Hisila Yami For President

On the first day of the first session of the constituent assembly, in June, Nepal is going to be declared a republic. On that same day, somebody is going to have to be declared president. I want that person to be a woman. I see three obvious candidates.

Hisila Yami, Chitralekha Yadav, Bidya Bhandari.

But why do I feel like the UML will not push Bidya and the Congress (D) will not push Chitralekha? Hisila Yami is not necessarily the obvious Maoist name. But she sure is the most senior female Maoist. And she is a Newar. That practically makes her a Janajati, I think. So having a Janajati woman up there is even more palatable than having just another Janajati.

The Suspicion Game And The Maoists

As long as the Maoists have come around to the idea of a multi-party framework, which they have, and as long as a Truth And Reconciliation Commission deals with the agony of the decade long civil war, I for one am prepared to treat the Maoists like a political party.

That Truth And Reconciliation Commission does not have to mean general amnesty. It might still be a good idea to bring to justice a few hundred from both armies for the most heinous of the human rights abuses during the civil war. But for the most part you are letting bygones be bygones as a price to be paid for permanent peace. A Truth And Reconciliation Commission is the country seeking counselling.

Gender, Ethnicity, Caste

The Maoists have already said more than 40% of their MPs in the interim parliament will be women. They are saying more than 80% will be Dalits and Janajati, at least 20% will be Dalit. I wish they said something similar for the Madhesi, as in 40% Madhesi.

Nepali Maoists, Chinese Communists

I envision a China that is a federal, multi-party democracy where the Chinese Communist Party is still the largest party. The Maoists in Nepal stand a good chance of exporting that vision into China itself.

Here Mao, getting back at you with a few revisions.

So the Nepali Maoists becoming a legitimate, peaceful political party in a multi-party framework has larger implications.

Not Worried

You can tell I am not worried the Maoists might emerge the largest party in Nepal. I would love to see Hisila Yami become Nepal's first president. Bill Clinton is not going to be First Lad because it is Obama not Hillary who is going to the White House, but Baburam Bhattarai is a lucky fellow, he is going to become First Lad.

Bidya Bhandari: Power Woman
Interim Speaker: Chitra Lekha Yadav

Article: Security Sector Reform In Nepal: The Role Of Civil Society by Karon Cochran-Budhathoki: USIPeace Briefing: US Institute Of Peace

On The Web

Hisila Yami - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
WEST PAPUA: We will be free! - NI 344 - View from the South
[PDF] Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) – CPN (M)
Monthly Review November 2005 Parvati | People’s Power in Nepal
Naxal Revolution: Women and People's War in Nepal by Hisila Yami ...
Radio Australia - Connect Asia - NEPAL: Maoists fill power vacuum
Hisila Yami: Information from Answers.com
NPR : Nepal Maoist Leader: Women Driving Movement
LETTER TO THE EDITOR The Telegraph - Weekly (Nepal)
FreeNepal.org
Hisila Yami - Wikipedia
Naxal Revolution: Books
International Seminar on Nationality Question
Nepal Home Page Interactions
Help.com - hisila yami
Hisila Yami Wikipedia, Flickr, Delicious Bash at Bashr.com
Hisila Yami
Mero Sansar » अन्तरिम सरकारमा को-को मन्त्री ?
United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal - We Blog For Peace And ...

In The News

Deuba backs PM, reiterates arms mgmt before interim govt Kantipur
PM intensifies political discussions
All 70 weapon storage containers arrive
Robbers loot property worth Rs 1.5 million in the capital
Strike cripples life in 9 eastern districts A strike called by the Limbuwan Swayatta Sarokar Manch (LSSM) on Tuesday crippled life in nine districts east of Arun River. ..... the comprehensive national peace treaty between the seven-party alliance and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) had ignored their demands to introduce a Limbuwan autonomous region ...... Mechi's Illam, Jhapa, Paanchthar, Taplejung and Koshi zone's Dhankuta, Morang, Sunsari, Sankhuwasabha and Terhathum .... Activists organized rallies and burnt tires on the roads, halting all traffic in the district headquarters. ..... businesses were forced to shut down no vehicles have been plying in Dhankuta- Dharan - Itahari road sections. ..... Demanding self-governance and autonomy prior to the elections to the constituent assembly, Limbuwan Swayatta Sarokar Manch, Sanghiya Limbuwan Rajya Parisar, Sanghiya Loktantrik Manch had jointly called for the strike.
Govt arrears soar to Rs 30 billion
MoLD, ILO to launch $3m project
PM's remarks create problems, says PFN
SPA-Maoist talks on interim statute on Wednesday
Army Welfare Fund transparent: NA

UML, PFN want interim constitution now NepalNews

Nepal to decide on interim constitution Times of India, India
Summit to be held Wednesday over Nepal's interim constitution People's Daily Online
Nepal running out of time for lasting peace Hindustan Times
Nepal calls on PM Kantipur Online
UN TAM meets NGOs in Nepal for child protection People's Daily Online, China
Nepal Maoists fall sick as cold grips Himalayan nation Zee News, India
Nepalese Maoists 'ill in camps' BBC News
'Maoists could reconsider interim government if situation changes' Gorkhapatra
Mahara Warns of Renewed Maoist Revolt Himalayan Times "The election to the constituent assembly will not be held by mid-June 2007 if the date for the same is not announced within Mangsir (mid-December)," said Mahara. ... "The ceasefire call will not be withdrawn even if the Maoists hit the streets against the conspiracies with their new strategies," said Mahara.
UN Technical Team Begins Groundwork for Arms Management in Nepal Nepal human Rights News, Nepal
JTMM says ready for talks with Nepali govt People's Daily Online if the CPN withdraws its declaration of war against JTMM and makes public the status of its cadres disappeared by the CPN .... The CPN had declared war against JTMM five months ago after the two sides started attacking each other's cadres. ... The JTMM, an armed group, is active in some districts of southern Nepal and it has demanded a separate state for indigenous people of Southern Nepal among others and has been attacking on people migrated from hilly areas of the country. ... It has accused the CPN of murdering its politburo member Binaya Kumar Mahato as well as disappearing its district level cadres including Ugra Narayan Yadav and Pramod Yadav.
Monitoring of arms management pact starts in Nepal People's Daily Online
'Welfare fund of Nepal Army transparent' Gorkhapatra, Nepal
Nepal Army Releases Audit of Welfare Fund OhmyNews International
Nepali army makes public its welfare fund for the first time People's Daily Online
Nepal army to be confined to barracks during polls Zee News
Nepal king's henchman gets royal snub Telugu Portal, India Badri Prasad Mandal had split the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) four years ago to support King Gyanendra and formed the NSP-Mandal. On Monday, the veteran politician from the terai plains, who had been keeping a low profile since the king's fall, was stripped of party membership on the ground that he had damaged its democratic image. .... Along with Mandal, a legislator from the faction, Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav, too was stripped of party membership.


Koirala And Oli Doing Wrong By The Bhutan Democracy Movement

Tek Nath Rizal And The Bhutani Hostage Crisis

Both have come out repeating the Tek Nath Rizal idiotic stand that they want the Bhutani refugees back in Bhutan. That would be a great step, sure, but is that an option? Has that not been the demand for close to a decade now? That guy Jingme Singme is not about to budge. Face the reality, folks.

Nepal to seek India`s help in repatriation of Bhutan refugees Zee News, India
Nepal gov't attaches high priority to Bhutanese refugee crisis Islamic Republic News Agency
'Govt for safe return of 100,000 Bhutanese Gorkhapatra
Nepal govt giving high priority to Bhutanese refugee crisis: PMKantipur Online


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