Nepal Government's One Door Policy Was Never An Option

Everything you want to give, give to us, and we will manage: that was the Nepal government response on day one, and that was flat out wrong. Now they are saying, all we meant was we will help coordinate. Well then, why are you not doing it? Why are you not facilitating?

No, this is not the time to take a break from criticizing the Nepal government. Democracy was earned in the country after much sacrifice. The democratic process is not a problem. The Nepal Government is very much subject to criticism. It should do a good job of reporting on the work it is doing, and is planning to do. And it should respond to criticism on an ongoing basis. That will help, not hurt, the relief efforts. Democracy is a good thing also in a time of grave crisis.

A one door policy was an attempt at extreme centralization. It was a really, really bad idea. Maximum transparency is more than half of coordination work. And I don't see that coming.

Ground level accountability is what will bring in more help.

People talk of a one window policy for FDI. Instead of asking foreign investors to go run around 15 different ministries, you make it possible for them to get all paperwork done at one window. That is a good thing. But the one door policy, made to sound like a one window policy, is the exact opposite. Instead of letting 35 different governments, and 100 different INGOs and NGOs do their thing on the ground, you want all of them to just hand over their resources to YOU, and you promise to take care of it all beyond that point of initial delivery. That one door policy is the brainchild of a thoroughly corrupt elite.

Nothing prevents the Nepal Government from competing in the global space for funds for relief and reconstruction. Ordinary people in those rich countries will contribute, if end to end accountability and transparency can be shown. Money is not what is in short supply. What is in short supply is accountability, and transparency, and deliverance.

Kiva And The Nepal Earthquake

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A Malfunctioning Government

Nepal quake victims fear government won't help much, if history is guide

"It's the same government as last year, so I have very little hope that things will be different," said Mangale Tamang, 56, a former Jure resident who was sleeping Sunday morning in a lean-to by the side of a dust-choked highway where his village once stood. ............ in the recent past, the government has struggled to compensate victims of natural disasters far smaller than the temblor that has left more than 7,250 dead and damaged or destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes. ...... a peculiar system of government sprung from a failure to hold local elections in nearly 20 years. All decisions must go through a few top officials in the capital, Katmandu, and committees that manage local affairs are appointed by national political parties, which the Nepalese say makes them less accountable to the people. ........ The country's auditor general reported in March that government agencies had spent just one-fifth of their budget because of "political influence while selecting projects, lack of regular follow-up of project implementation, poor participation of users and collusion between contractors and government officials." ...... The government also aims to collect $2 billion for a national reconstruction fund to rebuild shattered infrastructure. ...... After the Jure disaster, officials paid $1,000 to families that lost their homes and $400 to those that lost a relative. But villagers say they have not seen any money from a $220,000 Jure Landslide Relief Fund created to help families get back on their feet. ...... A report last month in the Nepal News website said the funds, raised mainly through private donations, were sitting in a government account because the Home Affairs Ministry had not given permission for them to be disbursed. ...... A few miles up the winding highway in Chautara, the devastated seat of Sindhupalchowk district, residents said they had not seen any assistance from the local government in the eight days since the quake. More than 2,000 people have died in the district east of the capital, the highest death toll in the country, but residents said they had not heard from Gyawali, the top local official. ........ "Of course the foreigners are helping and aid is coming into the country, but they're not the ones handing it out to the people," shopkeeper Sher Bahadur Thapa said. "They give it to the district and the ward officials, and that's where it goes missing. It's the needy people who suffer."

The Earthquake-Wrecked Town That the Nepali Government Forgot

CHAUTARA, Nepal—Cries of anger rose above the din of military helicopters and wails of the injured, as men banged their fists on the metal gate outside the town’s government offices. But it was fruitless: Local officials had fled the building shortly after Nepal’s earthquake, leaving the windows open and a truck—its windshield smashed by the crowd, creating a spiderweb-shaped crack in the glass—parked outside. ....... The Nepali prime minister’s Disaster Relief Fund, set up explicitly for the earthquake, reported on Friday that it had raised $1.5 million but only distributed 1 percent of that money so far ..... Foreign aid agencies have complained of severe delays in getting their cargo planes into the country’s sole and tiny international airport. ..... “Why do you think we’re in charge here?” a Nepalese Army sergeant, wearing camouflage and a black facemask to ward off disease, asked me in Chautara. “We’re managing this to prevent violence against the government,” said the sergeant ....... The stench of a large, communal toilet wafted over us. .... Though Chautara, a town of roughly 4,000 people, is only 25 miles northeast of Kathmandu, the drive now involves three hours of negotiating thick mud, since most of its crag-hugging roads have been destroyed. In the town itself, whole floors of brick buildings were ripped away; on the third floor of one house, a family’s framed pictures of their children hung on an exposed yellow wall, beside a neatly stacked pile of shoes. The town had so many cracks and clusters of detritus that the rare, untouched building seemed improper, almost impertinent. ....... When I visited, Rachana Sahi, 25, was digging for salvageable belongings through the heap that had been her family home. “Sure, the government will help us,” she hissed, dragging out a dust-covered rug. “Once we’re dead.” ..... the earthquake shows just how vital it is to have political institutions that work, both at the center and, even more importantly, at the local level ...... “Anger does not do justice to my feelings at the moment,” he said brusquely between drilling. Villagers gathered to watch. Around them lay the debris of lives interrupted by cracked earth: a fake pearl bracelet, a TV remote, a computer screen, a submerged motorcycle. Under the surrounding cliffs, viridian wheat fields were almost ready for harvesting—cold comfort for the people of Chautara.

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Nepal Government Responds To Criticism

From the horse’s mouth by Leela Mani Paudyal

command centers at the central level under the secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs and in districts under Chief District Officers were established within two hours of the first earthquake on April 25 ...... trained security personnel were deployed and helicopters sent for search and rescue operations in all the affected districts immediately. ........ Central Disaster Relief Committee meeting followed by the meeting of secretaries took place on the same afternoon and it took more than a dozen important decisions to mobilize resources for search and rescue. On the same day, all agencies dealing with essential services like communication, power, road, water supply and transportation, etc. were asked to run 24/7. Water supply was a bit sluggish, as were transportation and power service. The delay in resuming road maintenance and water supply was due to the unavailability of many skilled operators who were themselves victims of the disaster. On the other hand, the communication sector was among the quick respondents. ........ Many public servants resumed their service, risking their lives, even amidst repeated aftershocks. An electrical worker fell off a pole in Kathmandu while repairing transmission line due to an aftershock. But major road blockades were cleared by Sunday evening, power in many places in Kathmandu Valley had resumed by that time, and communication improved a lot. Around 22,500 public servants, 65,000 army personnel, 45,000 police and 25,000 Armed Police Force were at work by Sunday afternoon. ........ we have rough data from the VDCs about the number of affected households, schools and health posts that collapsed as well as public utilities that were damaged. ..... Recently, we have deployed about 1,800 officers in 14 affected districts, along with an 11-member team including doctors and engineers for each VDC. ....... This team will help control post disaster epidemic, collect data of losses, distribute relief materials and prepare physical plan. ....... Teams led by secretaries at the district level and joint secretaries in each constituency were deputed on the fourth day of the disaster. This is the highest-level deployment ever at the local level. As of today, altogether 56 joint secretaries and 14 secretaries are mobilized for this. ........ Our public servants were involved in search, rescue, treatment and maintenance of public utilities. ........ Transport entrepreneurs' apathy to the trouble of commoners after earthquake was a shocking phenomenon in a civilized society. There was similar response from the suppliers/manufacturers of essential services. People working there could not demonstrate magnanimity in these troubled times. ......... Even after facing this great tragedy some people were engaged in self-serving activities. Essential service providers, almost all, were out of business in Kathmandu after April 25 demanding water, tents, transportation and other essentials services from the government. How a poor government can supply all those services without their help? ........ We have requested every individual and organization to coordinate with CDOs at district level. One can help CDOs to make sure relief materials reach the needy. There have been false media reports about the government trying to control individual efforts, barring private sector's efforts, etc. Same bloggers used derogatory words against the government. ..... The PM's Fund is used in relief and rescue. The major contributor of this fund is the Government itself. A separate window is created to ensure quick release of fund in case of emergency without any hassles under present budgetary system. The record from the past several years proves that a ninety five percent of the contribution is from government's treasury. This goes through three channels and is fully accounted for and audited by Auditor General and is scrutinized by the CIAA in case of discrepancies.......... But we believe that no one can collect donations in the name of disaster from general public without prior government approval. This is the law of the land. ...... If the people of social and political stature derogate, demoralize, haggle with and try to use public officials for petty/personal or institutional benefit, the efficiency of this moderately operating system will be affected. ......... Some of you have lauded foreign workers while underrating national response. ...... Glorifying outsiders or non-governmental sector and belittling national system only strengthens outsiders and weakens the country. ............. Let us make government system strong and capable by joining hands with it, and making it accountable. ....... With the help of civil society, learned people and private sector working together, the government can hope to ensure equitable distribution. Otherwise, the powerful will continue to grab more and more, at the cost of the deprived. ....... With a stronger government, our national capabilities to deal with foreigners will be strengthened.

I get the impression he has attempted to dodge some of the concrete questions that have been raised. There is a vague appeal to work together. And there is no concrete proposal for a new level of transparency.

पुलिस र सेनाको एक महिनाको तलब काट्दिएको हो?
Massive Corruption At The Airport?
Making Nepal Different From Haiti
नेपाल सरकार कि विदेशी सरकार --- प्रश्न नै गलत
हेटी ले सिकाउने: घुस खाने कि तलब खाने?
The Government Under A Cloud
The Nepal Army Has Been Doing Exemplary Work
हो, सरकार अक्षम्य रुपले असफल भएको हो
A Corrupt Elite Rattled By The Earthquake
नेपालमा एउटा अहिंसात्मक कोतपर्व को खाँचो
Outlines Of A 100% Online Transparency Bill

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The Corrupt Ones Are Worried About Money Laundering!

I am in disbelief.

Money laundering is a manageable problem.

First start with all organizations that are already registered as non profits in their countries of origin. Then get them to comply with 100% online transparency. And let them go do their work. Chances are organizations registered as non profits and with long tracks of good work will not engage in money laundering.

That alone will clear up 90% of the incoming funds.

Speed is of essence.

Shesh Ghale Tells It Like It Is
Mass Action For Relief And Reconstruction
An Insane Act By The Nepal Government

For example, it is a pretty good bet that the NRN organization and Shesh Ghale are not going to engage in money laundering. So let him get with it.

The COC (Center Of Corruption) that is the PMO (Prime Minister's Office) is the ultimate "money laundering" operation in the country.    

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डोल्पा, सोलुखुम्बु र संघीयता

English: Dunai, Dolpo, Nepal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

डोल्पामा यार्चागुम्बा छ। सोलुखुम्बुमा सगरमाथा छ, हिमाल चढ़न संसार भरिका मान्छे आउँछन्। ती दुवैबाट कमाइ हुन्छ। त्यस कमाइबाट स्थानीय जनतालाई फाइदा हुनु संघीयता हो। तर अहिले जे छ त्यसलाई उपनिवेश नै भन्नु पर्छ।

In a police state

After the newspapers reported Rahman’s detention, there was a lot of outrage in the social media. If the anger in those comments could be gauged with a thermometer, they would certainly beat Rahaman’s original post. But unlike Rahman, none of the people who posted those comments have been taken into custody. In fact, as far as this writer knows, none of Kathmandu’s enlightened social media warriors who routinely slam the entire Nepal government and ministers have had to face action so far. This is not to say they should face action; only that Rahman, too, is entitled to the same rights as them. Then why did he become an easy prey for the police whereas others did not? ......... None of the officials or administrators who have been ruling over the locals of Dho village and making decisions about how to use their resources can understand the local language. Shey Phoksundo National Park has formed a Buffer Zone Management Committee in Dho village, which falls in the Park’s buffer zone. The committee is responsible for managing the area’s natural resources. The chair of the committee is a Mahat. The chief of the Armed Police Force unit deployed there is a Malla. The locals cannot have meaningful dialogue with either of these men. They cannot explain their problems to them. Nor can they express their grievances to the Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Khanal. That’s why they say, “The police called us ‘bhote’ and beat us mercilessly.”

Amnesty International Repeats Demand For CK Raut's Immediate, Unconditional Release

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PUBLIC STATEMENT - NEPAL: AUTHORITIES MUST UNCONDITIONALLY RELEASE CK RAUT WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT
Index: ASA 31/007/2014, 17 October 2014

NEPAL: AUTHORITIES MUST UNCONDITIONALLY RELEASE CK RAUT WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT



Amnesty International calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr CK Raut who was charged with sedition on 8 October 2014 under Nepal’s Crime against State and Punishment Act 1989. He faces the possibility of life imprisonment. CK Raut was first arrested and detained without charge on 14 September 2014 following his participation in a public rally in Morang. In his speech, he called for the right to secession to be enshrined in Nepal’s new constitution. He was arrested without a police warrant on his way home from the rally and subsequently charged under the Public Offence Act for his alleged involvement in “anti-national activities” and a campaign for an “independent Madhes.” He undertook an 11-day hunger strike in protest.

Following the arrest, there were reports of clashes between police and demonstrators supporting CK Raut. Media reports at the time indicated that at least six people were injured in Bharadaha, Saptari, and four protestors were arrested in Siraha. Amnesty International sent a formal letter to Nepal’s Minister of Home Affairs on 18 September 2014 calling for CK Raut’s release and expressing concern about the police’s alleged excessive use of force against protestors. A month later no response has been received from the Government of Nepal.

The arbitrary arrest and detention of CK Raut on the basis of his peaceful expression of his political views is a breach of his right to freedom of speech as enshrined in Article 7.7.1 of the Interim Constitution of Nepal; it is also a violation of Nepal’s international obligation to guarantee freedom of expression.

The sedition charges later brought against CK Raut by Nepal’s Special Court are of particularly grave concern, not only because they violate his right to freedom of expression, but because they carry such a heavy sentence which appears designed to deter others from exercising their right to freedom of expression.

The Government of Nepal has an obligation not only to protect the right to freedom of expression, but also the right of others to receive information and ideas. The apparent attempt to silence CK Raut undermines the prospect of an open debate among all communities in Nepal about the country’s proposed federal structure.

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C K Raut's Arrest Is Illegal

I disagree with his idea of Madhesh as a separate country. I am for federalism in Nepal and a South Asian economic union. But he has a right to free speech and peaceful political organizing. This arrest is illegal and has to be condemned in the strongest terms. He has to be released immediately.

मधेश अलग्याउने अभियान चलाउने राउत पक्राउ




CK Raut has been engaged in peaceful politics. He has a right to free speech and peaceful assembly. Those are fundamental human rights. You do not have to agree with his agenda of Madhesh as a separate country. But you have no right to deny him his fundamental human rights. This arbitrary arrest of CK Raut is illegal and goes against all norms of basic democracy.

CK Raut does not have his rights because he is one of the most accomplished intellectuals in all of Madhesh and indeed all of Nepal. He is a computer scientist of world renown. But his global stature helps throw light on the ground reality of Madhesh from where one constantly hears the drumbeat of the excesses of the Nepal Police as if they were an occupying force in a colonized land.

This arrest is obviously the handiwork of the people in the topmost layers of the Nepal Government. It is a shame that political leaders and bureaucrats are engaging in this base behavior rather than engaging CK Raut in political dialogue.

The political dialogue will go on. The outcomes are uncertain. May the democratic process take its due course. But that CK Raut needs to be release immediately is urgent. And we demand that. This illegal arrest has to be undone at the earliest, and CK Raut has to be allowed to walk a free man. Nothing less is acceptable.



‘देश टुक्र्याउने माग राख्नेलाई’ रिहा गर्न अधिकारकर्मीहरुको माग -पदमरत्न, दमननाथ, खगेन्द्र संग्रौलासहित २५ जनाको माग
सीके राउतको भित्री योजना पर्दाफास: मधेस टुक्र्याउन सैनिक विद्रोह गर्ने -- राउतलाई भूमिगत सशस्त्र संगठनसमेतको सहयोग रहेको सुरक्षा स्रोतले दावी
देश टुक्रयाउने आरोप सहित पक्राउ परेका सिके राउतको बारे सदनमा जानकारी दिन माग
गान्धी, मण्डेला, मार्टिन, ओबामा र राउत–रोशनकुमार झा
राउतको अबिलम्ब रिहाई हुनुपर्ने , जितेन्द्र सोनल
सीके राउतलाई पक्रेर सरकारले गम्भीर गल्ती गरेको बाबुरामको आरोप
तराईमा सैनिक विद्रोहदेखि नाकाबन्दी योजना
Raut remanded to 6-day police custody

सि के राउतको विचारसंग हामी सहमत हुन सक्दैनौं तर उनलाई गिरफ्तार गरेर सरकारले गम्भीर गल्ती गरेको छ। उनलाई तुरुन्त रिहा गरियोस्!
— Baburam Bhattarai (@brb_laaldhwoj) September 14, 2014

Madheshis and Mandarins by CK Raut

Madheshis’ relation to their southern neighbour need not be told and to the northern one is rarely told. But their relation to the Chinese predates even the introduction of Buddhism in China in the first century CE. Ancient scriptures, Mahabharata and Manusmriti, have references to Chinese silk (cinamsuka) being given as presents. Kautilya’s Arthashastra, a treatise on economics and politics, written in the fourth century BCE, mentions silk trade from China. Earlier literature also mentions the contact of the people of Madhyadesh (Videha and Magadha) with Yunnan, China, which went by the name of Purvavideha.......... In the first millennium CE, hundreds of Chinese monks visited Madhesh. They translated many works of Buddhism and propagated it throughout China. Martial art is also believed to be brought to China by Madheshi Buddhist monks. In the 5th century AD, Faxian, a Buddhist monk and scholar from the Jin Dynasty of China, visited Kapilvastu and Lumbini. He had high praises for people, places, culture and erudition of Madhyadesh and he described several aspects of its lifestyle including the facility of ‘hospitals’. ....... One of the Chinese monks accompanying Faxian, Daozheng, was so impressed by Madhyadesh that he decided not to return to China. In the sixth century, Li Daoyuan described “Madhyadesh” based on Faxian’s Fo Guo Ji: A Record of the Buddhist Kingdoms: “Its people are rich. The inhabitants of Madhyadesh dress and eat like people in China.” Similarly, in the seventh century, Xuan-Zang, who authored The Records of the Western Regions Visited During the Great Tang Dynasty, and Yi Jing visited Lumbini. Xuan-Zang (Hiuen Tsang) brought back 657 Buddhist texts to China. ...... Emperor Harshavardhan of Madhyadesh in the same century had formal diplomatic relations with the Tang dynasty of China. After Harsha’s death, his minister Arjun wanted to forfeit a part of his empire to the Chinese. Yashovarman, a ruler in the eight century, too had diplomatic relations with China. ........ When Madheshi King Harisinghdev was dethroned from Simraungarh by Tughlaks in 1320s, he fled to Nepal (valley) and established his reign there. He ruled there for 28 years, followed by his successors Matisinghdev, Shaktisinghdev and Shyamsinghdev. It should be noted that these Madheshi kings of the Nepal valley had good relationship with China. According to the Annals of the Ming, in 1384, Chinese Emperor Hong-won had sent a bronze, a royal seal, to the Madheshi king conferring him the official investiture. In return, the Madheshi king had sent an ambassador to China with gold pagodas, books on Buddhism, horses and the productions of the country. The ambassador reached the Chinese capital in 1387. The Madheshi king at that time was “Ma-ta-na lo-mo” (Matisinghdev). Such exchanges took place in 1390 and 1399 too. ........ The relationship continued during the reign of Young-lo, the successor of Hong-wou. In 1413, the Chinese Emperor sent presents to “Cha-ko-sin-ti” (Shaktisinghdev). The emperor conferred the title of the ‘King of Nepal’ to the Madheshi king Shaktisinghdev and handed over a diploma conferring him this investiture and also a royal seal in gold and silver. In 1418, there were further new exchanges. Similarly, in 1427, the Emperor Hieun-te also attempted to keep this relationship alive. Though there were other petty kings in Nepal (valley) between 1387 and 1418, the Chinese did not recognize any other kings of Nepal but solely the descendants of the Madheshi King, Harisimhadev. .......... The modern diplomatic relations between Nepal and China started in 1955. In 1956, Nepal and China signed a treaty and China emerged as a major donor to Nepal’s development. But any effort to involve China in Madhesh is often perceived as playing a China card and put under a great pressure by India and the West. In 1960s, King Mahendra agreed to retract China’s development plans of building highways in the Tarai region upon the pressure from the then Indian ambassador Shriman Narayan. In return, India suppressed opposition political activities on the borders, including arrests and killings of several leaders of the Nepali Congress and the Tarai Liberation Front. ........ Such is the restriction and paranoia that in 1988 when Nepal decided to import a small quantity of arms from China, India imposed a crippling blockade on Nepal the following year and the Madheshis suffered the most. They were even deprived of basic commodities like salt and kerosene. That has not changed much in “new” Nepal too, as seen from the fate of Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation Foundation (APECF)’s ambitious plan to build ‘special development zone’ in Lumbini, and many other petty projects of Chinese in Madhesh. ......... But positive developments have also happened. Ever increasing numbers of Madheshis are flocking to China for higher studies. There has also been growing interest for learning Mandarin among Madheshis for they have realised that it is better to be foreigners than unknowns. Though Pushyamitra and Shankaracharya destroyed much of the heritage of Madhesh, it still survives at unusual places in China. The Thousand Buddha Cave and the Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang, the Buddhism-inspired architectural art in Xinjiang, the Longmen Buddhist caves comprising of 100,000 statues, some 40 pagodas and 3600 tablets near Luoyang city in Henan province, the tens of thousands of Buddhist rock carvings in Dazu, about 1,000 grottoes and some 100,000 Buddhist statues of Datong in Shanxi province, the Wuta Si temple of Beijing with Sanskrit inscriptions styled as the Bodhgaya temple, the White Horse Temple (Baima Si) of Luoyang, the Big Goose Pagoda of Xi’an in Shaanxi province and Famen Si of Fufeng believed to house the finger bones of Buddha himself are just a few of the remarkable places in China that still preserve and promote the dignity and heritage of Madheshis. Ironically, it is no more the spiritual India’s Bihar but the communist China’s Tibet where the pride of Madheshis still fly high in the sky, everywhere, as prayer flags.

राउतलाई सार्वजनिक अपराधको मुद्दा --- बाबुराम भन्छन्, 'पक्रेर सरकारले गल्ती गर्‍यो'
The chauvinistic circle

In such a stultifying environment, what option does someone as brilliant as Dr CK Raut have to vent his frustrations? Madheshi parties were co-opted, defamed, defanged and then dumped. There is no Madhesh media worth the name. The military is intrinsically inimical to Madheshi aspirations. Interests of the corporate Hindu mendicants are closely tied with the establishment. The international community in strategically located countries is wary of upsetting the applecart of status quo. So Dr Raut goes around the countryside canvassing support for his vision of independent Madhesh. ....... Dr Raut has reportedly been charged with indulging in suspicious activities. Yes, suspicious activities are culpable in a republic that has no bananas to call itself one. The triad seems to be getting tired of democracy, human rights and governance. Rituals such as a political roundtable in Kathmandu or a speech at UN in New York are good shows worthy of a ceremonial government. But someone someday will have to stand up and own absurdities of this ‘nationalist-communist-democrat’ coalition.

CK Raut
CK Raut
CK Raut: Cambridge University
CK Raut
Dr. CK Raut: Why understanding southern Nepal's perspective is crucial
किन यति उग्र भए सिके राउत?
Nepal activist seeking right to secession in constitution arrested
Two Wrongs: UML guilty on two accounts: appointment of Mahesh Basnet and arrest of CK Raut
Activists‚ Madhesi parties demand Raut's release
अमेरिकामा महिनाको १४ लाख कमाउँथे सिके राउत
सिके राउत रिहायको चौतर्फि माग (फोटो फिचर र विज्ञप्तिसहित)
“देश टुक्राउनेको समर्थन गर्ने तैँ होस भन्दै प्रहरीले ग‍-यो गाली गलौज”
सीके राउतलाई पक्रेर सरकारले गम्भीर गल्ती गर्‍यो : बाबुराम
सीके राउतले भने – तराई छुट्याउनु मेरो आइडिओलोजी
देश टुक्राउन अभियान चलाउने सीके राउतको गिरफ्तारीलाई कसरी लिने ?
सिके राउतले भने,‘नेपाल आमा होइन,रन्डी हो’
सीके राउतको माग गलत छ – फोरम अध्यक्ष यादव
सीके राउतलाई राज्य विपल्वको मुद्दा लगाउने तयारी
राउतको बारे सरकारले जवाफ दिनुपर्ने गच्छदारद्धरा संसदमा माग
सिके राउतलाई रिहा गर्न माग गर्दै नागरिक समाजको धर्ना -- अपहरण शैलीमा राउतलाई पक्राउ गरिएको आरोप
CK Raut: Autobiography

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सच्चा राष्ट्रियता गरीबी सकेसम्म चाँडै कसरी मेट्ने भन्ने हो

The flag of Nepal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In response to a Facebook post by a friend.

(१) नेपाल र भारत को जस्तो नजिक को सम्बन्ध कुनै दुई देशको छैन, अमेरिका र कनाडा को पनि छैन। त्यो जनता लेवल को कुरा। र त्यो तराई का मधेसी को मात्र होइन। नेपालको प्रत्येक समुदाय को कुरा। शाह राणा को पनि "बेटी-रोटी" कै सम्बन्ध हो। हिमाली भेग को कुरा गर्ने हो भने तिब्बती शरणार्थी सबै भारत मै छन। यता दार्चुला, उता धारचूला, मान्छे दुबै तिर उस्तै।

(२) सरकार लेवल को कुरा गर्ने हो भने भारत मा जुन सुकै सरकार आए पनि हाम्रो नेपाल संग जस्तो राम्रो सम्बन्ध अरु कुनै देशको सरकार संग छैन भन्छ।  के भनेको होला?

(३) नेपालका प्रत्येक पार्टी का नेता दिल्ली धाउँछन्, र त्यो भु-राजनीति बुझ्नेले अप्राकृतिक मान्दैन। चन्द्रमा पृथ्वी वरिपरि घुम्छ, पृथ्वी सुर्य वरिपरि घुम्छ। बरु राजनीति र लोकतंत्र बुझ्नेले सोध्छ, भारत ले ठग्छ भन्ने त्यत्रो ठुलो डर छ भने नेपालको संसदले अर्को देश सँग गरिने कुनै पनि संधि सम्झौता नेपालको संसद मा पुर्ण बहसमा लगेर बहुमत ले अनुमोदन गर्न पर्ने प्राबधान किन नराखेको? २०४६ पछि मलाई अलि कति excited पारेका नेपालका प्रधान मंत्री दुईटा छन। कृष्ण प्रसाद भट्टराई र बाबुराम भट्टराई।  बाबुराम ले गरेको BIPPA सम्झौता कति राम्रो। तर उसकै उप प्रधान मंत्री, त्यो पनि उसकै जिल्लाको, त्यो BIPPA को बिरोध गर्दै हिँडेको।  कत्रो नौटंकी। बिरोध हो भने के को बिरोध, त्यो specific रुपमा कहिले भनिएन। कागले कान लग्यो, लग्यो भने पछि लग्यो लग्यो। फेरि बाबुराम भनेको धोती लाउने गजेन्द्र नारायण होइनन् , सप्तरीको मधेसी, भारतको मान्छे यसले भारतकै सोंच्यो भन्ने "ह्रितिक रोशन सिंड्रोम" आरोप लाग्दो हो।  बाबुराम भनेको त १९५० को संधि धांधली भो खारेज गर नत्र भने भन्दै बन्दुक उठाएको मान्छे। माओबादीले बन्दूक उठाएको ४-५ बर्षसम्म मैले उसको बाहेक अरु कुनै माओबादी को नाम सम्म सुन्या थिएन। नेहरू खुदले विश्व स्तरको नेता मानेको BP ले पनि देशै बेचने रै छ, बन्दूक उठाउने SLC Board First बबुरामले पनि देशै बेचने, के रै छ त त्यस्तो?

(४) बाबुराम लाई म अझै BP लेवल को मान्दिन। तर फेरि प्रधान मंत्री बनेर उनी नेपालका नीतिश कुमार बन्छन् भने all bets are off. म आफु बामपंथी होइन (म नेपालको परिप्रेक्छ्य मा कांग्रेसी पनि होइन, anti-Congress हो) तर बामपंथी नै सही फिडेल को education र health सेक्टर का कामहरू गरेर देखाउन सक्नु पर्यो।

(५) लोकतंत्र भनेको जनता ले दिग्गज मान्छे खोज्ने र त्यो दिग्गजले ५ बर्ष एकलौटी शाषण गर्ने भनेको होइन। भारत संग गर्ने समझौता हरु नेपालको संसदले पुर्ण बहसमा लाने र बहुमत ले पास गर्ने ब्यबस्था गर्ने हो।  त्यति गर्दा पनि भारत ले ठग्ने रहेछ भने नेपाल त भारत ले ठग्नु पर्ने देशै रै छ भन्ने हुन्छ। कोही कोही हुन्छ नि पाकेटमार लाई सजिलो पारिदिने बानी भएको मानिस।  त्यस्तो।

(६) तर मुख्य कुरा अझ त्यो होइन। मुख्य कुरा नेपालका नेताहरूको competence or rather lack of it को हो।  आफ्नो कमी कमजोरी ढाकछोप गर्न जुन कुरा को दोष पनि भारत लाई दिई दिने। Dictatorships thrive on the external enemy, नार्थ कोरिया ले अमेरिका सँग निहुँ खोजिरहने कारण त्यो हो।  तर नेपालका नेता हरुले लोकतंत्र मा पनि त्यही कुराको सहारा लिएका छन। It should not be possible तर भइराखेको छ।  चुनाब ले मात्र लोकतंत्र हुँदैन भन्ने कुराको प्रमाण Russia छ। नेपाल लोकतंत्र भई सकेको छैन भन्ने कुरा बुझ्नु पर्छ।

(७) पुरानो सत्ताका status quoist हरु हर तरहले दमजम का मुद्दा हरुमा पुराणो सोंच कायम राख्न तत्पर छन।  स्टेट restructuring हुन नदिन हर किसिमका हथकंडा अपनाउन लागि राखेका छन।

(८) नेपाललाई सिक्किम बनाउन खोजेको आरोप कति लाई लाग्यो त्यो गनेर साध्य छैन, त्यो राजनीति होइन गाईजात्रा हो। अस्ति मोदी आउनु अगाडि समझौता का जुन फर्स्ट ड्राफ्ट हरु आएका थिए केही knee jerk nationalist हरुले "नेपाललाई भुटान बनाउन खोजेको" आरोप लगाए। म त चकित भएँ। अरे बाबा, भुटान दक्छिण एशिया को सबै भन्दा गरीब देश बाट quite literally रातारात दक्छिण एशिया को सबै भन्दा धनी देश बनेको कहानी हो।  सिंगापुर र स्विट्ज़रलैंड पछि बनाउने पहिला भुटान नै बनाउने कि नेपाललाई?

(९) नेपाल बाट गरीबी सकेसम्म चाँडै कसरी मेट्ने - त्यो भन्दा ठुलो राष्ट्रबाद नेपालको सन्दर्भमा हुन सक्दैन। त्यस मापदंड़ अनुसार अहिले को नेपालको political class खचाखच अराष्ट्रीय तत्व हरुले भरिएको देखि राखेको छु।  मोदीले सही भनेका छन -"Nepal can become developed nation by supplying power to India." बोलीले होइन ब्यबहार ले हो राष्ट्रबाद झल्किने, तर नेपालको पोलिटिकल क्लास लाई चिंता छ, नेपाल developed नेशन भयो भने जनता जागरुक हुन्छन् अनि फेरि हामी लाई कसले वोट दिने? त्यो घोर अराष्ट्रीय तत्व thinking हो।

(१०) मोदीले वास्तव मै नया किसिमको सम्बन्ध चाहेका छन, त्यसको फाइदा न उठाउनु मुर्खता नै हुनेछ।