Indo-Nepal border feud plot thickens with a new film

[gpit]

Nepalmountainnews Report | 1 Jul 2008

A longstanding and bitter feud between India and Nepal over the annexation of nearly one-third of Nepali territory by the past colonial British masters of India gets a fresh lease of life with a documentary urging the restoration of the lost land winning a national award.

This year, as the Nepal Film Development Board announced the national film awards after a hiatus of nearly three years, Manoj Pundit's controversial documentary “Greater Nepal” bagged the “Critic's Choice Award”.

Maoist chief Prachanda, who is poised to be the next prime minister of Nepal, handed over the award amidst a function in the capital on Monday.

Debutant Nepali filmmaker Pundit moved away from mainstream cinema to make a documentary on the controversial subject of “Greater Nepal” written by Phanindra Nepal, president the Unified Nepal National Front, an organisation raising voice for greater Nepal.

Pundit's 100-minute documentary also rakes up other contentious border issues. It projects the Nepali accusation that India is encroaching on Nepal's territory. The border areas of Kalapani, Susta, Pyaratal, Bhadrapur and Kakarbhitta are said to be encroached upon by Indian settlers.

The tale goes back to the 19th century Anglo-Nepal war fought between the East India Company, that was then ruling India, and independent Nepal. Though the Himalayan kingdom averted being annexed, it, however, had to sign a humiliating treaty, surrendering almost one-third of its land, including much of the fertile Terai plains.

After India became independent, Nepal has been clamouring for the annulment of the infamous Sugauli Treaty, demanding that India return the annexed land. Both royalists as well as the Maoists are against the treaty.

The documentary, made about three years ago, had been gathering dust despite attempts by the Front to garner public support for the issue. The demand for the creation of a Greater Nepal lost momentum after the death of Yogi Naraharinath, a venerated nationalist historian.

However, the award will give a new impetus to the movement. Nationalists in Nepal contend that the Sugauli Treaty was invalidated in 1950, when India and Nepal signed a new pact, the Peace and Friendship Treaty. Therefore, they say, the provisions of the earlier treaty should be scrapped as well and India return the annexed land to Nepal.( with strong inputs from IANS)

Indo-Nepal border feud plot thickens with a new film « Nepal, Nepalnews, News of Nepal, latest news of Nepal, Everest News Politics Business Sport Entertainment News Nepal Mountain Travel Tourism News, Expedition Adventure News

 

[vish]

Wow... never even heard of this; by the way, good publicity stunt to deflect attention from the domestic problems in hand. Go Maoists.

PS: The commies in Nepal do not have a majority, and neither do enjoy the levels of popularity they are claiming to be. This election result ihas more to do with political lethargy and desperation to change than anything else. Let the drama unfold; would love to see these "revolutionaries" perform in the real circus.

 

[gpit]

An exclamation like this from you surprises nobody.

Hopefully this corroborating analysis serves to pull your head out of sand a little bit.

http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers27\paper2683.html

Excerpt:

"11.Till now, our military planners have been worried over the dangers of India being confronted one day with a two-front war----with Pakistan and China. We now have to think seriously about the dangers of a three-front war with Pakistan, China and Nepal. "

 

[nitesh]

An exclamation like this from you surprises nobody.

Hopefully this corroborating analysis serves to pull your head out of sand a little bit.

NEPAL:  Valid Reasons for a Military Take-over

Excerpt:

"11.Till now, our military planners have been worried over the dangers of India being confronted one day with a two-front war----with Pakistan and China. We now have to think seriously about the dangers of a three-front war with Pakistan, China and Nepal. "

I think practically India has to prepare for a FOUR-FRONT war or FIVE-FRONT by taking respectively Bangladesh and Burma in to account. But Nepal, Bangladesh and Burma dont have any formidable military strength to attack India. They will be acting more as launch pad for chinese and pakistani forces.
PS: This is just a view, I am trying to start a flame war.

 

[vish]

An exclamation like this from you surprises nobody.

Back to your old tricks?

Hopefully this corroborating analysis serves to pull your head out of sand a little bit.

NEPAL: Valid Reasons for a Military Take-over

Excerpt:

"11.Till now, our military planners have been worried over the dangers of India being confronted one day with a two-front war----with Pakistan and China. We now have to think seriously about the dangers of a three-front war with Pakistan, China and Nepal. "

Nepal "attacking" India? Give me a break. Read the latest papers on Nepal from the same site before commenting like the way you did. By the way, the paper you've quoted is just one man's opinion; read between the lines and you'll realize that he wants the Indian government to be more pro-active.

Do you have any idea as to how dependent Nepal's economy is on remittances its population sends from India? Or how most Nepalese see India? Or how most Indians see Nepalese? The deal is that just because commies are running the show, the Chinese are all pumped up for they get a new poodle to push up against our throat.

People do forget that the Maoists do not have absolute majority and won less than expected. We'll see how the revolutionaries do in the next election.They are in a coalition which is very much pro-India. Even the Maoists are more pro-India than they bark; read more on Prachanda's visit to India to get what I'm saying. The Maoists are very glad that we didn't hit them when we could have; this indicates that we did not want to put our fingers in Nepal and would like the country to sort its mess out on its own. The situation would be remarkable different had the IA intervened.

Even if things do reach boiling point, we can intervene in Nepal and you cannot; the reason for this is terrain.

It is very easy to find a view on the internet that tells you what you want to hear; try reading between the lines to get a clearer picture.

PS: You ever get personal again, you've had it. You still haven't countered many of my arguments in numerous threads; this speaks volumes about your intellect or the lack of it.

Nitesh:
Count Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Nepal out of a conflict scenario in South Asia. All these three countries have their own houses to put in order before they knock elsewhere. In Bangladesh and Nepal, a significant percentage of population and polity is pro-India. In Myanmar, the junta has enough sense to realize that it is fast becoming a Chinese pawn, and some of the generals despise that immensely.

 

[Vinod2070]

The people of Myanmar despise China. The day democracy comes to Myanmar will be the day China is evicted from their polity.

I doubt China is liked by any democratic country. It is mostly the thugs and despots of Africa who see them as their ideal.

 

[cactuslily58]

An exclamation like this from you surprises nobody.

Hopefully this corroborating analysis serves to pull your head out of sand a little bit.

NEPAL:* Valid Reasons for a Military Take-over

Excerpt:

"11.Till now, our military planners have been worried over the dangers of India being confronted one day with a two-front war----with Pakistan and China. We now have to think seriously about the dangers of a three-front war with Pakistan, China and Nepal. "

More the merrier !! Any more for any more ?!!

 

[blain2]

I doubt China is liked by any democratic country. It is mostly the thugs and despots of Africa who see them as their ideal.

Most of the countries of the world have good relations with China and deal with it without this abstract classification of "liked". The fact that you are from India and have been brought up to look at China in a certain way clouds your judgment. The same can be said about India or for that matter Pakistan depending on whom you are talking to.

Secondly, its not a matter of any democratic country not liking China. They all deal with China and have massive partnerships. So this over-hyped democracy talk does not really mean anything in reality. The Chinese themselves are not against democracy, however they think that they will arrive at it on their own time and at their own pace. This is something that the so-called Guardians of democracy do not understand. It actually is arrogant on their part to expect everyone to follow suit and to those who receive this lecture about democracy, it sounds a lot like BS as they are closer to the ground realities than those preaching for democracy and are not aware if things are conducive for whatever reasons to bring in democracy.

 

[GHATAK]

The nepalese army is anti-maoist and pro India. Its surprising that there was no military coup, thanks to the discipline of the army. However, any misadventure against India by the maoist govt and they will be stabbing themselves.

Well, no matter what is the govt there, Nepal is one of the best friend of India.

Nepalis are the most trustworthy people. If you konw anything about gorkhas or the loyality of gorkha regiment in the Indian army.

Even the British army still recruits gorkha's as they are the best martial race ever. These people have lot of self respect and dignity and will never even think of launching military operations against a nation that has helped so much in its development.

These people will never back stab the Indians.

“If anyone tells you he is never afraid, he is a liar or a Gurkha!”
- Sam Manekshaw

The point is:
If someone dreams of Nepal attacking India, let them dream.

 

[nitesh]

Back to your old tricks?
Nitesh:
Count Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Nepal out of a conflict scenario in South Asia. All these three countries have their own houses to put in order before they knock elsewhere. In Bangladesh and Nepal, a significant percentage of population and polity is pro-India. In Myanmar, the junta has enough sense to realize that it is fast becoming a Chinese pawn, and some of the generals despise that immensely.

vish, this is what I have written:

I think practically India has to prepare for a FOUR-FRONT war or FIVE-FRONT by taking respectively Bangladesh and Burma in to account. But Nepal, Bangladesh and Burma dont have any formidable military strength to attack India. They will be acting more as launch pad for chinese and pakistani forces.

Nepal, Bangladesh and Burma will act as logistical bases to support the chinese and pakistani forces. I am saying that we need to be prepared for any eventuality.

 

[vish]

Nepal, Bangladesh and Burma will act as logistical bases to support the chinese and pakistani forces. I am saying that we need to be prepared for any eventuality.

Nepal cannot be used as a logistical base; any large-scale movement on a terrain like that is very noticeable and one hell of a nightmare to conduct. If the PLA tries something like that, the IA will be all over the place long before the PLA has a chance to do any damage.

Bangladesh is surrounded on all sides by India (its border with Myanmar is pretty much within shouting distance from Indian territory); the only way it can act as a logistical base is through the sea; this implies that the PLAN has to sail all the way to the Bay of Bengal throught the IN, not possible.

The Chinese have constructed roads in Myanmar that approach Indian territory; the IA too can use these roads. Even if Myanmar acts as a logistical base (again, highly impossible for it would have a lot to loose), it does not negate or nihilate the advantages we enjoy in the region.

Do remember, the PLA cannot attack us upfront like in 1962; the reason is terrain and the strategic advantages of the IA.

You're right we must be prepared for any eventuality but there is a limit to the extent of paranoia one should succumb to. Sorry if I'm being rude.

 

[nitesh]

Nepal cannot be used as a logistical base; any large-scale movement on a terrain like that is very noticeable and one hell of a nightmare to conduct. If the PLA tries something like that, the IA will be all over the place long before the PLA has a chance to do any damage.

Bangladesh is surrounded on all sides by India (its border with Myanmar is pretty much within shouting distance from Indian territory); the only way it can act as a logistical base is through the sea; this implies that the PLAN has to sail all the way to the Bay of Bengal throught the IN, not possible.

The Chinese have constructed roads in Myanmar that approach Indian territory; the IA too can use these roads. Even if Myanmar acts as a logistical base (again, highly impossible for it would have a lot to loose), it does not negate or nihilate the advantages we enjoy in the region.

Do remember, the PLA cannot attack us upfront like in 1962; the reason is terrain and the strategic advantages of the IA.

You're right we must be prepared for any eventuality but there is a limit to the extent of paranoia one should succumb to. Sorry if I'm being rude.

PLAN has berthing rights in Burma, Bangladesh has tested an anti-ship missile with help of China. So the things are not hunky dory as you are thinking. And what if Burma provides the airbases also for PLAAF. And PLAAF airlifts one of the division to Bangladesh. The point here is lets be prepared for the worst. It is not becoming paranoid.

 

[vish]

PLAN has berthing rights in Burma

So? Don't you think they'll have to pass through the IN to reach there?

Bangladesh has tested an anti-ship missile with help of China.

So? Have they mastered its use? Learnt tactics and operational doctrines? Are they equivalent to the IN? What about the IA sitting over their heads?

So the things are not hunky dory as you are thinking.

They are not as bad as you make them out to be. The Chinese are very much overestimated.

And what if Burma provides the airbases also for PLAAF.

Why would they do that? You think we are just going to sit there and do nothing? Can't we take those bases out? Last time I checked we have plenty of contacts therein and the junta didn't have much in the name of anti-air defense.

And PLAAF airlifts one of the division to Bangladesh.

For what? That would bring Bangladesh and China into the war; they don't want that.

Even if they did, our troops outnember them in that region.

The point here is lets be prepared for the worst. It is not becoming paranoid.

My contention is that I'm tired of all the "we are so weak" and "China is this and that" rant all over the place. You have to se the confidence of the forces to understand what I'm trying to say.

Further, in all the above scenarios you are missing out on two very important things: logistics and the motives for war.

 

[nitesh]

So? Don't you think they'll have to pass through the IN to reach there?



So? Have they mastered its use? Learnt tactics and operational doctrines? Are they equivalent to the IN? What about the IA sitting over their heads?



They are not as bad as you make them out to be. The Chinese are very much overestimated.



Why would they do that? You think we are just going to sit there and do nothing? Can't we take those bases out? Last time I checked we have plenty of contacts therein and the junta didn't have much in the name of anti-air defense.



For what? That would bring Bangladesh and China into the war; they don't want that.

Even if they did, our troops outnember them in that region.



My contention is that I'm tired of all the "we are so weak" and "China is this and that" rant all over the place. You have to se the confidence of the forces to understand what I'm trying to say.

Further, in all the above scenarios you are missing out on two very important things: logistics and the motives for war.

I am not saying we are weak at all. My point is that preparation should be keeping these things in mind. What are you saying, chinese have berthing rights in Burma. They have a listening post in Coco island. Go check the news's before commenting. What IN is doing right now? Regarding Bangladesh what are you saying. If they just fire some missiles on IN and make some damage, then. You can attack burmese airbases so chines/pakistani can't attack your bases or not. The point here is China and Pakistan will try to divide our forces as much as possible.

 

[IceCold]

Nepal, Bangladesh and Burma will act as logistical bases to support the chinese and pakistani forces. I am saying that we need to be prepared for any eventuality.

Why did you left Srilanka out of it. Certainly would have helped in this self created paranoia of yours.
In present day scenario it is unimaginable to even think of a war because of the fact that today's wars are over the economic front and not military. No one in reality is threatening India infact all this hype that is being created is because India wants to justify itself in spending such huge amounts on militarily spendings.