Thursday, November 22, 2012

The PM Resigning Would Be Weird

English: Leader of CPN U Maoist
English: Leader of CPN U Maoist (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The current government is already a caretaker government. If it resigns the president will have no option but to request it to continue until another government is formed.

A caretaker government that was an elected government is succeeded by another elected government. There will not be another elected government in the country until elections are held.

The only way for a Nepali Congress person to become PM is after the elections are held and the NC emerges to lead a coalition that garners a majority.

For Baburam Bhattarai to resign and for the Maoists to agree to a NC person leading the government now would be tantamount to surrendering. The issue is not as to who will lead the government now. The issue is if Nepal will get meaningful federalism. For Baburam to resign is for the federalist forces to give up the power to shape the debate.

The NC and the UML leaders had less than one third the power in the constituent assembly and they still managed to scuttle Nepal's move to federalism. For Baburam to now resign is to say that was okay. That was not okay.

The federalist forces have to keep the power and as long as they are willing to bring the NC and the UML into the cabinet - which they are - the president will have to pass the election related ordinances just like he was forced to pass the budget ordinance.

And if the NC and the UML choose to boycott the election the federalist forces will have an even easier time garnering the two thirds majority they need.

PM resigned but retracted
Good Move By Ram Baran
NC And UML At Fault
Ram Baran Yadav: Kasturi Mriga
The President, The Prime Minister
NC And UML Do Not Have Veto Power
Dahal's Capitulation Is Wrong
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Good Move By Ram Baran

English: Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, the President of...
English: Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, the President of Nepal, speaking at Hem Bahadur Malla Honor ceremony 2008. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The president passed the budget ordinance. That was a good move. Now he also has to pass election related ordinances.

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

Ready to quit anytime: PM Bhattarai (with video)



एकीकरणपूर्व सर्वपक्षीय भेला गर
झलनाथ खनालसंग-21.11.12

Elections not happening in mid-May: Khanal
New janajati party under Rai’s leadership unveiled
Prez nod to budget ordinance unconstitutional: CPN-M
SC questions prez over delays in approving ordinances
Budget useless: Oppn Madhesi parties
PM Bhattarai calls for consensus
SC issues directive order to govt for local bodies' poll
Mature adults free to live together: SC
NC, UML defectors to launch new party
Bhandari's party to refrain from anti-govt protests
System without federalism unimaginable: Bhandari
Mono-ethnic federal states not possible: Gautam
Manang linked with national road networks
Consensus call from cabinet meeting: FDRA
Leaders pitching for single identity launch new party
Ruling coalition's emergency meet underway in Baluwatar
DPM Shrestha stuns metropolis staff with visit
CA dissolved due to SC verdict: DPM tells UN
SC issues show cause notice against ordinance delay
Prez Yadav endorses budget ordinance forwarded by govt
Govt preparing budget ordinance devoid of new programs
India may emerge as second most competitive manufacturing economy



Dahal roots for national consensus govt under BRB
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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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