To keep ties with India, China intact, Nepal moves to regulate western NGOs

Wedged between two big neighbours, Nepal is finding it rather cumbersome when activities on its soil cause India and China to frown. The Himalayan country has, therefore, decided to draft a legislation that will restrain western organisations in conducting activities that could potentially cause a wedge in Nepal's ties with its two neighbours. 

Bishnu Rijal, deputy chief of foreign affairs cell of the ruling Nepal Communist Party, told THE WEEK that the there were several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in the country on a range of developmental issues. However, sometimes they organise protests on issues “that could be sensitive to our neighbours. We don't want that”.

He noted that last year when the Indian government had abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, there were several protests against the move in Kathmandu. “It was India's internal matter, we have nothing to do with it. So why should anyone use our soil to organise such protests?''  

He also said that there were regular demonstration for 'Free Tibet', something that does not win smiles from China. Nepal plays host to about 10,000 Tibetan refugees. “They are our guests, and they should live as such. We managed the visit of Chinese premier Xi Jinping last October well, by reaching out to the refugees and ensuring there were no demonstrations that would be embarrassing to the Chinese,'' said Rijal. However, it is becoming clear to the country's government that while every visit needs to be managed to ensure there are no diplomatic gaffes, there is also need for a legislation on how organistations will have to behave, so that they do not jeopardise Nepal's own diplomatic outreach. 

India has been Nepal's development partner for decades. It has even heavily invested in several projects, from railway lines to new roads, creating power plants and even Special Economic Zones. India is Nepal's biggest trade partner and the key entry points for most of Nepal's imports are through India. However, ever since K.P. Sharma Oli came to power, the reach out to China has become obvious. Nepal and China are in talks for an ambitious railway line from Lhasa through the high mountains into Kathmandu; there are even proposals of opening up ports on China's north to Nepal. China, as well as India, is heavily interested in rebuilding the villages, towns and cities in Nepal that were devastated by the April 2015 earthquake. 

Rijal noted that an era of stability had come to the country after many years. In the past, their internal turmoil was such that the government barely had time or energy to spare for other things. “But now that we have started on the path of development, we are keen to ensure that there are no unnecessary irritants. We welcome western NGOs to help us out with developmental issues like poverty alleviation, education and rural development, but we would want them to keep away from strategic issues that affect our ties with India and China.'' 

The country's Council of Social Welfare is working on the draft bill. 

Rijal said that the legislation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) had not caused much flutter in Nepal, as it did not concern them at all. However, there is a worry about the National Registrar of Citizenship (NRC) that was recently conducted in Assam. “There are around one lakh people of Nepali origin living in Assam. We are not sure how their fate will be impacted in future,'' he said. 

India enjoys a relationship with Nepal that it does not share with any other country, neighbouring or otherwise. The borders are open and citizens from either country are free to live in the other country (with some curbs in Inner Line Permit areas of India) and pick up employment.