http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/others/five_questions/jan/five_question01.php
The news reports of encroachment of Nepali territory in Susta region of Nawalparasi district by the Indian side have triggered debates within Nepal. The encroachment is said to have begun in Susta some 40 years ago and it still continues in the southern part of Narayani river where the diversion of the river has left out a large part of Susta VDC across the river, virtually segregating it from Nepali mainland. However, the government has remained mum all through the years. Recently, the expert team of the two countries said they finalised the border demarcation except in Susta and Kalapani region. The student bodies aligned with various political parties in several instances have put pressure on the parties to raise the issue of Indian encroachment. Yet, their voices have not been heard. For the fourth time, UML student wing All Nepal National Free Students Union paid a field visit to Susta recently and organised a protest demonstration against the continued encroachment by India. Its president Thakur Gaire talked with Indra Adhikari of Nepalnews on the efforts his organisation is making to press for the end of encroachment.
What did you find in Susta?
A pathetic situation, total ignorance by the state! It is estimated that around 32,000 hectares of land in Susta have been encroached by Indian side in the last 40 years. A large number of tents have been erected in the Nepali land recently encroached. Thousands of Seema Suraksha Bal personnel have been stationed. Though a team of Armed Police Force has been deployed, they remain a mere spectator to the incident. The SSB personnel enter into Nepali land beyond the new line they have drawn to intimidate, torture and harass the villagers.
Since the encroached land lies across the river, permanent settlement by Nepali people has become impossible. The inundation problems during the summer season also force the Nepalis to seek other areas for permanent settlement. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Indian security forces settled themselves in the area, and brought a large number of Indians to build houses here. All agricultural products, especially sugarcane, planted by Nepali villagers have been destroyed or sold. Really, Susta has become a colony of India.
You reached the encroached area and held demonstration. What was the reaction from the SSB officials?
They were very rude. We made efforts to talk to them and hand over a letter of protest but they refused to talk to us. Our attempt to reach them through APF officers also failed. As we approached the encroach land, the SSB personnel came up with guns, threatening to shoot. We learnt from APF officers that they were told not to allow the protesting groups beyond 300m from the 'new demarcation'. However, stubbornly we reached the 'new border' line and held a protest demonstration.
When we talked to villagers, we learnt that the villagers have been told to leave Susta if they want to remain as Nepali citizens. Or else live in their original land if they want to be Indian citizens. If the villagers wished to remain in the encroached land, they have been assured of Indian citizenship.
How do you observe the presence of state there?
Villagers do not feel the presence of state. There is no provision of supplied drinking water, there are neither health posts nor schools. Among others, these conditions also force Nepalis to seek alternative place to live, subsequently encouraging Indians to take over the vacant land. The police team stationed there remains a spectator. They fear of intimidation and torture from the Indian side if any one reaches the encroached area. They say the Indian side alleges them of inviting people for protest. On the other hand, the government has never held any formal discussion on this issue with India.
Who is to blame for all this?
The first is the imperialist character of India, who never thought of maintaining a friendly relation with its neighbouring countries. India has always been acting as 'suppressor' in this region. It demands respect as big brother but refuses to respect others. Secondly, it is the inaction of our state mechanism that is also to be blamed. The issues of encroachment, be it in Susta or in Kalapani, or the construction of dam and roads, have never been at the top of our state's priority list. Nepal has failed to approach India in bureaucratic level in any issue including land encroachment. Thirdly, the lack of feeling of nationality in political parties and their leaders is the cause of this problem.
Do you think your voice will be heard?
We have handed over memorandum to Speaker. He appeared serious towards this issue and assured that parliament will direct the government to take up the matter. This is the fourth time we visited Susta and each time we made recommendations to the government to take action. In all instances, the government turned deaf ear to our appeal. This time, even a parliamentary committee has visited. I am hopeful that parliament may take up the issue. However, the political parties in the government lack political will for national sovereignty. The prime minister, home minister, and foreign minister have to speak and clarify this issue to the people.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
House panel demands urgent diplomatic steps to regain Susta
http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=132803
Kantipur Report - KATHMANDU, Dec 30 2007 - A parliamentary committee Sunday directed the government to take immediate diplomatic measures to make the Indian security personnel to vacate Susta area of Nepal that they have been encroaching.
The Agriculture and Cooperative Committee of the interim parliament has also asked the government to immediately activate the border security force or the Armed Police Force to guard Susta VDC.
According to a preliminary report released during a meeting of the parliamentary panel that recently visited the Susta area, India has encroached more than 14,000 hectors of land in seven out of nine wards of the VDC.
The members of the parliamentary committee even warned that Nepal would loose Susta area forever if the government does not take immediate diplomatic steps to address the problem.
Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Chhabi Lal Biswokarma were also present at the meeting.
Posted on: 2007-12-30 03:24:50 (Server Time)
Kantipur Report - KATHMANDU, Dec 30 2007 - A parliamentary committee Sunday directed the government to take immediate diplomatic measures to make the Indian security personnel to vacate Susta area of Nepal that they have been encroaching.
The Agriculture and Cooperative Committee of the interim parliament has also asked the government to immediately activate the border security force or the Armed Police Force to guard Susta VDC.
According to a preliminary report released during a meeting of the parliamentary panel that recently visited the Susta area, India has encroached more than 14,000 hectors of land in seven out of nine wards of the VDC.
The members of the parliamentary committee even warned that Nepal would loose Susta area forever if the government does not take immediate diplomatic steps to address the problem.
Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Chhabi Lal Biswokarma were also present at the meeting.
Posted on: 2007-12-30 03:24:50 (Server Time)
Summon Indian envoy over SUSTA!
http://telegraphnepal.com/news_det.php?news_id=2606
TGW - A parliamentary committee formed to investigate the Susta land encroachment by the India side has concluded that the areas under Ward No 1 to 7 of Susta VDC, Nawalparasi District, Nepal have been illegally occupied by India.
The committee just returned to the capital from a field investigation of the area under illegal occupation in Nawalparasi District.
Through a report, the committee states that before year 2038 B.S, India had already gulped 14,000 hectares and in the year 2061 B.S only, more than 1,400 hectares of Nepali land were swallowed by India at a go.
The report further states that India’s Border Security Force is heavily deployed in the illegally occupied area.
The committee also suggests the government to take necessary steps towards regaining Nepal’s lost land from the Indian occupation.
Speaking at the parliamentary committee meeting yesterday, the UML leader Mr. Bam Dev Gautam of the Kalapani fame, demanded the summoning immediately of the Indian ambassador and put Nepal’s perspective accordingly.
Home Minister K.P.Sitaula assured the committee that the government will do the needful through diplomatic channels to return the occupied land.
2007-12-31 07:20:52
TGW - A parliamentary committee formed to investigate the Susta land encroachment by the India side has concluded that the areas under Ward No 1 to 7 of Susta VDC, Nawalparasi District, Nepal have been illegally occupied by India.
The committee just returned to the capital from a field investigation of the area under illegal occupation in Nawalparasi District.
Through a report, the committee states that before year 2038 B.S, India had already gulped 14,000 hectares and in the year 2061 B.S only, more than 1,400 hectares of Nepali land were swallowed by India at a go.
The report further states that India’s Border Security Force is heavily deployed in the illegally occupied area.
The committee also suggests the government to take necessary steps towards regaining Nepal’s lost land from the Indian occupation.
Speaking at the parliamentary committee meeting yesterday, the UML leader Mr. Bam Dev Gautam of the Kalapani fame, demanded the summoning immediately of the Indian ambassador and put Nepal’s perspective accordingly.
Home Minister K.P.Sitaula assured the committee that the government will do the needful through diplomatic channels to return the occupied land.
2007-12-31 07:20:52
Violent clash at Nepal-India border, SPA silent
http://www.telegraphnepal.com/news_det.php?news_id=2626
TGW - Reportedly, men in hundreds affiliated to some political parties in India have intruded upon Nepali territory and hoisted Indian flags and chanted anti-Nepal slogans.
The incident took place in Bhramadev area, Mahendranagar-9 close to the Indian border in Nepal, January 1, 2008.
“The land is a disputed territory…it does not belong to Nepal”, the Indians were howling, add reports.
At exactly 3:00 PM yesterday, the political party cadres had entered into the Nepali territory from the nearby Tanakpur barrage. They by the side of the barrage chanted anti-Nepal slogans for over half an hour, say reports. More interestingly, police officers and some local government administrators from the Indian side encouraged the party cadres while crossing the international border.
However a sovereign Nepali could not resist this Indian highhandedness obviously except for their leaders. This they did exactly with courage and valor. The local population stopped the intruders and chanted anti-India slogans, shamefully the Seven Party Alliance leaders’ controlled local administration kept its stoic silence.
Later, the Indians started pelting stones at the Nepali citizens who had arrived at the scene to accost the intruders. “Some were injured seriously while confronting the Indian intruders. That obviously was enough for the Nepalese to lose their patience; they too resorted to pelting stones and the two way attack on each other continued for over fifteen minutes”.
In the meantime, India’s Border Security Force had already held their firing position towards the Nepali side.
The Indian establishment was already informed of this stunt led by the political cadres as the BSF men were told to take their position in the area, say local reports. More than one hundred fifty BSF men were already stationed in the area, say locals.
Analysts’ claim that the intrusion of the Indian political party cadres into the Nepali territory have come on the very first day of the year 2008 as a gift to the India tilted Nepal’s Loktantrik leaders who were brought back to power after the blessings of their masters seated in India.
Strong inputs from Nayapatriak Daily, Dated 2 January 2008)
2008-01-02 09:16:46
TGW - Reportedly, men in hundreds affiliated to some political parties in India have intruded upon Nepali territory and hoisted Indian flags and chanted anti-Nepal slogans.
The incident took place in Bhramadev area, Mahendranagar-9 close to the Indian border in Nepal, January 1, 2008.
“The land is a disputed territory…it does not belong to Nepal”, the Indians were howling, add reports.
At exactly 3:00 PM yesterday, the political party cadres had entered into the Nepali territory from the nearby Tanakpur barrage. They by the side of the barrage chanted anti-Nepal slogans for over half an hour, say reports. More interestingly, police officers and some local government administrators from the Indian side encouraged the party cadres while crossing the international border.
However a sovereign Nepali could not resist this Indian highhandedness obviously except for their leaders. This they did exactly with courage and valor. The local population stopped the intruders and chanted anti-India slogans, shamefully the Seven Party Alliance leaders’ controlled local administration kept its stoic silence.
Later, the Indians started pelting stones at the Nepali citizens who had arrived at the scene to accost the intruders. “Some were injured seriously while confronting the Indian intruders. That obviously was enough for the Nepalese to lose their patience; they too resorted to pelting stones and the two way attack on each other continued for over fifteen minutes”.
In the meantime, India’s Border Security Force had already held their firing position towards the Nepali side.
The Indian establishment was already informed of this stunt led by the political cadres as the BSF men were told to take their position in the area, say local reports. More than one hundred fifty BSF men were already stationed in the area, say locals.
Analysts’ claim that the intrusion of the Indian political party cadres into the Nepali territory have come on the very first day of the year 2008 as a gift to the India tilted Nepal’s Loktantrik leaders who were brought back to power after the blessings of their masters seated in India.
Strong inputs from Nayapatriak Daily, Dated 2 January 2008)
2008-01-02 09:16:46
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