Kosh Raj Koirala

The government has directed Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and other concerned ministries to implement the recommendations of a controversial report that among others, seeks to eventually stop Gurkha recruitments in foreign armies.

The Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) sent separate letters to various ministries on March 9 directing them to start implementing recommendations of the report -- Nepal´s Foreign Policy in Changed Context: 2068 BS --saying it was endorsed by a House panel.

The report unanimously endorsed by the Parliamentary Committee on International Relations and Human Rights on December 26, 2011, was later presented in the Legislature Parliament.

The report has drawn sharp criticism from various Ex-Gurkha organizations who have warned of protests if Gurkha Recruitment Centers are shut down in Nepal.

The parliamentary report argues that although the Gurkha recruitment gave the Nepali youths limited employment opportunity, serving with foreign military had not allowed the country to hold its head high.

"Nepal´s government is put on further loss after the Britain decided to provide citizenship to Gurkha soldiers, and the time has come to evaluate Nepal´s foreign policy in regards to Gurkha recruitment," says the report, adding: "Since the Gurkha recruitment will have to end eventually, it is necessary to create alternatives to move forward the process."

The OPMCM directive came amid continuing difference between the House panel and the MoFA over another recommendation that would not bar inter-ministerial service change and transfers of "deserving" government employees to foreign services.

The House Committee Chairman Padam Lal Bishwakarma expressed happiness over the government´s willingness to implement the report. "The report has paved the way for inter-ministerial service change and transfers of deserving candidates serving in other concerned ministries to foreign service," he said.

Bishwakarma said the report had suggested making the inter-ministerial service change or transfers through ´due procedures.´ Asked what do ´due procedures´ meant, Bishwakarma said, "Government employees serving in other ministries should also get chance to compete in internal examinations of foreign service conducted by public service commission. Obviously it implies competitive examinations."

Among other things, the report recommends that ´deserving´ officials from any other related ministries are eligible for ambassadorial positions from among 50 percent quota reserved for ´career diplomats and professional experts´. Remaining 50 percent quota of ambassadorial positions are reserved for political appointees.

The MoFA has also registered its reservation over the proposal to include officials from other ministries in the 50 percent quota ambassadorial quote reserved for career diplomats.

Published on: 18 March 2012 | Republica