Op-ed editors of major broadsheet dailies published in Kathmandu on Monday have given space to a host of issues such as Nepal’s disaster preparedness, the India-China standoff and the Independence Day of Pakistan.
Nepal’s disaster preparedness
More than 70 people have died and thousands more displaced by floods and landslides triggered by incessant monsoon rain that began on Friday. Senior journalist and commentator Achyut Wagle in his lead article for The Kathmandu Post says Nepal’s lack of institutional memory makes it difficult for leaders to learn lessons from disasters of massive scale such as the floods in Terai. He says that this is particularly worrying as Nepal ranks sixth on the list of countries most vulnerable to effects of climate change.
He says that Nepal still lacks a dedicated and functional institution for disaster response and due to this reason chaos and confusion mars any rescue and relief work. He then talks about how diplomacy can be used to mitigate disasters in the future. He says India and Nepal should come together for a meaningful dialogue on creating the infrastructures and this will benefit the entire sub-continent.
Expert songs Koshi Barrage’s death knell
The rising level of water in the Koshi river has been a hot topic on social media, with the Nepal government urging the Indian side to open all floodgates of the barrage.
Water and border expert Buddhi Narayan Shrestha, in his interview with Naya Patrika says the root cause of the Koshi problem is that the dam is in Nepal, but Indians have the authority to open the floodgates. He, however, adds that if all floodgates are opened, there will be massive inundation on the Indian side. That is why a joint operation is needed to replace the old Koshi barrage, which has already aged beyond repair. He says the Prime Minister should take up this issue with the Indian government during his impending visit.
On Pakistan’s Independence Day
Pakistan observes its independence day today, a day ahead of rivals India. Commentator CK Lal in his lead op-ed for Republica says that on the 70th Independence Day, Pakistan needs to remember that there is much to be done to realise the dreams of Jinnah. Tracing the history of Pakistan to the partition, Lal says Nepalis need to study the case of Pakistan more carefully to understand their own country better. He says that the separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan raises a question over the very idea of Pakistan and its raison de’etre — religion. “Pakistan offers interesting lessons in the study of contestations over the idea of a nation and its elusive resolution.
He cautions the people of Pakistan on the authoritarian impulses of its leaders. He adds that the constitutional innovation of ‘doctrine of necessity’ has done Pakistan harm. Similarly, the ruling class’ insensitivity to the plight of the people is hampering steps towards democracy.
The issue Nepal-China-India trijuncture
As tension escalates between India and China in the Doklam area over Bhutanese territory, Ratan Bhandari, a Nepali commentator in his piece for Annapurna Post says Nepal should raise the issue of the Lipulekh trijuncture between China, Nepal and India. He says that the Prime Minister should raise the issue with the Chinese Vice-premier who is set to land in Kathmandu, and the Indian government when Deuba visits New Delhi.
