Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu has once again drawn media headlines for the wrong reasons. This time it is about the conflict between the immigration officials and police personnel deputed for airport security. They do not seem to tolerate each other's presence at the country's one and only fully functioning international airport. What is troublesome is that this problem appears only getting worse from bad as they seem to perceive each other as enemies rather than friends to ensure smooth functioning of the airport. The effects of this animosity has not only been seen on those who fly abroad through the airport, but also on the reputation of the entire country. On Friday, the animosity that existed between them for long culminated into a nasty quarrel, with immigration officials and police personnel kicking each other. Whether it is a civil servant working in immigration or a police personnel working for the security of the airport, they both receive their salaries from the taxes paid by the people. This makes them accountable to both the state and the people. But this particular incident shows the extent of the animosity they harbor against each other.
Immigration offices are largely guided by security-related activities rather than administration in all countries. The purpose of immigration offices is to control the entry of elements that are inimical to the security of the country. This is the reason why in most countries immigration is entrusted to security agencies. Even in Nepal, the immigration offices operated under the security agency before 1990. The responsibility of running this agency was given to the civil servants post 1990-- something security agencies did not like out of the concern of internal security. In fact, this sowed the seed of conflict between immigration officials and security personnel. Friday's incident can be seen as the manifestation of the brewing conflict between them. After repeated conflicts over their jurisdiction, the government has lately started bringing the immigration back under the security agency with the aim of resolving the animosity between them once and for all.
Home Minister Khand directs prompt rescue and treatment to thos...
Security officials often claim that the immigration officials are responsible for all wrongdoings that take place at the airport . They accuse the staff of civil administration for aiding smuggling of people abroad on visit visas. On the other hand, civil servants maintain that police personnel have made more mistakes in such cases, showing the involvement of high ranking officials of the security agencies in incidents like gold smuggling. The accusations made by one against the other have merit. Many such incidents that occurred in the past few months also justify these allegations to some extent. But it is difficult to say with certainty that their allegations are 100% correct.
However, it is not wise to let this animosity continue further. The government must take a bold decision to resolve this situation once and for all. As a newspaper, we believe that it is appropriate to give the responsibility of managing immigration to security agencies keeping in view of our own practice in the past and the practices of most other countries around the world. As far as the cases of the involvement of security personnel in corruption and smuggling are concerned, the government must strengthen the oversight mechanisms and take immediate action against the guilty persons. The problem will be resolved if the anti-graft bodies make sure that no one will be spared if they are involved in corruption and illegal activities. It is high time the government acts before it is too late.
