Sajha Party has called for putting barbed-wire fences in the border with India in light of the recent inauguration of the Indian link road to Mansarovar of China through Nepali territory of Lipu Lekh.
Issuing a statement on Friday, the party has said the open and unregulated border is not in the interest of either of the neighbors in view of the developmental aspirations of both the countries, the challenges to the national security, management of economy and implementation of social security programs.
"In this context, the Sajha Party demands the Government of Nepal to open only specific border points between the two countries by maintaining proper documentation, and erect barbed-wire fences in rest of the border region – without putting the people living in the border region in any difficulty," the statement reads. "It is the conclusion of the Sajha Party that regulating the border by making use of passport, citizenship or other identity cards and other technologies is in the long-term interest of both Nepal and India."
The party has urged the government to hold talks with India on this matter at diplomatic and political level, and unilaterally start erecting fences in the border areas that are free of disputes if there is any delay in the talks.
Full text of the statement
Press Statement: On Documentation and Fencing in Indo-Nepal Border
The open border between Nepal and India had been looked at as a model of close relations between the two countries since ages. However, lately the Sajha Party has reached a conclusion that in view of the developmental aspirations of both the countries, the challenges to the national security, management of economy and implementation of social security programs, the open and unregulated border is not in the interest of either of the neighbors.
Because of the concept of the open border, the technical works regarding border determination have not been a priority to the two countries. Hundreds of border pillars have vanished. Dozens have been moved overnight inside the Nepalese territory. In many places, despite proper land ownership certificates, Nepalese have lost their lands where Indians have moved into farming. Likewise, in many bordering places, dams and roads have been erected against international laws that have resulted in inundation in Nepalese territory and settlements during monsoon. Moreover, Nepalese residing in border areas have to bear atrocities from the Indian Border Security Force (BSF).
In recent times, India has discarded the reality of the border proven by the historic documents and maps to brazenly take over Nepalese territory in Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani region. Sajha Party understands that the recent opening of the road to China through Lipulekh by India is the latest culmination of its brash activities.
There are numerous complications on national security due to open border such as cross-border theft, robberies, and smuggling. It is an important duty for any sovereign nation to maintain documentation about how many of its nationals are overseas and how many of foreign nationals are residing within its territory and for what purpose. These information are sorely lacking as the country tries to manage the Covid-19 crisis. The Indian side, too, has repeatedly stated that the misuse of the open border has undermined its national security.
In this context, the Sajha Party demands the Government of Nepal to open only specific border points between the two countries by maintaining proper documentation, and erect barbed-wire fences in rest of the border region – without putting the people living in the border region in any difficulty. It is the conclusion of the Sajha Party that regulating the border by making use of passport, citizenship or other identity cards and other technologies is in the long-term interest of both Nepal and India.
As this matter assumes greater gravity, the Sajha Party urges the Government of Nepal to hold talks with India on this matter at diplomatic and political level. In case there is going to be delay in such talks, we urge the Government of Nepal to unilaterally start erecting fences in border areas that are free of disputes. The Sajha Party expects that the Government will also take the initiative in building a national consensus on this matter in which the major political parties have hitherto not given any institutional attention to.
Dr. Surya Raj Acharya
Spokesperson, Sajha Party
Date: May 15, 2020
