Deciding Now On Monarchy And Army

Monarchy

Let's do the maths. The UML, the Maoists, the Jana Morcha, the Left Front, NMKP, all the left parties are for a democratic republic. The Deuba Congress is for a democratic republic. The Koirala Congress officially detached itself from constitutional monarchy at its last convention. Only another such convention can reverse that decision, and I don't see such a reversal likely. The RPP has come forth saying it will take its decision on the monarchy soon. That is code for saying the RPP also will come out for a republic.

This is a total sweep for a republic. Why am I not surprised? The republic is the mandate of the April Revolution. That was the street slogan. The idea of ending the monarchy is what brought the people out into the streets. Something to the tune of a total of eight million came out into the streets over a period of 19 days demanding an end to the monarchy, eight out of 27 million. Eight out of 12 million voters. If that is not a slam dunk for a republic, I don't know what is.

The best option would be for the king to abdicate. I mean, what is he expecting? The question is not if the monarchy will be ended or not, but how. It would be smart of him to proactively abdicate and cut a deal in the process. Land reform would apply to him also. If he owns 34,000 bighas of land, he will lose 33,980 bighas. It is called land reform. He vacates the Narayanhiti. That is to be the presidential office and residence. Property that used to be owned by Birendra and Dhirendra get nationalized. He gets to keep the rest that he owned before he became king. He will still end up perhaps the richest Nepali. That is not such a bad deal. Part of the deal could be to grant him amnesty for April. So he is no longer a king. He is a citizen and a businessman. He gets to start afresh. I think this package is the best he can hope for him and his family. And I wish him further business success.

The King Should Abdicate

If he does not proactively abdicate, the eight party alliance should make a political decision and end the monarchy. The property part might still be as I said. But there is no saying where the Raymajhi Commission interrogations will take the king as a person.

Just like the revived House secured a 33% reservation for women at all levels of government, the eight party alliance of the April Revolution should be able to take a political decision now and be done with the monarchy.



Army

There is no possibility of a coup whatsoever. Absolutely none. Nada, nil. That certainty also comes from the April Revolution. The feudal sympathizers in the Nepali Congress need to stop trying to scare others with the coup argument.

There is homework to do here. The eight parties have to face a few simple questions.

1. Does Nepal need to have an army?
2. If yes, how big should that army be?
   
3. How to restructure the army so as to make it inclusive of the DaMaJaMa at all levels?
4. How to integrate the to be laid off soldiers into the civilian economy?
   

Arms Management: Break It Down Into Smaller Pieces
100,000 Maoist Militia Must Disarm
Monarchy, Army, Federalism


Federalism

The good thing about taking care of the monarchy and the army now is then the constituent assembly can focus on the mega issue of federalism. There is a broad agreement that federalism is needed, but there is no agreement on its final shape.

All seven parties should put forth a map each for federalism. That is step one.




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Urgent Need For FM Radio Station In Mithila

(email sent to a small group)

With the FM, you can reach literally everyone, literate or not, rural, urban, in the langauge they speak and understand. FM is there at the other end what internet is in New York City. FM is the best way to reach the average person, the masses.

It is my recollection that groups have tried in the past to get a license for a FM in Janakpur and have failed. The Maithili language supposedly got in the way.

Those of you at the other end in Janakpur and Kathmandu, where does this topic stand?

There is a need for a FM staiton run as a business. Binay and I were talking about it earlier. Please inform and let's get going.

This will also be a way of unifying the entire Mithilanchal, Nepal India both.

Please let us know of leads and talks.

I guess all it would take is for a few potential investors to get together and go ahead and do it.

The station could also be webcast for Maithils worldwide. And Maithils worldwide could submit material for the station as MP3 files online, so easy to do. Otherwise right now the elite are cut off from the masses.

Bindeshwar Prasad Yadav: Prachanda On Madhesi

Prachanda on Madhesi: Time to Test

Dr. Bindeshwar Prasad Yadav

Summary

We feel Madheshi should neither approve nor disapprove any promise from any leader; they should see the act and match it with promises. It is time to test. They should keep marching towards the goal; the goal of Political, Defense, Administrative, Economical, Cultural, Social, and Language independence within the boundary of Nepal, where equal opportunity for Employment, Justice, Representation and Right, in honest practice, should be available to all. A unified Madhesh state only, is acceptable. Present proposed division of Madheshi population is against the consciousness of Madheshis. Hindi should be a second national language, because it is the link language for millions of Madheshis. For Madhesh and Madheshi to date democracy is a dream.

Description:

Mr Prachanda’s Assurances and Madheshi’s Grievances

“Recently the Party has passed a concrete resolution to study the Madhesi question from a greater height and to debate, discuss and develop leaders as well to take the revolutionary movement in Madhes to a new height.”

• http://madhesi.wordpress.com/2006/08/31/prachanda-on-madhesi/

“Expressing sadness over the fact that Madhesis are living like second class citizens, in the country despite being an indigenous group, he said, “Our party started the campaign of liberating Madhesis, and making them masters of the state right from the first year of the people’s war.”

-Maoist chairman Prachanda

Source: eKantipur.com http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=80143

Comment:

“Liberation for Madheshies” Mr Prachanda has been expressed in his lectures, and his party has recognized that;

i. Madheshis are indigenous population in Nepal,

ii. They are treated as second-class citizen in their own country,

iii. He has expressed his sadness over the pitiful situation and

iv. His party has started campaign of liberating Madheshi.

Statements appear to sound very good, as well as, attractive. Here, the concern is: whether his statements would transform into a holistic action with meaningful intention? Present scenarios look better than previously. But it doesn’t reflect Madheshi expectations; for example:-

i. Proposed boundaries of states are not in favor of Madheshi. Such divisions of Madheshi, in spite of a single unified Madhesh state, raise doubts in the peoples’ mind. “However, the question can be asked, is this division motivated to create a divide and rule policy?” Division among Madheshi, on gunpoint, reminds us of the division of family property between two brothers. The poor mother (the wife) lives with one brother, and the powerless father (the husband) lives with other brother. Just for bread, both old heads are compelled to kill their life long emotional attachment; they spend day and night with unheard cry of their souls. Similarly, such proposed state boundaries, will cause negative impact on Madheshi population. But, it is not the final, there is time left, we hope Mr Prachanda and his party will reconsider, and will make state boundary for Madheshi people according to their consciousness. In case, if Madheshi spirit is not respected, then Madheshi leaders should not accept this state boundary proposal till a right amendment comes. Like earlier, government will offer better position to some, and will not address the main issues of the Madheshi community as a whole.

In the world, there are several countries where Indian Diasporas have settled, and those country’s people and their government have with respect, accepted Hindi language. In Trinidad and Tobago, a centaury ago, Indian indenture labourers came; no one is alive among them. Still their children proudly speak Hindi and Bhojpuri. In Surinam, Hindi is second national language while Dutch is the first language. We all know among Madheshi, there are several languages; and Hindi is the only link language. Does it harm national Nepalese integrity, if Hindi is accepted as a second national language because it’s a link lauguage for over ten million in, population? In south India most people don’t know Hindi, they are doctors, engineers, and other professionals; still they are good Indians. Asking to make Hindi as a second national language, does not mean Madheshi are not as good, or as responsible as the non-Madheshis Nepalese citizens.

In this way, issues of Madheshi culture, identity, their proportionate representation in policy making bodies, implementations machinery, and judiciary system, need to be appropriately addressed. It’s very clear that proportionate representation in Parliament, Administrative services, Judiciary services, and Diplomatic representation to foreign countries, and United Nations Offices/ Agencies, that are justified as a demand. Nepal government doesn’t want to dismantle the army. In barracks of Madhesh land, there should be Madheshi youth army. Without this, the environment creates the image of colonization. It looks like a long list, but in reality, the only sufferer is Madheshi since centaury.

Prevailing Political Reality

Out of the royal family, several politicians have recorded their names in the modern history of Nepal, but history of Madhesh does not know anyone, because of all democratic Governments and Prime Ministers that have ignored the Madhesh and Madheshi in the same way. Ex Prime Ministers speak about the agony and suffering of Madheshi, but what did they do when they had responsibility to realize and the power to perform? Nothing! For Madhesh and Madheshi till date, democracy is a dream. It is a royal opportunity for Mr Prachanda and other top leaders to fulfill the promise and be Madhesh maker in the history, when time itself is writing it.

Should Madheshi be dependent?

We feel Madheshi should neither approve nor disapprove any promise from any leader; they should see the act and match with the promises. It is time to test. But, don’t wait and watch. Keep marching towards the goal, the goal of Political, Defense, Administrative, Economical, Cultural, Social, and Language independence within the boundary of Nepal, where equal opportunity for employment, justice, representaytion and right, in honest practice, should be available to all. At the same time, special opportunity should be created for back log Madheshi to bring them into the main development stream of the nation. We all must bear in mind; it is an outlook for true human independence, not to create a separate nation outside Nepal. It will be a great mistake to rely on promises, and not enhance our performance. Madheshi must remember that only Madheshi, no one else, can transform their fate and their future!

Bitter Truth

True integration of Madhesh into unified Nepal depends upon preparation of Madheshi population for independence. Reality of integration of Madhesh into Nepal is directly proportional to the strength of preparation of Madheshi population for independence. By this, we mean, total independence, one free of discrimination and being able to enjoy full human rights inside the united Nepal. They could demonstrate absolute willpower, power of sacrifice, and strength to be independent, and then only, they will be able, in reality, to be integrated with the remaining population of Nepal. Because integrity and respect are possible only between equals, it is simply based on a proverb honest friendship that is only possible between equals.

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ँवार्ताबाट टुंगो नलागे जनआन्दोलन’
प्रक्रियाप्रति कूटनीतिज्ञहरूको असहमति
शिखर बैठक 'आउँदो साता'
मन्त्रीको आदेशमा धमाधम नियुक्ति
राजाको सम्पत्ति खोजीमा असहयोग
देउवाले कोइराला भेट्ने
संविधानसभामा प्रतिनिधित्व माग
विद्यालयमा ब्यारेक विद्यार्थी भुइँमा
नेपालद्वारा आक्रोश
बेनी-जोमसोम सडक निर्माणमा अवरोध
शान्ति प्रक्रियामा उपेक्षित जनता