KATHMANDU: The main opposition party, Nepali Congress (NC) has reiterated its stance demanding the government to publicize the report prepared by a team that made an on-the-spot study about the alleged encroachment of Nepali land by China in Humla district.
Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa dismissed reports of encroachment by China saying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already made it clear about it.
It should be noted that a team, including Namkha Rural Municipality Chairman Bishnu Bahadur Tamang, made a study of the border issue in Humla’s Limi area.
NC Spokesperson Bishwa Prakash Sharma last week issued a statement saying the party’s attention had been drawn toward concealing of the report even after the government team returned to the district headquarters.
“The NCP-led government must make its stance clear on the basis of facts,” Sharma said.
The NC said that it was mysterious why the federal government did not make public the exact details of the border based on the details provided by the local administration.
Sharma has said that the hasty remarks by the Foreign Ministry, the explanations sought to the Assistant Chief District Officer and the delay in releasing the details of the on-site study had raised concerns over the government’s claim that Nepal’s land has not been encroached by China.
The border dispute between Nepal and China has resurfaced after it was revealed that China has allegedly constructed nine buildings on Nepali territory in the Humla district.
The two buildings were allegedly built by China a few years ago. The Nepali side claims that there was a border pillar (Pillar No. 11) of Nepal and China at the place where the structures were built.
It was also earlier said that the Nepali officials could not locate the Pillar No 11. However, it was found later.
Locals, meanwhile, claim that the land has been encroached upon. An inspection of the Lapcha-Limi region of Humla from August 30 to September 9 by Assistant Chief District Officer Dalbahadur Hamal of Humla had revealed that China has allegedly constructed nine buildings on the Nepali territory.
What is to be noted is that the Lapcha-Lipu region does not enjoy the presence of the state because of its remoteness from the district headquarters.
This also led to protests at different levels across the country, including in front of the Chinese Embassy at Baluwatar in Kathmandu saying that China encroached the Nepali territory.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issuing a press release on June 25, reiterated that there was no dispute with China when it comes to land. It had then said that disputes in some areas in Humla and other parts were settled in 1961.
Meanwhile, the Home Ministry had sought an explanation from the Assistant Chief District Officer of Humla, who spoke to the media that Nepali territory had been encroached upon.
What had actually happened?
Locals of Humla say China has constructed buildings on the Nepali territory in the Lapcha area of Limi village in Namkha Municipality-6.
The news came after locals said that the Chinese side had completed the construction of a building in Nepali territory one kilometer from the border between the two countries.
After reaching the Lapcha area, Namkha village chairman Bishnu Bahadur Lama said that the Chinese side had constructed nine buildings for commercial purposes in Nepali territory. It was reported that a block was erected in Gabu Yalma, Nepali territory of the Lapcha region.
During the construction of Limi Lapcha road in 2066 BS, three buildings were constructed on the site. Locals say China has constructed more buildings. The Chinese Embassy in Nepal, meanwhile, said that Nepal’s land was not encroached upon.
Protests in Kathmandu and other places
Riot police stormed a rally in Kathmandu. Six people were arrested during the intervention, and were released in the evening.
Former General Secretary of the Nepali Union Kundan Raj Kafle told Khabarhub that China has encroached upon the Nepali territory in Namkha.
“About one-and-a-half kilometer of Nepali land has been encroached upon,” he said. He also alleged the Communist government of Nepal for failing to protest the encroachment.
Kafle said, “Besides Humla, China has encroached in several areas. The government, however, has remained a mere spectator.”
According to him, they hit the streets spontaneously with an aim to make the people aware of the issue of border encroachment.
Nepali Congress’ stance
Even before the report of the on-site study on the border in Humla came out, NC labeled it a weakness on the part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to come clear on the border encroachment issue.
NC has also asked the Chinese side to come to a solution through diplomatic efforts.
Meanwhile, Arun Kumar Subedi, a foreign affairs expert claims China should not encroach land in Humla adding that the government needs to study in detail the GPS of the spot where the pillars are located.
Once the coordinates of the pillars columns are confirmed, the boundary between the two pillars will become clear.
“I can’t understand why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reluctant to carry out a scientific study?” he queried.
Subedi wonders why is the government led by the Nepal Communist Party is so pathetic when it comes to dealing with border issues with China.
Comment