Middle Ground: PR Election Now, Republic Later

I believe that could be the meeting point between the Maoists and the seven parties. The only party among even the seven parties that is opposed to the idea of a fully PR election is the not-yet-unified Nepali Congress. Otherwise the UML was the original author of the idea.

Announcing a PR election will make it easier to hold the November 22 election. Right now, we don't even know how the 240 constituencies have been delineated.

You end up with the entire country as one constituency, you end up with only one ballot paper. You probably end up with a smaller constituent assembly. 500 is too big. It should be more like 200 or 300.

I say, announce there will be a fully PR election on November 22 for a total of 300 seats. Every third person on a party's list must be female. Other than that there will be no rules. Give some more time to register new parties like the Federal Democratic National Forum. After the elections were postponed from summer to November, no new parties have been registered, and that is not okay.

On their part, the Maoists should be willing to agree to declaring the country a republic on the first session of the first session of the constituent assembly.

I hope the seven parties in power do not wait for the Maoist movement to go on for a few weeks before they finally do accede to the demand for a fully PR election. Why not do it right away? That way elections will still be held in November.

If the seven parties wait until the Maoist movement gains momentum, they will be forced to accede to both the demands. But right now they could give in to one and not give in on another.

Personally speaking I have had it with the monarchy. I am not opposed to the idea of declaring republic right away. Republic was the agenda of the April Revolution. The people spoke back in April 2006.

The political paralysis stems from one person, a Prime Minister who stays bed-ridden most of the time and who is ultra conservative. He is always the last one to sign on to something progressive for the country. He is not a leader. He is the constitutional monarch that succeeded Gyane.

It is not Girija's style to defend his position. He will simply state it and stick by it, come high or hell water. That has routinely led to paralysis.

It is curious that the Pahadi Maoists and the Madhesi Maoists are suddenly finding common ground. Both of them are headed to disrupting the November polls not because they want to but because they feel it will not be fair.

New Prime Minister

If it ends up that elections are not held in November. If it ends up that all political actors collectively decide to shift the elections to April, then Girija must be kicked out. Girija has refused to perform politically, he has refused to make the political moves that would have made it possible to hold elections back in summer, and now in November. He seems to think he has a foolproof formula. The more you postpone the elections, the longer he gets to be Prime Minister. Why would he want elections that will likely kick him out of Baluwatar because his party might have had its base seriously eroded?

Madhav Nepal could be a decent choice to replace Girija.

I have been surprised the two big communist parties have not been able to seek common ground. They must know that in a few years it is going to be the Nepali Congress that will be their primary opponent on land reform issues.

Respectful Dialogue With The Madhesi Maoists

The Pahadi parties would rather have violent elections. Holding respectful dialogue with Jwala and Goit is essential to the idea of ending up with a Nepal Army that has a fair ethnic composition as far as the Madhesi are concerned. Right now you are looking at a Nepal Army that will be largely a Pahadi Army upon integration.

Taking Responsibility

Girija has to take responsibility for the fact that political paralysis leads to lawlessness and statelessness. People suffer. He should have resigned in summer when he was not able to hold elections.

Statelessness gives rise to Pahadi Madhesi riots, Hindu Muslim riots.

Maoists Are Playing With Fire

At some level, they want to create a pro-Maoist wave in the country. They want to take sole credit when the country finally becomes a republic.

The Kapilvastu incident is highly alarming? Who killed Mohit Khan? Was the Maoist high command involved? Such killing and counter killings can spiral into uncharted territory. Nepal gets pushed closer to being a failed state.

The Madhesi MPs And The Idea Of A New Party
Not UML-Maoist Unification Or Unity, But A One Point Agreement On PR Election
Baburam Bhattarai Is Right About UML-Maoist Unity
एक मात्र िमलनिवन्दु: पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन
Best Possible Scenario: How It Could Unfold
The Maoist Confusion Is Unnecessary
Madhav Nepal Needs To Make A Move
I Agree With Prachanda On Republic And Proportional Election

In The News

Maoists quit govt; announce protest movement NepalNews the Maoists have announced nationwide protest movement from Tuesday. .... Now we will declare republic from the streets. ...... the code of ethics and election schedule by the Election Commission was no longer acceptable to them .... carrying out 'funeral procession of monarchy' throughout the country on September 18. ..... door-to-door public awareness campaign between September 19 and 21. From September 22 till 29, they will intensify rallies and campaigns. And between September 29 and October 3, the Maoists have stated that they will 'expose' the corrupt people and those named as guilty in the report by Rayamajhi Commission. On September 30, the Maoists have vowed to gherao all the District Administration Offices across the country. They have also announced general strike from October 4 till 6. This strike coincides with EC's schedule whereby nominations of candidates will have to be filed on October 5. ........ People's Liberation Army will remain in cantonments.
Congress, UML leaders still hope to keep alive eight-party unity Girija Prasad Koirala, who is bedridden due to health problems.
UNMIN urges parties to find a way out of current stalemate UNMIN remains deeply concerned by continued violence in the Terai, and appeals for calm and tolerance across the diverse communities in the region.
British minister disappointed with Maoist move
Taulihawa limps back to normalcy; death toll reaches four displaced people are taking asylum in police posts and army barracks while some houses in the city continue to burn. The administration has not been able to put out the fire that burnt more than 300 houses, dozens of shops and some factories. ..... The riots in Kapilvastu and Rupandehi had erupted after the killing of Abdul Mohit Khan.
EC hints fully proportional system is not possible; code of conduct comes into effect Proportional representation system is one the major demands of the Maoists and ethnic groups. Interim constitution will be at risk if Maoists quit, says Poudel Poudel, however, said that the government will proceed with the election plan even if the Maoists quit the government.
Three armed Maoist cadres arrested at Nepalgunj Airport
Indian businessman shot dead in Birgunj
Eight Terai districts classified as 'highly sensitive' Eight districts have been listed as “highly sensitive” and 13 districts as “sensitive” areas ..... Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Sarlahi, Siraha and Saptari have been put in “highly sensitive” category while Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Makwanpur, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilbastu, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts have been listed as “sensitive” districts. ..... 28 policemen would be deployed in each and every voting center of highly sensitive districts. ... The “on contract” policemen would constitute 80 percent of the policemen deployed for election security. ...... an outer ring of security personnel that includes mobile force, striking force, reserve force and helicopter patrolling. The “on contract” police would be given Rs 10,000 as a one month salary. The families dependent on policemen who get killed while providing election security would be given Rs 1,000,000 in compensation.
Gorkhapatra goes multilingual articles in Maithili, Magar, Tamang, Tamang Sangyur, Newari and Rai languages. Except in Maithili, articles in other languages focused on constituent assembly polls and federalism. In Maithili, a popular teraian satirist Dhirendra Premarshi wrote about right to education in mother tongue ...... at least one or two pages of news, news analysis, opinion and political analysis will be published in multiple languages everyday and that all such items will be in favour of democratic republic. ..... Gorkhapatra has become the first newspaper in the country to be published in multiple languages.
Maoists would be blamed if peace process gets derailed: MK Nepal Nepal also said that he advised the Maoists to instead engage in election preparation.

FLNF obstructs Damak-Birtamod road Kantipur Federal Limbuwan National Front (FLNF)
Prolonged transition spawning armed groups At least 21 disgruntled groups have so far taken up arms or claim to have done so to unleash violence, after the CPN (Maoist) formally laid down their arms November last. ...... the number of such outfits could shoot up should the transition period get protracted further ..... such groups are already mushrooming at an alarming rate. ... Altogether nine armed groups were reportedly in operation in various parts of the country as of last May. In the less than four months since, at least 12 other armed groups have emerged. ...... the three armed groups--Tarai Army, Tarai Utthan Sangh and Nepal People's Army--that claimed responsibility through media for multiple bomb blasts in the capital city on September 2 had not come to the notice of security personnel. ...... police now believe that Mainali was the lone person in the Defense Army. It is no more in existence. .... the activities of the Terai Cobra have also ceased completely after the arrest of its chief, Nagraj. ..... most of the armed groups are active in the terai ...... Besides the Jantantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) factions led by Jwala Singh, Goit, Bisphot Singh and Himmat Singh,10 other groups are carrying out violent activities in the southern plains. According to Nepal Police Headquarters, these groups include the Liberation Tigers of Tarai Elam (Ram Lochan Singh), Tarai Cobras, Madhesi Mukti Tigers, Tarai Bagi, Janawadi Ganatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha, Madhesi Virus Killers' Party, Shantika Lagi Kranti Tarai, Madhesi Special Force, Tarai Army and Tarai Utthan Sangh. ....... Nepal Janatantrik Party, Rastriya Army Nepal, Supa Kranti Dal, Shahi Mukti Morcha, Gorkha Mukti Morcha and Nepal People's Army are reported to have announced through pamphlets an intensification of their violence in other parts of the country besides the tarai.
Curfew re-imposed in Butwal with fresh backlash in Kapilvastu Armed with domestic weapons, they have vandalized and torched Lumbini Cotton Factory, a few petrol pumps and around a dozen houses at Chandrauta ...... Some of the passengers and drivers, who were missing following the unprecedented violence in Kapilvastu Sunday, are yet to come into contact. ..... nearly two hundred vehicles plying on the highway were vandalized during Sunday's violence in Kapilvastu. ..... At least 85 vehicles were torched in Chandrauta in the district alone. ..... At least 150 people were injured during the violence ..... Hundreds of locals of Chandrauta and Krishnanagar, who had taken refuge in the nearby forests after the incident, came in contact today ...... Many have been left without homes and money .... Mohit Khan, the vice-chairman of Democratic Madhesi Front, erstwhile chairman of an anti-Maoist group and a district committee member of Nepali Congress ....... angry protestors vandalized and torched scores of houses and vehicles in Chandrauta, Krishnanagar and the district headquarters Taulihawa ..... Over 123 houses in Devinagar were also torched by the protestors. The angry demonstrators also torched a police van heading toward Birpur to take stock of the situation. ...... The protestors had set fire to at least over two dozen government offices, a Maoist liaison office, scores of vehicles and dozens of houses in Taulihawa, and many vehicles in other villages in Kapilvastu on Sunday. ........ The mob had also stormed into the Siddhartha Finance at Krishnanagar and made off with over three million rupees ....... In retaliation for the violence in Kapilvastu, some irate protestors in Butwal vandalized two mosques there on Sunday. Taking advantage of the situation, looters also broke into various houses and institutions and looted cash, jeweleries and food.
6 injured as cops, MPRF cadres clash in Nepalgunj The police had intervened to clear the road in front of the District Administration Office, which was blocked by MPRF activists demanding the release of the arrested ones on charge of killing a Maoist activist. The agitating group, including children aged between 10 and 12, tried to forcefully shut down the shops. They also shouted slogans in front of the Administration office against the police. The town remained tense.
NSP-A factions clash over party headquarters A skirmish ensued between factions of Nepal Sadbhawana Party- Anandidevi (NSP-A) led by party chairman Anandi Devi Singh and dissident leader Minister for Industry Commerce and Supplies Rajendra Mahato after both sides tried to take control of the party’s central office in Baneshwar in Kathmandu Monday afternoon. The NSP-A group loyal to Minister Mahato-- who was elected the party chairman through just concluded special convention held in Birgunj without the consent of the establishment-- went to occupy the party office, claiming that the general convention was legitimate. ..... Security persons have been deployed at the Party office since early morning to avert any untoward incident. Police also recovered a pistol and dozens of rods from the office building. After the tension rose, the house owner has asked the NSP-A leaders to vacate the office building immediately.
NC, UML leaders surprised by Maoist move; 8-party meeting on Wednesday
Maoists announce protest programmes to thwart CA polls
Baluwatar talks fail; Maoists quit govt
Maoist stage demonstrations; PLA stage protests outside cantonments
Prachanda not to attend Maoist protest assembly due to his health condition .... Prachanda was recently diagnosed with spondylitis and high blood pressure.

My Idea Of A Madhesi Gathering

Time: 4.00-6.00PM
Date: Sept 16, 2007 on Sunday
Place: The General Theological Seminary
175 Ninth Avenue It is on Ninth Avenue,
between 20th St. & 21st Street.

Rajesh Shah was the host. The fancy downtown Manhattan venue was his workplace. He lives in Queens. He was one year senior to me at high school. His father has been in town for two months now. I arrived on time at four. Other than them two, I was the first to arrive. So we sat in the lobby and talked soap while waiting for others. I told the father that there are Pahadis who tell me, you went to Budhanilkantha, how many Pahadis went to Budhanilkantha, why are you complaining? I say to them, in my class of about 80 at Budhanilkantha, there should have been 40 Madhesis, or at least 30, but there were only three. That is why I complain.

I think Rajesh Shah should be the New York Metro chair of ANTA, especially since that chair is vacant after the last chair moved over to a different city, Chicago, and Ritesh Chaudhary has been acting chair as the second in command. And especially after this event, Rajesh Shah has more than proven himself.

I am a stickler for one person, one vote democracy and transparency. Hold an election. All interested parties will file nominations. Then there would be an open vote. People should be able to vote over email, over the phone. And it would not be a secret ballot.

The New York Metro chapter is the center of gravity of ANTA due to its size and location. But I should not comment too much, since I am not a member. My organization Hamro Nepal collaborates with ANTA on hard core political stuff to do with the Madhesi Movement. And I like it better that way. I am more efficient that way.

Hari Mahaseth, his friend Anirudh from Kapilvastu showed. Binod Shah, by now one of the top three ANTA officers nationally, showed. He was the one who had done much of the ground work calling people up and stuff. Ratanji tells me Binodji has done amazing work expanding ANTA the past few months.

Binay Kant Chaudhary and our man at the UN Nawal Yadav were there.

And of course Shyamanand Suman was the guest of honor. He is the only Madhesi to have become a Nepali ambassador as a career bureaucrat. His daughter lives in NYC, son in Toronto. He was Nepali ambassador to Qatar. Now he is Upendra Yadav's primary advisor on foreign policy issues. I expect Sumanji to contest and win the November election. He will win from Saptari from the seat Gajendra Narayan Singh used to hold. And if the MJF comes to power, Suman could end up in the cabinet.

As we waited in the lobby, people started showing up. After we reached critical mass, we shifted to the large meeting room where the formal gathering took place. Although Sumanji was the featured speaker, the meeting was highly interactive. Eveybody took turns speaking. The discussion was lively. All possible contemporary topics to do with the Madhesi Movement were discussed. All bases got covered.

Towards the end Binodji summarized the entire meeting on the public board. I was highly impressed with the summary. The only reason this guy is a doctor is because he grew up in a culture where if you are a smart student, you go to medical school. If he had grown up in America, he would likely have gone to law school and become a public official. He is very social and political. And the summary he sketched showed that.

First, there should be a solid Madhesi unity. The two Sadbhavana factions must unite. The two MJF factions must unite. The Sadbhavana and the MJF must form an electoral alliance. And then they must reach out to Jwala, Goit and the others and also bring them into the alliance.

Second, Ek Madhesh, Ek Pradesh. That should be the common agenda of the alliance. Any party that accepts that slogan can be invited into the alliance. So if the Nepali Congress, the UML, and the Maoists also accept the Ek Madhesh, Ek Pradesh slogan, they can also join the Madhesi Alliance. If not, how can they? There would be no point.

Third, the unity, and the slogan should lead to a formal electoral alliance. Only one alliance cadidate from each of the 116 constituencies in the Terai.

Fourth, pick good candidates for the election.

Fifth, party finances.

There was an elaborate discussion on the recent news that the MJF and the Nepali Congress might form an electoral alliance. The gathering disagreed with the idea. It was the Nepali Congress that has to be held responsible for the 40 martyrs of the Madhesi Kranti. It is the Madhesi Kranti that gave birth to the political party called the MJF. How can the MJF seek an alliance with the Congress?

Sumanji educated the group on the intricate arithmetic of the electoral rules and seat distributions of the proposed mixed election system.

Samosa and soda were served.

I have over half hour of video from the event, the first half hour from the earlier event with Sumanji with some of the same people in Jackson Heights, and that was before he went to Toronto for a month or more.



Video: Shyamanand Suman, Former Nepali Ambassador To Qatar

The Madhesi Kranti has made all the difference. This wonderful meeting could not have been possible without the Madhesi Kranti. Now the Prabasi Madhesis - the Madhesi diaspora - feel much more comfortable claiming the Madhesi identity. The self hate, or the unease, the discomfort with the identity has to a large extent evaporated. I was very much impressed by the tactical options the meeting explored on behalf of the Madhesi Movement going forward.

The meeting lasted more than an hour longer than its prescribed time. I ate up the last samosa in the bag, and drank the last drop of water in the water bottle. I gave the pass on the coke.

It looks to me like the hardest work the Madhesi Movement has to do right away is nothing to do with Pahadis. It is to do with the Madhesi leaders of the various unarmed and armed groups. Can they talk among themselves? Can they forge a consensus? Can they all agree to come around to the simple, clear, militant slogan of Ek Madhesh, Ek Pradesh?

The Madhesi masses already did their part during the 21 days of the Madhesi Kranti. Janata age, neta pichee waali baat hai. Now will the leaders also perform half as well as the people did? Will they agree to sit down and talk to each other? You sit down in a long, closed door session and you talk for hours until you have found common ground.

A simple majority of the constituent assembly will form the next government. Two third majorities will write the articles of the next constitution.

Forging a strong Madhesi Alliance is critical. Otherwise the ensuing setback to the Madhesi Movement could last decades still.

Rajendra Mahto: Three Hours Of Video
Upendra Yadav: Five Hours Of Video
Anil Jha, Nepal Sadbhavana Party 1
Anil Jha, Nepal Sadbhavana Party 2
Anil Jha, Nepal Sadbhavana Party 3
Madhesi Gathering In Prospect Park 1
Madhesi Gathering In Prospect Park 2
Ridgewood Dashain Party

In The News

Koirala ‘rejects’ Maoist demands for pre-election republic and PR-based election system NepalNews
Leaders accelerate discussion on Maoist demands
Chandrauta still tense, goodwill rally organised in Butwal
Election commissioners meet with PM; govt preparing for new security strategy
Rival NSP factions clash over party office
Acharya and Thapa recommended as NC candidate Nepali Congress (NC) central member Narhari Acharya and popular student leader Gagan Thapa have been recommended for direct seats in the upcoming Constituent Assembly election. The separate meeting of the Katmandu’s no. 4 and 5 area committee of NC Saturday had made this recommendation. ..... The no. 5 area committee has recommended only Acharya’s name for the direct seat unanimously.
NSP-A proposes separate prime ministers as heads of 'regional parliaments'
Koirala, Nepal agree to hold 'immediate' eight-party meet over Maoist demands
Menon discusses CA polls, Terai issues with PM finding solution to the Terai crisis, security arrangement in Terai
Tuesday’s mass meeting will declare revolt if demands not met: Bhattarai
China ‘ready ‘to rescue Nepal from petroleum crisis
Maoist roundtable put off yet again The much talked about roundtable conference of the CPN (Maoist) has been suspended indefinitely.
NSP-A appeals EC not to recognise Mahato faction
MJF making overtures for cooperation with NC
JTMM-G cadres torch former minister Matrika’s vehicle
Mahato elected NSP-A chairman

प्रचण्डलाई प्रधानमन्त्रीको आग्रह Kantipur तत्काल गणतन्त्र घोषणा गरेर प्रतिगामी चलखेल रोक्ने र सबै जाति, जनजाति, मधेसी, महिला, दलित आदिका माग पूरा गर्न समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणालीमा जानुपर्ने विषयमा प्रचण्डले जोड दिएका थिए ...... डा. बाबुराम भट्टराईले 'हामी एक्लै हिँड्नु नपरोस्, शान्ति प्रक्रियाबाटै समाधान होस् भनेर २२ बुँदे माग राखेको' उल्लेख गर्दै नयाँ परिस्थितिमा आठ दल एकता राख्न अर्को 'बाह्रबुँदे समझदारी' आवश्यक भएको औंल्याए ..... एमाले महासचिव माधवकुमार नेपालले 'आठ दल बैठकको कमीले समस्या बल्भिmने गरेको' जनाउँदै 'मंसिर ६' तलमाथि नपर्ने गरी कुनै पनि प्रतिबद्धता व्यक्त गर्न एमाले तयार रहेको ...... कांग्रेस -प्रजातान्त्रिक) का महामन्त्री विमलेन्द्र निधिले अर्को बाह्रबुँदे अबका बाह्र दिनमा गर्न समझदारी हुन नसके निर्वाचन तालिकाअनुसार बन्दसूचीका उम्मेदवार मनोनयन गर्न नभ्याइने तर्क गरे । ..... सद्भावना -आ) का हृदयेश त्रिपाठीले सद्भावना -आ) 'राज्यले उधारो दिन खोज्दा राज्यका सबै अंगमा समान प्रतिनिधित्व लागू हुन नसकी मधेस अहिले पनि अशान्त रहेको' औंल्याए । ...... आदिवासी जनजाति महासंघका अध्यक्ष पासाङ शेर्पाले मंसिर ६ गते निर्वाचनलाई केन्दि्रत गरी सरकारसँग आफ्नो सम्झौता भएको उल्लेख गर्दै 'त्यही सम्झौता गर्दा पनि मैले हरेक दिन कम्तीमा पन्ध्रभन्दा बढी प्रस्टीकरण फोनबाट दिनुपरेको छ' भने । ..... संवैधानिक अंगका रूपमा रहेको आठ दलको बैठक पारदर्शी ढंगले सञ्चालन हुनुपर्नेमा जोड दिए । ..... कांग्रेसका युवा नेता गगन थापाले 'निर्वाचनमा ३५ लाख नयाँ मतदाता र ३५ वर्षमुनिका ५१ प्रतिशत रहेकाले' कसैले पनि संविधानसभा निर्वाचनलाई 'भोट बैंक' का हिसाबले हेर्नु नपर्ने औंल्याए । ... एमालेका युवा नेता ठाकुर गैरेले 'जनजातिसँगको सम्झौता आफूलाई थाहा नभएको भन्ने प्रधानमन्त्रीलाई आठ दलको एकता टुट्न हुन्न भन्ने आम जनताको राय थाहा नभएको हुनसक्ने'
आचारसंहिता पर्सिदेखि निर्वाचन आयोगले संविधानसभा चुनावका लागि मंगलबार आचारसंहिता जारी गर्ने भएको छ । दुई दिनभित्र सरकारले सचिव, राजदूत नियुक्ति, कर्मच्ाारी सरुवा बढुवालगायत निर्णय नगरे ती सबै प्रक्रिया रोकिनेछन् । ... राजनीतिक दलले समानुपातिक सिटका लागि बन्दसूची पेस गर्ने दिन असोज १३ गते, उम्मेदवारले मनोनयपत्र दर्ता भएको दिन असोज १८ र निजी सञ्चार माध्यमले उम्मेदवारलाई चुनावचिह्न प्रदान गरेको दिन असोज २४ देखि अचारसंहिता पालना गर्नुपर्नेछ । ..... चुनाव अवधिभर सरकारले नयाँ नीति योजना घोषणा, स्वीकृति सञ्चालन र साधन स्रोतको परिचालन गर्न नपाउने व्यवस्था आचारसंहितामा छ । राजनीतिक दल र उम्मेदवारले यसपटकदेखि कुनै पनि पोस्टर टाँस्न, भित्तेलेखन, तुल ब्यानर प्रयोग गर्न नपाउने व्यवस्था गरिएको छ ।
एकतामा जोड
आठ दलीय एकताको प्रस्ताव
Home secy vows to tighten security from Sep 18 NepalNews Home Secretary Umesh Mainali has said that the government is preparing to tighten security situation in the country from September 18...... "Now our security agencies will present themselves in a strict manner. We have no choice," he said. .... Taking a swipe at frequent bandhs and transport obstruction in highways on various pretexts, Mainali warned that the security forces would now control the situation. He said that bandhs and strikes in roads and highways would soon be declared illegal. He said that a new law is being introduced, which will allow the administration to imprison bandh-organisers up to six months.
MJF making overtures for cooperation with NC The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) led by Upendra Yadav is making overtures for cooperation with Nepali Congress (NC) for the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) election. Yadav informed that MJF will forge cooperation with NC and other partners of wider democratic front. Talking to journalists in Biratnagar, he revealed that MJF is in talks with NC on this issue. Yadav, however, ruled out any cooperation with the Maoists, armed factions and royalists. He reiterated that CA election should be held on schedule. Otherwise, he said the government will lose legitimacy.
Delegation including Maoist 'party whip' preparing to attend UN assembly

आठ दलीय एकताको प्रस्ताव

प्रस्तावना सात दल र नेकपा -माओवादी) को सहकार्यमा सम्पन्न २०६२/०६३ को बृहत् जनआन्दोलनमा महत्त्वपूर्ण योगदान पुर्‍याएको लोकतन्त्र र शान्तिका लागि नागरिक आन्दोलनले २०६३ वैशाख ११ पछि पनि आफ्नो आन्दोलन जारी राखेको हो । आन्दोलनमार्फत सात दल, नेकपा माओवादी र आठ दलको सरकारको कामकारबाहीमा समर्थन, विरोध र दबाब जारी राख्नुका केही कारण थिए ।

पहिलो कुरा त, प्रतिनिधिसभा पुनःस्थापना जनआन्दोलनको प्राथमिक आदेश नभएकाले यो बाटो भएर सर्वसाधारणले चाहेको परिवर्तन हासिल गर्न सकिन्छ भन्ने सन्देह छँदै थियो । त्यस्तै आमनेपालीलेे जनआन्दोलनमार्फत खोजेको स्वतन्त्रता, समता, समाजिक न्याय र लोकतान्त्रिक मूल्यमान्यतासहितको राजनीतिक, आर्थिक र सांस्कृतिक रूपान्तरण हुने कुरामा आश्वस्त हुन सक्ने वातावरण भएन । २०६२ वैशाखको सहमतिले १९ दिने शान्तिपूर्ण विद्रोहलेे समात्न चाहेको लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रको ठोस गतिलाई एक प्रकारले अवरुद्ध तुल्यायो ।

अधिकांश दल र राजनीतिक नेतृत्वले बृहत् जनआन्दोलनको आकांक्षा र आदेशलाई केवल राजाविरोधी आन्दोलन, अमूर्त स्थायी शान्तिको चाहना, बहुदलीय व्यवस्थाप्रतिको प्रतिबद्धता र संविधानसभा चुनावमार्फत नयाँ संविधान निर्माणको रूपमा बुझेको पाइन्छ । यी विषय महत्त्वपूर्ण हुन् तापनि परिवर्तन पक्षधरहरूले भने लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र, राज्यको पुनसर्ंरचना, लोकतान्त्रिक मूल्यमान्यतासहितको कार्यविधिको पक्षमा जनआन्दोलनमा विशाल र बलिदानी सहभागिता जनाएका थिए । जनआन्दोलनबाट आमनेपालीले विदेशी चलखेल निमिट्यान्न पार्दै जनताको सार्वभौमिकता स्थापित गर्न पनि चाहेका थिए । डेढ वर्षमा कतिपय उपलब्धिका बाबजुद जनआन्दोलनको आधारभूत आकांक्षा एकपछि अर्को गर्दै संकटमा परेको जगजाहेर छ ।

२०६३ असारमा सात दल र माओवादीबीच भएको आठ बँुदेको विरोधमा सात दलभित्रकै नेतृत्वपङ्क्ति लाग्यो । अन्तरिम संसद्मा पनि २०५ को निरन्तरता रह्यो । यस्तो यथास्थितिवादी चिन्तन र परिवर्तनविरोधी सोचको दबदबाबीच आफ्नो आधारभूत मागहरूमा अड्न नसक्दा माओवादी पनि परिवर्तनको बाधकै हुन पुगे । लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र र पूर्ण समानुपातिक निर्वाचनजस्ता सवालमा माओवादीले पहिल्यै अडान कायम नराखी अहिले तिनैलाई सर्तका रूपमा सार्नु जायज भएर पनि विडम्बना भएको छ ।

यसरी अहिलेको राजनीतिक संकटको भागिदार सात दल र माओवादीलगायत प्रबुद्ध नागरिक, बुद्धिजीवी र सम्बन्धित वर्ग/समुदाय पनि छन् । कोही पनि दोषमुक्त नभएको यो स्थितिमा पुनः एकपटक राजनीतिलाई सर्वसाधारणले चाहेको परिवर्तनको बाटामा डोर्‍याउने अभिभारा हामी सबैको काँधमा रहेको दायित्वबोध नागरिक आन्दोलनलाई छ ।

सार्थक उपलब्धि

राजनीति यो मोडमा आए पनि डेढ वर्षमा आठ दलको सहमतिमा भएको सार्थक उपलब्धि हामीले मनन गरेका छौं । जस्तै ः

ल बाह्र बुँदेबाट आठ बुँदे हुँदै बृहत् शान्ति-सम्झौता

ल केही गम्भीर त्रुटिका बाबजुद अन्तरिम संविधान निर्माण

ल अन्तरिम राष्ट्रप्रमुखको व्यवस्था

ल माओवादीसहित अन्तरिम सरकार गठन

ल मधेस विद्रोहकै कारण बाध्यात्मक परिस्थितिबीच संघीयतामा जाने घोषणा

ल क्षेत्रीय, जातीय तथा लैंगिक विभेदका कारण पछाडि पारिएका समुदायसँग वार्ताको थालनी, आदिवासी/जनजाति र मधेसी समुदायसँग केही प्रारम्भिक सहमति

ल संविधानसभा निर्वाचन मिति घोषणा र राजनीतिक अविश्वास एवं अलमलबीच व्यवस्थापकीय तयारी

विश्वासको संकटका स्रोत

यिनै उपलब्धिको जगमा राजनीतिक विकासक्रमलाई जनआन्दोलनको भावनाअनुकूल बनाउन र संविधानसभा निर्वाचन तथा लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र सुनिश्चित गर्न आठ दल एकताबद्ध भएर अगाडि बढून् भन्ने हाम्रो चाहना हो । प्रथमतः विश्वासको संकट हटाउन र निर्वाचन निम्ति वातावरण बनाउन हालसम्म बेवास्ता गरिएको आपसी प्रतिबद्धता र जनआकाङ्क्षा सम्बोधन गर्न जरुरी छ । यो स्थितिलाई यसरी हेर्न सकिन्छः

ल राजाका लागि अन्तरिम व्यवस्था गरे पनि मानवताविरोधी अपराधमा संलग्न जनआन्दोलनका दोषीमाथि कारबाही नभएको

ल दरबार र सेनाको सम्बन्ध विच्छेद नगरेकाले 'निलम्बित' राजालाई ठूलो मात्रामा आर्थिक एवं सैन्य सुरक्षा उपलब्ध गराइएको

ल बृहत् शान्तिसम्झौता संकटमा परेकाले सात दल र माओवादीबाट आआफ्नै शैलीमा गुनासा अभिव्यक्त गर्दै जनभावना अनादर गरेको

ल शान्तिसम्झौतासँगै अन्तरिम सरकारको साझा न्यूनतम कार्यक्रमका प्रमुख सहमति चेपुवामा परेकाले सात दल र नेकपा -माओवादी) को आपसी अविश्वास सघन भएको

ल संयुक्त प्रकृतिको अन्तरिम सरकार चलाउने लोकतान्त्रिक पद्धतिअनुकूल आठदलीय संरचना नभएकाले गठबन्धन सरकारका धेरै निर्णय विवादित र प्रभावहीन भएको

ल संक्रमणकाल भनिरहे पनि सात दल र माओवादीको गुह्य रूप प्रतिस्पर्धी र आवरणमा मात्रै एकता देखिएको

ल असहज र अभावग्रस्त बन्दै गएको आम जनजीवनबारे सरकार संवेदनहीन हुँदै गएको

यिनै कारण र राजनीतिक नेतृत्वमा देखिएको आमूल परिवर्तनप्रतिको हिच्किचाहटले प्रतिगामी र परिवर्तनविरोधी तत्त्वलाई चलखेल गर्ने थप हौसला मिलेको छ । पछिल्लो उदाहरण काठमाडौंको बम बिस्फोट लन सकिन्छ । मधेसमा जायज राजनीतिक माग उठाउने समूहहरूबाहेक निरन्तरको हिंसात्मक गतिविधि, दरबारिया र विदेशी चलखेल र शान्तिसुरक्षाको त्रासदी अर्को भयावह उदाहरण हो जसले राजनीतिक अन्योल एवं आसन्न निर्वाचनको वातावरण जटिल बनाएको छ । सँगै पूर्वसहमति एवं सम्झौता र अन्तरिम सरकारको साझा कार्यक्रम कार्यान्वयन नभएको भन्दै सरकारको एक घटक रहेकै अवस्थामा माओवादीले असहमतिका २२ बुँदा सार्वजनिक गरेका छन् । तेस्रोपटक तोकिएको मितिमा पनि निर्वाचन हुन नसके उत्पन्न हुने संकटबारे नागरिकमात्र होइन, राजनीतिक नेतृत्व पनि चिन्तित छ भन्ने हामीलाई थाहा छ ।

तत्कालै सम्बोधन गर्नुपर्ने सवाल

शान्ति प्रक्रिया र संविधानसभा चुनाव केन्द्रमा राख्दै उल्लिखित कमीकमजोरी हटाउँदै आठ दलबीच आपसी विश्वास बढाउन र वातावरण सहज बनाउन सात दल र माओवादीले आफ्ना तर्फबाट केही व्यावहारिक राजनीतिक सवाल तत्कालै सम्बोधन गर्नुपर्ने स्थिति छ । जस्तै ः

ल विस्थापित नागरिकको व्यवस्थापन, घरजग्गा फिर्ता, राजनीतिक कार्यकर्तालाई खुला राजनीतिक प्रतिस्पर्धा गर्न दिने वातावरण बनाउने र वाईसीएलका गतिविधि सौम्य बनाउने

ल बेपत्ता पारिएका नागरिकको वास्तविक स्थिति सार्वजनिक गर्नेर्, दोषीलाई सजाय र पीडित पक्षलाई क्षतिपूर्ति दिने

ल द्वन्द्वपीडित पुनस्र्थापन र क्षतिपूर्ति व्यवस्थापन गर्ने

ल केन्टोन्मेन्ट र माओवादी जनसेनालाई आवश्यक पूर्वाधार र पूर्वसहमतिमा कबोल गरेअनुरूपको सुविधा उपलब्ध गराउने

ल शान्तिसुरक्षाको अवस्था, चुनावी सुरक्षाका प्रवाधान र सैन्य सवालमा तत्कालै सात दल र माओवादीले राजनीतिक सहमति कायम गर्ने

ल आठै दलको सहमतिमा असन्तुष्ट पक्षहरूसँग एकमुष्ट वार्ता गर्ने

ल देशमा भइरहेका अधिकांश आन्दोलन र असन्तुष्टिको ठोस समाधानका लागि पूर्ण समानुपातिक निर्वाचन पद्धति लागू गर्न सात दल र माओवादीले अविलम्ब पहल गर्ने

संवैधानिक मान्यता

नागरिक आन्दोलनलाई महत्त्वपूर्ण लागेको अर्को सवाल संविधानसभामार्फत बन्ने संविधानले सुनिश्चित गर्नुपर्ने मान्यता हुन् । अहिले पनि केही मात्रामा सहमति कायम भइसकेका यी मान्यताबारे सात दल र माओवादीले थप सहमति कायम गरे निर्वाचन निम्ति राजनीतिक वातावरण सहज हुने मात्र होइन, निर्वाचित संविधानसभाको काम पनि सहज हुन सक्छ । सहमति हुनुपर्ने मान्यता देहायअनुसार छन् ।

१) जनताको सम्प्रभुता ः जनताको संप्रभुता र राष्ट्रिय अखण्डतालाई भावी संविधानको आधारशिला बनाउने ।

२) नागरिक र राजनीतिक अधिकार ः नेपाल पक्ष राष्ट्र भएका अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय राजनीतिक र नागरिक अधिकार, मानवअधिकार र आर्थिक-सामाजिक एवं सांस्कृतिक अधिकार व्यवहारमा सुनिश्चित गर्ने ।

३) लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र ः लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रको प्रस्ताव अन्तरिम संसद्ले पारित गर्ने र संविधानसभाको पहिलो बैठकबाट अनुमोदन गर्ने ।

४) गणतान्त्रिक संघीय राज्य ः संघीय राज्यको प्रस्तावित खाका र राज्य पुनर्संरचनाबारे सुझाव पेस गर्न अन्तरिम संविधानमा उल्लेख भएबमोजिम समावेशी आयोग गठन गर्ने ।

५) संघीय राज्यलाई अधिकार ः संघीय राज्यका आर्थिक, सामाजिक र सांस्कृतिक नीति कार्यान्वयन गर्दै समुन्नत समाज निर्माण गर्ने व्यापक सम्भावनालाई आधार मानेर संघीय स्वायत्तताको पक्षमा निर्णय गर्न सात दल र माओवादी सहमत हुने ।

६) राजस्व र विदेशी सहायताको बााडफााड ः केन्द्र र राज्यहरूबीच साधनको समानुपातिक र न्यायिक वितरणका निम्ति राजस्व र विदेशी सहायतामा राज्यहरूको पहुँच र तत्सम्बन्धी विधि सुनिश्चित गर्ने ।

७) भूमिसुधार र प्रगतिशील कर प्रणाली ः समाजमा असमानताको सन्दर्भमा स्रोतको न्यायोचित पुनर्वितरण निम्ति भूमिसुधार र प्रगतिशील कर प्रणालीमा सहमति कायम गर्ने ।

८) शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य र रोजगारी ः अन्तरिम संविधानमा उल्लेख भएबमोजिम शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य र रोजगारीमा नेपाली नागरिकको अधिकार स्थापित गर्न साथै अपांगतालगायत अन्य विशिष्ट अवस्था भोगिरहेका समुदायहरूका निम्ति विशेष व्यवस्था गर्न राजनीतिक प्रतिबद्धता सुनिश्चित गर्ने ।

९) शासन प्रणाली ः निर्वाचनपछि संविधान निर्माण गर्ने क्रममा पनि वर्तमान स्वरूपकै सरकार रहने मान्यतामा सहमति कायम गर्दै महंगी, अभाव, बेरोजगारी, असुरक्षा र दण्डविहीनताको स्थ्िातिलाई समेत सम्बोधन गर्न राज्य सक्षम हुनुपर्ने ।

अन्त्यमा

शान्ति प्रक्रियालाई सफल तुल्याउन र लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रको सुरक्षित अवतरणका लागि संविधानसभापछि समेत सात दल र माओवादीको आठ दलीय एकता र आपसी विश्वास अपरिहार्य रहेकाले नागरिक आन्दोलनले यी प्रस्ताव अघि सारेको हो । त्यसैले आन्दोलनबाट समाधान खोज्नुभन्दा यी सवाललाई साझा उपलब्धिमा परिणत गर्न आठै दलले अविलम्ब प्रयास गर्नु आवश्यक छ । यसले मात्र परिवर्तनलाई सुदृढ तुल्याउँदै मुलुकलाई ठोस गति दिने विश्वास गर्न सकिन्छ ।

लोकतन्त्र र शान्तिका लागि नागरिक आन्दोलन

२९ भदौ, २०६३