Baburam Bhattarai Will Conduct Elections

List of Prime Ministers of Nepal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Step By Step
Ram Baran Yadav Is Not An Executive President

The constituent assembly is not coming back. It is dead. (Is CA Revival Possible?) It is not coming back even if all major political parties come to an agreement to revive it, not that that consensus is happening.

And so all election related ordinances will have to be passed on from the Prime Minister to the president. It would be best if the NC and the UML cooperated. But their demand that the current government resign before anything can be talked about is unreasonable.

A fair consensus government would have to be lead by Baburam Bhattarai since he represents what was the largest party in the last assembly. And so if an election government of non political people is not an option, then the NC and the UML joining the current government is a good option. But I don't see them doing that.

The two are sore losers who did everything unconstitutional and undemocratic to make sure the country was deprived a federal constitution. So if they will not join the current government to form an all party government to take the country to a new election chances are they might not even cooperate on election related laws.

And here the president does not have the option to make moves. Either the political parties come to consensus on the major issues, or the current Prime Minister pass on the necessary ordinances. The president has to sign them. He is not an executive president. It is not for the president to seek consensus among political parties. That is the job of the Prime Minister. And if the Prime Minister fails to get that consensus, well, the country already has a government in place. The business of governance has to go on.

The ruling Federal Democratic Republican Alliance is capable of showing street strength. It could organize street demonstrations. What are the NC and the UML thinking?

Some polarization is necessary. Otherwise why bother having elections? The next election is in essence a referendum on two different, competing visions on what shape Nepal's federalism should take. The NC, the UML and the rightist parties have one way of looking at it. They don't want federalism, but if there is to be federalism, they want it to be fake, cosmetic. The Maoist, Madhesi and the Janajati parties have a different vision. They are for genuine federalism. Nepal is a mosaic of diversity. Only federalism can speak to that ground reality.

The two visions should necessarily compete.

Baburam Bhattarai was right after all. If the president had done his job and not got in the way of the election ordinances the country might have seen elections in November. But April is not too late.

The best course for the country is for the Prime Minister to bring forth election ordinances and for the president to sign them, and make elections happen in April 2013.

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Step By Step

Step 1 is to realize the constituent assembly is not coming back. It is not coming back for further work on the constitution and it is not coming back to amend the interim constitution. All election related amendments will have to be the act of the president.

But the president is not an executive president, and so a government acceptable to all major parties will have to be put into place first. Do it like they did it in Bangladesh. Put together a government of non political people. Maybe this is the chance for the civil society to shine. Step 2, set up a new government of all non political people.

Step 3, let that government pass on election related ordinances to the president who would sign them to make elections possible in April 2013. Chances are the new assembly is smaller in size. Maybe it is 300 and not 600 strong.

Nepali parties inch back to poll option NC president Sushil Koirala and UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal have categorically rejected the CA revival option. A group of former Supreme Court Chief Justices warned the Prime Minister that CA revival to promulgate the statute would be unconstitutional. President Ram Baran Yadav too has spoken in favour of fresh polls.
Nepal’s president pushes for elections revival of the Constituent Assembly (CA) could not happen ‘under any circumstances’..... “The political parties have no alternative but to go for elections as per the spirit of the interim constitution and the verdict of the Supreme Court.”
Ruling UCPN (M), Morcha strike CA elections accord
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CA revival not possible: Prez Yadav
Dahal floats new proposal before Prez

The Supreme Court will not let the reinstated CA work
With leaders sticking to differing views, no solution in sight
Grab the offer
Dahal now for fresh CA poll cum poll for prez
Madhesi, ethnic leaders urge prez to work for consensus
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संगठनका कुरा (3)

NRN NCC President कालागि लड़ने बारे विचार गर्दै
संगठनका कुरा (2)
संगठनका कुरा

हिजोको NRN NCC को कांफ्रेंस कलले नवम्बर 15 सम्म membership drive गर्ने र शायद जनुअरी 15 मा बोस्टनमा चुनाव गराउने निर्णय गर्यो। I have decided not to be part of it, I am no longer interested.

Massive मेम्बरशिप drive को लक्ष्य नभएको चुनाव तालिकाले मलाई आकर्षित गर्दैन।

अब या त ICC को मेम्बरशिप ड्राइव मा भाग लिईन्छ पछि spring मा या छुट्टै न्यू यॉर्क शहर लेवेलको नया संगठन launch गरिन्छ। मासिक हाउस पार्टी को concept अगाडी बढाउनु परेको छ। महिनाको अंतिम आइतबार कसो होला?

NRN NCC President कालागि लड़ने बारे विचार गर्दै

संगठनका कुरा (2)
संगठनका कुरा

2005-2006 ताका अमेरिकाका 2 लाख नेपाली मध्ये full time democracy movement मा लागेको म एक्लो मान्छे। मैले digital activism गरेको हो त्यति बेला, पत्रकारिता होइन। 2006 February मा house arrest भएको एक महिना पछि कसो कसो गरि वायरलेस इन्टरनेट बाट online आउंदा माधव नेपालले chat गरेको पहिलो ब्यक्ति। त्यों राजनीतिक काम गरेकोले हो। त्यस पछि मधेसी क्रन्तिमा पनि फुल time लागेको। Los Angeles मा प्लेन बाट झर्ना साथ "Where is परमेन्द्र भगत" भनेर उपेन्द्र यादवले भनेको मेरो राजनीतिक कामको  आधार मा हो। 2005-2006 ताका मेरो "हाम्रो नेपाल" नामको डिजिटल संगठन पनि थियो, 100 जना जति सदस्य थिए। न्यू योर्क मा ANTA पैदा गरेको मैले हो। अमेरिका आए पछि कॉलेजमा छ महिना भित्र बिद्यार्थी यूनियनको President को चुनाव जितेको। त्योभन्दा अगाडी नेपालमा राजनीतिक पार्टीमा हृदयेश त्रिपाठी महासचिव, म उपमहासचिव, राजेन्द्र महतो केन्द्रीय समिति सदस्य। त्रिपाठी र महतो मन्त्री छन। म न्यू योर्क मा बराक ओबामाको पहिलो full time volunteer।

म त नेपालमा तानाशाही समाप्त भए पछि नेपाल बारे कम सोंचने, आफ्नो काम गर्न पट्टी लागने भनेर बसेको। तर त्यस्तो नहुने देख्न थालेको छु। नेपालमा आर्थिक क्रांति गर्न 20-30 बर्ष लाग्छ। नेपालमा hydro प्रोजेक्ट हरु कालागी NYC मा funding खोज्ने career move मैले थालिसकेको छु। नेपालको राजनीतिक क्रांतिमा मैले योगदान दिएँ, मधेसी क्रांतिमा योगदान दिएँ, अब़ आर्थिक क्रांतिमा पनि योगदान दिन चाहन्छु।

द्वैध नागरिकता को कुरा छ। द्वैध नागरिकता बिना नेपालमा आर्थिक क्रांति संभव छैन। न्यू योर्क को स्थानीय राजनीतिमा नेपाली हरुलाई empower गर्ने कुरा छ।

यी सब कारण ले म NRNA (Non Resident Nepali Association) NCC (National Coordination Council) को President कालागी लड़ने बारे सोंच्दै छु भन्ने कुरा सबै साथी हरुलाई अबगत गराउन चाहन्छु। अमेरिकामा ICC र NCC दुबैको चुनाव May 2013 को अंतिम weekend मा न्यू योर्क मा गर्ने गरी तालिका बनाउन आग्रह गर्दछु। त्यो चुनाव हुनु अगाडी massive membership drive हुनु जरुरी छ।

Is CA Revival Possible?

If the principle of separation of powers between the three branches of government is to be respected, and it has to be, then how is it possible to revive the constituent assembly? Some political leaders in Nepal are acting as if all it takes is a consensus among the major political parties and the assembly can be revived. That is like saying if the sons and daughters can forge a consensus the dead father can be brought to life. How is that possible?

But then I have proven wrong once before. The 2006 movement resurrected the dead parliament. It was not technically an option, that is what I thought.

I personally think the best option is for the parties to agree to a caretaker government of non political people that will get the president to sign ordinances necessary to conduct a new election, and then to go for an election to a new constituent assembly.

But if the CA can be revived and the country can get a new constitution through it, that might be cheaper for the country. A revived CA that votes on all the key issues would offer a quick resolution. I never understood why party leaders needed to meet privately off site to try to resolve issues. Let the elected officials vote.

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'पार्टीत्यागले धक्का पर्दैन'
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'सत्ताकब्जा’ को कार्यनीति
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दाहाललाई पूर्वकमान्डरको दबाब

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Madheshvani

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संगठनका कुरा (2)

संगठनका कुरा

मैले हिजो प्रभु मनी को कार्यलयमा टिपेको विश्व सन्देश को पछाड़ी पट्टी कोर्दै थिएं। विश्व स्तरमा नेपाली त्यही हुन जुन नेपालमा दमजम हुन। र त्यों कुराको झझल्को नेपाली समुदाय भित्र mass base नभएका नचाहेका तर नेतृत्व पद खाई रहेका अनगिनती ब्यक्ति हरुले दिई रहेको अवस्था छ। Living room politics बाट पद हरु बांडने पुरानो परम्परा छ।

Mass base मा जानु, democratic process follow गर्नु, पदकालागी खुला चुनाव गराउनु, संगठनको हिसाबकिताब खुला किसिमले वेबसाइट मा राख्नु, खुला बहस गर्नु -- यिनै साधारण अभ्यासले विश्व स्तरमा नेपालीहरूको empowerment हुन्छ। संगठनका अलावा agenda को कुरा आउँछ। Vision को कुरा आउँछ।

60-70 देशमा संगठन विस्तार भएको होला तर dual citizenship को कुरामा र 100 million dollar fund को कुरामा प्रगति भएको देखिंदैन। संगठन पनि mass based छैनन।

NRN (Non Resident Nepali) Association को संगठनमा थुप्रै कमी कमजोरी छन। त्यस बारे केही सुझाव दिन चाहन्छु।

(1) Pyramid of 10 --- व्यापक membership drive गर्ने। सदस्य हरू लाई कम्तीमा 10 बढ़ीमा 20 को संख्यामा संगठित गर्ने। महिना मा एक पटक house party गर्ने समुह। त्यस्तो 10 unit को नाइके को conference call मार्फत अथवा internet मार्फत अर्को समुह। And so on.

(2) Public Facebook page, private Facebook group, public Facebook group. Lots of use of photos and videos. Plenty of textual reports, discussions.

(3) Online voting. प्रत्येक सदस्यले मत दिन पाउनु पर्छ। Ohio जस्तो अनकन्टार दुर्गम ठाऊँमा 10 जना खुसुक्क जम्मा भएर राष्ट्रिय नेतृत्व चयन गर्ने चाहना पंचायती सोंच भयो। Leadership by consensus भनेको रोग हो। चुनाव नै हुन नदिने, कस्तो अचम्मको सोंच? चुनाव नहुने संगठन भनेको कहिल्यै झ्याल ढोका नखोलिने घर जस्तो हो। NRN को global leadership को पनि चुनाव नै हुनुपर्छ र त्यों चुनाव 1,000 delegate ले मत खसाल्ने चुनाव हुन सक्दैन। दुनिया भरका 20 लाख NRN हरू मध्ये व्यापक membership drive गरेर one person one vote का आधारमा आम आदमीको स्तरमा वोट हुनुपर्छ। NRNA को सदस्य हो भने global conference अगाड़ी online आउने, एक हप्ता को window हुन्छ, online गएर वोट खसाल्ने। जम्मा भएको delegate लाई पनि वोट खसाल्न नदिने कस्तो अचम्मको परिपाटी?

(4) 100% transparent, online book keeping. के कति पैसा उठ्यो र खर्च भयो त्यों प्रत्येक सदस्यलाई थाहा हुन पर्छ। Meeting को minutes online राखिनुपर्छ।

(5) NRN को न्यू योर्क चैप्टर ले Memorial Day Weekend मा प्रत्येक बर्ष convention गर्न पर्छ जस्तो मलाई लाग्छ। दुनियाको राजधानी हो यो।

Agenda अझै फराकिलो बनाउनु पर्यो। मुख्य मुद्दा dual citizenship को हो। त्यसमा नेपालका नेताहरूले बड़ो मुर्खता देखाएका छन अहिलेसम्म। त्यों बिना नेपालमा आर्थिक क्रांति संभव छैन। त्यति गहन मुद्दा हो त्यों। 100 million डलर फंडको कुरा राम्रै हो तर global financial market tap गर्ने कुरा त्यो भन्दा 10,000 गुना राम्रो हो।

नेपाली हरुले प्रत्येक देशमा आफ्नो अधिकार खोज्न पर्यो। 150 बर्ष अगाडी बोस्टन मा Irish ले नागरिक नभए पनि मत खसाल्थे मेयर कालागी। आज नेपालीले न्यू योर्क मा त्यही खोज्न पर्छ। त्यस्कालागी नेपाली समुदाय बाहिर जान पर्ने हुन्छ। Indian संग हातेमालो गर्न पर्ने हुन्छ। Chinese संग। Hispanic र African संग।

बलियो संगठन बाट पैदा हुने नेटवर्क ले सदस्य हरु लाई बिभिन्न किसिमका फ़ायदा हरु हुन्छन्।

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John Liu Could Be Mayor

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John Liu: Mayor Of NYC: 2013
John Liu: Victory
New York City

My friend John Liu, the New York City Comptroller, the most senior Democrat in the city, could get elected Mayor next year. He stands a strong chance. About 10% of Americans are black, about 10% of New Yorkers are Asian American. And John Liu is not half white. And to be Mayor of New York City is to hold the second most important political office in America.

It would be a historic win if John wins. John F Kennedy, the first Catholic to get elected president, had brothers called Bobby and Teddy, so does John Liu. That John broke a barrier. This John is about to.

We as a community have to do the best we can to make it happen. For one, this guy loves the Nepali community. He has shown up for our events when there were no potential voters or donors in the room. And he knew, it is not like we duped him into thinking otherwise.

When John Liu ran for Comptroller, he got more votes than did Mayor Bloomberg, and John is not even a billionaire. He was not an incumbent Mayor. Tells me if he had run for Mayor instead of Comptroller he would have beat Bloomberg. The Democrats should have nominated John Liu instead of Bill Thompson to run against Bloomberg. Bloomberg would have been defeated, if that was the idea.

Last year John Liu was leading in the polls. Then a Chinese soldier in the US Army succumbed to racism, committed suicide. John Liu organized protest events, made some noise. And he got targeted. The FBI created a slight stink around him and drove down his poll numbers. It was a deliberate institutional attack. It was racist.

Goes on to show it is harder being an Asian American in this city than it is to be a gay woman who is friends with a Mayor who is not from her party, or a white guy married to a black woman, or a black guy who ran for Mayor and lost. Those would be the other top three contenders for the throne, Christine Quinn, the City Council Speaker, Bill De Blasio, the Public Advocate, and Bill Thompson, the former Comptroller.

I was Barack Obama’s first full time volunteer in New York City and I have the scars to show for it. They had me disappear the same day Barack beat Hillary and they let me out a few days after Barack beat McCain. They had me in for six months; they had Mandela in for 27 years. The racism he faced was about 50 times stronger.

I was born in Bihar. People in this city are not going to teach me the rough and tumbles of politics. Of the 200,000 Nepalis in America I was the only full timer to have worked for Nepal’s democracy movement in 2005-2006. In April 2006, over a period of 19 days, about eight million people out of the country's 27 million came out into the streets to shut the country down completely to force a dictator out. If you can deal with a dictator, you can deal with racism.

In 1996 I showed up in Bible Belt Deep South Kentucky for college and ran for Freshman Class President and got fewer votes than anyone else. Within five months of that I had myself elected Student Body President at the top liberal arts college in the South, a college record, the first time a freshman had done so. Before I came to America, too young to legally run for office, I was Vice General Secretary to a party whose General Secretary was Hridayesh Tripathy and Rajendra Mahto was a Central Committee member, junior to me. Both Tripathy and Mahto are cabinet ministers in Nepal today. They have been for years. Tripathy first became cabinet minister over a decade ago.

I am political and I am rooting for John Liu. How about you?

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