Protect Nepalis Abroad

As emotionally shaken Nepali students safely landed on Nepal Friday, their joy knew no bounds. They were forced to live in bunkers to avoid the volleys of missiles, bombs and explosives. It was their homecoming from jaws of death. Thanks to the Nepal government that swiftly managed to bring back 254 students from Israel that is now entangled in a horrific war with Palestine militant group - Hamas. The returnees were among 533 Nepalis who want to return Nepal.

These students were staying in Israel under 'learn and earn' programme. Ten students had lost their lives and four were injured in the indiscriminate attacks of the militias.  This is indeed a tragic demise of Nepalis outside their native soil. In 2004, Nepal had endured similar ‘worst days’ in history when 12 Nepali workers were taken hostage and killed mercilessly by a militant group in Iraq. The captors had accused Nepalis of helping the ‘Jews and Christians’ against the Muslims. 

However, those killed in Israel had no political, religious and military mission but went there to gain knowledge and earn money while working in the agriculture firms. One common trait of these two dreadful incidents is that Nepalis are forced to go abroad in the absence of quality education and employment opportunity back home. 

The returnees have recounted the horrors of how they survived in the bunkers and escaped the attack of Hamas. It is the heroic deed of Bipin Joshi, who saved his friends from the grenade attacks but he himself fell into the hands of attackers. He had courageously picked up a grenade hurled by the Hamas militias and threw towards them. The grenade had fallen in a room where 17 Nepali students were staying.  Had he not caught the bomb and thrown, all of them would have died, says a student. Joshi came under the control of Hamas when a second bomb landed there.

More than a week has elapsed since his missing but his exact whereabouts is a mystery. It is said that, along with other foreign nations, Joshi was taken towards Gaza that is now being incessantly pulverised by Israeli forces from land and air.  Although Nepal government has said that it has taken initiatives to search and rescue him, it is herculean task given the tricky situation of the conflict zone and nature of the organisation that made him hostage.

 It is obviously beyond the capacity of Nepal government to negotiate with Hamas for the release of Joshi at the moment. Nepal has no relation with the militant group. In its first statement, Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Hamas attack as terrorist but in subsequent press releases, the Ministry has not termed Hamas as terrorist in a clear bid not to irk it. This shifting diplomatic approach seemingly seeks to save the life of Joshi.

Most of Nepalis go to Middle East countries for work, and send great sum of remittances to the country. Some countries in the region can turn into a flashpoint at any time as of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Nepal is one of early countries to recognise Israel while supporting for two-state solution for the peace and stability in the region. 

Although it endorses a separate Palestine state and sympathises for the sufferings of Palestine people, it does not have diplomatic ties with the Palestine administration. The current turmoil suggests that Nepal should maintain ties with Palestine and strengthen diplomatic missions there for the security of its citizens.