Sunday, November 11, 2012

NC And UML At Fault

Feuding politicians take Nepal to brink of ruin Apart from a small bust of Chairman Mao beside his armchair, Nepali Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai flaunts no trappings of his revolutionary past: these days he talks of foreign investment, infrastructure projects and double-digit growth. ...... Liberated from civil war and sandwiched between economic powerhouses China and India, Nepal could be one of Asia's success stories. Instead, as it blunders further into political turmoil, even its own leaders talk darkly of a "failed state"....... due to an impasse over this year's budget, the caretaker government's authority to draw from the Treasury will lapse this Thursday, which means it will be unable to pay the salaries of half a million civil servants, soldiers and police...... "We won't be able to supply even essential drugs to the sick in hospitals, pay old-age pensions and feed inmates in jails beyond that day" ..... the economy will shrink and black markets, money-laundering and smuggling will flourish. ..... "It will be ... an economy in anarchy" ..... "There is no parliament, no budget and no constitution, and yet the country moves on" ....... "I am the only legal prime minister," Bhattarai said. "They are not ready to face the next elections, they fear they will be routed in the elections - that's why they want the leadership of the government," he said of opposition parties. ..... He said that if the opposition continued to block the budget, he would seek a presidential decree to push it through...... Bhattarai succeeded in retiring thousands of Maoist fighters and integrating hundreds into the national army, removing a serious threat to peace. ..... A hard core of Maoists disillusioned with the party's shift away from the radical left and failure to deliver land reforms, have broken away. This rump group is now threatening to go back to war but, even if they don't resort to violence, they could lose the Maoists' votes when elections are eventually held. ...... Finally, demands for ethnic autonomy are growing across the country, particularly in the southern plains.
Baburam resigning is not a solution because that would create a political vacuum worse than the current gridlock. Even if Baburam is not to lead the proposed all party government the decision as to who has to be made now, beforehand, before Baburam can resign without being irresponsible.

The Maoists were more than twice as big as either the NC and the UML in the last elected body in the country. And so have a legitimate claim to lead an all party government. But the NC and the UML don't want to face that reality. Just like they refused to face the reality that once two thirds of the members of the constituent assembly have put down their signature for a federal Nepal, that reality wins.

The NC and the UML don't believe in decisions by majority. They do not believe in decisions by two thirds majority. When they speak of consensus what they mean is no matter what only their wish can be carried out. They want a rule of the 20%, or quite possibly even a 10%. Their collective political weight might approach 10% after the next elections. And even in that circumstance they want to be calling all the shots.

I have a name for that attitude. It is called Bahunbad. Bahuns are 10% of the country's population, and they are used to having 100% of the power.

An era is about to come to an end, folks. Make peace with it, or get swept aside by the tides of history.

The way out of the gridlock is for President Ram Baran Yadav to realize as to his role, and to sign the ordinances passed on by the only legitimate government in the country, the one led by Baburam. Yadav needs to stop acting like there is some sort of a co-government led by the NC and the UML. There isn't.

The ball is not in the court of Baburam, or that of the NC and the UML. The ball is in Ram Baran's court. He needs to play straight by the rules. He is not a new king who replaced the old king. He is a non executive president and needs to act like one. It is Baburam who is the executive head of Nepal right now.

Ram Baran Yadav: Kasturi Mriga
The President, The Prime Minister
NC And UML Do Not Have Veto Power
Dahal's Capitulation Is Wrong

The funny thing about the NC and the UML wanting Baburam out is not only will Baburam lead the government that will hold elections in the country, he is also the guy who will lead the government after the next elections. Only at that time it will be a government with a two thirds majority.

The pressure is on Ram Baran Yadav, not on the NC and the UML. The NC and the UML are only doing what any stupid little political party would do. The NC and UML are crybaby parties.

Cliff Notes
My Reason To Drive Off The Roof
Bad Advice From Paul Krugman

Oppn parties vow to stop budget
FDRA all out for consensus on budget
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Sunday, November 04, 2012

Ram Baran Yadav: Kasturi Mriga



The old adage is that the Kasturi Mriga runs far and wide seeking the source of the scent emanating from its own body. But the Kasturi Mriga does not know.

Ram Baran Yadav is the source of the political gridlock in Nepal. He consults far and wide as to the reason for the gridlock. He is the reason.

Ram Baran Yadav: Musk Deer.

The President, The Prime Minister
Baburam Bhattarai Will Conduct Elections
Ram Baran Yadav Is Not An Executive President
And opposition partiesNepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML—want elections under their leadership. They have demanded that Bhattarai must quit for consensus, conveniently overlooking the fact that any consensus will require Maoist agreement and the Maoists will not agree on any candidate other than their own. They do not have the legislative means—such as CA—or legal case to throw out the government. Neither have they enough public support to do it from the street. ....... Ironically, several parties and pundits that otherwise claim to be democratic—like NC and UML, and their supporters—have become political expedientists rejecting the rule of law for a shortcut. ....... Here is how the President can make such a case to minimize controversy. First, he should tell the prime minister that it is his personal responsibility—as the country’s chief executive—to forge consensus to resolve the political and constitutional crisis. He should stop defusing that responsibility among leaders of two dozen parties. ...... Under IC, the President must act through the prime minister, his main point of contact with the government and people. It applies to the resolution of the current crisis as well. But it seems he is letting the prime minister off the hook by engaging more with other leaders.
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The President, The Prime Minister

The President's roadmap

There are three branches to the government and Ram Baran Yadav is not leading any of them. One of the branches has gone missing. The country is running on an interim constitution.

The president has been sending signals to parties like the NC and the UML that he might do something. Many NC folks fantasize the president might simply get rid of the Prime Minister. That happens not to be a constitutional option. That is not happening.

The best thing the president can do is let the political process take its due course. By now all parties are in mind to go for an election to a new assembly. It is ridiculous for the NC or the UML to suggest they should be leading any consensus government. They are too small as parties to be making such a claim. They are going to be even smaller after the election. But I digress.

The NC and the UML could join the current government or they should let the current government as is hold elections. What other option is there? Considering Baburam Bhattarai is not opposed to inducting NC and UML members into his cabinet, the fact that that is not happening should tell the president the current government is the one that is going to conduct elections. And he should cooperate.

NC And UML Do Not Have Veto Power
Dahal's Capitulation Is Wrong
Baburam Bhattarai Will Conduct Elections
Ram Baran Yadav Is Not An Executive President



Prez warned not to cross the line
UCPN (Maoist), UDMF discuss budget
Adhikari signals UML readiness for UCPN-M-led consensus govt
CPN-UML standing committee member Bharat Mohan Adhikari has said on Wednesday that his party would accept the leadership of UCPN-Maoist led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal , if they got an opportunity to lead the next consensus government.
Road to becoming a millionaire was not an easy one
Though we originated from Nepal, we are foreign citizens. Investment from NRNs is definitely going to encourage other international investors to come here and invest. I am optimistic that international investors will view this step taken by an NRN as an indicator of improving situation of investment climate in Nepal...... Foreign investors worry about how to take back dividend to their home countries. They look for an easy bureaucratic process and seek commitment from the government on taking back investment and returns anytime they want. But for NRNs, that might not be a problem. We don´t worry too much about taking the investment and dividend back to the country where we are residing. So there is a difference between other foreign investors and NRNs. ....... we are negotiating with chains such as Paris Hilton, Marriott, and Sheraton, among others ..... NRNs are the only people who can bring investment into the country at the moment .... You should not be afraid of taking risks
Obama, Romney race to finish line neck-and-neck
"I have given my voice in the service of my president," a hoarse Clinton said on the latest of more than two dozen campaign events for Obama, before 24,000 people on a chill night in the battleground state of Virginia. ..... In the latest show of good news for the president, he led Romney by five points in Iowa in a poll by the respected Des Moines Register newspaper, and also appears well placed in Nevada and Ohio -- in the trio of "firewall" states that could hand him re-election.
India's Congress party holds massive rally
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NC And UML Do Not Have Veto Power

Friday, November 02, 2012

Dahal's Capitulation Is Wrong

UCPN (M) proposes oppn parties to name PM candidate
In the meeting of the major four political forces held on Friday as part of their attempts to seek possible way out of the current political impasse, the Maoist chairaman Pushpa Kamal Dahal proposed to name the PM candidate after the leaders of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML refused former's proposal to convert existing government into national consensus government, according to UML leader Bhim Rawal
This is ridiculous.

Prachanda has to stop pretending that there is going to be a "friendly" election. When the elections are held in April there will be a major ideological tussle between the pro federalism forces and the anti federalism forces. The pro federalism forces have to win a two thirds majority. That is the work cut out before Prachanda as the leader of the Federal Republican Alliance. That alliance has to forge an electoral alliance with the smaller alliance that Upendra Yadav has managed to forge together to bring forth an alliance of alliances. That joint alliance should be able to garner a two thirds majority in the next assembly that is needed to give Nepal genuine federalism.

The NC and the UML are welcome to join the current government. If not, the current government has to move ahead full speed. The Prime Minister has to confront the president and remind him he is not an executive president. The Ram Baran Yadav drama has gone too far. It is not his job to try to bring the political parties together. That is the Prime Minister's job to try.

Consensus is a Panchayati concept. It sickens me to see Prachanda acting like unless the NC and the UML agree nothing can happen in the country. Those are the two parties that need to be soundly defeated at the polls and Prachanda as leader of the Federal Republican Alliance has to start acting like it.

If the NC and UML choose to go for street demonstrations and mass meetings, the ruling coalition has to go for street demonstrations and mass meetings. Violence is not an option, but street action and mass actions are options.

Ram Baran Yadav's activism has to stop. The budget has to be brought through an ordinance. Election related ordinances have to be brought forth. Let the NC and the UML go to the people in April. Those are the two parties that did not let two thirds of the members of the last assembly give Nepal the federal constitution it deserves.

Talks falter over govt leadership
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