The Cabinet has recommended five ambassadors and recalled three appointed to various countries by the earlier Sher Bahadur Deuba government.
However, the government has failed to appoint Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, considered a crucial diplomatic post. It has also not taken a decision on five other ambassadors appointed by the Dueba government.
Officials said they did not know the basis on which the three ambassadors recommended by the Nepali Congress and two others recommended by the Rastriya Prajatantra Party and the Nepal Loktantrik Forum were not recalled, said officials.
The government has not taken any decision on the service of Bishwambhar Pyakurel (Sri Lanka), Prativa Rana (Japan), Ramesh Prasad Koirala (Qatar), Bhim Udas (Myanmar) and Sharmila Dhakal (Oman), who were appointed during Deuba’s tenure.
Government sources said four ambassadors, excluding Dhakal, are on the recall list and that decisions on them will be taken later. There was no decision also on the fate of Ambassador to Australia Lucky Sherpa, who has been embroiled in controversies.
A three-member task force has submitted its report to Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali and the foreign secretary on the allegations of human trafficking against her. Sherpa was appointed under the quota allotted to the erstwhile CPN (Maoist Centre).
Two more ambassadors appointed by the Deuba government—Padam Sundas (Bahrain) and Yubnath Lamsal (Denmark) will serve full term as they support the ruling party, said sources.
Unveiling the Cabinet decisions on Thursday, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Baskota said that five joint-secretaries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been named ambassadors to five countries. They will take charge when the serving envoys complete their term.
As per the decision, Joint-secretary Ganesh Prasad Dhakal has been recommended Nepal’s residential ambassador to Thailand and accredited non-residential ambassador for Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Singapore.
Dhakal, after getting approval from Thailand, will also serve as Nepal’s permanent representative to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok. He will replace Khaganath Adhikari.
Another Joint-secretary, Bhrigu Dhugana is recommended for Canada and will work as Nepal’s permanent representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). He will replace Kali Prasad Adhikari.
Chief of Protocol, Dipak Adhikari has been recommended for Nepal’s residential ambassador in France and will serve as non-residential ambassador for Andorra, Monaco and Portugal. He will also be Nepal’s permanent representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). He will replace Ambika Devi Luitel.
Joint-secretary Durga Bahadur Bhandari has been recommended Nepal’s residential ambassador to Kuwait and non-residential ambassador for Iraq. Besides, he will serve as Nepal’s permanent representative to the Asian Cooperation Dialogue. Bhandari will replace Yagya Bahadur Hamal.
The Cabinet meeting also recommended Joint-secretary Mani Prasad Bhattarai as Nepal’s permanent representative to Geneva and residential ambassador for Switzerland and non-residential ambassador for Italy, San Marino and Lichtenstein. He will also play the role of Nepal’s permanent representative to the World Trade Organization and the World Health Organization. He will replace Dipak Dhital.
The Cabinet has instructed all the five ambassadors based in Thailand, Canada, France, Kuwait and Switzerland to continue their work until the proposed ambassadors take up their assignment.
The meeting earlier this week decided to recall ambassadors to South Korea, Spain and Bangladesh.
According to the decisions made public on Thursday, Arjun Bahadur Singh, Bharat Bahadur Rayamaji and Chop Lal Bhusal have got three weeks to return home.
Bhusal and Singh were appointed in the Nepali Congress quota by the Deuba government while Rayamaji was recommended by then-ruling Rastriya Prajatantra Party.
Cabinet Decisions
Nominees
Ganesh Prasad Dhakal (Thailand)
Bhrigu Dhungana (Canada)
Dipak Adhikari (France)
Durga Bahadur Bhandari (Kuwait)
Mani Prasad Bhattarai (Permanent representative to Geneva)
Recalled
Arjun Bahadur Singh (South Korea)
Bharat Bahadur Rayamajhi (Spain)
Chop Lal Bhusal (Bangladesh)
Undecided
Bishwambhar Pyakurel (Sri Lanka)
Prativa Rana (Japan)
Ramesh Prasad Koirala (Qatar)
Bhim Udas (Myanmar)
Sharmila Dhakal (Oman
Padam Sundas (Bahrain) and Yubnath Lamsal (Denmark), appointed by Deuba govt, will serve full term. No decision on the fate of Lucky Sherpa (Australia).
Anil Giri is a Chief Sub Editor covering diplomacy, international relations and national politics for The Kathmandu Post. Giri has been working as a journalist for more than two decades, contributing to numerous national and international media outlets.
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