Is it possible? I think so.
The 204 people in the revived House were elected in 1999. That is not exactly a mandate. The revived House is at best a temporary measure. And so this House should work to stick around for the shortest possible time.
Get a fresh mandate. Don't linger around for too long.
Reining in the king and the army was necessary to move towards the constituent assembly elections. Now we have to hold peace talks with the Maoists. And those talks have to be fast paced. And they can be fast paced because the end result has already been agreed upon. That end result: constituent assembly elections.
Power is a curious thing. When you get it, you like the taste of it. I think the current cabinet has to watch out for that. Some in the cabinet are saying this government will last 18 months. That is too long a time frame. Don't get too used to the perks that come with power.
Basically what has to happen is no voter in Nepal should have to fear either of the two armies when they go to the polls. That is the idea.
You do that by laying down arms. Both armies will have to lay down arms. And both armies will have to enter the barracks.
The arms that will be laid down will become the property of the future unified national army to be put for safekeeping with UN peacekeeping forces. Will it be the UN's job to make sure all arms were submitted? No. The two armies will have to convince each other. And they will have to allow cross checks by each other. And they will have to invite the civil society for cross examinations.
Once disarmed, the two groups of soldiers should be put together, I think. Organize interaction programs, reeducation programs. Maybe teach them courses in Human Rights. Kind of a hostel environment. Organize vocational training. Teach them computer skills, maybe. Teach them language. Help them better their reading and writing skills. Keep them preoccupied with non-martial stuff.
And I recommend African soldiers for peacekeeping. One, they will be less touchy locally than Indian or Chinese soldiers. And Nepal needs to get in the business of exporting revolution. Africa needs it more than any other continent. And Kofi Annan and Samuel Tamrat are both African, and both have played key roles in Nepal, and will play larger roles down the line. It will also be a token of appreciation. Besides Nepali soldiers have gone to Africa for peacekeeping before. Payback time.
All political parties that contest the constituent assembly elections will go to the people with a clear stand on both the monarchy and the army.
I don't know the exact figures, but let's assume the state has 90,000 and the Maoists 20,000 soldiers.
Each party will go to the people suggesting how big the army should be, and what ought to be its composition.
I would say 30,000 strong, with 30% women, 30% Madhesi participation. All 110,000 will be thrown into a pool. And global military standards will be used to select the 30,000 most qualified. The women and Madhesi will be pulled from that same hat, and if that not be sufficient, new soldiers will be recruited.
And the 80,000 that will not make it will be helped with job training and education so they can enter the economy. For that we will have to seek foreign money and expertise. I hope the big powers will help. I think they will.
Each party will also have to spell out the kind of meritocratic hiring and firing practices, promotion guidelines they want in the army.
So basically you are dismantling the two armies, and then building a new one from scratch.
Do all parties have to follow my guidelines? Not at all. But whatever guidelines they follow, they will have to write them down clearly and present them to the people. It is for the people to decide what the future Nepali army will look like.
The army issue is just like the monarchy issue. Each party is going to have to take a clear stand. And then go to the people.
The Nepali people deserve to see a new parliament before they go into the festival season. Let the festivals be a genuine celebration. If the country still has two standing armies during the festival season, it will be a betrayal of the April Revolution.
A New Nepal Has Been BornPublic TrialLand Reform, Truth And Reconciliation
Dismantle The Two Armies
18 Days Of April Revolution: Victory
Constituent Assembly: 300 Seats Of Roughly Equal Population
In The News
Maoists must disarm: DPM Oli NepalNews
Victory rallies held across the country
Dabur Nepal closes down its factory
King will be a citizen after election of constituent assembly: Nepal
US, EU welcomes the HoR proclamation
Full text of the HoR Proclamation
Full text of US Assistant Secretary Boucher’s testimony
"Satisfactory, but not adequate": Pro-democracy fighters
Gradual improvement in Ranabhat’s health
Myths and martyrs
Govt. declares public holiday on Friday
SC dismisses restrictive media policies
Maoists welcomes HoR declaration cautiously
Nepal’s sweeping changes spell the end of a dynasty
BJP, allies protest Nepal decision Hindustan Times, India
Secular Nepal no good for India: Uma Chennai Online
Erasing the 'royal' in Nepal BBC News, UK
Nepal rebels back move to curb king Washington Post
It's punch time for Nepal Prince! Hindustan Times If made to earn their own living, Nepal's royal family would be put in a very tight spot indeed. Neither Paras nor his sister Princess Prerana nor wife Crown Princess Himani has a college degree..... Besides a fondness for football, fast cars, frequenting nightclubs, golf and letting fly with his fists, the crown prince is not known to have any other talent.
King loses powers, Nepal is secular Deccan Herald
BJP rues Nepal's switch from Hindu to secular state Times of India, India
BJP bats for a Hindu state in Nepal Outlook (subscription)
End of the road for Nepal's Shah dynasty NDTV.com, India
Nepal learns to look beyond the King CNN-IBN
Nepal rebels watch, wait Chicago Tribune, United States
Nepal's Maoists Welcome Parties' Proclamation OhmyNews International, South Korea
Nepalis Dissatisfied With New Government OhmyNews International
Nepal Faces Limited Opportunity for Peace, State's Boucher Says Washington File, DC
US ready to resume military aid to Nepal Financial Express.bd
America Still Tough on Atrocities, violence of Nepal Maoists Nepal human Rights News
US Ready To Give Military Aid To Nepal On Request All Headline News
After the Proclamation Kantipur Publications
Delhi magistrate court orders release of Nepali activists
Govt orders offices, public places to remove "Royal"
Govt talks team within this week: Deputy PM Oli
U.S. welcomes 'historic' House proclamation
Nepali taekwondo master selected as US national team coach
Pokhara celebrates historic House Proclamation
A Scene Outside Nepalese Embassy in Delhi
Tamrat to Nepal govt, Maoists: Sign ceasefire declaration
Nepal Army concerned
Now people are fully sovereign: Leaders
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घोषणा तत्कालै कार्यान्वयन
सेना अब जनताको’
शाही शब्द मेट्न खोज्दा गिरफ्तार
निकुञ्जबाट सैनिक हटाउन माग
चार महिनादेखि थुनेर यातना
सशस्त्र प्रहरीद्वारा अमानवीय यातना
संसदीय सर्वोच्चताको अर्थ
प्रतिनिधिसभाको घोषणा-२०६३
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