Democracy For Nepal

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Proposed Constitution

Preamble

Nepal is a democratic republic, a total, transparent democracy, with the sovereignty resting with the Nepali people.

Article 1: The Legislative Branch

There is to be a lower house with 300 members, and an upper house with 100 members. Elections for both are to take place at once. The Terai districts are to have a share of the 300 seats in direct proportion to their share of the national population.
Members of the lower house are to be elected through 75 multi member constituencies and the largest remainder formula. Every third name on a party's list must be female.
Members of the upper house are to be elected through a fully PR election. Every other name on a party's list must be female. Each party's representation will be in direct proportion to the votes earned. Any party that earns at least 1% of the votes will be recognized as a national party, eligible for state funding.
The entire parliament is dissolved en masse when their term of four years nears expiration. All elections must be held on the non work day, Saturday.
The basic human right to peaceful assembly means political parties may not bear arms, other than that there are no rules, no prohibitions, as in ethnic parties can be organized, Dalit parties can be organized.
Private and public sector media entities wanting to cover live the proceedings in the national parliament may do so.
All matters of national importance are to be decided by the national parliament through a majority vote unless otherwise stated. Parliamentary procedures are to be laid out or revised with a 60% vote margin.
The houses are to elect their Speakers and Deputy Speakers. The houses shall assemble at least once every four months, and as often as necessary. The Speaker does not get to vote in the parliament.
No parliamentarian may be arrested while the parliament might be in session except for felony charges. Their speech in parliament is protected from any and all oversight, legal and otherwise.
A simple majority of the parliament will pass the budget. The annual budget is tabled by the President.
All bills must be posted online in three languages - Nepali, Hindi and English - for at least one week before they may be voted upon.
All regional and international treaties that Nepal might enter into will have to pass a 60% majority in the parliament.
Political parties may not engage in fund-raising activities. Instead each national party will get an annual sum that will be directly proportional to the number of votes it earned for the national parliament. That money is to be used for party-building and electioneering activities. Details of expenses are to be posted online in the three languages to the last paisa on at least an annual basis.
Tickets for all elections are distributed by parties through democratic methods involving members at or below the said level in their respective organizations.
The Election Commission puts in place ceilings as to election expenditures. Independent candidates may not raise money, but may spend their own money that may not exceed the amount of the party candidate spending the most money. Once elected independent candidates may not join a national party for at least one year.
A party may not charge its members more than Rs 60 a year. This is to be the only non-state source of income for parties, national and otherwise.
Every person on the state's payroll - elected officials, bureaucrats, judges, police, army personnel, teachers, health care workers - is to submit a Family Property Statement, to be posted online and archived and updated annually. Upon exiting the public sector, they may discontinue the practice, but the archives will remain, and the updates will resume should the individuals re-enter public service.
The national parliament is to engineer early retirements among state employees and downsizing of the Armed Police Force and the army and a 50% reservation for the DaMaJaMa among new hires and recruits with the goal of ending up with a state apparatus that mirrors the ethnic and gender composition of the larger national population as closely as possible.
Details of all expenses incurred by the state, to the last paisa, are to be posted online in the three languages. All contracts offered by the state to the private sector are to be bid for in a similar transparent manner from beginning to the end. All job applications and promotions in the public sector are to be similarly handled in a transparent manner. All government salaries and non salary incomes are to be kept public online.
All formal political deliberations at all levels of government in the long run and at the national level in the short run are to be posted online in as real time as possible in the language that was used at the venue. Efforts are to be made to make the same available in Nepali, Hindi and English. All votes are to be similarly made public.
Every elected official at all levels of government is to get a decent monthly salary.
Anyone above the age of 16 is a legible voter. Members of the lower house will have to be at least 22 years of age, and that of the upper house at least 25 years of age. All elected officials are to have been citizens.
Acts of impeachment require a vote of 65%. This constitution can be amended by the same vote margin.
The parliamentarians may not increase their salaries in a way that might affect the members of the existing class. The same applies to the salaries of members of the cabinet.
The parliament may create, merge and dissolve ministries, agencies and commissions as necessary.

Article 2: The Executive Branch

The President is directly elected by the people. If a candidate not earn 50% of the votes, a second round is to be held within a month of the first when the two top candidates contest. The President serves a four year term and is elected two years separate from the parliament.
A candidate has to be a citizen and at least 30 years of age.
The President may select members to the Cabinet that might or might not be members of the parliament. But if a MP get into the cabinet, that parliamentary seat goes vacant.
The President makes nominations to the Supreme Court and other constitutional bodies like the Election Commission (EC) and the Commission to Control Corruption (CCC) - both of which are autonomous - to be confirmed by a 60% vote in the parliament. The commissioners serve six year terms.
The army, to be called the Nepal Army, is not to be larger than 0.1% of the national population and is to be downsized accordingly within 5 years of this constitution getting promulgated. The President is the Commander-In-Chief of the army. The army can be abolished with a 65% vote in the parliament.
The central bank is to be autonomous, and the Chairperson, to serve a six year term, is to be appointed by the President, subject to a 60% vote in the parliament.
All appointments made by the President, except for his or her personal staff, will need a majority vote in the upper house for confirmation, unless otherwise stated.
The President signs bills passed by the parliament. The President may also be the originator of bills to the parliament.
The President may send back a bill passed by the parliament. But if the parliament send it back to him or her with a 65% vote, it has to be signed.
If the President not respond to a bill within 10 days of it having been sent, it is to be assumed signed.

Article 3: The Judiciary Branch

The judiciary will reflect the composition of the government, from village/town to district, to the national level. Towns and cities with more than 25,000 people will be served with more than one court. The number of district courts is to depend on population and legal traffic. There will be a layer between the district and the national levels, the Appeals Court. The system is to be peopled like the civil service, on merit.
The President makes nominations to the national Supreme Court subject to the parliament for 60% of the vote. Justices to the Supreme Court are to serve to the age of 65 or upto their voluntary retirement.
The Supreme Court interprets the constitutionality of laws passed by the parliament when thus challenged, but such interpretations may be overturned by the parliament through a 65% vote.
The parliament may not diminish the salary of a sitting judge.

Article 4: Districts

The districts will have their own governments, named Zillapalika. The village units are to be called Grampalika, the town units are to be called Nagarpalika, and the city units Mahanagarpalika, and will form the third layer of government. District, town/city and village elected officials are to be at least 20 years of age.
The voters in the districts will directly elect the District Chairperson. Mayors for towns and villages are also to be directly elected. Each directly elected official must have secured at least 50% of the votes cast.
The judicial and law enforcement services are to be operated as meritocratic, inclusive civil services by the national government.
The directly elected district chairperson sits atop the police structure in his or her district and appoints the district chief of police for the duration of the chairperson's term. The chairperson also appoints the Chief District Officer who looks after the state bureaucracy.
The income tax structure is to be as follows: 50% national, 30% district, and 20% village/town/city. The income tax is to be collected by the national government, and funds transferred by the same to the other levels of government as per this formula, and is to be gradually phased in where none might be getting collected now.
The federal revenue from all sources other than income tax is also to be similarly allocated. 60% stays at the national level, 35% goes to the 75 districts in proportion to their population. 5% goes to the 25 districts with the lowest per capita income in proportion to their population.
The education system shall follow a tri-lingual policy up to Grade 10, beyond which it is for each individual institution to decide on its own as to the language of instruction. The first language is to be the student's first language, the second language is to be Nepali. For those for whom Nepali might be their first language, the student may choose any language spoken in Nepal. The third language is to be English, the contemporary global language of science and commerce. This policy applies to schools in both the private and the public sectors. The language of instruction for all other subjects to Grade 10 will be a decision to be made by the individual school board for the public schools and by the owners of the private schools: it is to be one of the three - Nepali, Hindi, and English - or a combination. Other languages spoken in Nepal may also be added to the list after an autonomous, national Education Commission decides that enough educational material is available in the said language.
It is for the national parliament to decide on the use of second and third local languages as the languages of government at the local levels. District legislatures may send requests to the national parliament through the district chairperson. Nepali shall be the language of government throughout the country at all levels of government.

Article 5: The Individual

The individual is the most important component of the state and is to be protected and celebrated. The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights is the bedrock of this constitution.
Every person has a birth right to freedom of speech, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of religion, a right to a speedy, public trial, and a right to privacy, a protection from unreasonable searches and seizures. No person may be tried and punished for the same crime twice. No person will be compelled to testify against themselves. No person will be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law. Private property may not be taken for public use without due compensation. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended. No ex post facto law shall be passed. No warrants are to be issued, except upon probable cause, and should specifically describe the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. A person charged with a crime is to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his or her favor, and is to have the Assistance of Counsel for his or her defense.
Every person born in Nepal to a citizen of Nepal, father or mother, is a citizen of Nepal. But this does not prevent people not born in Nepal from seeking Nepali citizenship.
Every person is equal under the law. Any law that might conflict with that fundamental premise will become null and void as soon as this constitution takes effect.
No person shall be taxed more than 40% of their income by all levels of government put together. Those in the bottom 40% income brackets are not to pay any direct taxes.
No business may be taxed more than 30% of its profits, and businesses in the bottom 30% income brackets will not pay any direct taxes. All business expenses are tax write-offs.
The sales tax may not exceed 10%.
Elections at all levels are to be organized on Saturdays, the non work day.
No citizen of age may be barred from voting for whatever reason except when they might be serving time.
It is a stated goal of the state to make possible lifelong education for every person in the country through creative partnerships between the private and public sectors, and through creative uses of the internet, FM and other technology. The state shall also attempt to provide universal access to secondary education and primary health care, free of cost. The secondary education provision applies to people in all age groups.
The state shall attempt to provide universal access to micro-credit to all in the bottom 40% income brackets, not all of it by the public sector.
All persons that might enter into agreements, either in the private or the public sector, to access credit will have the option to declare bankruptcy as a last resort, but such declarations may stay on that person's credit record. Money owed by an individual, as opposed to by a business or a corporation, may not be passed on to the next generation. Indentured servitude is an illegal form of collecting money owed by an individual or family. Money owed may not be paid for through manual labor. Any person, group or organization, lending money on interest, the total of which is larger than Rs 20,000, to be indexed to inflation as calculated every five years and rounded to the nearest thousand, is to register as a small business owner, and will be subject to taxation and regulation.
All educational institutions, public and private, must have at least 10% of its students on need-based full scholarships. Institutions may also opt to have 5% on such full scholarships, and 10% on need-based half scholarships, or 5% on full, 6% on half, and 6% on one-third scholarships. But at no time should the proportion of full scholarships dip below 5%.
Employees of the state in the education and health sectors will be paid salaries that are at least 10% larger than to those with similar qualifications serving in other fields.
An accurate, scientific census is to be conducted every 10 years, and scientific projections are to be made for the intervening years.

Article 6: Capital

Within 10 years of this constitution getting promulgated, the national capital is to be shifted to Chitwan.

Friday, November 09, 2007

िहजो बल्ल पिहलो पटक सत्य नारायण मन्िदरको नेपाली कार्यक्रममा मलाई पहाडीहरुले पिहलो पटक बोल्निदए। दुइ िमनट बोलें पिन। शुरुमा त उद्घोषकले म ितर हेर्दै "कोही पत्रकार हुनुहुन्छ भने उिभएर अाफ्नोपिरचय िदनुहोला" भन्यो। राजदुतले पिन मितर हेरेर इसारा गर्नुभयो।

पिहलो पटक त नभनौं। कर्मा ग्याल्डेनजीले अािदवासी जनजाितको धेरै पिहलाको एउटा िमिटङमा मलाई बोल्निदएको हो। त्यो हो पिहलो पटक। तर त्यो एउटा कार्यक्रम नभएर एउटा िमिटङ िथयो।

सबभन्दा अिघल्लो पंक्ितमा ताराजी, कर्माजी र मलाई बसाइयो। बाहुन, जनजाित, मधेशी। मिहला चािहंदेिखनँ। मृदुलाजी अथवा नर्मदाजीलाई अगािड ल्याउनुपर्ने िथयो।

अिघल्लो कार्यक्रममा कर्माले प्याच्च "मिदसे" शब्द बोल्दा मलाई झनक्क रीस उठेको हो। अाज भेट्दादेख्दा, र सँगै बस्दा फेरी मन पग्िलयो। उ बेलुकी िछट्टै सुतेर िबहान दुई बजे कामकालािग उठ्नुपर्ने मान्छे। योकार्यक्रम सिकएपिछ तपाई र म गफ गरौं भनेर मैले भने। कर्माजीले हुन्छ भन्नुभयो। मैले भन्न चाहेकोकुरा यस प्रकार िथयो।

"म न्यु यर्क अाएको दुई वर्ष कट्यो्। यस दौरान नेपाली समुदायमा मलाई सबैभन्दा बढी घत लागेको व्यक्िततपाईं। यो कुरा मैले पिहला पिन publicly नै भनेको छु। बाहुन, जनजाित, मधेशी, मिहला नेताहरुमा सबैभन्दाबढी घत लागेको तपाईं। तर तपाईले प्याच्च मिदेसे शब्द उच्चारण गर्दा यो मान्छेसँग अब किहले बोल्िदनँजस्तो लाग्यो। तपाईले sorry भन्नुस् र अबदेिख मधेशी भन्नुस् let's go back to being friends." भनेरभन्ने योजना िथयो।

तर मेरो दुई िमनटको मन्तव्यको बीचमा नै "ज्वाला िसंह" भनेर जुरुक्क उठेर िहडेको वयक्ित कर्मा। यही होमधेशी जनजाित solidarity भनेको?

न्यु यर्क मा ANTA स्थापना गर्ने व्यक्ित म। िवनोदजीले नमान्दा िवनय शाहलाई न्यु यर्क च्याप्टरकोअध्यक्ष बनाएँ। The infighting of the powerless त्यहाँ पिन भयो। त्यो एउटा सानो पद िवनयलाई यितठुलो status symbol अनुभव भयो, िनहुँ खोज्न शुरु। बोलचाल बन्द। उ त अब िसकागो गइसक्यो। अस्ित एउटानराम्रो दुर्घटनामा परेछ। उसलाई त केही भएन, तर गाडी upside down। थाहा पाएर मैले फोन गरें। त्यसकोभोिल पल्ट फेरी फोन गरें। Let bygones be bygones, let's be friends again भनेको त I am not interested भन्छ।

मैले यो कहानीहरू िकन सुनाएको भन्दा The infighting of the powerless को कन्सेप्ट बुझाउनकालािग। अाफैमा मारामार। नेपालमा मधेशी समुदाय जसरी powerless छ िवश्वमा नेपाली समुदाय त्यसरी नै, अझत्योभन्दा कैयौं गुणा powerless छ।

NRN Movement लाई Chamber of Commerce बाट mass based बनाउनुपर्ने अावश्यकता छ। दुिनयाकोराजधानी न्यु यर्क। अमेिरकामा रहेका डेढ लाख नेपाली मध्ये ४०,००० त न्यु यर्क मेट्रोमा नै छन्।

त्यसकालािग एउटा छाता संगठन बनाउनुपर्ने हुन्छ। छाता संगठन त बनाउँ तर नेता मैं हुन्छु भनेर ताराजीलेिहन्ट िदया िदयै छ, छ मिहना देिख। अरे बाबा, नेता को हुने भन्ने कुरा मैले िनर्णय गर्ने नै होइन। चुनाव हुन्छ। चुनाव लड्नुस्। कसैले नदेखेको राण प्रधानमन्त्री जस्तो एउटा NAC भन्ने संगठन छ, ताराजी चािहं त्यो राणप्रधानमन्त्रीले न्यु यर्ककालािग पठाएको बडाहािकम जस्तो। मान न मान मैं तेरा मेहमान। न कसैले भोटिदनु छ न केही, नेपाली समुदायको नेता मै भन्दै ताराजी िहंड्नुहुन्छ। हुन त to his credit वहाँ America Nepal Friendship Society को duly elected president चािहं हो र त्यो संस्था न्यु यर्को सबैभन्दा ठुलो नेपालीसंस्थाहरू मध्येको एक हो। र Manhattan मा बस्ने high class को मान्छे, पढेलेखेको महाको िवद्वान, Columbia University जस्तो one of the top 10 universities in America मा पढाउने मान्छे लगभगप्रत्येक जसो weekend Queens पुग्िदरा हुन्छ ताराजी अिन Queens को mini Nepal का नेपालीहरू दङ।

I don't dislike Taraji, and he knows it. But the only legitimate leader in the community is a duly elected one. ५०० सदस्य भएको संगठनको िनर्वािचत नेताले म ५०,००० नेपालीको नेता भन्न पाइँदैन। र योमेरोलािग ego issue होइन। न्यु यर्कको स्थानीय राजनीितमा नेपालीहरूको जुन utter powerlessness छत्यो powerlessness को कारक तत्व नै नेपाली संगठनहरू mass based नहुनु र छाता संगठनको अभाव हो।

मञ्चबाट खगेन्द्रजीले मितर हेरेर भनेको जस्तो लाग्यो, "१९९० मा बाबुराम भट्टराईलाई यहीं न्यु यर्कमाभेटेको हो।" मधेशी अान्दोलनका सबै नेताहरूले मलाई पत्याउँछन्, र नेपाली राजनीितमा दुई जना छन् जसकोलेख कतै अायो िक म पिढहाल्छु, प्रदीप िगरी र बाबुराम। तर म िहंसाको राजनीितमा िवश्वास गर्ने मान्छेचािहं होइन। पिहला पिन िथइनँ, पिछ पिन हुने छैन।

अरू संगठनको नाम शुरुमा भिनयो तर मेरो संगठनको नाम भिनएन। पिछ कुनै संगठनको कोही बोल्न चाहनेइच्छुक हुनुहुन्छ िक भन्दा खेरी मैले उद्घोषकलाई गएर एउटा चीट समाएँ। संगठन: हाम्रो नेपाल, प्रेिसडेन्ट: परमेन्द्र भगत, दुई िमनट पाउँ। नत्र भने वक्ताहरूको िलस्टमा मेरो नाम िथएन।

पिछ मृदुलाजीकोमा िडनर पार्टी भयो। ४०-५० जनालाई नै "करोडपित मृदुला" ले खाना खुवाइन्। "मलाईउपेन्द्र महतोको इमेल ठेगाना पठाइदेउ" भनेर भिनन्। हुन्छ भनें। त्यस पार्टीमा बकाइदा साथ वंशतामाङजीले एक जना सांसदज्युलाई "unbiased पत्रकार" भनेर पिरचय िदनुभयो।

िवश्वमा अमेरीकाको राष्ट्रपितभन्दा बढी powerful पद कुनै पद छैन। बराक अोबामा भनेको अमेरीकाकोअर्को राष्ट्रपित, he is next. त्यो बराक अोबामाले मलाई पत्याइसक्यो। Queens का पहाडीले अझैपत्याएका छैनन्। ंManhattan For Obama Organizational Kickoff Meeting मा बोल्न लगाइएको पिहलोव्यक्ित म। जब िक त्यहाँ Harlem का State Senator मेरा अात्मीय साथी र न्यु यर्क राज्यबाट अोबामालाई endorse गर्ने पिहलो elected official Bill Perkins पिन िथए। तर Queens का पहाडीहरू अझै मलाई पत्रकारपत्रकार भन्दै िहडेका छन्। कस्तो strong prejudice.

मेरो एउटा िनतान्त राजनीितक संगठन छ। त्यो एउटा िडजीटल डेमोक्रसी संगठन हो। तपाईलाई एउटा उदाहरण िदउँ। उपेन्द्र यादवको नयु यर्कको कार्यक्रममा २५ जना पिन िथएनन्। तर उपेन्द्र यादवको न्यु यर्क भ्रमणको पाँच घन्टा िभडीयो अिहलेसम्म िवश्वमा एक हजार पटक भन्दा बढी हेिरसिकएको छ। कहाँ २५, कहाँ १०००। त्यो परमेन्द्र भगतले पत्रकािरता गरेको होइन, त्यो परमेन्द्र भगतको िडजीटल डेमोक्रसी संगठनले अाम सभा गरेको हो।

Instances Of Advice Taken By Obama 2008 From Me

In The News

PM says Nepal-India joint efforts required to solve terai problem NepalNews He also blamed the Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) for supporting the criminal groups in intensifying criminal activities in Terai.
Parties should accept House directive: Speaker Nemwang Speaker Subash Nemwang has said all the parties in the parliament should accept the proposals on republic and proportional election system that were passed by the parliament Nov 4.
Thousands of students and teachers abducted in Nepal in 5 years: UNESCO report
City stinks as KMC halts garbage collection
MK Nepal tries to dispel Congress' fears regarding communist unity
India objects at UN officials meeting terai armed group India has sent a strong worded message to various UN agencies operating in Nepal with regard to a meeting between UN officials and Nepali armed groups on Indian soil. ....... in September, UN officials held a secret meeting with a faction of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha in Muzaffarpur in India's Bihar state without giving prior information to the Indian authorities. ...... "Their discussion was confined to humanitarian, not political issues," Martin had told.
Martin meets with Prachanda at Prachanda's residence in Naya Bazaar ...... the two Maoist leaders also met with a visiting South African leader Mac Maharaj. ...... Maharaj shared experiences of South African peace process with Prachanda and Dr. Bhattarai. Maharaj was a close assistant of South African leader Nelson Mandela
Govt introduces Arms and Ammunition Ordinance slapping jail-terms from six months to seven years and fine amount from Rs 5,000 to a maximum Rs 50,000 on individuals found guilty of possessing illegal arms. ...... the ordinance was enacted as a large number of people are found to be openly carrying weapons even after the Maoists joined mainstream politics
Deuba advises UML and Maoists to follow politics of consensus

PM says changing of government leadership is not a big deal NepalNews He likened the efforts of the communist parties to change the government leadership as 'changing of the torn shoe'. "It will be decided only after the seven-party meeting ..... dared the communist parties to try and garner two-third majority in the parliament ..... Koirala also said he wanted to see the constituent assembly elections held by the end of the current Nepali year (mid-April, 2008).
UML gen secy asks NC to improve style of governance a programme organised by Terai Independent Justice Forum to mark Tihar and Chhath festivals. ...... "There is an empire of criminals evolving in the country," he said, adding, "There is no point in just making speeches to improve security."
Journalist Shah's dead body found the body of Shah, which was buried on the ground, at around 1:30 p.m. from the forest between Sapahi and Kakari VDCs. ..... The body was discovered some 2-km north of the place pointed out by the Maoist investigation report published on Monday. He was abducted a month ago from Pipara VDC by four Maoist cadres and was shot dead on the same day.
UML minister says House directive cannot be implemented Those two proposals were passed for no other purpose than to engage the Maoists [in the peace process],” Minister for Education and Sports Pradeep Nepal ..... the seven parties should form a broad political alliance by including other political parties represented in the parliament. ...... ruled out the possibility of change in the government’s leadership
Employees in Siraha and Sarlahi, too, in agitation Village Development Committee (VDC) secretaries based in Sarlahi district have warned of joint resignation from November 18 ...... four different Terai outfits have demanded Rs 5.8 million extortion from them – Rs 2.5 million by Samyukta Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha, Rs 1.5 million each by JTMM Jwala and Goit factions, and Rs 300,000 by Nagraj group of Terai cobra. They have been asked to cough up the amount before Tihar. ...... The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also concluded that security situation in Siraha and Saptari districts are very fragile.
Special Session and After: Thinking Past the Nepali 'Post-conflict' The transitional movement was recognized as another money spinner as international crisis firms and professionals who had made their names and fortunes in Somalia, Afghanistan, Timor or other similar human tragedies descended upon Nepal to set up shop in partnership with local subalterns. The first order of business was to establish the demand that could then be supplied by these experts. ...... the 50,000 plus army of observers being marshaled to witness the event and the 60,000 see-through boxes dispatched from Japan to hold the secret ballots. ....... a half-baked project whose completion was neither ascertained, nor even intended ...... The leadership can always plead democratic immunity in every act of omission and commission. ...... the CA entrepreneurs ..... the present election fiasco is an inevitable failure of a faulty paradigm whose basic premise starts not with the innate intelligence and commonsense of the people but their ignorance. ........ The lack of substantive momentum and direction during the past year and half and the national sense of being caught in a morass is a good indication of the exhaustion of the intellectual paradigm that guided the April uprising. To put it bluntly, not much thought was put into what was to be done after the April bonfire. ....... the existing first-past-the-post electoral system will continue to benefit the politically dominant Brahmin-Chhetry groups far in excess of their actual numbers in the population. ......... the federal structure must be accompanied by a proportional representation process. Only then will the numerically significant but politically weak cultural, ethnic, and caste communities have a viable opportunity for inclusion in the national process. ......... Is the UN too worried about the latest cancellations here? Perhaps not. More mess in the Third World means more business, more budget, more jobs. One just needs to pass through the business class section of an airline flying into Kathmandu to see the laptop welding army of bright-eyed college graduates coming to town to do election and peace. As things complicate, UN seeking to make more elbow room for itself by seeking extended, expanded role in the host nation. Historically also, wherever UN has stepped in, it usually tends to stick around for a decade, if not longer. ......... During his previous four stints as prime minister of the Kingdom, G.P. Koirala remained a strict secularist. He was never seen near a temple or a ritual. After having presided over the conversion of the only Hindu Kingdom into a secular state last year, it is ironic that this life-long agnostic is suddenly acting like a born-again Hindu. ............ CA was gamed to extract popular consent for the regime, not open up informed choices for the citizens. ..... the CA elections and the rest of the political process does not appear to be intended to empower the people through reason and information. It is, on the contrary, designed to infantilize them by playing upon their worst fears and emotions. The rule of law is being substituted by fear where insecurity, suspicion, and virulent demagoguery have become the primary ruling instruments. The nation is literally being made to live from minute to minute in bated breath as it awaits it fate outside the gates of Baluwatar and Singha Durbar while those inside wheel and deal, day and night, in perpetually extending sessions. The emotional manipulation serves two functions: buys borrowed time for the regime while reducing popular expectations of the political process to abysmal nil. The sum total? National degradation and societal demoralization.
Nepal needs a close look Nepal takes pride in its independence, being the only country other than Bhutan and Thailand in the region not to be colonised, but it paid a different price for it. ...... Two companies of Indian Infantry were poised to land in Kathmandu in 1950 in case there was "anarchy", but the force was not needed. In 1959, during Nepal's first multi-party election, Indian Army Gorkha signallers were deployed for communications. ....... . In 1965, King Mahendra requested India for reorganising and re-equipping the Army. In 1970, on Nepal's request both the checkposts and training teams were withdrawn but the military cooperation continued unabated without any physical presence of Indian Army trainers. The special military relationship was symbolised by the Army Chiefs of the two countries being made honorary Generals of each other's Armies. ...... the Government of Maldives asked for -- and received -- military assistance to defeat a serious mercenary threat. ...... India has either planned or dispatched military succour to Seychelles, Mauritius and Fiji. ....... Like the Southern Command in Pune is responsible for contingency planning and tasks in the island countries like Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Lucknow's Central Command has for long been involved in planning possible missions in the north, including Nepal. ....... Exercise Tribhuvan was a study carried out in the late 1970s to assess the possibilities of a Communist takeover of Nepal. ...... Nepal's sensitivity about its sovereignty and territorial integrity is manifest in the ladder-point security check of Indian Airlines flights at Tribhuvan Airport. Indian security staff frisk passengers on an elevated platform, avoiding use of Nepalese soil. ........ The Maoists have the capability and the hardliners the intent to skirt the electoral process and seize power.
Media requested to black out Maoist news in various parts of the country, local journalists continued to protest the Maoists for killing Shah. ..... Shah was killed after he was lured by the Maoist workers who promised him to tell about wood smuggling
Prachanda gets 'raw meat gift' for Shah's murder journalists of Nuwakot district sent 'raw meat gift' to Maoist chairman Prachanda ....... Two pieces of chicken meat were packed and posted in the name of Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the real name for Prachanda. A letter stating that parcel has been sent to Dahal was also handed over to Maoist's district office.

Prachanda, Nepal see no possibility of immediate change in govt leadership NepalNews
21 dead and 1951 injured in Terai agitation 21 people were killed and 1951 injured while properties worth Rs 15.66 crore were damaged during the agitation. .... The commission had been formed on May 25.
Terai outfits step up assaults against local bodies' officials
UML urges Maoists to stop attacking media persons
Martin hopes uncertainty will end soon
Congress leader doubts election amid existing lack of security NC vice president Prakash Man Singh said, "People are worried with the lack of state presence." .... "Even though our party president is the prime minister and our party leader is the Home Minister, we have to say that it is very difficult to think that CA election can be held due to lack of law and order"
Govt employees based in Saptari district resign en masse More than 400 employees of government offices, local bodies and corporations based in Saptari district have said that they have sent a joint resignation letter to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala alleging that government did not pay attention to their security. .... they have sent it through post to the PM. ...... after the murder of Prabhu Narayan Yadav, an official of Saptari District Development Committee, two weeks ago. ..... the growing insecurity caused by various armed and criminal groups in the terai.
YCL cadres rough up NC leaders in Lamjung
RPP convention in December

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Rajendra Mahto's Proposed Madhesi Front

I am too far away from ground realities to give specific advice, but I am glad for the initiative taken by Rajendra Mahto to work to get together a Madhesi Front, and I do want to offer some broad outlines as to how this effort could morph. That is the only way. Before Madhesi leaders can talk to the Pahadis in power, they have to talk to each other. And if they can't talk to each other, they don't have much moral ground to talk to the Madhesi people and seek their vote and support.

Rajendra Mahto and I go back far. I have known him from the early 90s. We worked together back then. It was political work. I have always admired his warmth of personality and his people skills. He can bring people together. That is an important skill to have on a deck like politics where many egos are involved.

The first step would be to get all Madhesi groups to talk to each other. That means the two Sadbhavana factions, the two MJF factions, the three JTMM factions, and all the other armed Madhesi outfits. They will probably have to meet in some place like Patna or Lucknow. This is de ja vu all over again. This is like when the seven parties formed an alliance with the Maoists.

But before they talk to the armed groups, it would be a good idea for the four nonviolent groups to get together first, the two Sadbhavanas, and the two MJFs. That meeting could take place some place like Birgunj. That meeting would decide on the broad parameters of the talks to be held with the armed Madhesi outfits and the alliance to be formed.

The Madhesi Front is going to have to play out a few different scenarios. There is an urgent need for political clarity. A mass movement is going to have to be the weapon of last resort. The group is going to have to decide on a clear agenda and one leader. That one leader part is going to be hard. There is going to be a tendency to want to settle on a ceremonial monarch type person like Ram Raja Prasad Singh or Anandi Devi. I think that will be a mistake. You need someone with a broad mass base who is actually doing the work actively on a daily basis. I would say Rajendra Mahto and Upendra Yadav are best suited for the purpose. They could become president and co-president of the Madhesi Front. And if they can not see eye to eye like that, they are going to have a hard time telling the Madhesi masses to get behind them.

At this point I get the impression the Mahto faction of the Sadbhavana is busy talking to the various armed Madhesi groups through the back channels and less busy talking to the nonviolent groups like the other Sadbhavana and the two MJFs. That is not a good sign. The nonviolent Madhesi groups have to get together first. Imagine the Nepali Congress and the UML not getting together first before trying to forge an alliance with the Maoists. That would not have been a good idea.

The goal is to end up with a common minimum program. That common minimum program has to be as short as possible. If it is too elaborate, you are going to lose focus.

And the Madhesi Front, once formed, should have the authority to make all the armed Madhesi groups declare a ceasefire, and to call off all strikes in the Terai.

I would like to propose a four point common minimum program.

Fully proportional elections to the constituent assembly in April.
An election schedule that lets more new parties to register.
Ek Madhesh, Ek Pradesh.
Formation of a 30,000 strong national army in which Madhesi participation is proportionate to its share of national population. Proportionate participation also in the police and the armed police force.

A mass movement is the weapon of last resort. The only thing you need right now really is a fully PR election. Security sector reform will be carried out by the constituent assembly. So if you want a due share for the Madhesi in the security sector, you make sure there are plenty of Madhesis in the assembly. And you get plenty of Madhesis in the assembly by getting them to vote for you. And you get them to vote for you by bringing forth a ceasefire in the Terai, and an end to all strikes. And by forging a Madhesi Front around four words: Ek Madhesh, Ek Pradesh.

If all Madhesi nonviolent and violent groups could come together under one tent to form a Madhesi Front and rally behind the Ek Madhes Ek Pradesh slogan, that front will sweep the election in the Terai. It could even become the largest political group in the constituent assembly. And if not the largest, it could easily emerge the second largest. At that point it could get either the Prime Ministership or the presidency or the Speakership. It could be in power in a major way. At that point you are not demanding fair security sector reform, you are yourself implementing it because you are in power, you are in the driving seat.

I think the goal of the Madhesi Front should be to keep the Terai open seven days a week from now until the elections. Let the Madhesis make bountiful money. Let all the businesses flourish. So they can donate to the Madhei Front candidates when the time comes.

The relentless bandhs have not been helping the Madhesi cause. They have been chaos, not a movement. Bandhs are a sign of disorganization. You build organization, you don't call bandhs.

The problem with the Madhesi Movement this year has not been that the Madhesi people are not awake. The problem has been that the Madhesi leaders have not been awake and in conversation and united. You have got to talk to each other. The onus right now is on the Madhesi leaders, not on the Madhesi masses.

But this is not to say I am ruling out the idea of a mass movement. You always have to maintain that threat, and you have to carry it out if necessary. But before that can happen, you need utmost political clarity.

Congratulations To Rajendra Mahto
Rajendra Mahto: Three Hours Of Video
Rajendra Mahto In Town
Upendra Yadav: Five Hours Of Video
Upendra Yadav Was In Town

In The News

Journalists across the country stage protest against Shah's murder NepalNews
UNMIN seeks role in security sector reform extend the term of the UNMIN, which expires this January, by another year. ....... three areas where UNMIN can have active role are: support to the implementation of the peace process and agreements signed by the parties, which is a need that is being increasingly stressed by Nepali political leaders and civil society; assisting a discussion on the future of the country's security sector including a managed transition from the current temporary Maoist army cantonments and restriction to barracks of the Nepal Army to long-term solutions without which there is no exit strategy from UNMIN's arms monitoring and; greater advisory support to promoting public security – the greatest concern of so many Nepalis and a critical requirement for a credible Constituent Assembly election. ...... an increased number of reports of unresolved abductions and killings, whether attributed to armed Madhesi groups, Maoist cadres, or local disputes. ....... bring murderers to justice, as the CPN(M) has committed to do in the tragic case of Birendra Sah, and as I have repeatedly said should be the case with the killers of Maoist cadres in the Terai ....... implementation of commitments made to Janajati, Madhesi and other groups ...... "I want in particular to put on record that UNMIN has not met or sought to meet with the leadership of armed Madhesi groups. This misunderstanding appears to have arisen because there was one meeting in India between United Nations humanitarian officials and the leadership of one armed group. Their purpose was to try to ensure that emergency food relief and other assistance could be delivered in the wake of flooding in the Terai earlier this year without attacks by armed groups against humanitarian workers."
Over 100 people killed between February and July: NHRC report
Prachanda, Nepal discuss ways to exert pressure for implementation of House directive
Process for third country resettlement of Bhutanese refugees begins
Maoist bandh cripples life in Rautahat
Mahato vows to form a united front in Madhes by involving even armed outfits Rajendra Mahato has said that he will form a united front with all Madhesi groups including the armed outfits and launch a decisive struggle from mid-November. ....... the formation of the front will be similar to the formation of seven party and Maoists' front before April, 2006 people's movement. ....... "We do not demand separate Madhes state but a united Madhes province" ..... the agitation by the front will press ...... he wants job guarantee to 10,000 Madhesi youths in army and police forces before election can be held. ....... he is forming Madhes Raksha Bahini – a force of youths who are both politically and physically trained – to prevent the agitation from becoming violent. He claims that such Bahini have been formed already in 12 districts
Goit's men shoot at overseer; JTMM-Jwala kills civilian

Monday, November 05, 2007

Forbidden City: Not So Forbidden: SEBS In The Metro

Long Time No See

Kapil Mishra sent out an Evite invitation. People showed up in batches. I was the first to show. People strolled in. Then the second round people showed up around midnight. The third round arrived at two in the morning. In all more than 30 people showed. These were SEBS members, their significant others, and friends. These were mostly the Manhattan crowd, people who had gone through the American undergraduate experience.

At some level, I have felt like an outsider for a while now. Partly by circumstance, partly by choice. That is not necessarily a bad place to be. That actually is the only place to be if you want to do out of the box thinking.

So we got together Saturday evening. I showed up at 9:30, on the dot. You won't believe it. I walked from home. It was a leisurely walk, with a drop by at the Park Slope Barnes & Noble.

When I first got the invite, I was not so sure I wanted to show up. Then I kind of got excited. I called up Kapil in the morning and said as much.

Everybody who showed was younger than me. As people get older, they seem to grow out of SEBS. They get more into family and their closest circle of friends. Me, I happen to be trying, working to regain my social muscles after two intense years online. I had individually met some of the people at various events and liked the conversations. Some people like Kedar and Bhupendra I have known a long time. I was their House Captain my Class 10 year. Bhupendra is now SEBS North America president. Most of SEBS business gets taken care of through conference calls, he said. Bhupendra drives a car. For someone living in the city, that felt exotic. The concept of driving a car.

One beer is enough for me for one evening. I don't get the concept of male bonding around beer. I get conversations. And at some level I fear the idea of a beer belly. But several of the others went for some hard liquor. Small glass vessels mean hard liquor. Alcohol is like cigarettes.

I hopped from one part of the joined tables to another. It was three different seats for me until we finally walked outside where there was no music and noise and so we could actually talk.

Sanjiv Shrestha was part of the second batch. He said he came from a momo party in Brooklyn. Well, that is two things I like, momo and Brooklyn. He went to Carlton. I met a Carlton graduate Asian American at the US embassy the summer before I came to the US who was on a year long world tour. Sanjiv said he almost went to Berea where I went. He now works at Goldman. Ends up he is a classmate and friend of my Janakpur neighbor and relative Sanjiv Shah, namesake. And then out on the pavement he told me my sister was also at the same momo party. And then he was into some matchmaking that involved me. I guess we two got very comfortable very fast.
If you are the same batch as your namesake Sanjiv, I must have seen you back at BNKS, I said.

It felt great. Then I left at two just when the rest of the people from the momo party also arrived. My sister was part of the crowd. I wish I had stayed for a few more hours. Shraddha Aryal was also part of the crowd. Sanjiv was trying to matchmake the two of us. I sent out an asking you out email the following day. That might have been a dead end. Since I have not heard anything back.

I have a lingering feeling this group should meet regularly, a few times a year. How about the first Saturday every other month at 8 PM at Rudy's near Times Square where the hot dogs are free, and beer is $3, pitcher $10. The place has a backyard, and it has a heated tent during winter.

Rabindra said he got married. Kedar I know is married although he came on his own. Bhupendra was there with his wife. Rahul was there with his wife who is from some place near Lahan. Kapila and Pratikshya are a couple, of course.

Rabindra and I talked at length about his industry. I have been following the news on the huge writedowns the banks are having to go through. It is a tough time for the big investment banks right now. A lot of big heads be rolling.

Samin is a medic. There was a Pratikshya relative, Girvan, like Girvan Yuddha Bir Bikram.

Kapil asked me about my startup. The music was so loud at that point, I was practically shouting.

He said Nepal having access to the Bay Of Bengal as a right was the best thing that could happen to the Nepali economy. I put forth the same view in my 1993 book: Sangram Morcha: A New Political Party (1993).

I talked about my startup. I said it has not been easy raising money. I said it is hard for other SEBSers, and other Nepalis to imagine that someone like me who looks like them could create a company that will get listed on Nasdaq. He said it was hard for anyone to create that kind of company.

Khaldo

Kapil Mishra: Diunso Consultant, Beluki Paparazzi

I believe he took all the pictures for the evening.

In The News

Maoists admit their cadres killed scribe Sah Kantipur
Maoists to snap ties with NC if it defies House directive
UML, Maoists at parting of ways
Mahato-led NSP gears up for armed movement in Terai The chairman of disgruntled faction of Nepal Sadbhavana Party Anandi-Devi (NSP-A), Rajendra Mahato, Monday said that his party was forming a joint front with the armed outfits in the Terai to launch the decisive movement in the region by mid-December. He claimed that the movement will enforce the article 33 of the interim constitution to ensure proportional representation of Madheshi people in all the organs of the state and will give rights to them through the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections. Unveiling his plans to launch the movement at a press conference at Nepalgunj Monday, Mahato said, “Now, we are conducting a Mechi-Mahakali programme to form the front and battalions to defend the Madhesh.” He said that the youths are being recruited in the battalions and deployed to avert the agitation from turning into violent and communal as in the past. Mahato further said that such battalions have been formed in 12 districts, and one hundred youths are associated with each district battalion and the number would be increased according to the need. Expressing hopes that the agitating armed groups in the Terai will participate in peaceful movement, Mahato expressed confidence that the front would materialize like the alliance of the seven parties. Mahato, who was also a former minister in the seven-party alliance, claimed that he was urging the armed agitating groups in Terai to join the peaceful movement as the CA elections would not be possible as long as the violence persists in the Terai. He also clarified that his party was not seeking a separate Madhesh state but autonomy for the entire Terai, and went on to denounce activities like burning national flag.
UML rules out political polarisation, change of guard in govt
Maoists call indefinite Rautahat banda
निणर्ायक मधेस आन्दोलनको तयारी' आनन्दीदेवी) को विभाजित समूहका अध्यक्ष राजेन्द्र महतोले सशस्त्र समूहसहितको संयुक्त मोर्चा बनाई मंसिरमा शान्तिपूर्ण निणर्ायक मधेस आन्दोलन गर्ने बताएका छन् । 'मोर्चा बनाउन सबै सशस्त्र समूहसँग वार्ता भइरहेको छ,' आन्दोलन तयारीमा विभिन्न जिल्लामा पुगेको उल्लेख गर्दै उनले सोमबार नेपालगन्जमा आयोजित पत्रकार सम्मेलनमा भने- 'उक्त मोर्चा जनआन्दोलन ०६२/६३ मा सात दल र माओवादी बीचको सहकार्यजस्तै हुनेछ ।' आन्दोलनले राज्यका हरेक निकायमा मधेसीको समानुपातिक सहभागिता सुनिश्चित गर्ने र संविधानसभा निर्वाचनमार्फत मधेसीलाई अधिकार दिलाउने उनले दाबी गरे । आन्दोलनलाई सफल पार्न सद्भावनाले 'मधेस रक्षा वाहिनी' गठन गरिरहेको जानकारी उनले दिए । गत माघको मधेस आन्दोलन अनियन्त्रित देखिएकाले नियन्त्रित गर्न र हिंसात्मक तथा साम्प्रदायिक हुनबाट जोगाउन वाहिनीमार्फत युवाहरू परिचालन गरिने उनले बताए । महतोका अुनसार अहिलेसम्म १२ जिल्लामा त्यस्ता वाहिनी गठन भइसकेको छ । प्रत्येकमा १६ देखि ३५ वर्षभित्रका एक सय युवा आबद्ध छन् । 'आवश्यकताअनुसार युवाशक्ति बढाउँदै लगिनेछ,' उनले भने- 'उनीहरू राजनीतिक शिक्षाबाट सुसज्जित र निशस्त्र हुनेछन् ।' तराईका सशस्त्र समूह मोर्चामार्फत शान्तिपूर्ण आन्दोलनमा सहभागी हुनेमा उनले आशा व्यक्त गरे । मधेसमा हत्याहिंसा जारी रहे निर्वाचन नहुने .. भएकाले सशस्त्र समूहहरूलाई शान्तिपूर्ण आन्दोलनमार्फत संविधानसभामा लैजान सद्भावनाले प्रयत्न गरिरहेको उनले बताए । 'हाम्रो पार्टी छुट्टै मधेस राज्यको नभई सिंगो मधेस प्रदेशको पक्षमा छ, राष्ट्रिय झन्डा जलाउने काम कुनै पनि हालतमा राम्रो होइन,' उनले भने । 'सद्भावना सशस्त्र विद्रोहमा विश्वास गर्दैन । त्यसैले शान्तिपूर्ण आन्दोलनको एजेन्डामा गोइत र ज्वालालाई ल्याउन खोज्दैछ । रगत नबगाई जनताले अधिकार पाउनुपर्छ,' उनले भने- 'शान्तिपूर्ण आन्दोलन असफल भयो भने मधेस उनीहरूको एजेन्डा -छुट्टै मधेस राज्य) मा जान्छ ।' महतोले अविलम्ब संविधानसभा मिति तोक्न गठबन्धन सरकारसँग मागसमेत गरे ।
INTERVIEW WITH Dr AMBIKA PRASAD ADHIKARI has worked in 26 different countries as an urban planner, consultant and teacher, planning and designing cities, and training a whole new generation of planners, environmentalists and architects over the past three decades ........ the first Nepali to gain a PhD from Harvard University. ....... There should be absolutely no controversy at all about dual nationality. Out of the 200 countries in the world, some 90 countries offer dual nationality.

Left parties press for implementation of motions passed by House NepalNews nation will be clearly divided into pro-republic forces and "status-quoist forces led by the Nepali Congress" if the House directive on republic and fully proportional voting system are not implemented. ...... might break the ties of left parties with the Nepali Congress. ...... “The nation will see a serious political crisis if the government does not implement the motions passed the House,” senior UML leader Bam Dev Gautam said ..... Janamorcha Nepal chairman Amik Sherchan ..... the government has no alternative than to follow the parliament's order.
Cabinet decides to formulate strict law on abduction the cabinet also approved all the agreements reached with the ethnic groups in the past and decided to forward the drafts to concerned authorities for implementation. ...... the government was also going to give holidays to all ethnic and religious groups in their festivals considering the fact that Nepal is a secular nation.
Vote division feared to create rift within ruling alliance "The communist parties came together to pass meaningless proposals" ..... could trigger polarisation between leftists and democrats. ..... some reports say that communist parties are now talking about changing the government's leadership in order to implement the passed proposals.
Maoists, UML back each other’s proposals; House passes Maoist motion on PR system The House passed the UML’s amendment motion on republic and the Maoists’ motion for adopting proportional representation based voting system, by a simple majority. ....... The Maoists and the UML together make up majority in the parliament, but an amendment in the interim constitution, if the two issues are to be incorporated, will require 2/3 majority.
The passed proposals do not have constitutional meaning, say legal experts the RPP supported the proposal on PR only
Role Of UNMIN
NAJA shocked by reports of Shah's murder The Nepal America Journalist Association (NAJA) has said it was shocked to read reports that journalist Birendra Shah was killed soon after the Maoists abducted him from Bara district a month ago.

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Fully PR Election, Now What?

There is a Janajati party called Federal National Democratic Forum. That party has to register and get ready to contest the polls. It would be just fine to see more than one major Janajati party.
I hope someone launches a Dalit party. All candidates on their list end up Dalit.
At least every third name on a party's list must be female. Other than that there should be no rules.
The total number of seats should be more like 300 than 500.
Parties do not have to prepare a full list. A party might choose to put out a list of only three or 30 candidates if it might so wish.
I hope all armed Madhesi groups will register as political parties, declare a ceasefire, and get ready to contest the polls.
Now there is no harm in having two Sadbhavana parties, two MJFs, and three JTMMs. There is no need to form a Madhesi Alliance either. Every party can compete with every other.
Big parties like the Congress, and the UML will now be forced to put forth a truly representative list in terms of ethnicity, caste and gender. If not, they are going to lose big.

I am so glad the deadlock is over. All it required was that the UML and the Maoists get together inside the parliament.

पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचनकालािग मधेशी, जनजाित, दिलतले अान्दोलन गर्नुपर्छ
पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन अौर एक मधेश एक प्रदेशका नारा पर्याप्त है
New CMP, New PM, Fully PR Election, Register More Parties, Elections In April
Armed Revolution To Street Agitation To Parliamentary Arithmetic
Middle Ground: PR Election Now, Republic Later
Federal National Democratic Forum: The Janajati Party
Completely Proportional Election: Meeting Point With The Maoists
Goal: Federal Republic Of State Funded Parties
Not UML-Maoist Unification Or Unity, But A One Point Agreement On PR Election
एक मात्र िमलनिवन्दु: पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन

In The News

Political Deadlock And New Middle Ground by Paramendra Bhagat, NepalNews.com Guest Column

Mahato demands jobs for Madhesi youths before election NepalNews Talking to reporters in Biratnagar, on Saturday, Mahato demanded that 10,000 Madhesi youths should first be given jobs and then only election can take place. ..... "The interim constitution states that Madhesis should have equal representation in all organs of the state. An agitation is necessary to ensure the implementation of this promise," said Mahato, who is planning to launch unified Madhesi struggle from November 17. ..... He said 10,000 Madhesi youths should immediately be recruited in police, army and armed police force. ....... Clarifying about the youth wing he has been proposing Madhes Raksha Bahini, Mahato said it will consist of Madhesi youths between 16 and 35 years and will prevent Madhesi movement from becoming violent.
PM says there is a wave of republic in the nation
Parliament session ends; Speaker urges for stronger unity among seven parties After the Maoists and the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) voted in favour of each other's proposal and amendment proposal on proportional representation system and republic, respectively - thereby ensuring that both republic and PR system were passed by majority through voice voting – the Speaker read out Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's letter announcing the ending of the session from 9 pm, Sunday. ...... the entire parliament showed support for the issue of democratic republic.
Mainali fears division among leftists and democrats
CPN-UML to continue its effort to build political agreement

See-saw Balancing Act by UML, Maoists on Proposals Himalayan Times, Nepal - 38 minutes ago The interim parliament approved the Maoist proposal on a fully proportional representation electoral system and also the amendment proposal on a republic tabled by the CPN-UML this evening by voice vote. ...... MPs from the leftist parities supported the Maoist proposal and the UML's amendment proposal while lawmakers from the Nepali Congress and some fringe parties expressed dissent. Leftists have a majority in parliament. Speaker Subhas Nemwang told the parliament that the UML's amendment proposal on a republic and the Maoist proposal on a fully proportional representation electoral system were approved by majority voice vote. ...... Koirala had announced an end to the special session of the interim parliament by 9:00 pm today.
Nepali Interim Parliament starts voting on Maoistmotions Xinhua, China - 54 minutes ago
Maoists withdraw republic motion; House passes UML’s amendment motion Nepalnews.com, Nepal - 1 hour ago
Maoists Withdraw Motions, Support UML's Amendment Proposal Himalayan Times, Nepal - 1 hour ago
Seven-Party Unity Intact: PM Koirala Himalayan Times, Nepal - 2 hours ago

House May See Voting Today as Parties Fail to Reach Consensus Himalayan Times
Gang Kills NC Leader Yadav; Curfew Imposed in Lahan
PM's Remark Against Indigenous People Flayed
NC will Never Accept PR System: Shashank
Agreement likely today, says Sitaula
NC for passing resolution on republic: KC
Crucial day ahead for PM Koirala, Prachanda

Friday, November 02, 2007

Political Deadlock And New Middle Ground: Published By NepalNews.com

Article published by NepalNews.com on November 4.
Written and sent on November 2.

Political Deadlock And New Middle Ground

The Maoist demands for an immediate declaration of a republic and fully proportional elections to the constituent assembly and the Nepali Congress' utter refusal to go for either resulted in postponed elections and the most acute political deadlock after the historic April Revolution, as yet unresolved.

There is no going back to the status quo of mixed elections and waiting on the question of republic. And forcing a vote on the issue will likely result in a breakdown of the seven party alliance and a knottier deadlock. If the Maoists were to walk out of the interim parliament, the country will face a grave crisis. Compromise has to be sought on both issues.

The solution is to find new ground by triangulating the position of the Maoists and that of the Congress. One, pass a commitment proposal on a republic to be formalized by the first session of the assembly. Two, have 75 multi member constituencies, which would be a half way meeting point between the two forces. That arrangement also happens to be the most popular form of elections in the world. How does it work?

75 Multi Member Constituencies

You would hold elections for a total of 240 seats: 500 is too many. I believe 49% of those are allocated for the Terai districts. We already know how many seats are to be allocated for each district. So if there is a district that has one seat, all parties will put up one candidate each, the one with the highest number of votes gets that seat. If a district has two or more seats, you use the "largest remainder formula."

So if a district has two seats, and a total of 100,000 votes are cast, the quota is 50,000. A party that gets 50,000 votes gets one seat. But if that party gets 60,000 votes, it uses 50,000 votes for one seat, and it has a "remainder" of 10,000 votes. Say the Nepali Congress gets 60,000 votes, the UML gets 25,000 votes, and the Maoists get 15,000 votes. Then the Congress will use up 50,000 votes to get one seat, the top name on its list of two candidates. Then in the round two tally, you are looking at the Congress with 10,000 votes, the UML with 25,000 and the Maoists with 15,000 votes. The UML gets the second seat.

Say you have a district that has seven seats and 350,000 votes. Then the quota is 50,000 votes. Each party puts out a list of seven candidates each. And there are some independents also running. The vote count is as follows: Nepali Congress 60,000, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum 70,000, Nepal Sadbhavana Party 40,000, the UML 45,000, the Maoists 50,000, RPP 10,000, RJP 5,000, Independent A 50,000, and Independent B 20,000.

Round 1, the Nepali Congress uses up 50,000 votes to get one seat, the MJF also uses up 50,000 votes to get one seat, the Maoists use up their 50,000 votes to get one seat, and Independent A the same way. Of the seven seats four are gone.

Now you are left with three seats and the following vote tallies: Congress 10,000, MJF 20,000, Sadbhavana 40,000, UML 45,000, RPP 10,000, RJP 5,000, and Independent B 20,000. The three with the highest votes will get the three remaining seats, namely the UML, the Sadbhavana and the MJF.

I believe this formula of having 75 multi member constituencies with a fully PR system of closed lists and the largest remainder formula is the middle ground where the Maoists and the Congress can meet, and can hold elections in April.

New Parties, New Peace Talks

You will also have to allow until February for more new parties to register. When you postpone elections, you have to publish a full elections schedule all over again, and that allows for the registration of new parties.

And holding respectful dialogue with the armed Madhesi groups would be nice. You are looking at freeing a few tens of people form jail and feeding maybe 3,000 people for a few months after putting them in cantonments. That is a small price to pay for peace.

You don't want to not take this small step and have to postpone the elections again come April.

Bye Bye Federalism?

I have been a proponent of a federal democratic republic. But I have also wondered if Nepal can stay a unitary state and still become an inclusive democracy. I think it is possible if certain conditions are met.

Hold direct elections for the country's president. If no one candidate gets at least 50% of the votes, a second round between the top two candidates is held within a month.
Have an upper house of 100 members to be elected through a fully PR election. The human right to peaceful assembly means you can not make laws barring parties to be organized along ethnic lines, for example.
Have a lower house of 300 members that is elected through the 75 multi member constituency formula.
Any party that gets at least 1% of the votes in an election for either house is a national party and is state funded. The fund is in direct proportion to how many votes were earned. Parties may not raise any other funds.
Half of the national budget is to be directly transferred to the 75 districts based on the population of each district.
Each district president is to be directly elected. Each district is also to have a district assembly. Each district may decide on a second and a third language for use in its local administration, to be confirmed by the national parliament.
The education system shall follow a tri-lingual policy up to Class 10, beyond which it is for each individual institution to decide on their own as to the language of instruction. The first language is to be the student's first language, the second language is to be Nepali. For those for whom Nepali might be their first language, the student may choose any language spoken in Nepal. The third language is to be English, the contemporary global language of science and commerce. This policy applies to schools in both the private and the public sectors. The language of instruction for all other subjects to Class 10 will be a decision to be made by the individual school board for the public schools and by the owners of the private schools: it is to be one of the three - Nepali, Hindi, and English - or a combination. Other languages spoken in Nepal may also be added to the list after an autonomous, federal Education Commission decides that enough educational material is available in the said language.

If we could move towards something along these lines, we might not need federalism.

In The News

Koirala ‘rejects’ idea of announcing republic immediately NepalNews deep distrusts were developing among the seven parties due to the Maoists. ..... the current lack of trust was causing political instability and hurting law and order situation in the country.
Left parties continue efforts for a compromise
NC leaders criticise Maoists
Riot victims announce indefinite bandh in Kapilvastu
House suspended for two days as leaders promise to find compromise by then
Polarisation begins among parties as voting in parliament approaches Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and the Left Front led by CP Mainali today have rejected the idea of a united front at this hour.

Terai Army owns up Birgunj explosion Kantipur four street cobblers and a villager of Pakahamainpur VDC were injured. ... The district administration informed that it was directed to treat the injured for free.
PM says Maoist demands threatening SPA unity Nepali Congress which has out right rejected the Maoist demand of full PR system. ...... Nepali Congress leaders agreed to proclaim a republic through parliament but leave the implementation till after the first meeting of the elected constituent assembly
Top leaders making last ditch efforts to reach consensus on Maoist motions "All the parties in parliament that accept a republic and a proportional system will come together during the voting in case it does take place," said Prachanda after a meeting of all the ruling left parties at the CPN (Maoist) parliamentary party office.
US to put pressure on India and Bhutan to resolve refugee problem
NC agrees republic proclamation

Last-minute efforts by parties to strike a deal NepalNews

House adjourned till Friday; leaders still hope for a breakthrough NepalNews
PM hopeful of ending political deadlock
UML decides to make efforts to keep intact alliance UML's amendments proposals state that the interim parliament would make commitment for establishment of republic to be approved by the first sitting of the constituent assembly and adopting mixed election system with guarantee that all sections of people are fairly represented.
One killed in Birgunj blast, six injured The person who was killed is said to have carried the pressure cooker bomb, which exploded. He has not yet been identified.
Journalist abduction case: NHRC report, too, points finger at Maoists
Parties engage in bilateral, multilateral discussions The UML has called its standing committee meeting after the top leaders of the party agreed to vote in favour of announcing commitment proposal for republic through interim parliament and proportional representative election system. The top leaders of the three communist groups, Maoists, UML and the Masal, on Wednesday evening, had agreed to vote in favour of republic and proportional representative election system.
Traders and govt officials in Saptari up in arms, demand security guarantee Complaining of constant threat and extortion demands for hundreds of thousands of rupees, the traders resorted to agitation. They accused the administration of becoming a silent spectator. ...... following the killing of a District Development (DDC) official Prabhu Yadav by unknown assailants a few days ago and continued abductions of VDC secretaries, the government employees shut down the District Administration Office, district-based land revenue, forest, DDC and banks. ...... secretary of Banainiya VDC of Saptari district Amir Yadav, who was abducted by Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM-Jwala Singh) last week, has been released safely. However, the whereabouts of another VDC secretary Jeewan Dhital of Chandralalpur VDC, who was also abducted by JTMM-Jwala Singh, still remains unknown
Displaced families to get Rs 50,000 as monetary assistance

Mukherjee meets PM Koirala; Prachanda visits Indian embassy