Fences make good neighbours   Posted on: 2009-10-14 16:56:08 | Comments: 0

Good fences make good neighbours



National border is indeed a symbol of nationality, national integrity and people’s sovereignty. Border is ‘a boundary between one nation and another’, which means an area that adjoins the boundary line with a variable depth. Thus, border is the official line separating two counties or regions. An independent nation must have key elements like nationality, sovereignty, state federalism and national security. Moreover, it should have an independent government capable to run the nation on its own and be able to maintain warm international relations with other nations including bordering nation. Hence, a nation lacking these essential elements can’t be given recognition of an independent nation and is said to be under the hold of other nation. People enjoy the liberty of an independent nation. They are permanent citizens enjoying the all the benefits provided by their own government, and are free to move across the country within its internal boundary with no restrictions.

However, border has its own magnitude and plays an important role to build a nation powerful full of authority, thus an independent nation should never undermine the importance of border as it gives nation recognition. Failure to provide proper security to its border means that the nation has not been able to provide security its nationality and people living inside the border. Such nation is vulnerable to anarchy, alteration, deformity, displacement and so on if the government fails to take stronghold on border which in the long run affects the nationality and sovereignty of people.

Border System: Many countries in the world have been following one of the three border systems i.e., “Open border system”, “Controlled border system” and “Closed border system”. In the case of Nepal, however, it has been following ‘Open border system’ with India but with china, it has been following ‘controlled border system’. In the northern and eastern borders, there are series of small hills and mountains; however, the Southern tarai belt of Nepal that adjoins India is plain fertile land- some bordering areas are densely populated and some have dense forest.

When Open Border Started? History does not tell exactly as to when the open border system started with India. However, ‘Sugauli treaty’ between two countries concluded in 1873 push 7 B.S. does not prove the start of open border system. The people of both countries are enjoying open border since 1917, kartik 3 B.S. when British returned bardiya, banke, kaili and kanchanpur to Nepal.

Indian Border Administration: The Indian government policy regarding the border administration and security is as adroit as it already had formed a special regiment in the name of Special Services Bureau (SSB) and Border Security Force (BSF) decades back. SSB forces have been deployed by the central government on the bordering areas especially for security purpose. The number of deployed SSB forces in Nepal-India border exceeds 100, 000. Apart from it, the Indian Army safeguards its border in Pakistan, Bangladesh and China. It shows how strong are the India’s border policies and its concern regarding nationality and sovereignty of its people. In other words, the Indian government has maintained the norms of independent nation and has given people a proud recognition of Indian citizens.

Nepalese Border Administration: Nepalese government has not made any such arrangements, nor has it taken any such effective initiatives so far for the security of Nepalese border. The then-government had taken initiatives and had deployed patrol of Royal Nepal Army in 2057 Chaitra 1 B.S. in 12 custom offices and 89 mini-custom offices to minimize illegal imports from India and increase revenue. As the purpose of deployment was limited to increase revenue, it did not help save the border and the pillars in Dasgajja area. Nepal’s foreign policy with regard to India is a total failure. Evaluating the present and past incidents of Dang, Susta, Mahakali (Kalapani) and other encroached bordering areas, our government must take effective initiatives and start to deploy the forces of army, police, armed police force and janpad prahari in 1808 K.M. bordering areas.

Encroached land: As of now, the Nepalese land that has been encroached at different bordering areas by India exceeds 100 or so. Of 60000 hectares of encroached land, the kalapani-limpiyadhura area alone includes 37800 hectares encroached by Indian Army. The encroachment in Susta area includes 14850 hectares, Banbasa-sarada canal-15 hectares, Mechi River embankment-1600 hectares, and Tanakpur-222 hectares. There are places where many hectares of land have been encroached.

Open Border System: does it favour Nepal?

Time has shown that Nepal has suffered from encroachment and excesses of Indian people frequently because of ‘open border’ policy. The plight of Nepalese people is: our border administration is silent about this sensible matter and has almost failed to provide proper security to people living in border areas and safeguarding their land. How long will they remain silent and when do they address the problems of suffered people?

Nepal will gain little and lose more if it continues to follow ‘Open Border System’. The major problems that Nepal has to face with open border system are: uncontrolled ‘dasgajja’ and border encroachment, increasing terrorist activities, export and import of illegal weapons, human abusive activities, girl trafficking, drug trafficking, theft and dacoit activities, worsening law and order and so on. Therefore, Nepal government must amend all old treaties, its foreign policy pertaining to India and strictly follow ‘Controlled Border System’. We must draft a strong law relating to border management. Despite the hundreds of bilateral meetings held over decade vis-à-vis the border disputes, we failed to achieve desired results. It of course indicates dominating policy of India. Also our feeble foreign policy supports India to do so.

Problems in border are still unsolved and rampant and make people suffer everyday. The unproductive bilateral dialogues held so far clearly show India’s intent and prove it’s reluctance to solve border disputes. On one hand, Nepalese people desperately want to see their problems solved and on the other the government turns deaf ear to their problems. Our experiences prove that bilateral dialogues do not solve border problems unless our government knocks the door of United Nations and International Court. This is the only way to solve the problems by placing it before United Nations. It’s the government’s responsibility to provide security and secure people’s sovereignty in the country and make Nepal an independent country. I remember the line of poet Robert Frost ‘good fences make good neighbours’, which holds absolutely true in the context of Nepal and the government must think whether to make India a neighbor or a foe.