Monday, July 10, 2006

C.K. Lal: NRIs In Nepal


NRIs In Nepal
C.K. Lal

The clamber into the hills from the plains below is as old as history. The Mahabharata mentions the Kirat Kings of the Himalayas, and Emperor Ashoka trekked to the birthplace of the Buddha and erected a pillar on the spot. Adi Shankara is believed to have set the tradition that only Keralites Brahmans of a certain sect could be eligible for priesthood in the holy shrine of Pashupatinath. Raja Harisingh, the Tirhut king of Karnataka origin, fled to Kathmandu valley upon pursuit by the invading Muslim army and founded a culture that continues to give the valley its distinctive identity. But all these visitors didn't come in hordes, and were easily assimilated into the local population. The early 20th century clearing of the Tarai forests by the nobles of Kathmandu valley, and an almost simultaneous famine in the neighboring states of Bengal, Bihar and Awadh, forced many Indians to choose a life of considerable difficulty in the plains of Nepal. Over time, they came to be known as Madhesis - people of the Madhes. Never a term of endearment, Madhesi has degenerated into a label of scorn, and can mean anything from being devious, dirty, cruel, uncouth or - a plain Indian.

Not Man, a Madhesi

Old-timers insist that there is no exaggeration to the following anecdote, and that it is based on real life. In the days when there were no toilets, the ladies of noble families also visited the banks of Bagamati to attend to the calls of nature. Some of them had servants. These servants were instructed to shout 'Man' to save the ladies the embarrassment of exposed derriËres. On one misty winter morning, a servant could not recognize a Madhesi and did the shouting as per the instructions. The lady sat up, threw a glance towards the intruder, and resumed her business nonchalantly. The ignorant servant was duly reprimanded, "Didn't you see? He was a Madhesi, not a man." Ladies go to toilet nowadays, but this attitude has not changed much.

Handy Goblin

In the Hindi blockbuster of all times, Ramesh Sippy's 'Sholay,' a mother would instill the fear of Gabbar in her child if it wept at night. The goblin evoked in the Valley of Gods is handier - mothers here simply have to mention a Madhesi, pronounced Madishe. The symbol so taken is often a poor little Bihari with a jute sack on his shoulders, calling from house to house collecting empty beer bottles and old newspapers. Braving the stray dogs, abusive natives, resentful street children and a less than tolerant police force, these hapless scavengers provide a service without which Kathmandu would become one huge refuse dump. Nobody is grateful. The government has already levied a tax on their cargo, and there is clamor for more levies on them.

Onion, Potato and Tomato

Until Biharis came with their cycles, street vendors were almost unknown in the Valley. These days, one can buy anything from carpets to cosmetics, fruits and vegetables, utensils, toys and tin-food from these very enterprising salesmen from across the border. Their Nepali is a joy to hear and lends itself so well to caricature that Nepal Television cannot produce a single soap without them. They do not take offense if haggled with rudely. Even their merchandise compares well in price and quality with the those in the burgeoning departmental stores in Kathmandu. And what do they get in return? Eight to ten people lodging in dingy basements, abuses from anyone with an urge to vent his or her anger, and a small profit at the end of the day to money-order back home to Laloodom.

Moneyed Marwaris

There was a time when Marwaris were respected as sahujees. No more. These days, they are depicted more as practitioners of unfair trade practices. They are assumed to be harmful for the nation's economy, in spite of being one of the largest private sector employers and the largest tax-paying community. If a local smuggler is caught sneaking in goodies, he is dismissed as a misguided person. To turn him into an object of sympathy, associate his name with any manipulative Marwari - real or fictional. The clamor of blood would be astounding. This, despite the fact that no big-time Marwari runs his show entirely on his own - the norm, rather than the exception, is to have a local noble as a sleeping partner, often with a controlling interest. Many Marwaris insist that people of their community who arrived from Burma in the 1970's cheated the government and gave them a bad name. Be that as it may, the fact is that they have become minor players in foodstuff and textiles, lucrative trades that they had dominated for years.

Competitive Craftsmen

Plumbers from Udisa, electricians from UP, carpenters from Bihar, bricklayers from Bengal - one can't build a house without them these days in Kathmandu. Contractors love them - they work longer hours for lower payment. Owners like them too - they hardly need any holidays. But the traditional craftsmen from Kirtipur and Madhyapur are not happy about these aliens who have undercut them out of the market. Hence a call for their ouster can arouse frenzy. At middle class dinner tables, much concern is shown about Indian domination of the Nepalese labor market, but come daylight, these bleeding hearts go to Kopundole, Baneshwar or Kalimati and hire an Indian hand at nearly half the going rate of a comparable Nepali laborer. Free-market and jingoism survive cheek-by-jowl without any contradiction.

Labor and Religion

Even Nepali employers do not like local laborers. Apart from being too easygoing, they are often considered to be potential troublemakers. They prefer Madhesis instead, whose lower salaries, longer working hours and lack of rights to organize make them attractive. This has resulted in a situation where almost all garment workers are Indian. Indian dyers man the Nepali carpet industry and till yesterday, nearly all machine-men were Bengali. A large number of these immigrants are Muslims who take up the whole thoroughfare in front of the Royal Palace for Jumma Nawaz. It does not help the flow of traffic that Fridays are half working days. The Kashi, Kashmir, Ajab, Nepal attraction for the Indian tourists is gone. Earlier they were amazed to see a more beautiful valley than Kashmir peopled by more devout Hindus than in Benares. These days, Muradabadi Muslims dominate the brass-ware market and Kashmiri Muslims enjoy a near monopoly in high-end handicrafts sales. Once again, a case of Hindu Shangri-la gone sour in the only Hindu Kingdom of the world.

Identity Crisis

Having nothing to differentiate them from their temporary immigrant brothers, Madhesis who have made Nepal their home find themselves at the receiving end of much misplaced scorn. Consider the Nepali proverb that a dead Madhesi more cunning than a living Nepali; picture a Pahariya Bahun with his Yadav compatriot from the plains, and one might have to turn the old adage on its head. Any Madhesi is suspect in the valley. They have to keep proving their allegiance to the country, very much like Hindus in Sri Lanka and Muslims in India. This is ironic in a way, because Madhesis have less dependence on India than many Pahariyas who have, for generations, been saluting the tricolor for their livelihood. Madhesis pretend to support Pakistani players in Indo-Pakistan cricket matches to impress their friends, but go home and weep in silence over India's defeat. This would be hilarious if it weren't so pathetic. If not for themselves, the Indian team should get into the habit of winning every now and then to keep the morale of the Diaspora high.

Nepal has India's largest diplomatic establishment in the world, barring England, with whom they have an altogether different kind of relationship. What this diplomatic corps does to keep employed is a mystery. The Hindi term for a country bumpkin is "Vadheshi." One thing is for sure, these diplomats do not stoop low enough to associate with local Madhesis - no matter whether resident or immigrant.

(CK Lal is a prolific columnist)

http://www.asianstudies.emory.edu/sinhas/kprb0311b.html


Choosing Life: A Challenge
Dr Brian Cobb

A number of right-wing leaders of civil society have recently declared that a large, very expensive military is necessary for Nepal's survival in the 21st century. They believe that some of the costs can be offset by participation in UN peacekeeping operations, but this would be a small part. Some propose a role as a mercenary provider. They argue that having a hundred thousand soldiers hanging around the barracks is far more important than having an equal number of teachers, health care personnel or infrastructure construction workers. Under their plan perhaps the army could make marginal contributions in these areas, but their major role would be military. The nation's number one priority at present, as demonstrated by that most discerning test, the amount it is willing to spend, is its killing machine.

I disagree. Only a fool would believe that any conceivable Nepalese army could repel an unlikely attack by India or China. These critics gloss over the NA's horrific human rights record and the obvious lack of commitment among its top ranks to democracy. They seem to imagine that Nepal is somehow invulnerable to military coup d'etat. The militarists think that a big army is a mark of prestige; I think it is a mark of disgrace.

With people starving to death in the west and horrifying maternal and infant mortality rates, spending so much on a fighting force is cruel, immoral and shameful. Surely the police forces can be cleansed of their numerous thugs, murderers, rapists, robbers and extortionists, better trained and made more accountable to handle domestic security. The remaining military personnel can be disarmed and assigned to healing, teaching and rebuilding the nation. Nepal's leaders would do well to heed the words attributed to God in the Bible, "I have placed before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, that you and your children might live."

I'd like to pose a challenge to the government. Give me the support I need and depute 100 NA and Maoist cadres I select to attend an 18-month Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic training program. This training will be new to Nepal and is intensively focused on care of serious or life-threatening injuries, illnesses or other medical events such as childbirth and its complications. As a career emergency medicine specialist and teacher, and given the number of bright, motivated young people in Nepal, we can turn out world-class personnel who can be posted to district hospitals to save lives in emergencies at no additional cost to the nation.

Let me take the challenge one step further. Nepal's high unemployment, high population growth and low economic growth require that young people work abroad. But instead of working as mercenaries, as envisioned by the pro-military factions, or as laborers or prostitutes, why not train nurses, whose skills are in demand worldwide and whose wages are excellent? Can't Nepal export professionals? Wouldn't their much greater remittances contribute to economic growth at home? Give me some bright young soldiers of both genders and some support and we'll train them for 3 years; during their clinical assignments they will augment staffing in the zonal hospital, and after graduation they can serve a 3 year "payback" term after which they are free to go abroad.

These programs should be conducted in the areas of greatest need and with students drawn primarily from disadvantaged castes. If the country is to achieve political stability it has to get beyond the Kathmandu-centric, high-caste dominated model that has prevailed for the past 237 years. Had projects like this been undertaken after the Jana Andolan I, there likely would never have been a Maoist insurgency. People didn't join the Maoists for the snazzy uniforms or the pithy sayings of Mao, but for a better life, and any government which does not make rapid progress toward delivering it is destined to fail.

Forget its powerful rivers, its majestic peaks or its remarkable biodiversity. Nepal's greatest resource is its sincere, intelligent, hard-working and adaptable people. As my hero Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, said, "The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood." Give us some support and we'll show you what we can do.

Admittedly this proposal is small in scale, but better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness. It can serve as a prototype for other programs for the vocational retraining, psychological rehabilitation and social reintegration of a generation traumatized by war, desensitized to suffering and denied more constructive careers.

Surely Nepal's youth are better utilized by bringing out the best in their nature—compassion, kindness, scientific knowledge and life-saving skill—than the worst—violence, hatred and lust for blood. And as for courage, who needs more of it, the adrenalin-pumped, psychologically manipulated, armed soldier or the paramedic who braves flames and landslides to save strangers' lives? As Dante Aligheiri taught us, "Think of your breed. For brutish ignorance you were not made; you were made human to follow after excellence and knowledge." 1

In The News

Army running the government: Magar NepalNews
HoR endorses govt’s programmes and policies; PFN decides not to vote
NC meeting postponed till Wednesday; lawmakers express dissatisfaction over 8-point pact Lawmakers have been expressing serious reservation over the provision of dissolving the House of Representatives before Maoists join an interim government after adopting an interim statute and charged that the agreement was done in haste without proper discussion in the party. ...... Lawmakers also expressed serious objection on the report of rebels buying arms and running a temporary camp at Kamidanda of Kavre and demanded the government’s answer in this regard.
Perilous Koirala-Kerensky Parallels - By Sanjay Upadhya Alexander Kerensky, Russia’s short-lived democratic president in 1917...... Kerensky, at 36, was in the prime of his life when he embodied Russia’s democratic quest. His opposition to the absolute rule of the Romanovs blossomed during his university days in St. Petersburg. Kerensky, moreover, was an intellectual interested in all aspects of Russian history, culture and literature in addition to politics. ....... The First World War, in which Russia had been involved in for three years, diverted massive amounts of manpower and caused serious food and fiber shortages. The Czarist regime was exposed to increasingly strident charges of gross mismanagement. Yet the collapse of the monarchy was as unexpected as that of the Soviet Union would be 74 years later....... Kerensky was a moderate socialist whose passionate, lifelong goal was to see a Western-style constitutional democracy in Russia. In his ardor to fight off his adversaries on the right, Kerensky simply refused to believe that the Bolsheviks could represent the greater threat........ Koirala, who started out as an implacable anticommunist .... Dedicated to his country and to democratic principles, Kerensky was a courageous, energetic man with great oratorical skills....... His lack of vision to tackle the root causes of popular discontent came in handy for the Bolsheviks........ Lenin and Trotsky plotted their course in the chaos conceived in Kerensky’s misplaced confidence. The reality that the world’s first experiment with a “worker state” occurred in a country that was 98 percent agrarian ...... Koirala finds himself straddling between those who see the triumph of total democracy in the sidelining – and perhaps an eventual abolition -- of the monarchy and those demanding more radical social and economic restructuring. ........ Prachanda has taken the most insidious page from Lenin’s playbook. Through his fiery and often contradictory rhetoric, buttressed by an almost insatiable appetite for concessions from the state, Prachanda hopes to exert complete authority. By portraying the government’s failure to meet his impossible demands as a sign of utter ineptitude, the Maoist supremo seeks to evade responsibility. Clearly, the Maoists are banking on the same anarchy the Bolsheviks capitalized on....... In exile, Kerensky believed the Bolshevik regime would crumble imminently and contemplated his triumphant return to power.

Three Election Commissioners resign NepalNews
SC seeks power to check the decisions of army court in new constitution bring army officials under civil court trial ..... The 1990 Constitution excludes the army from civil court trials and excludes judicial review even by the apex court on military court verdicts....... SC judges should be appointed from among independent legal experts, law professionals and legal researchers and not from among judicial bureaucrats........ form an independent recommendation committee to appoint judges and check the actions of any judge found involved in corruption or irregularities, saying the Judicial Council currently chaired by the Chief Justice has failed to check irregularities in the judiciary
Army running the government: Yadav the Nepal Army was running the government rather than the government controlling the army........ the government should not be afraid to go ahead as per the sentiments of the people ...... expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s failure to take action against Nepal Army officials........ the Nepal Army acted like the Royal Nepalese Army in the name of marking the king’s birthday..... urged the government not to announce budget for the new fiscal year until formation of an interim government.

INTERVIEW-Nepal rebels say will not surrender arms Reuters AlertNet, UK "Let everybody be clear -- we'll never surrender our arms," Baburam Bhattarai ...... "We want the restructuring of the state and the army. In that restructured army our army will also be integrated." ...... "Basically there seems to be lack of political willpower on the part of some in the government," he said, sitting on the balcony of a Kathmandu building....... the rebels would not return to war...... Bhattarai said the guerrillas had no regrets about the war, which has ravaged infrastructure and displaced more than 200,000 of the country's 26 million population...... "We are proud of it. We have changed the whole scenario -- political, economic, social and cultural scenario in the country" .....
'We should not be a haughty big brother to Nepal' Rediff NCP leader Devi Prasad Tripathi ... At JNU, he had Baburam Bhattarai... as his college mate and friend...... Tripathi, along with Communist Party of India-Marxist MP Sitaram Yechuri, was assigned to Nepal by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to help negotiate the 12-point agreement between the Nepalese political parties and the Maoists, an agreement that hastened King Gyanendra's downfall..... was once an adviser to then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi ...... I was the first politician from India to meet with Prachanda...... Baburam Bhattarai, was my college mate at JNU, and we were good friends. Even before that, I was attracted by the legendary Nepali leader V P Koirala and had a good relationship with him during my days at Allahabad University. ...... There used to be frequent discussions and classes on various political and international issues on the campus. We used to attend almost all those discussions. Bhattarai was highly studious and politically motivated at the same time...... He used to be actively involved in human rights and civil liberty issues. I can say he was always active on the people front. ..... December 26, 2005 -- it is for the first time that I reveal this date to any media -- at a locality which I would like to keep secret, but in India...... Baburam Bhattarai also was with me and it was a long discussion as we were meeting for the first time..... I was terribly impressed by his personality. It was such an open and warm discussion. His views were quite convincing, his willingness for peace and his initiative towards the democratic process a revelation........ It was the first time that I realised the Maoists were ready for the democratic process to start and willing to put down their arms...... There was no dogmatism in his approach. He appeared quite practical...... further meetings between us in India..... It was during the second meeting in India that Sitaram Yechuri came to meet him for the first time........ This time the meeting was at my house. Besides Sitaram, Bhattarai also was there with him. The discussion, like the previous one, was long and elaborate. Though he had met Bhattarai earlier, Yechuri was meeting Prachanda for the first time....... They genuinely would like to see Nepal as a democratic republic as early as possible...... Nepal is also an India-locked country! ....... the Maoism in Nepal has no direct connection with the Maoism in India. ...... At the same time the new developments will compel the Maoists here to leave their arms as they will be ideologically isolated now..... The Maoists are a substantial force in Nepal. At this stage we can't say who will get the majority. If a fair, democratic election gives the Maoists a mandate and puts them in power, that is it. We have got to respect it.
Nepal Govt asks Maoists to clarify stance on arms issue Zee News The arms management will begin only after formation of an interim government, Maoists' central base area in-charge Biplav said in Pyuthan in West Nepal. The Maoists will raise arms again if they are deceived, he warned, adding "conspiracy is afoot to prevent Maoists from joining the interim government. In such a case we will again take up arms."
Yechury On Nepal’s Journey To Democracy People's Democracy ... the country’s journey towards democracy will be fructified in the coming three-odd months..... all the parties were moving jointly towards a successful resolution of the contentious issues..... He reminded that all the major players are in agreement on the four-point formula he had proposed. Immediate restoration of the dissolved parliament and formation of an interim government have been implemented. The remaining two points are under implementation, i.e. negotiation with the Maoists and formation of a Constituent Assembly....... Various alternatives cropped up on this issue such as .. UN arms management, merging the two armies, bringing two armies under a single command, transformation of the Maoist army into a paramilitary force etc.... Prachanda has conceded the fact that there are some disturbances at local level, and these would be sorted out speedily..... the Maoist participation in the interim government is sure and both the present government and the Maoists are moving in that direction. .......... He also discussed various alternative forms of Constituent Assembly which must be representative of various geographical, social and religious divisions reflecting imbalances in the society, thereby giving a chance to the respective forces to have their say in deciding their future.
Fresh controversy over Nepal king, army links Hindustan Times, India Though the government had instructed its embassies and high commissions abroad as well as officials in Nepal that there should be no official celebration of the King's 60th birthday on Friday, the army stoked fresh controversy when chief Gen Pyar Jung Thapa went to the palace to offer greetings and 21 cannons were fired to mark the occasion. ..... none of the ministers or chiefs of the other security wings went to the palace on Friday. Gen Thapa, who went to the palace in full army uniform, was the lone exception....... Thapa should make a public apology for flouting the government directive...... "It proves the army has still not changed." ....... Girija Prasad Koirala has come under volleys of criticism for not suspending the army chief...... The deployment of nearly 3,000 army personnel in the palace, who take orders from the royal military secretariat, has also not been scrapped despite parliament ordering so in May.....
Woman gangraped, paraded naked in Nepal Hindustan Times, India
Nepal woman paraded naked, gang raped for son's romance DailyIndia.com

Govt to bring Rs 144b budget Wednesday Kantipur Publications
Dozen still in Maoist captivity
Prachanda stresses tourism promotion "The country has immense tourism potential. It could be a pertinent tool to uplift the living standard of Nepalis" ..... Hotel Associations of Nepal (HAN), the top Maoist leader was speaking at an interaction with the representatives of HAN. ..... Dr Baburam Bhattarai, a politburo member of CPN (Maoist) said they would give a high priority to tourism industry in order to accelerate the pace of economic growth. Underscoring the importance of private sector in tourism industry, he said the Maoist would not nationalize private industry. 'We never targeted tourists even during strikes and war. Now also, we are equally committed to protecting the industry," he said.
PM Koirala's health condition satisfactory
Doctors, staff shut down Patan Hospital
Army chief should apologize: Gautam suggested the government to reform the NA and immediately bid farewell to those NA officers who represent the elite class and the king's sycophants. ...... Gautam said that neither the parliament nor any other body could challenge the 8-point pact reached between the Seven-Party Alliance and Maoists....... "If the parliament tries to challenge the pact, which is a road map for a new Nepal, there will be no existence of the parliament," he said.
एक पद छाड्न सिटौलामाथि दबाब
हतियार व्यवस्थापनपछि विघटन'
संविधानसभामा समान सहभागिता माग
राप्रपाद्वारा अन्तरिम संविधान मस्यौदा
क्याम्पमा माओवादी सेना
सर्वसाधारण माओवादी कब्जामा
विश्व एक
ट्रुथ आयोग र दिगो शान्ति पहिलो शिखर वार्तापछिको पत्रकार सम्मेलनमा माओवादी अध्यक्ष प्रचण्डले शान्तिका अग्रदूत गौतम बुद्धको नाम लिँदै शान्ति कायम गर्न आफ्ना तर्फबाट जुनसुकै प्रयास बाँकी नराख्ने प्रतिबद्धता व्यक्त गरेका छन् । ........ बदलाको भावनाले भोलि अर्काे द्वन्द्व हुन सक्ने सम्भावना नर्कान सकिँदैन । जसबाट दिगो शान्तिमा बाधा खडा हुनेछ । त्यसकारण विगतका ज्यादती जनसमक्ष ल्याउने र पश्चाताप गरी अब कहिल्यै त्यस्तो नगर्ने सुनिश्चित गर्न ट्रुथ आयोग आवश्यक छ । वाचा तथा प्रतिबद्धतासाथ आम माफी राज्यद्वारा नदिए समाजमा बदलाको भावना सधैं रहिरहनेछ ।....... अर्जेन्टिना, चिली, र दक्षिण अपि|mकामा ट्रुथ कमिसनले सबै अपराधीलाई आम माफी दिई न्यायपूर्ण समाज पुनःस्थापना गर्‍यो । ........ सन् १९९७ मा ग्वान्टामालानमा तीन जनाको ऐतिहासिक यथार्थ विवरण आयोग संयुक्त राष्ट्र सघंको सहयोगमा गठन भएको थियो । आयोगले नौवटा भोलुममा रिर्पोट दियो । त्यसमा ३७ वर्षको गृहयुद्धमा करिब २ लाख मानिसको हत्या र बेपत्ता तत्कालीन सैनिकले गरेको विवरण थियो । आफ्नो रिर्पोटमा ७ सय २७ आमहत्या सैनिकले गरेको र ३२ विपक्षीले गरेको उल्लेख छ । आयोगले सूक्ष्म अध्ययन गरी आमहत्या प्रमाणित गरे पनि सबैलाई आम माफी दियो र कसैलाई पनि मुद्दा नचलाउने निर्णय गर्‍यो ।......... नेल्सन मन्डेला राष्ट्रपति भइसकेपछि सन् १९९५ मा आयोग गठन भयो जसको काम रङ्गभेद शासन कालमा भएको काला अपराधका तथ्य पत्ता लगाउने र त्यसको रिर्पोट दक्षिण अपि|mकी जनता र विश्वलाई दिने, अपराधीहरूलाई पश्चाताप गर्न लगाई आवश्यकता अनुसार माफी दिने थियो । यसले रिर्पोट सन् १९९८ मा पेस गरेको थियो । ........ युगान्डा, बोलिभिया, अर्जेन्टिना जिम्बाबे, उरुग्वे, फिलिपिन्स, चिली ....... भनिन्छ दक्षिण अपि|mकाको शन्तिपूर्ण संक्रमण तथा सीमित न्याय प्राप्ति अपराधीहरूलाई आम माफीबाट भएको हो । ....... अहिले माओवादीसँग हतियार छ त्यसैले जनता बोल्न सकेका छैनन् । भोलि हतियारविहीन माओवादी हुँदा बदलाको भावना आउनसक्छ । त्यस अवस्थामा अर्को द्वन्द्व तथा गृहयुद्ध हुन सक्छ । ...... अपवादका रूपमा उद्योग वाणिज्य तथा आपूर्ति मन्त्री हृदयेश त्रिपाठीले केही दिनअघि संविधानसभा चुनावअघि पुनः जनगणनाको विषय उठाएका छन् । ........ माओवादीमात्र होइन, समानुपातिक प्रतिनिधित्वको माग गर्ने, जनजाति महासंघ र दलितका संघ-संस्थाले पनि पुनः जनगणना गरेर वास्तविक तथ्यांक संकलन माग गर्नुको सट्टा आधारहीन तरिकाले आ-आफ्नै तथ्यांक प्रस्तुत गरेर जनसंख्याको सामाजिक, धार्मिक र भाषिक बनावटमाथि धावा बोलिरहेका छन् । ....... त्यतिबेला संकलन गरिएको धार्मिक सूचनामा जसरी पनि हिन्दु संख्या अत्यधिक देखाउने नियत राज्यको थियो । त्यसैगरी मातृभाषिक सूचना लुकाएर नेपालीभाषीको संख्या उच्च देखाउने परम्परालाई निरन्तरता दिनु राज्यको अघोषित नीतिजस्तै थियो । ......... अधिराज्यको संरचनामा धक्का लाग्ला भनेर सरकारले तथ्यांक विभागलाई हिन्दु र नेपालीभाषी बाहेकका तथ्यांक प्रकाशमा ल्याउन सधैं रोक्यो । ....... २०४८ .. त्यतिबेला ५९ जनजातिले आफ्नो उपस्थिति देखाए । १० वर्षपछि २०५८ मा गरिएको जनगणनामा ४१ वटा जनजाति थपिएर १ सय पुगे ।... पछिल्लो जनगणनामा सबैभन्दा बढी ९२ भाषिका सूचना संकलन गरिएको छ । ...... जनजाति समूहमा चेतना विकास र प्रश्नावली वैज्ञानिक बनाउँदै लगेपछि मातृभाषी बढिरहेका छन् भने नेपालीभाषी घटिरहेको तथ्यांक छ ।..... अघिल्लो जनगणनामा हिन्दु लेखाएका पूर्वका राई लिम्बूले २०४८ को जनगणनामा आफूलाई किराँतधर्मी भनेर लेखाए ।...... २०४८ मा कुल जनसंख्याको ८६ दशमलव पाँच प्रतिशतले हिन्दु धर्म मान्छौं भनेका थिए तर एकदशकपछि ०५८ मा अघिल्लो जनगणनामा करिब सात प्रतिशत घटी हिन्दु ८० दशमलव छ प्रतिशतमा झरे ।....
संविधानसभाअघि जनगणना
अन्तरिम संविधानलाई राप्रपाको राय

Parliamentary committee finally gets copy of govt’s letter to UN NepalNews
NC lawmakers criticise party leadership; demand resignation of Home Minister
SWC standoff continues; Employees demand cabinet decision be revoked The strike has affected the work of the 150 international non-governmental organizations and over 20,000 non-governmental organizations that injects over 10 billion rupees for the development of the country.
Nepali women, supporters draft plan for inclusion in peace process drafting of the interim constitution has begun without women’s participation, and none of the newly established committees include women ...... in the areas of process of constitutional and legal reform, transitional justice and reconciliation, post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation, gender-based violence, and monitoring and documentation.
Leadership in transition The topic of 'death' is a taboo in Nepali culture ..... the notorious sniff-dogs of the apparently deceased regime are more active in their nocturnal rounds than ever before......... a permanent dismantling of the reactionary set ups and annihilation of all viable routes of their return to the active political arena. ...... Mr. Koirala is in his mid-eighties. He has proven himself by acting with the grain of popular movements ...... It is time that Nepalis people think of a leap forward from the narrow party-politics and consider someone who has a clear vision of future Nepal and has a proven ability to leadership and thorough knowledge of the intricate procedures in forging partnership with sometime irreconcilable forces....... The matter here is of a leader's retiring from active politics. Let's see what figures we have among us with an equal or even better promises for us and our Nepal.
Thapa ready to take moral responsibility of deaths of pro-democracy activists Thapa however defended the actions saying that such incidents took place in the course of maintaining peace and security in the country........ “Though I did not personally order anyone to kill protesters and suppress the movement ....... he had given directives to police officers to use minimal force and to uphold human rights. ...... Rana accepted that he had distributed tax payers’ money to the journalists and media.......
New constitution will be inclusive: Speaker Nemwang Gurung said that the HoR should be dissolved at the earliest and replaced with a new government that includes representatives of all political parties as well as the Maoists and civil society.

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11 July02:00Nepal (wlink.com.np)

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Gang Of Four And Mao And Girija And Pyar Jung


When Mao was in ill health and near the end of his life, the Gang Of Four did its best to keep him on life support as long as possible, because only as long as Mao lived would they be able to exercise power on his behalf.

The cabinet in Nepal does not know of the letter that got sent to Kofin Annan. That is problematic. The people exercising power on Girija's behalf are not cabinet members, they are not even duly elected central committee members. A clique seems to have formed around the ailing Prime Minister. That is a dangerous proposition for a precarious peace process.

Girija's responsibility is to his cabinent, not to his personal clique.

I don't feel Girija is on his death bed, and I wish him a long life. But he sure is sick. He has not been in a position to perform his duties. I just don't see the logic. Why is he still Prime Minister?

It is prime time to promote Girija. He should now become Ganesh Man Singh.

Fire 20 Generals

Form the interm government, form an interim parliament, and fire 20 generals. Why only Pyar Jung? This has to be the first order of business by Prime Minister Madhav Nepal. Through his minor acts of defiance Pyar Jung is trying his luck and the luck of the king. The guy forgets there could still be another revolution. The country could become a republic before it goes for a constituent assembly.

Pyar Jung is not innocent.

It is unbecomig of the guy to try and cash on Girija's ill health.

But this is not about Girija, or Pyar Jung or the king. This is about the people.

Right now some generals are in line to lose their jobs. But if they were to engage in any sort of conspiracy at this point in time, they could lose more. They could lose their jobs and their liberty. They could lose property.

The thing about property is there has to be a major auditing of all the army's expenses over the past decade. Illegally amassed wealth has to be taken back by the state.

Hurry Up The Peace Process

Work has to be done to form a strong eight party alliance. This is no time for bickering. Possibilities of regression have to be snuffed out. That is why the Maoists have to measure up. And the seven party leaders have to measure up. The common enemy is still there. Things could still go wrong. The people will come out into the streets all over again if they have to, but why should they? They already did their part.

In The News

Government reiterates commitment to peace process NepalNews
Deuba returns NHRC chairman, members resign en masse
CEC Rajbhandari resigns
Nepali peacekeepers freed in Congo
Government has failed to introduce concrete plans regarding prime issues:Rana
New constitution will be inclusive: Speaker Nemwang
India pledges support for peace-building and democratization in Nepal: Deuba
UML to launch campaign for ‘democratic republic’ Nepali Congress and Nepali Congress (Democratic), are yet to speak anything officially about the agenda of democratic republic. ..... UML general secretary said the government’s decisions and works had been delayed because of Prime Minister GP Koirala’s ill health. ...... the government-Maoist talks have not been speedy
Beyond Koirala Nepali Times The man is 84 and is on oxygen. He used to chain smoke, his lung is malfunctioning and he has prostate problems. He was too ill to take the oath of office in April, too ill to attend parliament’s historic post-reinstatement session and now too ill to deliver the all important pre-budget speech in parliament. His illness is not just a concern for family and friends but also for his party, the governing alliance, the Maoists and the country...... Within the NC a governing collective must be formed before cronies use the prime minister’s power in his name and hotheads hijack the agenda.
Management of Maoists’ arms essential before forming interim Govt.: Deuba "Maoists should not be included in the interim government until the management of their weapons, dissolution of people's government and people's courts. They should also return the seized properties" ...... Calling on the rebel Maoists to give up three things--abductions, extortions and armed movement .... called on Sonia Gandhi, the president of the Congress party in India, former Prime Minister Indra Kumar Gujral, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, leader of Bharatiya Janata Party LK Advani and Nationalist Congress leader DP Tripathi ..... invitation of NCP General Secretary DP Tripathy...... Indian Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh and meet with Communist Party of India-Marxist leaders Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechuri.
22 people killed during ceasefire: NHRC five persons were killed by the Maoists, while six lost their lives at the hands of Nepali Army. ...... vigilante groups killed three people during the period and six others died in explosions of stray bombs......
DPM Oli unaware about the content of Govt. letter to UN cabinet members were not fully aware of the contents of the government's letter to the United Nations asking for its support in Nepal's peace process...... did not even know the whereabouts of the official copy of the letter...... committee members rapped the DPM and charged the government of moving in an autocratic manner......
Dy PM Oli presents government annual programmes, policies Kantipur Publications
New UK envoy to Nepal arrives
NHRC Chairman Khatri, CEC Rajbhandari resign
Interim statute to signify future constitution: Aryal the constitution to be drafted by the committee would presage the future constitution to be drawn up by a constituent assembly. ..... Modality, procedure and electoral system for constituent assembly on Tuesday
Maoists torture six persons six persons had their bodies swollen due to beating ..... the Maoists were compelled to hand them over to the police after residents of Hirminiya village protested against them demanding the release of all the "captured" persons. .... “They (Maoists) have handed over these eight persons to us saying that they are the guilty, but without any proof."
Differences erupt within NC on deal with rebels to dissolve House Serious differences erupted within the Nepali Congress (NC) parliamentary party ..... The parliamentarians also demanded the immediate dissolution of the Interim Constitution Drafting Committee...... meeting also endorsed a motion to impeach Chief Commissioner of Election Commission, Keshav Raj Rajbhandar, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman, Nayan Bahadur Khatri and other NHRC officials.
Drunken policemen vandalize bar including Assistant Sub-Inspector of the Siraha District Police Office, Durga Koirala .....
PM should handover responsibility: Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala should handover his responsibility to a capable person. ....
Oli red-faced over 'missing' letter to UN grilled by the Parliamentary Peace Process Monitoring Committee ...... the Committee headed by Speaker Subas Nembang "the contents" of the letter, admitted later - following a heated debate with lawmakers - that he hadn't seen the final letter signed by the Prime Minister...... most of the MPs grilling him were from his own party ..... "The government is a system. It is not that the nation too falls sick along with the Prime Minister." .......
प्रधानमन्त्रीको विकल्पबारे छलफल प्रधानमन्त्री गिरिजाप्रसाद कोइरालाको अस्वस्थताका कारण सरकार गतिहीन भएको ठहर गरी सत्तारुढ दुई मुख्य पार्टी कांग्रेस र एमालेले जिम्मेवारी हस्तान्तरणबारे छलफल अघि बढाएका छन् । शीर्ष नेताहरूबीच एमाले मुख्यालय बल्खुमा शनिबार साँझ भएको बैठकमा ...... पार्टीहरूबीच भएका सम्बन्धलाई थप सुदृढ बनाउने अभियान अन्तर्गत पहिलो चरणमा कांग्रेस र एमालेबीच छलफल सुरु भएको हो । ...... प्रतिगमनकारी उठ्न खोजेका संकेत देखिन थालेकामा सात दल र माओवादी एकता बलियो बनाउनुपर्छ ....... बैठकमा एमालेका तर्फबाट महासचिव माधवकुमार नेपाल, बोहोरा, ईश्वर पोखरेल र भरतमोहन अधिकारी, कांग्रेसका तर्फबाट उपसभापति सुशील कोइराला, डा. रामशरण महत, महेश आचार्य, अर्जुननरसिंह केसी, डा. रामवरण यादव, चक्रप्रसाद बास्तोला र आमोदप्रसाद उपाध्याय सहभागी थिए ।
एमाले-माओवादी कार्यदल एमाले र माओवादीबीच लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र स्थापना निर्माण प्रक्रियामा हुन सक्ने असमझदारी हटाउन कार्यदल गठन भएको छ । कार्यदलमा एमालेका युवराज ज्ञवाली र सुरेन्द्र पाण्डे छन् भने माओवादीका दीनानाथ शर्मा र अनन्त छन् ।
राप्रपाद्वारा संघीय संरचनाको प्रस्ताव जनप्रतिनिधिसभा, क्षेत्रीय सरकार र जिल्ला काउन्सिल ..... 'क्षेत्रीय एसेम्बली र क्षेत्रीय सरकारहरूको व्यवस्था हुनुपर्छ,' उनले भने- 'ती क्षेत्रीय संरचनामा महिला, जनजाति, दलित र पिछडिएका समुदायको आरक्षणको संवैधानिक व्यवस्था हुनुपर्ने राप्रपाको सोच छ ।'........ नेपालभर सरकारी कामकाजको भाषा नेपाली हुनुपर्ने तर जिल्ला काउन्सिलले आफ्नो क्षेत्रभित्र स्थानीय भाषालाई पनि कामकाजको भाषाका रूपमा प्रयोग गर्न पाउने व्यवस्था हुनुपर्न ....... समावेशी र संघीय राज्यको अवधारणा पार्टीले पारित गरे पनि लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रको मुद्दामा निर्णय नभइसकेको राणाले बताए । ...... नेपाली सेनाप्रतिको आपत्तिजनक अभिव्यक्ति सच्याएर माओवादी अध्यक्ष प्रचण्डले आफूलाई समकालीन नेताका रूपमा प्रस्तुत गरेको उनले बताए । सरकारले राष्ट्रसंघलाई पत्र पठाएको जानकारी आए पनि प्रक्रिया र विषयवस्तु पारदर्शी नभएको उनले बताए ।
देउवा-सिंह भेट वार्तामा भाँजो नहोस् ः माओवादी
माओवादी नियन्त्रणभित्र निर्मम यातना
युद्धविराममा २२ नागरिकको ज्यान गयो’
सेना स्वतन्त्र
मोटरबाटो आन्दोलन
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राष्ट्रसंघ पत्राचार र अन्यौल
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सेना स्वतन्त्र

राजा ज्ञानेन्द्रको जन्मोत्सवमा प्रधानसेनापति प्यारजंग थापा उच्च सैनिक अधिकृतहरूसहित राजदरबार पुगेको घटनाले ँशाही नेपाली सेना’ कायमै रहेको भान पारेको छ । त्यससँगै टुँडिखेल सैनिक मञ्चबाट सेनाको टुकडीले २१ तोपको सलामी चढाएर देशमा युगान्तकारी राजनीतिक परिवर्तन भएको पनि बिर्साएको छ । प्रधानसेनापतिको दरबार गमन र सैनिक सलामी सामान्य घटना हुन सक्दैनन् । राजनीतिक परिवर्तनप्रति अविश्वास र परिवर्तन ग्रहण गर्न अनिच्छा प्रकट गर्नेहरूको लोकतान्त्रिक सरकारविरुद्ध यो खुला चुनौती हो ।

सात दल गठबन्धन सरकारले राजाको जन्मोत्सवलाई राष्ट्रिय दिवसका रूपमा नमनाउने निर्णय गरेको थियो । त्यसैअनुसार विदेशमा रहेका राजदूतावासहरूले औपचारिक कार्यक्रम आयोजना पनि गरेनन् । देशभित्रै पनि सार्वजनिक बिदा दिइएन । उच्च पदस्थ पदाधिकारीहरू राजदरबार नजाने निर्णय गरी यसलाई दरबारको आन्तरिक मामिलामा सीमित गर्ने र राजदरबारका कर्मचारीलाई मात्र छुट्टी दिने निर्णय मन्त्रिपरिषद्ले गरेको हो । नेपाल सेनालाई यस विषयमा जानकारी नहुने गुञ्जयासै छैन ।

प्रधानमन्त्री, उपप्रधानमन्त्री, मन्त्रीहरू, राजनीतिक दलका नेताहरू, सचिवहरू कोही पनि राजदरबार गएनन् । मन्त्रीहरूले नजाने निधो गरी मातहत निकायलाई निर्णय अवगत गराएको विषयमा नेपाल सेनाको नेतृत्व तहबाट अवज्ञा हुनु गठबन्धन सरकारलाई आँखा खुल्ने घटना हुनुपर्छ । प्रधानसेनापतिले सरकारलाई गरेको यो अनादर हो, अविश्वास हो । सेना सरकार मातहत छ भन्ने विश्वासमाथि कुठाराघात हो । सरकारले गरेको निर्णयअनुसार दुवै प्रहरी संगठनका प्रमुखहरू गएनन्, तिनले आफ्ना मुख्यालयमै जन्मोत्सव मनाए, सरकारको नीति पालना गर्दै ।

जंगी अड्डामा विधिवत् जन्मोत्सव मनाएर मात्र सेनापतिहरूलाई पुगेन । राजाको सुस्वास्थ्य र दीर्घायु कामना गर्नु जायज हो तर त्यही बहानामा सरकारको निर्देशन अस्वीकार गर्नु जायज हुनै सक्दैन । जंगी अड्डाले टुँडिखेलबाट सलामी दिइएको घटनाबारे आधिकारिक जानकारी दिएको छैन । अधिकृतहरूका अनुसार दरबारको सैनिक सचिवालयको निर्देशनमा तोप पड्काइएको हो । राजदरबार सैनिक सचिवालय अझै सक्रिय छ भन्ने यो बलियो प्रमाण हो । दरबारको सुरक्षा मन्त्रिपरिषद्ले गर्ने भन्ने प्रतिनिधिसभा घोषणा २०६३ कार्यान्वयन हुन नसकेको कारण सचिवालय अस्तित्वमात्रै छैन, दरबारबाहिर नीति निर्देशनमा समेत सक्रिय छ भन्ने छर्लंग भएको छ ।

सेनामा सुधार ल्याई राष्ट्रिय सेनाको प्रतिष्ठा दिने र लोकतन्त्रलाई खतरा आउनसक्ने सम्भावनाहरू रोक्ने प्रमुख कर्तव्य सात दलले प्रतिनिधिसभा पुनःस्थापनालगत्तै गरेको ठहरमा बल पुगेको छैन । सर्वप्रथम त सुरक्षा निकायका अन्य प्रमुखहरू ुमाघ १९ु पछिको दोषका लागि दण्डित गरिँदा सेना प्रमुखलाई विशिष्ट व्यवहार गरिएको छ । सेनामा वास्तविक परिवर्तन ल्याउने राजनीतिक अठोट छैन भन्ने देखाउन रक्षामन्त्री नियुक्त गर्न नचाहनु अर्को प्रस्ट उदाहरण छ । त्यसैगरी दरबारको सुरक्षा मन्त्रिपरषद्ले गर्ने भन्ने ऐतिहासिक निर्णय कार्यान्वयनका लागि सरकारले कुनै गम्भीर गृहकार्य गरेको छैन, जसबाट ऊ टालटुलमा समय व्यतीत गर्न तल्लीन भएको देखिन्छ ।

सेनालाई मन्त्रिपरिषद् मातहत ल्याई संसदीय निगरानीमा राख्ने संकल्प लागू गर्न ढिलाइले माओवादीलाई मूलधारमा ल्याउने सहज वातावरण निर्माणमा अवरोध पुर्‍याएको छ । सैनिक सचिवालय खारेज गर्न नसक्नु, रक्षा मन्त्री तोकी सेनामा परिवर्तन प्रत्याभूतितर्फ सोच नबनाउनुजस्ता अकर्मण्यताले माओवादीलाई षड्यन्त्रको आशंका बरोबर प्रकट गर्ने सुविधा दिएको छ । त्यसबाट माओवादीको सेना र हतियार व्यवस्थापन जटिल मुद्दाका रूपमा रहिरहनेछ । संवैधानिक, प्रतीकात्मक वा आलंकारिक जेसुकै अवस्थामा राजसंस्था राखिएको होस्, प्रतिनिधिसभा घोषणाको उद्देश्य सेनासूग दरबारको गाूठो छिन्ने हो । कुनै सरकारी पदाधिकारी नगएको ठाउँ प्रधानसेनापति जानु तथा सैनिक सचिवालयको निर्देशनमा सेनाले सलामी टक्र्याउनु संसदीय संकल्पप्रति अविश्वास जनाउन पर्याप्त छ ।