led to the adoption of the Rome Statute and the creation of the court.
But the Prime Minister's address was what could be called as old wine in a new bottle. It has been raised several times in the past and can barely be taken as an original idea that could attract the attention of the international community. In fact, it is not only Prachanda, but also his predecessors in the past, none of whom have been able to make an impression in the international arena.
Nepal has, however, made remarkable efforts in the past to engrave its name in the international fora.
One of them is its role in the non-aligned movement along with India, Indonesia, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Ghana and Sri Lanka. This role was ably played by Late King Mahendra. This could be portrayed as an excellent diplomatic skill of the late king. It has, however, been eclipsed completely byhis assault on the nascent democracy, which he initiated by putting behind bars the charismatic and popularly elected Prime Minister, B P Koirala.
The other contribution is, of course, the Five Principles of Coexistence, also known as Panchasheel, which was propounded during the International Summit of Bandung. Nepal was also credited along with Sri Lanka, India and China. In fact, India and China signed it in 1954 as the main pillar of their friendship.
Nepal was also recognised as a main actor in Socialist International. It was, however, played down during the regime of Panchayat democracy as it was promoted by B P Koirala. Koirala's leadership has been lauded by many in the Socialist arena. It is because of such unbecoming suppressions that Panchayat democracy had to die immaturely within a decade of its celebration of the silver jubilee.
Such original contributions have been few and far between or even none from the Nepali politicians of the democratic or the republican era. It is probably because of the allergy of these leaders to serious study. Neither do they appear to have applied themselves to scholarship nor have they taken help from recognised scholars.
This was, however, not the practice in the past. The kings respected the scholars. King Pratap Malla in the middle of the seventeenth century had Gyanodaya and Lambakarna Bhatta, the Tantric duo, whom he invited from India.
Apart from his lecherous character, King Pratap Malla undertook several memorable works, including the construction of Rani Pokhari which adorns the heart of the capital city.
The first leg of the Prime Minister's visit can thus be evaluated as just routine or even dumb and drab. It was more conventional and less original. It remains to be seen what he can achieve in the China Visit, which has naturally raised several political eyebrows in Nepal.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 26, 2023, of The Himalayan Times
