Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Federal Republic Guaranteed


The Maoists are for a federal republic. The UML is for a federal republic. The Deuba Congress is for a federal republic. The Jana Morcha is for a federal republic. The Sadbhavana is.

The Koirala Congress is not against federalism. And that party's last convention broke away from the idea of a constitutional monarchy, although its party president went on record recently saying he is still for a ceremonial monarchy. But then the senior Koirala might only be trying to smoothen the transition. He is talking of keeping the monarchy today.

Do the math. The support for a federal republic is not unanimous yet, but it is overwhelming. And if you agree to the basic democratic axiom that only another party convention of the Nepali Congress can reverse what that party decided at its last convention, then the support for a republic is unanimous.

But I am okay with the idea that a referendum will finally take the decision. That is not my first choice. My first choice would be to end the monarchy through a unanimous political decision of the eight parties.

Ending the monarchy was the street slogan of the April Revolution. How can you not see that?

I have enormous respects for Girija Koirala. He is the only Nepali who has played an important role in every single democracy movement in Nepal's history. But then his failing health is not his fault. His old age is not his fault. And because he holds a position of power, I am going to stay critical of his ways, especially those that are not democratic. There is an utter lack of democracy inside the Nepali Congress.

If I were an advisor to the king, I would suggest he abdicate and cut a deal in the process. How can you not see the monarchy will end? And if end it will, why not get yourself a safe landing when you still have a chance? For the good of your family, for the good of your country?

The King Should Abdicate

The good thing about a federal republic getting guaranteed will be that the country will be able to focus on other more important issues. For example, what shape should that federalism take? Should the country have an army? What size? What composition?

Arms Management: Break It Down Into Smaller Pieces

If all eight parties can agree on the common slogan of a federal republic, another reason that is good news is that then they will become more likely to also agree on the details of arms management. Agreeing on something takes political work. If you will be capable of it once, you will be capable of it again.

In The News

Joint letter to UN by Wednesday : Minister Gyawali NepalNews the government and the Maoists were preparing to send a joint letter to the United Nations on Wednesday, requesting the world body for help in the management of arms of the Nepali Army and the Maoist People’s Liberation Army (PLA). ....... Girija Prasad Koirala gave directions to the government’s talks team to reach an agreement with the Maoist side over the joint better by tomorrow ..... the two sides are yet to officially clarify what would be the point of consensus between them
Probe panel grills 16 police officials Four Superintendents of Police (SP), six Deputy Superintendents (DSP) and six Inspectors .... They said they only followed the orders of the government as required by their professional ethics.... SPs Surendra Bahadur Shah, Tula Bahadur KC, Dhananda Bhatta, and Rajan Bahadur Bista and DSPs Basanta Lama, Manoj Neupane and Thule Rai.
Koirala asks to find consensus on arms issues soon The disagreement on the issue is the government is in favour of setting political issues after arms management, while the rebels want to settle the political issues first. ...... The government talks team also held meeting with the Prime Minister on Monday as well after the meeting of the council of Ministers to discuss the issue.
Nepali, Indian Maoists jointly condemn US 'intervention' in S Asia, Israeli attacks in Lebanon In a rare joint statement on Tuesday, the CPN (Maoist) and CPI (Maoist) said the ‘US imperialists’ had been increasingly intervening in South Asia, particularly in Nepal and India. The two rebel outfits took the opportunity to lash out at America through the joint press statement issued in reaction to media reports about the growing differences between them....... “…Even in South Asia the US imperialists are more and more openly intervening in the countries of the region. Particularly in Nepal and India they have been directly intervening in the suppression of the Maoist movements.” ...... “As part of their direct intervention the US officers have themselves been training the RNA [now Nepali Army] and even entering every sphere of society to subvert the ongoing anti-monarchial movement. In India the US diplomats have been openly visiting Chhatisgargh and the military-run jungle warfare camp as part of their plans to suppress the Maoists.” ...... The US government has already warned of stopping its assistance to Nepal if the Maoists were brought to the government before they laid down arms. The US government’s position has not only irked the rebels but also some partners of the ruling the seven-party alliance. ...... the two Maoist parties also denounced the ‘US-backed’ Israeli attacks in Lebanon ..... “The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the Communist Party of India (Maoist) jointly re-assert their firm commitment to proletarian internationalism, mutual fraternal relations, on the basis of MLM,” the statement said, adding, “All tactical questions being adopted in the respective countries are the sole concern of the parties operating there. Both parties will seek to learn from the positive experiences of the other party as also the experiences of the Maoists who comprise the ICM.” ...... “While doing so we shall continue debates on ideological, political and strategic issues on which we differ in the true democratic traditions of the international communist movement. These debates and discussions will take place bilaterally and also, occasionally, publicly.” ...... While their Nepali counterparts, who are considered far more successful, have joined the peace process, the Indian Maoists have not been forthcoming in the central government’s offer for talks. ...... The Indian Maoist outfits are mainly active in rural parts of states like Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pardesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.
NRNA establishes contact office for Nepalis stranded in Lebanon in the City of Tripoli near Beirut, in order to establish contacts with Nepali nationals ..... more than 4,000 Nepalis are currently living in the war-ridden country. Apart from a few rescued by India and international humanitarian organizations the fate of majority of Nepalis in the country remains unknown . NRN-ICC has requested Nepali nationals in Lebanon to contact Miss Zeina EL Haj of Company Rawabina at 961 6 427209 or 9613 304310 or via email to rawabina@idm.net ..... the 'NRN Relief Fund for Nepalis in Lebanon' in Kathmandu-based Sanima Bank with account number 0160 612 and Federal Bank of Middle East (FBME) in Cyprus .... According to the President of NRN-ICC Dr. Upendra Mahato, the association will very soon make an appeal to the governments of Nepal, Lebanon, India and other SAARC countries for necessary help in rescue attempts of the Nepalis stranded there.
Indian, British envoys call on premier Koirala Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff of the Nepali Army, General Pyar Jung Thapa, called on premier Koirala, who also holds defense portfolio, this morning and briefed him about the security situation in the country ...... General Thapa is to retire next month. Reports said he is likely to go on a month-long leave prior to his retirement as per the Army’s tradition.
PM’s statement valid till CA polls: Home Minister Sitaula “We all know that the NC has left it to the constituent assembly to decide the fate of monarchy...... The central committee meeting of the CPN-UML also concluded that the statement of Koirala is against the sprit of the Jana Andolan (People’s movement) II.
Chaotic Kathmandu - By Shiva Gautam Senior leaders of political parties including the prime minister and Maoists reach an understanding, but the junior leaders cry foul. When these junior leaders and Maoists reach an understanding, the prime minister tells the media that he is unaware of it. ...... "We drive on the right side of the road in America, they drive on the left side of the road in the United Kingdom, but they drive on both sides of the road in Kathmandu" wrote an American traveler. ..... a flap of a butterfly's wings at one part of the globe may spawn a powerful thunderstorm in the other part....... Parties and Maoists came up with exactly the same 12-point declaration but there were no joint signatures; they signed it separately. So it is a common document, and at the same time not a common document..... Party leaders say they want to do way with monarchy, but keep amending rules regarding monarchy. The parties fought so hard to reinstate the parliament only to fight again for its immediate dissolution. ...... The army in clear and yet subtle way defies government's important decisions, and also says it supports the government. ..... I am told that Maoist army, now confident that they have the rural area, is stationed outside Katmandu valley in temporary barracks......
Rights activists worry over termination of peace talks; ask Govt. to ratify Rome statute
NRB revises its monetary policy
Thousands join in civil society demo in the capital

Maoists in India, Nepal say US trying to crush them Reuters India, India
Nepal premier tries to rescue peace deal Houston Chronicle
'US trying to scuttle Nepal peace talks'Times of India
Nepal talks 'not breaking down' BBC News
100 days of reinstated parliament of Nepal
People's Daily Online, China
Nepali guerrilla asks for national army including guerrillas People's Daily Online
Nepal's Awkward Alliance Wall Street Journal (subscription)
Ceasefire makes Nepal attractive for Indian entrepreneurs
India eNews.com, India
NEPAL: Aid work threatened by Maoist rebels
IRINnews.org, NY
Dawood's aide arrested on Indo-Nepal border
Hindustan Times, India
Rights Activists Fear Deadlock in Nepal Peace Process
Nepal human Rights News, Nepal
Rights activists worry over termination of peace talks; ask Govt. ... Nepalnews.com
Nepal:No Farewell to Arms Yet, Maoists Tell UN OneWorld.net, UK
India for political consensus in Nepal Nepalnews.com, Nepal

Koirala's affection for monarchy Kantipur Publications
Probe committee finds army men guilty, recommends strong action
Chinese nabbed with Yarchagumba
Maoist-tortured woman attempts self-immolation When Muna came out of the room, there were bruises all over her body, Jayprakash said. As Muna could not overcome the trauma of the torture, she soaked herself with kerosene and set herself on fire the following day. Jayprakash too sustained some injuries while trying to save his wife.
Maoists abduct NC cadre NC district president, Ram Krishna Yadav, has called on the rebels for his immediate release. .... another group of Maoists seized a motorcycle of VDC secretary Bharat Pajiyar, from his residence at Janakpur-4 .... CPN-UML district committee urged the Maoists to immediately stop such atrocities.
‘Bear with donations for some time’ "In the absence of budgetary support from the government, we have no option but to raise money from donations. But this phase will pass off as soon as the interim government, including the Maoists, is formed," said Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai, second-in-command of the CPN (Maoist). ..... the Maoists were soon coming up with a centrally controlled donation collecting mechanism so that non-Maoists could not take advantage of the situation. "It will be a one-window system, as you businessmen prefer to say," said he. ...... Dr Bhattarai also asked the entrepreneurs and the Maoist-affiliated trade unions to form a joint task force to deal with deteriorating industrial relations. ...... Dr Bhattarai said that his party was not against private industries and property ownership. "Nationalization of private property is not the agenda of the Maoist ....... However, he said extension of school-level education and health services should be the state's responsibility and the Maoists were for the nationalization of schools and health services with appropriate compensation. ...... private sector can venture into higher-level education and other sectors of commercial activities ...... "Currently, agriculture sector is over employed, and no country can progress and prosper by anchoring its economy on agriculture" ...... Dr Bhattarai further said that the state's investment should go in infrastructure and telecommunication development, while private sector should invest on profit-making ventures. ...... the CPN (Maoist) would selectively welcome foreign investment. "These policies of the CPN (Maoist), however, are mere conceptual framework. We will devise the concrete economic model in consultation with the private sector," said he, answering queries of the business community.
ँवार्ता असफल हुने विन्दुमा’
प्रधानमन्त्रीको भनाइप्रति एमालेको आपत्ति
सरकार गम्भीर
सैनिक ऐन पारित
जनआन्दोलनका घाइते चार महिनादेखि अचेत
सेनाको दोष’
अपहरित छोरी खोजी नगर्न धम्की
सहाराविहीन महिला अदालतमा
माओवादीद्वारा चन्दा संकलन तीव्र
लिम्बुवान् स्वायत्त राज्य माग
सेनाद्वारा जिप बेपत्ता
वार्ताप्रति इमानदारी
राष्ट्रसंघमा नेपाली प्रहरी
चेली बेचबिखनको चक्रव्यूह
हतियार व्यवस्थापनको मुद्दा
जनताका प्रश्न

Monday, August 07, 2006

Mainstream Jay Krishna Goit Also



जनतान्त्रिक विरुद्ध माओवादीको युद्ध घोषणा माओवादीले गरेको वार्ताको अनुरोध किन अस्वीकार गरेको भन्ने प्रश्नमा तराई जनतान्त्रिक मुक्ति मोर्चाका संयोजक जयकृष्ण गोइत भन्छन्, “एकातिर हाम्रा नेता–कार्यकर्ताको हत्या गर्ने, अर्कोतिर वार्ताको कुरा पनि गर्ने? त्यसमा पनि वार्ता त सरकारसँग पो गर्ने हो। माओवादीसँग त समझदारीसम्म हुनसक्छ।” सरकारले बोलाए वार्तामा बस्ने बताउने गोइतको आफ्नै गुनासो छ। उनी भन्छन्, “हामी त वार्ता गर्न तयार छौँ। तर सरकार १२ वर्षसम्म हतियार उठाएको पार्टीसँग कुरा गर्छ, हामीसँग गर्दैन। यो तराईवासीप्रति भेदभाव हो।”
If the Maoists think the JTMM are a tough nut to crack, they should know how the seven parties have been feeling for the past 10 years. The JTMM is acting irrational and violent. They don't seem to have a clear political program. Is it autonomy for the Terai, or what?

The Maoists should not treat the JTMM as their internal problem. Instead the seven party alliance should reach out to the JTMM just like they reached out to the Maoists.

We are lucky there are not many more splinter Maoist groups. Imagine what if Prachanda and Baburam had gone their separate ways.

The idea has to be to make an attempt to open up a channel of communication with the JTMM. Let them make public their political agenda. And let's work to convince them they should use the constituent assembly to achieve their goals.

This JTMM problem could easily get worse. It could easily get widespread. It could make bad the Pahadi-Madhesi dynamic in the Terai. The economic migration of Nepalis from the hills to the Terai will only continue. And that is okay. A Nepali citizen can move to any part of the country. But this violence will poison the communal sentiments on the ground. We can not allow that.

So we have to get politically proactive. The seven party leaders should issue direct statements inviting Ram Krishna Goit to use the constituent assembly to address the grievances of the Terai communities. He should be offered a conditional amnesty so he can safeland into the mainstream.

We have done it before with the Maoists. We can do it again with the JTMM. And I urge the Maoist leaders to exercise restraint. Violence is not the solution to the JTMM nuisance. The solution is proactive political action.

Matrika Yadav has to take the lead on this one. He has to realize an open warfare between these two armed groups could have serious negative repurcussions for the peace process underway. We don't want that.
तराईमा मारामार मुलुक स्थायी शान्तिको दिशातर्फ अग्रसर भइ  र हँदा तराईमा भने माओवादी र जनतान्त्रिक तराई मुक्तिमोर्चाबीच मारामार चलेको छ ..... १० वर्षको 'जनयुद्ध' मा समेत नदेखिएको द्वन्द्व यतिबेला सिराहा र सप्तरीवासी भोग्दैछन् साउन ४ गते राती मोर्चाका पोलिटव्युरो सदस्य रामविलाश यादवको सिराहा जिल्लाको सन्हैठास्थित घरलाई लक्षित गरी घेराबन्दीसहित 'कारबाही' गरे । यादव नभेटेपछि गाउँका एक दर्जन सर्वसाधारणलाई कुटपिट गर्नुका साथै त्यहाँबाट दुई लाख नगद, गरगहनासमेत माओवादीहरूले लुटपाट गरेका छन् । सो कारबाहीमा माओवादीहरूले स्थानीय ७० वषर्ीया वृद्धदेखि १० वषर्ीय बालकसम्म्ालाई छाडेनन् । घटनाको सर्वत्र निन्दा भए पनि माओवादीका जनकपुर-सगरमाथा व्युरो सदस्य दिनकरले मोर्चाविरुद्धको नियमित र घोषित अभियानअन्तर्गतको कारबाही भनी प्रतिक्रिया दिए । .... मोर्चाविरुद्ध 'युद्ध' को घोषणा गर्दै माओवादीका मधेशी फाँटका नेता मातृका यादवले मोर्चाका संयोजक जयकृष्ण गोइतलाई दरबार, भारत र अमेरकिाको उक्साहटमा मधेशी आन्दोलनलाई मत्थर पार्न सक्रिय रहेको आरोप लगाएपछि द्वन्द्व चुलिएको हो । यादवद्वारा लगाइएको आरोपको खण्डन गर्दै गोइतले अढाइ सय वर्षदेखि मधेशीलाई शोषण गर्ने पहाडिया ब्राह्मणवाद हावी रहेको माओवादी नेताको दासत्वले मधेश मुक्तिको कुरा गर्न सुहाउँदैन भन्ने प्रतिक्रिया दिएका थिए । ..... कम्युनिष्ट राजनीतिका जानकारहरू गोइतविरुद्ध यादवको आरोप नयाँ नरहेको बताउँछन् । .... मोर्चा माओवादी र तराईमा बसोवास गर्दै आएका पहाडी मूलका बासिन्दाहरूप्रति आक्रामक देखिएको छ । पहाडी मूलका कर्मचारीलाई अपहरण गर्ने र मोटो रकम फिरौती लिएर छाड्ने मोर्चाको दिनचर्या बनेको छ । ..... झन्डै चार दशकदेखि वाम आन्दोलनमा सक्रिय गोइत विभिन्न कम्युनिष्ट गुट हँुदै नेकपा -एमाले)बाट दुईपटक सप्तरीमा संसदीय चुनावमा सहभागी भए । तर, गोइत पार्टीका पहाडे नेता-कार्यकर्तासँगको अन्तरविरोधका कारण अलग्गिएको बताउँछन् । ...... माओवादीमा सामेल कम्युनिष्ट दर्शनका प्रशिक्षक गोइतले माओवादीभित्र पनि उत्तिकै सम्मान पाए । 'आर्थिक, सामरकि र भौगोलिक दृष्टिले महत्त्वपूर्ण मधेश र आदिवासी मधेशीको मुक्तिबिना पूर्णता पाउँदैन' भन्ने ठहर गर्दै ०५८ सालमा माओवादी अध्यक्ष प्रचण्डको उपस्थितिमा सर्लाहीको बरथहवामा सम्पन्न मधेशी सम्मेलनमा गोइतको अध्यक्षतामा मधेशी राष्ट्रिय मुक्तिमोर्चा गठन भयो । ...... माओवादीभित्र मतभेद बढ्दा एकीकृत तराईको विषयमा छलफलै नगरी ०६० असार २६ र २७ गते सम्पन्न मधेशी राष्ट्रिय मुक्तिमोर्चाको प्रथम राष्ट्रिय भेलाबाट आफूलाई अध्यक्षबाट हटाएर मातृका यादवलाई सो जिम्मेवारी दिइएको गोइतको आरोप छ । ०६१ साउन १० गते वक्तव्यमार्फत गोइतले माओवादीबाट आफूलाई अलग गर्दै आफू संयोजक रहेको जनतान्त्रिक तराई मुक्तिमोर्चा गठन गरेको घोषणा गरेका थिए । ..... त्यसबेला माओवादीभित्र प्रभावशाली मानिने सिराहाका देवनारायण यादव, नगेन्द्र पासवान, सुरज, रौतहटका अजय, सर्लाहीका रामकुमार शर्माजस् ता कैयाँै गोइतको मोर्चामा सहभागी थिए । तर, फुटलाई माओवादीले सहजसाथ लिन सकेन । मोर्चा गठन भएको एक वर्ष नबित्दै चार जना पोलिटव्युरो सदस्य भएको मोर्चाका दुई जना मारएि र एक जना पार्टी छाडेर बाहिरएिपछि मोर्चा झस्कियो । मोर्चा गठन भएको १० महिना नबित्दै पाँच जना पोलिटव्युरो सदस्यमध्ये अजय यादव र देवनारायण यादवलाई सेनाले र सुरजलाई माओवादीले हत्या गरेपछि मोर्चा झस् िकनु स् वाभाविकै थियो । ..... गोइतले भारतीय सीमावर्ती क्षेत्रमा चोरी डाँका पेशामा संलग्न तर माओवादी र प्रशासनबाट त्रसित केही व्यक्तिहरूलाई संरक्षण दिएर सशस्त्र गतिविधि बढाइरहेका छन् । मोर्चाका कार्यकर्ताहरूले हालसम्म सुरक्षाकर्मीमाथि कुनै आक्रमण नगरे पनि माओवादीका जिल्लास्तरीय एक दर्जन कार्यकर्ताको हत्या गरसिकेका छन् ।


In The News

Two Maoists shot dead, 16 injured in separate incidents Kantipur Online, Nepal Suspected activists of the Janatantric Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) on Wednesday shot two Maoist cadres to death in Saptari. ..... both the victims were local Maoist cadres. ..... JTMM Saptari district “coordinator” Ranabir Shing had threatened to kill the duo. .... The JTMM has killed nine Maoist cadres so far. .... JTMM activists abducted Saptari-based customs officer Tirtha Ram Khatiwada and demanded Rs. 500,000 for his release. .... some 20 people were also injured in a scuffle between two Maoist factions in Dhanusa today. ..... The fight that took place between the Maoists-led by chief of Dhanusha district, Bishnudev Yadav and other Maoist cadres of the Sabaila village is a result of long standing racial rivalry between the Yadavs and other people of the area, reported our correspondent Shyam Sundar Sashi. ...... The racial differences in Terai between the people from the Yadav community and non-Yadavs, who have a majority, are not uncommon.
JTMM Demands Rs 1m For NT Engineers' Release Himalayan Times, Nepal
Maoist leader Yadav declares war against JTMM Kantipur Online, Nepal
JTMM’s Terai Bandh Cripples Life In Siraha Himalayan Times, Nepal
JTMM Releases Rajbiraj Custom Office Chief Himalayan Times, Nepal
JTMM demands One million rupees for release of two engineers ... Nepalnews.com, Nepal
Two Maoist cadres shot at in Siraha PeaceJournalism.com, Nepal
Maoists declare war against breakaway outfit Nepalnews.com, Nepal
Rebels Declare War against Splinter Faction Nepal human Rights News, Nepal
Another Customs Official Abducted In Siraha Himalayan Times, Nepal
Two Maoists shot dead, 16 injured in separate incidents Kantipur Online, Nepal
Two Maoists killed; over a dozen injured in east Nepal Zee News, India
Gang Shoots Dead Two Maoists in Saptari Himalayan Times, Nepal
Maoists Declare War Against JTMM OhmyNews International, South Korea
Rebels Declare War against Splinter Faction Nepal human Rights News, Nepal
Maoists Declare War Against Breakaway Faction Himalayan Times, Nepal
Nepal: "light at end of tunnel" —for tribal peoples too? World War 4 Report, NY

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