Friday, September 07, 2007

Goal: Federal Republic Of State Funded Parties

Proposed Constitution

That is the goal, and I believe we will get there. When we get there, we become the number one democracy on the planet.

The president of the country has to be directly elected by the people. We can't go for the Indian version of republicanism. And what I am proposing is not the American version either. The president is not directly elected by the people even in America, although a lot of American progressives do want that to happen.

No party will secure an outright majority in the constituent assembly. That is a foregone conclusion. I am confounded beyond belief as to why the UML and the Maoists have not come together around the idea of completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly. If those two come together, it happens, if they don't, it will not happen.

In the assembly, the majority coalition will form the government. It might very well be a UML-Maoist coalition.

The Maoists have been acting irrationally recently. They need to calm down and think through things a little. If they were to formally declare that the final goal is a federal republic of state funded parties, and that there is not going to be another revolution after that, and if there will be, it will always be electoral, through the ballot box, all their confusion and problems will go away. Prachanda is refusing to offer that kind of clarity to his cadres, and so he finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place. There are the thinking communists like Baburam Bhattarai, and then there are ideologues who are like a stopped clock, right two times a day.

Once they decide on their ultimate goal as a federal republic of state funded parties, then their big plank is going to be land reform. But that land reform is not going to be carried out by the constituent assembly. It is going to be carried out after we get a new constitution, and we get a new parliament through that new constitution. At that stage, a UML-Maoist unity could do it. All they would have to do is write a detailed land reform proposal and take it to the people before the election to that new parliament, and secure a UML-Maoist majority in that parliament.

But you don't get that new parliament unless you give the country a new constitution, and you don't get a new constitution unless you get a constituent assembly, and you don't get a constituent assembly unless you have elections to that constituent assembly.

There is still time. The UML and the Maoists could seek common ground. The Maoists could agree to drop the republic now demand. The UML could agree to completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly. And the Maoists would promise to not disrupt the peaceful political activities of any other party.

And if they can't do that fast, they should go ahead and participate in the scheduled mixed election polls slated for November 22. They could form a left coalition: only one left candidate from one election constituency. Now that requires political work between the top UML and Maoist leaders that they are not willing to do. Instead Prachanda takes the short cut and sends his cadres to agitate out on the streets. That is fundamental dishonesty on the part of Prachanda.

The Nepali Congress should also be willing to seek common ground.

Set up a land reform commission. The ownership of all the land seized by the Maoists will go to that commission. The final status on ownership of all that land will be decided by the parliament to be elected under the new constitution. It is unhelpful for the Nepali Congress to expect all the land to go back to the original owners. And it is illegitimate for the Maoists to have unilaterally decided on a land reform program of its own. This way the Nepali Congress will have the option to go to the people later with a manifesto saying all the seized land back to its original owners, and the Maoists will have the option to go to the people with a manifesto of radical land reform. It is for the people to make the final decision.

There is another concession the Nepali Congress should make: completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly. That will bring the Maoists and the dissident Madhesi, Janajati and Dalit groups into the fold. Plus, if you accept this one change, you don't have to accept the rest. You can wait on the republic. You can diffuse the agitation the Maoists have promised.

But before the Nepali Congress can come to the idea of completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly, the UML and the Maoists are going to have to. If these two left parties can't find common ground on that issue, there is no point them expecting the Nepali Congress to play ball.

Why can't Madhav Nepal and Prachanda see that their two parties have to form a coalition in the constituent assembly? And they are better off coming together before the polls. That way they are both better off for the polls and what happens after. If they don't come together now, they almost certainly don't get to form the next government.

The beauty of holding completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly is that then all parties will compete with each other. There will be no need for alliances and coalitions.

Proposed Constitution

MJF Is For Republic, Land Reform, Dalit, Muslim, Janajati, Mahila Rights, And Small Or No Army
The MJF Must Stay Intact
The MJF Dispute: Got To Seek Middle Ground

Not UML-Maoist Unification Or Unity, But A One Point Agreement On PR Election
Baburam Bhattarai Is Right About UML-Maoist Unity
एक मात्र िमलनिवन्दु: पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन

The Maoist Confusion Is Unnecessary
Madhav Nepal Needs To Make A Move

In The News

Nepal royals dealt new blow on top of prince's heart attack AFP Nepal's biggest political party landed a potentially knock-out blow to the embattled monarchy on Friday by declaring it wanted the kingdom to become a republic. .... "The central working committee of Nepali Congress has decided, in principle, to vouch for a federal republic," Nepali Congress chief whip Ananda Prasad Dhungana told AFP. ..... "The Nepali Congress party was the last hope for the king and his hopes must have been dashed now," he said. .... Veteran Congress leader and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had said in the past that some space should be left for the monarchy in Nepal, including the suggestion that Paras's four-year-old son Hridayendra be declared king. ..... Acharya said now "the Nepali Congress, UML and the Maoists have all now taken a republican stance." .... On Thursday, Gyanendra's only son suffered what doctors said was a "major" heart attack -- a common occurrence in Nepal's royal family and apparently aggravated by the 36-year-old Paras' playboy lifestyle. ..... "Prince Paras is under regular observation and he is recovering well," Shyam Bahadur Pandey, one of the doctors treating the prince, said Friday. ..... "He had high levels of cholesterol and blood pressure, so we are going to advise him to control his diet once he gets better," Pandey said.

Koirala-Deuba talks ends inconclusively NepalNews "Both the party presidents had serious meeting. They have assigned the taskforces to settle the remaining matters," Bimalendra Nidhi, general secretary of NC-Democratic, who attended the meeting
CEC demands acceleration of polls campaign
Sitaula says struggle between monarchy and democracy at final stages
Parliamentary sub-committee undecided over Giri
NA to support APF during polls
Maoists to resume land seizure campaign Violating the agreement to return the properties and lands seized during the period of insurgency, the Maoists have decided to resume the process of confiscating the land of the 'landlords' which they said would be distributed to the landless people. ..... The campaign will continue from mid-September to mid-October. .... The organisation said it will organise various protest programmes across the country and claimed the constituent assembly polls will not happen in the present circumstances.
Communist leaders discuss republican model On the very day Nepali Congress (NC) braced up to go for democratic republicanism, two biggest communist parties – Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) and Maoists – engaged in discussion about the model of the republic Nepal ..... Maoist chairman Prachanda and Unity Center (Masal) general secretary Narayankaji Shrestha 'Prakash' met with UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal at his Koteshwor residence ..... Concluding that NC wanted a "Bihari brand" republican set up, the leaders who participated in the discussion said that they had reached agreement to immediately forge a leftist unity or form a front. ...... the three leaders also discussed their joint future strategy and mulled at questions like how should communist powers come together to forge unity and what kind of ties they should develop with other parties sharing similar views with them
MJF on election mood The MJF has formed a five-member Central Election Board led by Sitanandan Raya to prepare for the polls. The central committee meeting, earlier, expelled four dissident leaders from all positions of the party. The four dissident leaders include Kishore Kumar Bishwas, Bhagyanath Gupta, Ram Kumar Sharma and Jitendra Sonal. The dissidents have formed a separate organisation by rejecting the 22-point deal.
Nepali Congress is now a pro-republic party: Situala
NA's strategic meet begins the NA is drafting security strategy ahead of planned agitation in the form of urban revolt by the Maoists.
MJF-dissidents spat deepens, stand for and against election has instructed party district committees to prepare list of candidates for the election. ..... Bishwas ... reiterated demands for republic declaration and fully proportional representation based election system before CA can take place ..... Bishwas said his organisation will make efforts for a joint agitation with other groups active in Terai.

Proposed Constitution

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

MJF Is For Republic, Land Reform, Dalit, Muslim, Janajati, Mahila Rights, And Small Or No Army



The MJF Must Stay Intact
The MJF Dispute: Got To Seek Middle Ground

The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum is for a republic. It is okay with the country getting declared a republic right away, and it is okay with doing it after the elections.

The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum is for land reform, but it does not want to put the cart before the horse. First it wants to contest and win the constituent assembly elections. Then it wants to help write a new constitution for the country that will turn Nepal into a federal republic of state funded parties. Then, under that constitution when it will be time to contest elections for a new parliament, it will go to the people with a detailed land reform proposal. And it will implement that land reform proposal after victory in the elections.

The Maoists are not the party of the Dalits in the Terai. The Dalits in the Terai may go for whichever party they feel most empowers them, of course. But the MJF will compete with the Maoists for every single Dalit vote in the Terai. And it will do so by ensuring proportional representation for the Dalits in the party's list of candidates for the constituent assembly.

The MJF will likewise empower the Janajatis in the Terai, namely the Tharus, the Dhimals, Satars, Rajbanshis, and the rest.

A part born out of the Madhesi Kranti must be at the forefront of the women's rights movement in the Terai.

The MJF will empower the Muslims, the Yadavs. The MJF will empower the OBCs of the Terai.

The MJF will be home to the BhuRaBaL: Bhumihar, Rajput, Babhan, Lala.

The MJF will not allow the Maoists to act like a parallel state in the Terai. The MJF will not allow the Maoists to engage in extortions and abductions in the Terai. The MJF will not allow the Maoists to set up their kangaroo courts in the Terai.

उपेन्द्र यादव: सरकार र फोरमबीच सम्झौता
The Madhesi MPs And The Idea Of A New Party
तराई बन्द नहीं संगठन िवस्तार किरए
जयप्रकाश गुप्ता: मधेस आन्दोलनका आग्रह

Calling The Maoists' Bluff

The MJF has proven to the rest of Nepal and to the world that you don't have to be have an army, you don't even have to be in power to bring an end to the dictatorial ways of the Maoist party.

Why can't the UML and the Nepali Congress do the same in the hills? Why can't they stop complaining and start learning from the MJF?

Upendra Yadav Book 2
Upendra Yadav Book 1
The Maoist Confusion Is Unnecessary

In The News

NC Mahasamiti to decide on republic; NC-D wants unification as per ‘previous understanding’ NepalNews meeting of the Mahasamiti (general council) Sept 23-24 to endorse the party’s election manifesto, which will specifically clarify whether the party will go for 'democratic republic' after the constituent assembly polls. ...... The election manifesto will be finalised by the Mahasamiti meeting,” said Dr Ram Baran Yadav, co-general secretary of the party. ..... the NC was least likely to go for some form of monarchy .... “The 11th general convention has already removed the term ‘monarchy’ form the party statute. The interim constitution also does not give any space for the King.” ..... has adopted 'federal republic' as the main election agenda of the party. ..... “We are worried that the unification process is taking so much time. Today’s meeting has decided to unite the two parties according to the agreement between the two presidents,” senior NC-D leader Bimalendra Nidhi said.
Maoists will be out of govt by Sept 18 if republic is not announced, says Ananta we will then hold roundtable conference and go for peaceful street agitation .... Nepali Congress (NC) central member Sujata Koirala warned that any force – either Maoists or monarchists – would be wiped out if they choose to avoid CA election. Likewise, NC-Democratic leader and Minister of State for Labour and Transport Management Ramesh Lekhak stressed the need to institutionalise republic through a democratic mechanism of CA election.
NASeA-ANMA joint convention held Nepalis Association in Southeast America (NASeA) and the Association of Nepalis in Midwest America (ANMA) .... co-hosted by the Association of Nepali Teraian in America (ANTA). ... Nepali Women's Global Network forum on domestic violence, a forum on depression, a session on NAPAC, an organization interested in Nepali-American issues and an International Nepalese Literary Society activities. ..... Sunday's session, inaugurated by Madhu Raman Acharya ..... the embassy is registering all Nepalis in North America ..... Dr. Ambika Adhikari, President of the Nepali Americas Council and a key note speaker ...... exhorting the assemblage to go to Nepal for the October NRN Conference ... A forum devoted to the Terai issue ..... the first-ever general discussion meeting to establish the American Society of Nepali Engineers
Constituent Assembly Election and Madhesh Turmoil the Madheshi movement (now called the Janandolan III). .... the Terai, which contains 49% of Nepal’s 26 million population, 23% land area and 20 of the 75 districts .... the right to self-determination; proportional representation in the constituent assembly; restructuring the constituencies based on population; federal system with regional autonomy; and elimination of all forms of discrimination practiced by the state mechanism. ...... the movement has been successful in maintaining its momentum ...... the perseverance and firmness of the MJF .... The Government-MJF ultimately reached a 22-point agreement, which includes compensation to those killed during the Terai movement, guarantee of inclusion of Madheshis and other marginalized groups in the constituent assembly, autonomy to the states in the federal system to be designed by the constituent assembly, among others. ....... The MJF has gained positive credibility in due course of the movement and has been elevated as a powerful political force in the country. ..... Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (Goit), JTMM (Jwala Singh), JTMM (Bishfot Singh), Madheshi Mukti Morcha, Madheshi Tiger, Terai Cobra Group, Madhesh Mukti Force, Terai Tiger, Terai Army, AASK Group, Tharu Mukti Morcha, Chure Bhawar Pradesh Ekta Samaj, Janajati Mahasangh, TM Don Group, Young Communist League etc. ...... the unity expressed by Madheshis around the globe. ...... Following the movement, the media has been overwhelmed with news and views on Madheshi movement; there have been discussions and debates on the peaceful resolution of Madhesh issue ....... The electoral seats for CA election are 497, of which 240 would be elected directly, 240 by proportional election, and 17 would be nominated. Presuming that the election is held fairly under the mixed system, 164 Madheshi people would be represented including 38 women. ...... for the major political parties such as NC, UML, CPN-Maoists and NC (D), it might mean having to lose many seats in the CA election ...... the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, particularly the Terai region ...... security, management of cantonments and spreading themselves out to the villages and towns to interact with people about the CA polls ...... the Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL), which is widely involved in terrorizing people ..... the government aims to recruit 80,000 temporary security personnel ..... The Nepali media has been biased in tone, depiction and revelation while highlighting the unfolding events of the movement, many at times disregarding the Code of Conduct for Journalists. ........ the problem of intolerance and ethnic prejudice that has for centuries plagued the nation. .......structural discrimination can have solution only through systemic reform guided by the principalities of equality, integration, representation and redistribution ..... The ‘hegemonic control’ of the age-old ideology of domination of one caste, one language, one culture, one colour, one region, one religion… can and has to change

MJF takes out 'victory rally' in Birgunj NepalNews People had come in large numbers to Birgunj, the district headquarter of Parsa to take part in the rally. The victory rally, that started from Ghantaghar with people playing musical instruments and their faces smeared with vermilion, toured around the town and turned into a mass assembly at the end. Saying that the government, through the agreement, has pledged to fulfill all demands of the Madheshi people, the district level leaders asked all the people of Terai to be aware of elements against the constituent assembly. Meanwhile, speaking in Sunsari, MJF chairman Upendra Yadav has stressed upon the need of “improving the security arrangement” to hold the CA election successfully. Saying that the serial bomb blasts took place in the capital city because the security situation was very weak and it was all done to disrupt the upcoming election, Yadav asked the government not to make compromise on security matters.
Prachanda demands special session of the parliament to declare republic
Possibility of army mobilisation can’t be ruled out, says Minister
JTMM dissidents ‘expel’ Goit
Upendra Yadav urges people to join election campaign

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

The MJF Must Stay Intact

The MJF must stay intact as one party. The MJF leaders owe it to all their party members, now more than 100,000 strong. The MJF owes it to the Madhesi people. The MJF owes it to the almost 40 martyrs and over 800 injured of the Madhesi Kranti who gave birth to the political party called MJF to continue as one party.

Breaking the party is not an option. And it is highly unnecessary.

The deal reached with the government gained official respect for the Madhesi Kranti. And it left room for the MJF to keep pressing for completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly.

The shape and form of federalism can not be decided now. That is what the constituent assembly is for. Poudel Bahun does not have and should not have the powers to decide on the shape and form of a Terai state right now. That power rests with the Madhesi people who will exercise that power at the ballot box. That is the only legitimate way.

I am for completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly. And the best way to get that would be for the UML and the Maoists to exploit the arithmetic of the interim parliament to get it. But the Maoists have not made any open attempts to seek such an agreement with the UML. Instead it has beat up UML workers in various parts of the country. The way to achieve completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly would have been to build a relationship with the UML. But that the Maoists did not go for that option shows they are not honest when they say they are for completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly.

I am for completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly but that is not the central agenda of the Madhesi Movement.

Disrupting the November 22 polls is not in the interests of the Madhesi Movement. The first choice would have been to seek and get completely proportional elections for November 22. When that might not be possible, the second best choice is to contest the polls based on the existing mixed arrangement. Then the focus shifts to sweeping the polls. It can be done. Organizing street agitation to force the government to give completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly makes little sense. If you can perform a repeat of the Madhesi Kranti to that end, is it not more fruitful to instead get those people to vote for you? That would be more meaningful.

All the MJF demands the government did not agree to, turn them into election issues. Go to the people. In a democracy power rests with the people.

I understand many Madhesi leaders and cadres are radicalized. And they are impatient. It is good that the Madhesi people are finally awake. But we have to properly channel that new awakening into ballot power, into electoral power.

Right now I urge all Madhesi leaders, MPs, parties, organizations and armed groups to get behind this: The Madhesi MPs And The Idea Of A New Party. Sweep the election. No more strikes and street agitations. No more Terai Band. Unilateral ceasefire by the armed groups. Full scale election campaign. Ek Madhesh, Ek Pradesh.


The MJF Dispute: Got To Seek Middle Ground
No To Terrorism: Terai Army Is A Criminal Outfit
उपेन्द्र यादव: सरकार र फोरमबीच सम्झौता
The Madhesi MPs And The Idea Of A New Party
तराई बन्द नहीं संगठन िवस्तार किरए
जयप्रकाश गुप्ता: मधेस आन्दोलनका आग्रह
An Open Letter To NAC
Goal Has To Be To Stay As One Country
Not UML-Maoist Unification Or Unity, But A One Point Agreement On PR Election
Baburam Bhattarai Is Right About UML-Maoist Unity
एक मात्र िमलनिवन्दु: पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन

In The News

UML forms panel to select CA polls candidates Kantipur
Five Liberation of Terai Ilam cadres arrested in Janakpur Police Tuesday arrested five Liberation of Terai Ilam (LTI) cadres including its leader from Janakpour in Dhanusha district. ..... Swamiji, the LTI leader of the breakaway faction of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha-Goit, and other four were arrested from Jamun Goit’s house at Wakiltole in Janakpur Municipility .... Ramlochan Yadav alias Swamiji
Second stage of PLA arms and weapons verification begins in Surkhet
Prachanda asks Maoist-aligned students to be ready for ‘next revolt’
Security situation will improve as CA election comes closer: Home Minister Sitaula
We are not against CA polls: Madhesi Tigers A leader of the Madhesi Mukti Tigers (MMT), a group which has been leading an armed movement in the Terai region, Tuesday said that the group was not against the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections slated for November 22. Speaking at a programme in Saptari district today, MMT spokesperson “Pratatp” said that the group has, however, been struggling for a fully proportional electoral system in the upcoming CA to ensure the proportional representation of the Madhesi people. ..... warned that the MMT would resort to “strong retaliation” if the government tried to hold the elections based on a mixed electoral system. ...... Pratap also clarified that the MMT would lay down arms and take part in the CA elections if the government agreed for a proportional electoral system. ..... Revealing that an informal dialogue had taken place between Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and an MMT central leader sometime back, Pratap however said that the government had not responded since then. .... Pratap also said that unlike the factions of the Jantantrik Tearai Mukti Morcha (JTMM), the MMT was not in favour of a separate Terai. ..... “MMT is not trying to disintegrate the nation,” said Pratap. ..... the MMT was in favour of an autonomous Madhesh under a federal democratic republic.
चुनावमा जुट्न फोरमको आह्वान 'अब हाम्रो एकमात्र ध्यान संविधानसभा चुनाव हो ।' यादवले सोमबारै विज्ञप्ति जारी गरी निर्वाचन तयारीमा लाग्न कार्यकर्तालाई निर्देशन दिएका छन् । विज्ञप्तिमा फोरम महाधिवेशन तयारी समितिका चार सदस्य लोकतन्त्र र संविधानसभाविरुद्ध षड्यन्त्रमा लागेको आरोप छ । ...... यसैबीच भाग्यनाथ गुप्ताको संयोजकत्वमा रहेको फोरमले सोमबार वीरगन्जमा पत्रकार सम्मेलन गरी सरकारसँगको सम्झौताको विरोध गर्दै अध्यक्ष यादवलाई निलम्बन गरेको दाबी दोहोर्‍याएको छ । गुप्ताले उक्त सम्झौताको विरोध गरेलगत्तै सरकारले आफूहरूविरुद्ध सुरक्षाकर्मी परिचालन गरेको बताए । सोमबार राजधानीमा आफूहरू बसेको इम्पेरियर होटलमा सुरक्षाकर्मी आएर आफूहरूलाई एक घन्टा हाउस एरेस्टमा राखेको र राष्ट्रसंघलगायत निकायमा खबर गरेपछि मात्र छाडिएको दाबी गरे
गणतन्त्र आठै दलको मुद्दा हुनुपर्छ’
बागलुङ-जोमसोम मार्ग निर्माण सुचारु
नयाँ नेपालका लागि नयाँ कांग्रेस ख्याल गर्नुपर्ने के हो भने एकता गर्दाखेरि पार्टीको पुनसर्ंरचनाको माग छुटाउनु हुँदैन । नारामा मात्र नभई व्यवहारमा पनि समावेशी र आन्तरिक लोकतन्त्रसहितको कांग्रेस आवश्यकता हो । ...... लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रको आवाज बुलन्द गर्ने कांग्रेसभित्र आन्तरिक लोकतन्त्र सुनिश्चित हुनुपर्छ ...... कांग्रेसबाट संघात्मक, समावेशी, लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रप्रतिको प्रतिबद्धता संविधानसभा निर्वाचनअगावै आओस् भन्ने जनताको चाहना छ । यसलाई ढिलो नगरे निर्वाचनमा अन्य दलका लागि कांग्रेसभन्दा अग्रगामी र समयसापेक्ष एजेन्डा रहनेछैन । ....... संविधानसभाको माग कांग्रेसले ००७ सालतिरै उठाएको हो ...... ५० वर्षअघि भइसक्ने संविधानसभा निकै पछि धकेलियो
गुल्मीका सबै गाविसमा फोन

Upendra Yadav urges people to join election campaign NepalNews Snubbing the move by dissidents to remove him as chief of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), Upendra Yadav has appealed to the people of Madhes to prepare for the election of Constituent Assembly (CA). "Madhesi community is in favor of CA election. Nobody can confuse them," he said addressing a programme in Inaruwa of Sunsari district on Monday. Terming the recent deal between the government and MJF as a victory for Madhesi people, Yadav urged his party workers and all the people to start preparing for the election campaign. Yadav accused the dissidents as being royalists. He also urged all the agitating organisations in Terai to join the dialogue process. Following the 22 point deal, four central leaders of MJF revolted and even announced that they have removed Yadav from his position. The dissident faction led by Bhagyanath Gupta has reiterated that they have removed Yadav from MJF while talking to journalists in Birgunj on Monday.
UML believes criminal elements were behind Sunday blasts
Prachanda directs Maoist students for protests ahead of polls
Report on 9/2 bomb blasts by evening: Sitaula
Krishna Janmastami observed across the country, PM visits Krishna Mandir
Maoist deputy commanders submit 6-point memo to PM Koirala
Police make around half a dozen arrests related with Sunday's triple blasts
Do not suspend polls in the face of blasts, says UML general secy

Risks of Postponing the CA Election NepalNews none of the political parties have gone out to do voter education with their vote banks, and none of them have laid out a clear agenda about what is it that their party is laying on the line in this upcoming CA elections ........ they are afraid of having a no show with their party results after the elections .... the Nepali Congress, may be afraid that it may lose the status of being the single largest party ..... Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) has already gained so much leverage without contesting the election that they have is a lot to lose if they go into the elections. ....... The democratic right parties are afraid that the communist left parties will get their act together and contest in a united front and hence gain a majority. ....... if the CA elections are not held in November. .... The interim government will also lose all credibility within the nation ..... No matter how the government takes into consideration the agitating Terai groups, if their demands cannot be met through the CA, it would be anybody’s guess how their activities would be directed in the future. ...... The Maoists have already intensified their movement in the road, parliament and cabinet. The vandalism by YCL in recent times is worsening the security situation ...... the parties must rise above their vested interests and hold CA election on time

Monday, September 03, 2007

The MJF Dispute: Got To Seek Middle Ground


The agreement does not say the MJF will now no longer want completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly. The door to such a possibility has been left open. That is key. The Maoists are still calling for completely proportional elections as are four major ethnic groups, and several other Madhesi groups.

Getting respect for the martyrs and the injured of the Madhesi Kranti has been a key achievement.

But the agreement has said if completely proportional elections can not be secured, the MJF will still contest the November 22 elections. That is important.

There are many things that we have to get through the constituent assembly, not before it. The shape and form of federalism is one such thing. Republic is another. The idea that we should get our Madhesh state and our republic from Poudel Bahun is ridiculous. Who is Poudel Bahun? He is a nobody. It is for the Nepali people to give us federalism and a republic. It is for the Madhesi people to give us the Madhesh state. We have to go to them. I am all for giving equal status to Hindi as to Nepali. But that too will have to be decided by the constituent assembly, not before.

Four central leaders have gone on and said Upendra Yadav has been expelled. The MJF national convention will take place soon. If Upendra Yadav should be expelled, he should be expelled at that convention. That is the only way to do it.

On the other hand, the MJF is a democratic party. It is perfectly okay for leaders and members of that party to hold open, elaborate discussions on the agreement as on other things.

Upendra Yadav, on the other hand, I think should maintain calm, and not hurry up to expel the dissidents. Instead he should work extra hard to sell the peace agreement to all his central leaders and district leaders and to ordinary members as well as the Madhesi masses. He should tackle the criticisms one after the other and try to bring the dissident leaders back into the fold.

The need of the hour right now is not a Madhesi Movement. The need is the formation of a Madhesi Alliance. The need is to prepare for the polls.

The dissident leaders must realize that what they intend to do and what they will end up doing are two different things. They intend to do right by the Madhesi cause. They intend to bring full equality for the Madhesi masses inside Nepal. That is commendable. But what they will end up doing with their proposed plan of action is they will divert attention away from the election and they will weaken the party and the cause.

You can't let the best be the enemy of the good. Politics is the art of the possible. If you are so disheartened with this one compromise, wait until you are inside the constituent assembly. You will have to enter into numerous compromises. You will not get everything you want. That is how the democratic process works. You will need two thirds votes in the constituent assembly to put anything into the next constitution for the country. The MJF will not have two thirds of the votes on its own. So you will have to work with everyone. That includes the Maoists.

The issues raised by the dissidents are sound. But now they all have to be turned into election issues, not movement issues. Besides, a movement is not possible. Maghe Kranti was different. That will not be repeated any more than the April Revolution will be repeated. Anyone who attempts a repeat of the Madhesi Kranti is going to look like a fool at this point. It will not happen. Forget it.

The Madhesi Kranti was bigger than the April Revolution. Turn the November election into something even bigger than the Madhesi Kranti.

Kranti nahin chunav chahiye.

A vertical split in the MJF will hurt the Madhesi cause. Don't even think about it.

If the MJF forms a coalition of all groups and parties that want completely proportional elections, I am all for it. And the current agreement between the MJF and the government does not bar the MJF from engaging in such a coalition building.

This is where Upendra Yadav and the dissidents can meet again.

There are no permanent friends and permanent enemies in politics. It makes a lot of sense for the MJF to seek common ground with the Maoists and the Dalit and Janajati groups on the issue of completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly. Such a move on the part of the MJF does not break the agreement reached with the government.

I do not doubt Kishor Kumar Bishwas' commitment to the Madhesi cause. Neither should Upendra Yadav. But both have to be careful not to break or weaken the party.

They should build on the agreement and find new common ground around the idea of seeking a broad alliance for the Dalit and Janajati groups and the Maoists around the idea of completely proportional elections to the constituent assembly. Both Upendra Yadav and Kishor Kumar Bishwas must come together again around this idea.

The Madhesi MPs And The Idea Of A New Party
तराई बन्द नहीं संगठन िवस्तार किरए
एक मात्र िमलनिवन्दु: पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन

In The News

MPRF ‘ousts’ Chairman Yadav Kantipur Four of the seven secretariat members of Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) on Sunday claimed MPRF chairman Upendra Yadav had been relieved from all his responsibilities effective from Sunday. ..... termed the 22-point deal reached with the government Thursday a 'betrayal' of Madhesi people. .... chairman Yadav said the secretariat has no right to take action against anyone. ..... Chairman Yadav said it is the responsibility of the chairman to call the meeting of the secretariat. "There has not been any secretariat meeting. This is illegal ..... Yadav also claimed the convention alone has the right to dismiss the sitting chairman. .... The dissenting MPRF faction also announced a fresh stir in Madhesh to help meet their 14-point demand.
JTMM-G ‘sacks’Goit Central committee meeting of Goit-led Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM-G) suspended its central coordinator Jay Krishna Goit from the group's general membership alleging that the latter was engaged in embezzlement. A 2-day meeting of the group's "district coordinators and in-charges" at an undisclosed location that began on 31st August, took the decision to dismiss Goit while unanimously electing "Pawan" to the post. ....as Goit was always indifferent towards the plight of "martyrs' families" .... also blamed Goit of calling for the JTMM-G's national convention at a time when it had to go against the Constituent Assembly polls.
EC allows 43 groups for CA election monitoring more than 70,000 observers to monitor the election. .... Subodh Pyakurel's National Election Monitoring Alliance has said it will mobilize 18,000 observers, whereas Suvadayak Sah's Democracy and Election Network, Nepal, has said that it will mobilize 12,000 observers.
All ready for unification: Deuba
Maoists want to deploy PLA for CA election for security as well campaigning purposes. ..... "We will meet with Koirala, Poudel and Martin tomorrow," Pasang said.
YCL submits memo to Sitaula
Villagers beat up Maoists Those injured during the counter-attack are Maoists' district member Man Bahadur Karki 'Baburam', Som Bahadur BK, Dil Bahadur Nepali and Ramesh Malla among others. ...... in Janakpur Local tailors at Janakpur Municipality closed the market protesting Young Communist League (YCL)'s excesses in Dhanusha ...... The irate mass chanted slogans against Maoists and vandalized the office of Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Trade Union at Mills area in Janakpur. They also set ablaze office documents. ..... Angry tailors protested against Maoists as YCL members and the Maoist affiliated tailor employees had manhandled Mohammad Jabir, the proprietor of a local tailoring shop Sunday. ..... Maoist-affiliated employees have been closing tailoring shops in Janakpur since last month demanding various professional rights. The scuffle ensued as some owners had opened their shops in defiance.
NAC sacrifices goats to fix technical snag
Govt suspects blasts as ploy to thwart CA polls; beefs up security, pledges relief to victims
Two dead, over 2 dozen hurt in Kathmandu serial blasts; Terai Army claims responsibility
India behind MPRF-Govt agreement: Dev Gurung He further said that this would aggravate the Madhes problems and would only help the Hindu extremists and the Bush administration. ..... accused the MPRF President Yadav of having nexus with the Hindu extremists, Indian criminals and the Americans. ...... "Now, the local bodies would be run on the basis of all party decision."
Limbuwan-Khumbuwan stalls talks; Minister Poudel ‘surprised’ Both the indigenous groups have warned that the November 22 Constituent Assembly elections would not be possible if the government do not fulfil their demands. ..... Poudel even warned that the government will mobilize even the army if needed to hold the elections on time. ..... Declaration of a federal republic prior to the Constituent Assembly elections on November 22, formation of the autonomous Limbuwan and Khumbuwan states, ethnicity-based proportional electoral system as well as special rights to the minority groups are some of the key demands of the agitating groups in eastern Nepal.
राजधानीमा शृंखलाबद्ध विस्फोट
फोरममा विवाद विश्वासले सम्झौतापछि यादवको नेतृत्व क्षमता, योग्यता, निष्ठतामा अविश्वास उत्पन्न भएको बताए । ..... एक दशकअघि स्थापित फोरम कार्यसमितिका ७ सदस्यीय पदाधिकारीमध्ये यादवको पक्षमा तीन र विपक्षमा चार रहेको उनले जनाए । यादवले भने आफूलाई निलम्बन गर्ने काम विधानविपरीत भएको बताए । उनले राज्यसँग मधेसको ऐतिहासिक सहमति भएको उल्लेख गर्दै यस प्रकरणलाई संविधानसभा नचाहनेको षड्यन्त्र भएको दाबी गरे । 'सचिवालयको बैठक बसेको छैन, यो विधानविपरीत काम हो,' यादवले भने ।
चुनावमा एक लाख पर्यवेक्षक खटाइने
स्वायत्त सरकार घोषणा गर्ने चेतावनी संघीय लोकतान्त्रिक मञ्चमा आबद्ध जातीय मोर्चाहरू संघीय लिम्बुवान राज्यपरिषद्, खम्वुवान राष्ट्रिय मोर्चा, ताम्बासलिङ स्वायत्त राज्यपरिषद् र लिम्बुवान धिमाल स्वायत्त परिषद्ले नयाँ रणनीति अनुसार स्वायत्त सरकारको तयारी गरेको बताए । ..... मोर्चाका तीन प्रमुख मागमध्ये संविधानसभाको निर्वाचन अगाडि संघीय गणतन्त्रको घोषणा गर्न नसकिने र जातीय जनसंख्याको आधारमा समानुपातिक निर्वाचन गर्न नसकिने सरकारी वार्ता टोली संयोजक मन्त्री रामचन्द्र पौडेलले पत्र पठाएको लिम्बुवान राज्यपरिषद्का अध्यक्ष सन्जुहाङ पालुङवाले बताए ।
माओवादीद्वारा २३ को घरजग्गा फिर्ता
बहस वित्तीय संघीयताको पहिलो, आदिवासी/ जनजातिको संघीयताको आधार जातीय स्वशासन हो । दोस्रो, मधेसी समुदायको भूगोलको आधारमा समग्र मधेस एक प्रदेश हो । तेस्रो, भाषिक आधार र चौथो, स्थलरूप -स्पासियल) आर्थिक मानव विकास, भौतिक पूर्वाधार तथा भौगोलिक निकटताको आधारमा संघीय स्वरूपको निर्माण गर्ने विकासवादी मत । ........ सात जिल्लाले कुल गार्हस्थ उत्पादनमा ९० प्रतिशतभन्दा बढी हिस्सा ओगट्छ ..... आर्थिक औद्योगिक विकासको केन्द्र पनि आठ-दस जिल्लामात्र छन् .... करिब दस जिल्लाले मात्र कुल राजस्वको पचासी प्रतिशतभन्दा बढी योगदान गर्छन् ..... अमेरिकामा संघीय सरकार र एक केन्द्रीय जिल्ला, पचास राज्य सरकार र करिब ८२ हजारभन्दा धेरै स्थानीय सरकारमा सार्वभौमसत्ताको बाँडफाँड भएको छ ...... संघीय सरकारले कुल सार्वजनिक खर्चको करिब ५६, राज्यले २६ र स्थानीय सरकारले १८ प्रतिशत हिस्सा ओगट्छ ...... हामीले खोजेको संघीय व्यवस्था भारतको जस्तो होइन । भारत रूपमा संघीय भए पनि सारमा केन्द्रीकृत राज्य नै हो । हाम्रो संघीयता अमेरिकाकै जस्तो बढी सुहाउँदो हुन्छ, राजनीतिक र वित्तीय दुवै दृष्टिकोणमा ।
आवरण द्वन्द्वको नयाँ ढोका सरकार र मधेसी जनअधिकार फोरमबीच भएको सम्झौताबाट नयाँ असमझदारी उत्पन्न ....... यता फोरमकै एउटा समूहले पनि सहमतिलाई धोकाको संज्ञा दिएको छ भने तराईमा क्रियाशील अन्य सशस्त्र र निःशस्त्र समूहहरू पनि सहमतिदेखि सन्तुष्ट छैनन् । फोरमका निवर्तमान उपाध्यक्ष्ा किशोरकुमार विश्वासले सहमतिलाई 'सरकार र उपेन्द्र यादवबीचको व्यक्तिगत सहमति भएको' टिप्पणी गरेका छन् । र, यस समूहले यसअघि फोरमले घोषणा गरेको आन्दोलनका कार्यक्रम यथावत् नै रहने बताएको छ । फोरमका असन्तुष्ट पक्ष्ाधरका नेता विश्वास भन्छन्, "हामी आन्दोलनका कार्यक्रमलाई यथावत् राख्दै सङ्घर्षमा उत्रिन्छौँ ।" ....... यसअघि भदौ ६ गते फोरमको वीरगन्ज बैठकले आन्दोलनको कार्यक्रम घोषणा गरेको थियो, जस अनुसार भदौ १४ गतेसम्म समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणाली, आत्मनिर्णयको अधिकारसहितको क्षेत्रीय स्वायत्त प्रदेशलगायतका मागहरू पूरा नभए त्यसको भोलिपल्टैदेखि भदौ १९ सम्म जनपरचिालन, २० देखि २२ गतेसम्म विरोध जुलुस, सभा, मसाल जुलुस, धर्ना, घेराउ र त्यसपछि चाहिँ अझ सशक्त सडक सङ्घर्षका शान्तिपूर्ण आन्दोलन गर्ने निर्णय गरेको थियो । सरकार र फोरमबीचको सहमतिमा यी मागहरू स्थगन गरएिकाले पनि असन्तुष्ट पक्ष्ाधरले त्यही वीरगन्ज बैठकको 'म्यान्डेट' अनुरूप आन्दोलन गर्ने भएका हुन् । ..... उपेन्द्र यादवको पक्षमा अमर यादव र नीलम बर्मा .... केही दिनअघि वीरगन्जमा भएको फोरम बैठकले केन्द्रीय कार्यसमिति भङ्ग गरी यादवको अध्यक्षतामा २७ सदस्यीय महाधिवेशन तयारी समिति गठन गरेको थियो । तर, त्यसमा रहेका व्यक्तिहरूसमेत विश्वास र यादव पक्षमा विभाजित भएकाले फोरममा विभाजन आउने निश्चित भएको छ । ...... विभाजित पक्षधरको नेतृत्व गर्न लागेका विश्वासचाहिँ असन्तुष्ट समूहहरूसँग गठबन्धन गर्दै आन्दोलन गर्ने तयारीमा छन् । त्यसका लागि लिम्बूवान, खम्बूवान, तामासालिङ राज्यपरष्िाद्, संयुक्त थारू राष्ट्रिय मुक्ति मोर्चा, दलित नागरकि समाजका नेतासँग कुराकानी भइरहेको पनि उनी बताउँछन् । "यी सबैको एउटा संयोजन समिति बनाएर पूर्ण समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणालीका लागि आन्दोलन गर्छाैं," विश्वास भन्छन् । ...... यी सबै असन्तुष्ट समूहहरूको मुख्य मागचाहिँ समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणाली रहेको छ ..... माओवादी नेता प्रचण्डको भनाइमा यसले मधेसमा आगोमाथि घिउ थप्ने काम मात्रै गरेको छ । फोरमबाटै केही समयअघि अलग भएका मधेसी नेता जयप्रकाशप्रसाद गुप्ता पनि सहमतिले मधेसमा थप द्वन्द्व र भिडन्तको स्िथति निम्त्याएको टिप्पणी गर्छन् । ........ आन्दोलनरत पक्ष्ाहरूलाई वैधानिकता दिनेभन्दा पनि समस्या समाधानको जस लिन खोज्ने प्रवृत्ति सरकारमा देखिन्छ ..... फोरमको मुख्य माग नै निर्वाचन प्रणालीका विषयमा रहेकाले उनीहरूसँगको परामर्शबिना नै निर्वाचन तालिका सार्वजनिक गर्नुले पनि सरकारको नियतमाथि थप प्रश्नचिह्न उठाइदियो । ..... आन्तरकि सङ्गठन निर्माण .... अध्यक्ष्ा यादव पक्ष्ाधरहरूले वार्ता गर्नुपर्ने प्रक्रियामा जोड दिए भने उपाध्यक्ष विश्वास पक्षधरले वार्ताको नाटकमा फस्न नहुने, बालुवाटार धाउन बन्द गर्नुपर्ने र वार्ता भङ्ग गरी आन्दोलनमा जानुपर्ने कुराहरू उठाए । गिरजिाप्रसादकहाँ वा बालुवाटार धाउन बन्द गर्नुपर्ने कुरा अध्यक्ष्ा यादवप्रति लक्षित थियो । ...... विश्वासको भनाइमा संविधानसभालाई अर्थहीन, निरर्थक र एकजातीय बहुल र प्रधानता बनाउने षड्यन्त्र गर्ने व्यक्ति प्रधानमन्त्री गिरजिाप्रसाद कोइराला नै हुन ..... रामचन्द्र पौडेल बैठकमा असंवेदनशील, गैरजिम्मेवार र हलुको किसिमले प्रस्तुत हुने गरेको आरोप विश्वासको छ । परम्परावादी खालका पौडेल स-साना कुरामा अलमलिन्छन् । ...... "समग्र मधेसको समस्या समाधान गर्न गोलमेच सम्मेलनमार्फत नै उपाय खोजिनुपर्छ ।" ..... सत्ताले कहिल्यै पनि परविर्तन नखोज्ने बरु सुधार मात्रै खोज्ने बताउँदै उनी भन्छन्, "यतिखेर मधेसी जनताले परविर्तन खोजिरहेका छन् भने सरकारचाहिँ आंशिक सुधार मात्रै खोजिरहेको छ ।" मधेसी जनता परविर्तनका लागि क्रान्ति गर्न पनि तयार भएको ठम्याइ उनको छ । अहिलेको सम्झौताले एउटा प्रश्न पनि उठाएको छ ः प्रधानमन्त्रीको दोस्रो सम्बोधनले हल गरेबाहेक नयाँ कुरा के नै भयो त ? त्यसपछि पनि आन्दोलन गरेर किन सहिदको सङ्ख्या बढाइयो ? ........ भारतीय राजदूत शिवशङ् कर मुखर्जीले जसरी भए पनि निर्वाचन गर्नुपर्ने तर्क गरेका थिए । फोरमको स्वस्फूर्त आन्दोलनलाई एक किसिमको वैधता दिँदै त्यसबाट प्राप्त उपलब्धिलाई संस्थागत गरी आफूलाई स्थापित गर्ने उनको चाहनाले पनि अहिलेको सम्झौता हुन पुगेको छ । ....... विश्वासले आन्दोलनको घोषणा गरे भने त्यसले उचाइ लिने कुरालाई नकार्न सकिन्न । किनभने, मधेसी जनतामा आफूहरूलाई सरकारले छक्याउने षड्यन्त्र मात्रै गरेको भन्ने भावना विकास भएको छ । माओवादीसँग गठबन्धन हुनसक्ने सम्भावना पनि उत्तिकै छ । माओवादी नेता र विश्वासबीच राजधानीमै बारम्बार भेटघाटहरू पनि भइरहेका छन् । एक हिसाबले भन्ने हो भने जसरी उपेन्द्र यादव र नेपाली काङ्ग्रेसबीच एक किसिमको अघोषित गठबन्धन छ, त्यसैगरी विश्वास र माओवादीबीच पनि अघोषित समझदारी देखिन्छ । माओवादीको मधेस राज्य समितिका इन्चार्ज पोष्टबहादुर बोगटी 'दिवाकर' ले सीमापार िपुगेर ज्वाला सिंह पक्षसँग भेटघाट गरेको पनि बताइन्छ । एक हिसाबले भन्ने हो भने मधेसका सशस्त्र समूहहरूसँग पनि माओवादीले नयाँ किसिमको सहमतिको हात बढाएको देखिन्छ । ....... माओवादीले जनजाति समूहहरूसँग पनि समझदारीको हात बढाउँदै छन् ....... मधेसी, जनजातिलगायत अन्य सबै आन्दोलनरत समूहहरूसँग पनि गोलमेच सम्मेलन, पूर्ण समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणाली, गणतन्त्र र आत्मनिर्णयको अधिकारसहितको स्वायत्त संरचनाको साझा मुद्दामा गठबन्धन हुनसक्ने सम्भावना छ ...... माओवादी नेता डा बाबुराम भट्टराई भन्छन्, "यतिखेर नयाँ किसिमको बाह्रबुँदे सहमतिको जरुरी छ ।" .... एकातिर मधेसबाट सुरु हुन लागेको आन्दोलन र अर्काेतिर माओवादीले असोज १ गतेदेखि सुरु गर्ने सङ्घर्षले संविधानसभाको आसन्न निर्वाचनलाई अनिश्चिततातिर धकेल्दैछ । त्यससँगै काङ्ग्रेस र माओवादीबीचको सम्बन्ध भने चिसिएर गएको छ । ..... माओवादीले अनौपचारकि वार्ता नगर्ने र आफूहरूले अघि सारेको २२ बुँदे पूर्वाधारमा सरकारले 'रेस्पोन्स' नगरेसम्म वार्ता नगर्ने दुई सर्त अघि सारेको छ । ...... माओवादीले नयाँ किसिमको सहमति हुनुपर्ने माग अघि सार्नुको मतलब पूर्ण समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणाली, गोलमेच सम्मेलन, गणतन्त्रको स्थापना, स्वायत्त सङ्घीय संरचनाजस्ता विषयमा नयाँ खालको सहमति तय गर्न खोजिएको हो । तर, त्यसका लागि नेपाली काङ्ग्रेस तयार देखिँदैन । ..... किशोरकुमार विश्वास .... माओवादीसँग मिलेर आन्दोलन हुनसक्छ’ ...... लिम्बूवान, खम्बूवान, तामासालिङ राज्यपरष्िाद्का साथै थारू राष्ट्रिय मुक्ति मोर्चा र दलित नागरकि समाजको एउटा संयोजन समिति बनाएर पूर्ण समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणालीका लागि आन्दोलन सुरु गर्ने तयारीमा छौँ । ..... बलजफ्ती मिश्रति प्रणालीका आधारमा निर्वाचन भयो भने मधेस र मुलुक थप मुठभेड र द्वन्द्वमा जान्छ । मुलुककै राष्ट्रिय एकता, सार्वभौमसत्ता, अखण्डता र साम्प्रदायिक सद्भाव खतरामा पर्छ । .....उपेन्द्र यादव ... सबैलाई सरकारले वार्ताका लागि सम्मानपूर्वक बोलाउनुपर्छ । ...... डा बाबुराम भट्टराई ..... राजाको स्थितिमा पुग्छ काङ्ग्रेस .... अन्तरमि सरकारमा संलग्न पार्टीहरूबीच साझा सहमति कायम गरी सबै आन्दोलनरत पक्षहरूलाई एकै ठाउँमा राखेर समस्याको हल गरौँ भन्ने हाम्रो नीति हो । तर, काङ्ग्रेसले एउटा समूहको पनि एउटा गुटलाई मात्रै उचालेर समस्या समाधान गर्न नचाहेको कुरालाई पुष्टि गर्‍यो । ...... अब पुरानो १२ बुँदे समझदारीको सान्दर्भिकता सकिएकाले सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र, आर्थिक-सामाजिक रूपान्तरणका कार्यक्रमसहितको नयाँ समझदारीको खाँचो छ । ...... यतिखेर मुख्य बाधक नै नेपाली काङ्ग्रेस होअनि, एमाले नेतृत्व यो बुझ्दैन, त्यत्तिकै संविधानसभा भनेर हौसिएर हिँडिरहेको छ । .... टुट्ने होइन, टुटिसकेको स्िथति छ । औपचारकि रूपमा नटुटे पनि वैचारकि र व्यावहारकि रूपमा टुटिसकेको छ । पुरानो सम्बन्ध टुटिसकेको र नयाँ सम्बन्ध नबनिसकेको स्िथति हो अहिले । ....... रामचन्द्र पौडेल ..... अहिले राज्यले दिनसक्ने कुरा यत्ति मात्रै हो ..... नयाँ-नयाँ आउने सबै समूहहरूसँग वार्ता गर्न सम्भव छैन । सबैको कुरा सुनेर साध्य पनि हुँदैन । .... गोलमेच सम्मेलन भनेकै संविधानसभा हो । त्यसभन्दा ठूलो गोलमेच सम्मेलन अरू के हुनसक्छ ?

Govt, parties all suspect blasts are aimed at disrupting the polls NepalNews
MJF dissidents dump Upendra Yadav A group of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) leaders have announced that they have suspended the MJF chief Upendra Yadav and have 'rejected' the recent 22-point deal signed by the government and MJF. In a statement issued by the dissidents, they have announced that Yadav has been suspended and a new 'movement mobilisation committee' has been formed chaired by Bhagyanath Prasad Gupta. They have accused Yadav of selling out on Madhesi causes. The statement was issued jointly by Gupta, Kishore Kumar Bishwas, Ram Kumar Sharma and Jitendra Sonal. The group has reiterated the MJF demands for an autonomous region with the right to self determination, federal democratic republic, end of monarchy and full proportional representation based election system for Constituent Assembly (CA). The dissident faction has demanded that Nepali and Hindi be recognised as national language and English as a language for international communication. In the 22-point deal, Yadav's faction had agreed to recognise Nepali and mother tongues as national language and English as language for international communication.
Govt-MJF deal was signed after consensus among parties: Poudel
Maoists clash with locals in Parbat, Rasuwa

Sunday, September 02, 2007

No To Terrorism: Terai Army Is A Criminal Outfit


Series of blasts rock capital city; two killed, over 25 injured Simultaneous blasts occurred at three busy areas in the capital city Sunday evening, killing at least two persons and injuring over two dozen others. ..... Tripureshwor, Sundhara and Balaju areas around 4:15 pm ..... blasts in Tripureshwor and Sundhara took place at bus stands. .... Seven students of Bishwo Niketan Higher Secondary School, who were waiting for their bus, were among those injured ..... Anisha KC, a student of Bishwo Niketan, was killed in the blast ..... Another bomb went off inside a microbus near Balaju Industrial Estate, Balaju, injuring over a dozen passengers. The microbus operating on the Ratnapark-New Bus Park route was completely destroyed in the powerful blast. ...... A leader of the little known Terai Army telephoned Avenues TV, a Kathmandu-based private television channel, and claimed responsibility for the blasts, but this is yet to be verified independently.

Maoist soldiers engaging in war with the Royal Army soldiers, I disapproved of, but that was one thing. Killing innocent people going about their lives is a totally different matter. This is terrorism. The Terai Army did not do this for the Terai people. They do not speak for the Terai people.

This was wrong. This was a criminal act. All Madhesi parties and groups should dissociate themselves from this outfit, and should condemn these blasts as should all Pahadi parties and groups. There is no room in Nepali politics for terrorism.

Madhesi grievances are for real. But there is no grievance the Madhesis have that does not have peaceful political outlets. The ultimate solution of breaking the country into two can also be had peacefully. Actually peacefully is the only possible way to get it. I don't support the idea. But I am just making a point.

Killing and injuring school children and regular people going about their daily lives is not the way to Madhesi liberation. That only delays Madhesi liberation. That only makes Madhesi liberation less possible.

We Madhesis are destined for more than equality. We are destined to rule over all of Nepal. Through the ballot box. And that too quickly. That is the way to go. There is no room for violence in the Madhesi Movement.

These acts of terrorism are new of their kind. It is not possible for any responsible Madhesi outfit to do business with this group. The Terai Army should be isolated and marginalized by both the armed and unarmed Madhesi groups.

These acts of terrorism are not political, they are criminal.

When I read the headline, my first reaction was the royalists did it. The same people who threw bombs at Devendra Pandey and Krishna Pahadi's place did it. Even now I am keeping my options open. We don't know for sure who did it. But if there be any evidence the royalists were behind this, that they are trying to disrupt communal harmony in the country so as to disrupt the all important November 22 elections, then the country must be declared a republic immediately.

Those royalists, Hindu supremacists call themselves Defense Army, this group is calling itself Terai Army. Why do the names sound so similar? It is possible for regressive elements to operate without any direct knowledge of the royal family. They represent a small segment of the political spectrum.

It is entirely possible some regressive elements are fishing in the muddy waters. It is possible some ethnic groups are getting funds from regressive elements.

On their part, the government has also made things from bad to worse. It was a big mistake to not treat the Madhesi Kranti with respect as soon as it happened. It has been a big mistake to not engage Jwala and Goit in respectful dialogue. It is still not too late. When you engage the Madhesi Maoists in respectful dialogue, you isolate groups like the Terai Army. If the government will not, the Madhesi Alliance parties should. (The Madhesi MPs And The Idea Of A New Party)

Ridiculous Bahun Poudel
Talk To Goit

In The News

Ethnic bodies suspend talks with government Claiming that the government did not show willingness to address their issues, an umbrella organisation of ethnic bodies has announced indefinite suspension of the negotiation. The Federal Democratic National Front (FDNF), which is an umbrella body of Limbuwan, Khumbuwan and Tamasaling associations, has decided to walk out of the dialogue process following informal chat with the government talks team on Saturday. ..... Rabindra Thing, central leader of FDNF, told Nepal FM that they have decided to "unilaterally suspend the talks indefinitely.' ...... Thing said, "On our demand of ensuring the ethnic autonomy equipped with right to self determination to chalk out 13 provinces in the interim constitution itself, the government responded that they wanted to go by the recommendation to be submitted (to the Constituent Assembly) by the proposed State Restructuring Commission." ...... "Likewise, on our demand of fully proportional representation-based election system, the government team said they had already decided to go for mixed system. And on our third major demand of declaring federal republic in the interim constitution, the government side could not give clear response. Therefore, we see no rationale in holding talks," Thing added. The FDNF was to hold talks with the government team in Dharan on Sunday.
Hooch kills 9 more in Janakpur
Docs protest govt ‘apathy’ towards their demands; warn of stern agitation
Maoist cadres assault UML leaders
Govt-MJF deal was signed after consensus among parties: Poudel
YCL announces protest programmes
Prachanda says Maoists will take part in CA; Dr. Bhattarai wants 22-points addressed first

YCL try to snatch APF weapons in Kalikot; thrash ex-UML MP in Ramechhap Kantipur
Govt outlines 4-tier polls security plan five to 16 police personnel will be guarding ballot boxes at the polling centres on the day of the voting. .... a joint team of Nepal Police and the APF will be patrolling the areas. .... A strike force of the APF personnel will also be kept on standby to deter potential attacks at the polling centres. .... Aerial patrols will be conducted throughout the voting day. ... “all the choppers in the country be used for the election security.” ..... 80,000 temporary guards. .... The Maoists also want its People’s Liberation Army and the Young Communist League to be inducted in the election security plan.
Tharu front calls off protests
Maoists will take part in CA polls, says Prachanda Prachanda said no one should even imagine about the Maoists not taking part in the elections. ..... also clarified that the Maoists will not quit the interim government at this juncture. .... the previous eight-party alliance has ended. .... “not putting forth these demands as pre-conditions”.
Polls impossible sans 22-point prerequisites, says Dr Bhattarai
MPRF denounces Maoist objection to 22-pt deal Speaking at a function in Kathmandu Saturday, MPRF Chairman Upendra yadav, also demanded government's clear stance on the Maoist reaction to the agreement. .... When asked about the reports on division with the MPRF over the agreement, MPRF Chairman Yadav only said that reactionary elements were trying to mislead the people. ..... Yadav, however, asked the Maoists to forget about the past bitterness and act in a friendly manner. ..... Yadav hailed Thursday's agreement with the government as a milestone to build a nation free of regional, religious and ethnic discriminations. ..... Addressing another programme in the capital today, Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai accused the ruling Nepali Congress of staging a “drama of the agreement” by taking some MPRF leaders into confidence.
EC seeks review of ballot paper design the ballot papers for both first-past-the-post (FPTP) and proportional election systems ...... the EC has to arrange for separate balloting in a two-column table in separate colors for the FPTP and proportional election systems. ...... "If all 61 political parties that have been registered at the EC for the election want to contest the CA poll, the EC has to bring out a ballot paper that is more than a meter long," an EC official said, preferring anonymity. ........ design ballot papers in A3 size with more than two column tables, that would be technically and scientifically appropriate ....... "Otherwise the EC will have to design the ballot papers in a booklet format." ...... In 2005, while conducting elections in Afghanistan, the election commission there had arranged a seven-page long ballot paper. ..... before opting for electronic voting machines, India had to arrange ballot papers that were almost 70 pages long to accommodate over 1,500 political parties. Meanwhile, the EC has decided to expand the capacity of the Janak Sikchha Samagri Ltd by arranging for two modern wave machines to print ballot papers. ....... import machines with fast printing, numbering and perforating systems. .... the EC has to print over 40 million ballot papers of 241 different types.
Janakpur hooch death toll mounts to 7
शम्भु उम्मेदवार हुने नेपाल बार एसोसिएसनका पूर्वअध्यक्ष शम्भु थापा ..... 'मैले कुनै दलविशेषसँग कुराकानी गरेको छैन,' उनले भने- 'तर उम्मेदवार बन्ने योजना छ ।' मुख्य दलहरूसँग कुराकानी गरी साझा उम्मेदवार बन्न प्रयास गर्ने उल्लेख गर्दै उनले स्वतन्त्र उम्मेदवारीको तयारी गरेको बताए ।
कांग्रेसमा सरकारको आलोचना कांग्रेस -प्रजातान्त्रिक) ले संविधानसभा चुुनावका लागि घोषणापत्र निर्माणलगायत आवश्यक सम्पूर्ण तयारी गर्न आइतबार पार्टी बैठक बोलाएको छ ।
अमेरिका पलायन अमेरिकाको राष्ट्रिय झण्डालाई काटेर गञ्जी लगाए पनि हुने, हाफप्यान्ट सिलाए पनि हुने र मोटरमा फरफराए पनि हुने रहेछ । व्यक्तिगत स्वतन्त्रता जीवनको हरेक क्षेत्रमा पाइन्छ, कसैले कसैको चासो गर्दैन । हुँदा-हुँदा बाबुआमाले छोराछोरी तह लाउन नसके प्रशासनले तह लगाउँछ । कतिपय राज्यमा बन्दुक तरकारी किनेजस्तै किन्न पाइन्छ । ....... न्युयोर्क सहरमा वाषिर्क ५०० मानिस आपराधिक गतिविधिमा मर्नु ...... तर अमेरिकालाई अवसरहरू भएको देश भनिन्छ । .... त्यहाँ ग्ाएपछि दुःख भए पनि सुख भए पनि गएकाहरू उतै बस्छन् । बाहिरी मुलुकबाट जानेलाई त त्यति सहज जीवन छैन । ..... पूर्वी एसिया, ल्याटिन अमेरिका, अपि|mका सबैतिरका बाबुआमा छोराछेरीलाई त्यस देशमा पढाउन जग्गाजमिन बेचबिखन गरेर पनि पठाउने गरेका विषय त्यस देशका पत्रपत्रिकामा पनि आएका छन् ...... आजभोलि त नेपाली पनि अमेरिकाको ५० वटै राज्यमै पुगेका छन् ..... अवकाश पाइसकेका मानिस पनि स्टेसनमा डोनट बेचेर रमाएका छन् ..... एक युवाले भने, 'पढाइ र काम गर्दा गधाको जस्तो काममा जोतिन परे पनि नेपालमा हुँदा एक बोतल कोकाकोला खान बाबुआमासँग पैसा माग्न पथ्र्यो । यहाँ पैसा कमाउने अवसर छ । आफ्नै कार छ, बस्ने फल्याट छ आदि ।' बाहिरबाट त्यहाँ गएका विद्यार्थीलाई पढाइ धान्न र बाँच्न कठिन छ । परिवारका मानिससँग बोल्न फुर्सद छैन । तर पढाइ भने राम्रो छ । राम्रो काम पाएमा पैसा पनि राम्रो हुनसक्छ भन्ने आशमा दुःख स्वीकारेका छन् । अर्को युवाले भन्यो, 'म अहिले नेपाल र्फकन्न । त्यहाँ सधैं टायर बालेको, बन्द भएको, मारमार भएको र मान्छे मारेको खबरमात्र देखिन्छ ।' अर्कोले भन्यो, 'नेपालमा मोटरसाइकलमात्र चड्ने क्षमता थियो । कहिलेकाहीं बरालिएर हिँड्ने बानी थियो । यहाँ त काम गरेर पढेको छु ।' कसैले त लाजै नमानी 'केटी पनि अमेरिकाकै राम्रा छन्, पैसा पनि राम्रो छ' भने । केटीहरू पनि नातेदार भए पनि स्वत्ान्त्र रूपमा साथीहरूसँग बसेका छन् । ........ धेरैजसोले भने- स्वतन्त्रता छ, दुःख भए पनि नेपालमा भन्दा राम्रो छ । यता बाबुआमालाई अमेरिकामा छोराछोरी पढिरहेका छन् भन्न्ो शान छ । नेपाली केटाकेटी अमेरिकनजस्तै विवाहपूर्व सँगै बसेका छन् । ..... नेपालबाट पनि मानवधन र दिमागी शक्ति सुक्दै जाँदैछ ।
Janajati-govt Pact a Betrayal: NEFINS Himalayan Times The meeting of the federal council of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities Students (NEFINS) has come to a conclusion that the 20-point pact between the government and the indigenous nationalities was a betrayal of the indigenous nationalities. "The pact was incomplete and intended to defuse the movement of the indigenous nationalities" .... The meeting also concluded that education department chief of the NEFINS Rajan Kumar Danuwar had gone against the spirit of the federation.
Maoists thrash ex-MP, UML men Maoists cadres also forced Nepali Congress Ramechhap district vice chairman Labshree Neupane to return from Okhreti VDC yesterday saying the Maoists won’t let Congress leaders to go to villages till NC decides on issue of monarchy. ...... Dhankuta: Maoists on Saturday garlanded Rastriya Prajatantra Party central member Hari Ghimire and RPP district chairman Tika Prasad Ghimire with shoes and paraded them around Dhankuta bazaar. ..... Maoist cadres and activists of its sister organisations — Young Communist League and All Nepal Women’s Association-Revolutionary — frog-marched Hari Ghimire and Tika Prasad Ghimire from the fourth district convention of the RPP where the former was to be the chief guest and the latter as programme chairperson. .... The Maoists said they did so to denounce RPP chairman Pashupati Shumsher Rana’s protest in the parliament against the nationalisation of the King’s property and palaces.
NC manifesto by Sept 27
Prachanda distances his party from SPA “It is the seven-party alliance and the CPN-Maoist, not eight-party alliance,” Prachanda told reporters at a tea-reception organised by Speaker Subas Nembang ..... Prachanda also made it clear that his party would neither run away from November 22 constituent assembly elections nor will it walk out of the coalition government. .... Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Poudel, ministers, ambassadors, diplomats and political leaders attended the reception.
MJF, Maoist cadres clash
FDNF unilaterally suspends talks with govt Nepalgunj, September 1: Activists of the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum today clashed with Maoist cadres while the latter were taking out a funeral procession around the town behind a jeep carrying the body of their cadre Nageshwor Raidas who was shot dead by unknown persons on Thursday. At least six persons from both the sides were injured in the clash that erupted at BP Chowk, said police. .... While the Maoists claimed that Raidas was murdered by the MJF’s youth organisation president Hiralal Lonia, the MJF claimed that the Moaists had abducted Lonia. .... The Maoists have denied the allegation. MJF activists were burning tyres at BP Chowk, demanding Lonia’s release. When the Maoist procession reached BP Chowk, an altercation ensued and a clash broke out, said eyewitnesses. The MJF activists had already blocked the road while the Maoists’ condolence meeting was being held at Dhambojhi. ...... Both sides pelted stones at each other. The funeral procession stopped and tension mounted in the area, with the market shutting down. .... The clash stopped after the MJF activists moved to one side. ..... Banke DSP Krishna Hari Sharma said none was seriously injured in the clash. The Maoists cremated Raidas’ body in the presence of a large number of armed police and civil police.

Prachanda says Maoists will take part in CA; Dr. Bhattarai wants 22-points addressed first NepalNews
PM alerts APF to stay prepared for election security
Upendra Yadav rebuffs CPN-M reaction on MJF-govt deal The MJF chairman, himself a Maoist until few years ago, said the Maoist position regarding the agreement is against the ongoing efforts for maintaining “national unity”.
13 die after consuming tainted liquor in Janakpur

Nepal Political Update: Latest Agreement and CA Election Blog.com.np Forget the Maoist reaction, the Nepal government-Madhesi Forum (MPRF) agreement is the best thing that has happened to the Nepali peace process in the past several months.