Onus On The Nepali Congress
The goal is to have free, fair, fearless elections in November. No further delay can be allowed. A more activist political leadership has to make up for the near absence of the state in large swathes of the country. I strongly believe it would make great sense to have a younger, healthier Prime Minister.
Girija went to Pokhara to address a mass meeting. That exertion had him in bed for days. It could be Ram Chandra Poudel. That is okay. As the largest party, the NC may decide on any name it wants. And as the duly elected party president Girija may continue to be the senior leader who gets consulted often by his Prime Minister. But the premiership must go into the hands of someone who can put in a dozen active hours into his work every work day.
So, step one, change the Prime Minister.
Then show some political leadership on the major issues of the day. The NC delay in coming out clearly for a republic is hurting the process. Similarly, you can not be for federalism, and not have a map to show for it. Where is your map? Lack of a specific map makes the Madhesi and the Janajati very suspicious.
A unification of the two Congress factions would be a welcome move. But Girija stands in the way. The unification process will do all the things that are necessary for the party to do: bring forth a new generation leader, offer clarity on republic and federalism. But all the individuals who benefit by keeping Girija in the seat of power are doing all they can to make sure unification does not happen. That hurts the party and the country perhaps, but it benefits the small clique.
Onus On The Maoists
Peace Process At Risk
Maoist Money: Number One Threat To Free, Fair, Fearless Elections
Youth Communist League: Prachanda's Brown Shirts
The Maoists are going to have to become a political party. News of the Youth Communist League demolishing houses in Kathmandu to widen roads are proof they think of themselves as a parallel state. That has to stop.
The Maoists have maintained the state of fear in the villages. Gun power seems to have been replaced by muscle power.
Maoist money and muscle are a huge impediment to the idea of free, fair, fearless elections.
Political Work
Some sort of compromise has to be sought.
On their part the Nepali Congress could take a clear stand for a republic and come out with a clear map for federalism. That map thing also applies to the UML.
Some compromise also has to be sought on the seized properties question. (Peace Process At Risk) That is a major sticking point right now. A lot of the Nepali Congress folks think all seized property will come back to them. I don't see that happening, realistically speaking. On the other hand, the Maoists have never been elected to power. They can not legitimately redistribute like they have. So a compromise has to be sought. Put all the seized property under state ownership, the final status to be decided by a duly elected government after a new constitution. That will force all parties to come up with a formula for land reform.
Sadbhavana
It is good news the two Sadbhavana factions are coming together. It has been easier for them to come together than it has been for the Congress. It is because the Congress has lost steam. It is not taking the lead on anything right now. It is an old party, it is a status quo party. Likely it will stay two factions. It will not take the lead on the republic question, not on federalism, not on land reform, nothing. Parties like the UML, Maoists, and the Sadbhavana will all grow at the expense of the Congress.
The Terai
Things are going from bad to worse in the Terai. Legitimate nonviolent groups that have been disrespected and maligned by the parties in power are being overshadowed by violent groups and criminal elements in the Terai. Lack of political leadership at the center might as well push the Terai into some serious, violent ethnic conflicts.
The speech Girija gave after 21 days of the Madhesi Movement should have been given on day three, or day five. Then we might still have been able to hold elections in June.
Show Me The Money
This might be the single most important thing before elections can take place. All parties must make public how much money they have. And the richest party should not have more than 50% of the second richest party. And after elections, all parties must become state funded.
Maoist Money: Number One Threat To Free, Fair, Fearless Elections
Goal: Federal Republic Of State Funded Parties
I think that is what all parties can agree on.
In The News
NC’s local leaders vocal on republic Himalayan Times
Talks on Maoist-seized properties inconclusive NepalNews protests by Maoist cadres and ‘landless people’ who have been using the seized lands. ...... Senior Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Maoist Rapti Zone in-charge Sudarshan and Nepali Congress leaders Dr Shekhar and Baldev Sharma Majgainya arrived in Dang today to take a decision on seized properties. ....... The Maoists had seized over 3000-hector land in Dang district alone during the insurgency.
UML not to share blame for polls delay
NC district presidents urge clear position on monarchy
Congress district chiefs decry Maoists' continuing atrocities Except for killing people, the Maoists and its Young Communist League have continued with the atrocities and politics of intimidation at villages
Street struggle is top priority, says Maoist leader we cannot accept the monopoly of Nepali Congress in the government ...... Baidya also criticised 'pressures' being applied 'in favour of landlords' to return seized lands and properties. "They only want to resolve problems faced by landlords whereas we speak in favour of farmers," he said. Baidya also termed NC as party of 'landlords.'
Rising India: A View from the Neighbourhood Two point four billion people, or 40 % of the world’s population, live in China and India . ..... these two Asian giants are set to become the second and third largest economies in the world in PPP terms by 2020 next only to the USA ..... likening the rise to the emergence of the U.S. as a world power, a century ago ....... Its nuclear testing in 1998 ...... The checkerboard pattern of the Cold War alliance has long gone and the new India is now in the threshold of claiming its legitimate place in the international arena....... Simultaneous improvements in relations with the U.S., the EU and Russia, Southeast Asia, Japan, and China demonstrates that for the first time in diplomatic history, India is forging significant strategic ties with both the east and the west. ....... 70 percent of its population is literate, many of them speak fluent English and about half of them are under 30. ...... there are more English speaking people in India than in any other country. ........ Motorola, Hewlett-Packard, CISCO systems all rely on Indian teams to devise software platforms and dazzling multi-media features for next generation devices. ...... still contains half of the world’s chronically hungry. ....... hasn’t reached places like North Bihar, North Bengal, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, the entire seven sister states of the Northeast, and many other rural areas of India ........ Dharavi in Mumbai which is Asia’s largest slum ....... The east coast of China is situated in a highly dynamic and rich neighborhood. Neighbors like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore plus Hong Kong and Macau provide capital for investment, markets for Chinese exports, tourists from abroad, more advanced technology, and expertise. .......... There seems to be no middle-ground. But the sooner Indo-Pak relations improve the better for India’s long-term goal of “rising” as a major power. ........ Bangladesh where since January this year, 95,000 have been arbitrarily arrested ....... Bihar, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, parts of Orissa are badly affected by Naxal terror. ...... the Naxal problem has now been regarded as the second most dangerous conflict taking place in India after Kashmir. ...... conflict in the Northeast region. ..... Assam , Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura-- witness scales of conflict that can be categorized as low intensity wars.
Terror In The Terai Nepali Times The appearance of pamphlets in the past week by militant tarai groups giving Nepalis of hill origin a two week ultimatum to leave the plains ....... Here in the tarai, the threat of ethnic cleansing is now real. The trouble is, it is difficult to tell who is in charge and who to negotiate with. An extremist pamphlet from the self-styled ‘Tarai Tiger’ group issued two weeks ago gave hill-ethnic civil servants one month to leave the madhes. On Nepali new year’s day on 14 April the underground JTMM -Jwala also threatened action against hill-ethnic officials who didn’t quit, then the JTMM-Goit in Bara issued a similar threat but gave only a week’s deadline. ..... Bara CDO Bhola Sibakoti says: “Civil servants here are all terrorised by threats from Tarai Tigers, Tarai Cobra, MJF, or the Chure Bhabar Ekata Samaj. Many have simply quit.” ...... No hill-ethnic bureaucrat is left in most districts: some have taken extended leave, others have requested transfers but most have just fled. ....... methods are simple: civil servants of hill origin are first asked to hand over between Rs 25,000-100,000 and if they refuse they are threatened or killed ....... Bara LDO Bishnu Lamichhane hasn’t been in his office for the past two months. ....... Officials in Dhanusa, Sarlahi, Siraha, Mahottari, Rautahat, and Bara report civil servants queuing up waiting for transfers or leaves. ....... The Home Ministry is planning to put 75 additional armed police in each district capital. But many here say it is precisely this attitude in Kathmandu of treating the tarai as a law and order problem that is delaying resolution. .......... many wishing to go abroad can’t get passports and necessary documents, crossborder trade is at a standstill, sales transactions have stopped.
The Wild West Gangs poached timber from Banke’s dense sal forests, taking the logs across the border to India. The Maoists offered them protection during the war and collected their cut.
Bye To A Maverick when he partied, which was quite often ..... During the late 80s and early 90s, the flamboyant Khetan courted controversy and inspired awe. ...... kept up his unconventional ways, ignoring powerful friends who suggested that it didn’t pay to be a Marwari maverick in Nepal. ....... Powerful politicians often refused to acknowledge him publicly—largely because he was a Marwari. ......... Marwaris are a close-knit community and present a unified face, but differences within their ranks are marked. ...... Most began, unglamorously, by trading in textiles, sitting in their shops 365 days of the year. Even big sahujis found it difficult to find respectable Indian grooms for their daughters. ......... Khetan found his true calling in representing multinational corporations. He became a quintessential comprador ........ His successes were legendary and failures spectacular. ...... He courted controversy to the end, always behaving as if he were settling scores for the suffering of his salesmen forefathers.
NC-D Leader for a New Constitution Himalayan Times Nepali Congress (Democratic) general secretary Bimalendra Nidhi ...... The nation is heading for a federal system, proportional election system, the CA polls, stability of democracy and establishment of a republic and nobody will be able to stop the course of its movement
Yami wants transparency in Melamchi contract Yami also said the Nepal Water Supply Corporation (NWSC) was a major department for all physical planning ministers to recruit political cadres.
NSP, NSP-A meeting for unification underway Kantipur
Conspirators out to derail polls fearing leftist majority: Nepal
NC district heads press leadership for pro-republic declaration paper
Dalit priests preside at temples
YCL efforts to win hearts Though newspapers are awash with reports of the newly created Maoist body - Young Communist League (YCL) - taking the law into their own hands, the young Maoist cadres in Kathmandu Valley have also engaged themselves in various kinds of social work. With red bands around their heads, the YCL could be seen planting trees, expanding narrow roads, demolishing illegal structures, cleaning up the city and helping traffic cops manage the traffic, among other things, in the course of their New Kathmandu Valley Campaign during April 8-18. ..... included raiding night clubs in Thamel. ..... has widened the Kalanki-Soaltee Mode section of road where traffic congestion was high, by demolishing dozens of houses. And the Saat Dobato area also got wider roads and a clean-up campaign. ...... planting trees alongside roads including from Ratna Park to Bhadrakali and also in some Ring Road areas, and giving a clean look to the open air theater at Tundikhel. .... YCL cadres also tried to manage traffic jams at different places including Kalanki, Koteshwor, Ratna Park and Gangabu, where the traffic is bad during peak hours. The YCL has plans to construct four lanes along the Ring Road, said Sagar. Recently, they have also launched "Bagmati and Bishnumati campaigns". Besides this, they distributed water at 65 places where the water crisis is acute. ..... these cadres have busied themselves collecting the signatures of 1.2 million people in a bid to pressure the government to declare the country a republic.
NSP (A) and NSP close to unification the Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) and Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NSP), which split in 2003
ध्रुवीकरण जरुरी ः महरा
माओवादीले चार लाख रूख काटे
चक्रेमिलन पक्राउ
समाधान समानुपातिक प्रणाली
NC district presidents’ meet begins; Koirala accuses UML and Maoists of dual role
Bandh imposed in five western districts; curfew continues in Sanoshree
"Mid-November appropriate time for polls"
Memorandum submitted to PM against YCL
Prachanda criticises Martin, says no preconditions have been set for verification
Maoist minister threatens to walk out of govt
NEPAL: Villagers suffering intimidation, extortion at hands of Maoists Reuters AlertNet "We still have to pay monthly donations [to the Maoists] or face severe penalties at their hands," said Sunita Chettri from Gorkha district, 500 km northwest of the capital. "Where is the peace that we were promised?" she asked.
कांग्रेस ः हिजो, आज र भोलि Kantipur वीपी व्यक्तिको क्ष्ँमता सुरुमै चिन्थे भने किशुनजीले अधिकांश कार्यकर्ताको कम्तीमा दर्ुइ अथवा तीन पुस्तासम्म नालीबेली लगाउने हैसियत राख्थे । ढिलै भए पनि गिरिजाबाबुले कांग्रेसमा भएको घुसपैठ र व्रि्रह राम्रैस“ग चिन्नु र बुझ्नु भएजस्तो लाग्छ । ...... यो त्यही वर्ग थियो, जो पार्टर्ीी सैद्धान्तिक व्याख्याकार नरहरि आचार्यलाई संविधानसभा र गणतन्त्रको मुद्दा उठायो भन्दै रातारात कारबाही गर्न आतुर भयो । अहिले कांग्रेस राजतन्त्र निरपेक्ष्ँ भइसक्दा कसरी कसैले खुलेर राजतन्त्रको वकालत गर्ने छुट पाउ“छ - ....... जनताको नजरबाट समेत साख हराइसकेको राजतन्त्र बोकेर कुन कांग्रेसीजन चुनावमा जाने र संविधानसभापछि कुन हैसियतले सरकार बनाउन ..... कांग्रेसलाई राजतन्त्रको उपादेयता हिजो पनि थिएन, आज पनि छैन र भोलि पनि चाहि“दैन ।
जीपी कोइरालाका नाउ“मा तपाई“ दैहिक र मानसिक दुवै दृष्टिले धेरै बृद्ध हुनुभो । लाग्छ, देह र मनस“गै तपाई“को विवेक पनि बूढो भयो । ज्ञानेन्द्रियहरूको गलानस“गै तपाई“को सम्झना शक्ति क्षीण भएको प्रस्ट छ । ...... गोरु बूढो भए भीर खोज्छ, मान्छे बूढो भए जोरी खोज्छ । ...... तपाई“ नेपालको इतिहासभरिको पहिलो र्सवशक्तिमान् प्रधानमन्त्री हुनुहुन्छ ....... राजालाई जोगाउन रायमाझी आयोगको प्रतिवेदन पहिले लुकाइयो, पछि कारबाहीका नाउ“मा त्यसलाई सारहीन झुत्रो बनाइयो । तपाई“ले राजालाई स्पेस नदिए उपध्रो हुने उद्घोष गर्नुभो । अनि विराटनगर गएर तपाई“ले राजा र युवराजले गद्दी त्यागून्, निकास सहज हुन्छ भन्नुभो । त्यो मेरा नाति पुस्तामाथि हृदयेन्द्र नामक प्रजा मार्ने र पैसा सोहोर्ने राजा थोपर्ने चाल थियो । ........ अहिले प्रधानसेनापति रुक्माङ्गद कटवालले ज्ञानेन्द्रलाई सुटुक्क भेटेको कथा सुनेर मुलुक झस्केको छ । ...... प्रचण्ड कण र माधवजीले राजालाई तह लगाइपाऊ“ र संविधनसभाको मिति तोकिपाऊ“ भन्दा उल्टो भेटघाटको ढोकै बन्द गर्ने - ....... राजतन्त्रले चुसेर सिट्ठा बनाएको अ“ध्यारो नेपाललाई राजतन्त्रविहीन उज्यालो नेपालतर्फ डोर्याउन ......... नरहरि आचार्य, कृष्ण खनाल र गगन थापा ...... सहिदका सपना र लोकका आकांक्षालाई क्रूरतासाथ कुल्चि“दै लोकतन्त्र र मुलुकलाई बर्बादीको भीरतिर डोर्याउन दक्षिण ढोकाको यात्रा गर्नेको शवयात्रामा मानिस होइन, झि“गा र भुसुनाहरूको बिगबिगीमात्र हुनेछ ।
