Thursday, August 17, 2006

My Work In The Ideas Department Is Complete


Money, Message, Organization. Those are the three components of power in a democratic setup.

People have questioned my role in the democracy movement in Nepal. What has it been? How large? If anything? Whatever it has been, it has been transparent. I feel like I have been very much part of the conversation at the highest levels in the democracy movement. This blog has been politics at the speed of thought. This blog has been leadership at lightning speed. The style of my political involvement in the democracy movement has been bleeding edge, cutting edge.

Go visit this particular page and see the parallel between what I have suggested and what ended up happening on the ground. UML Inching Towards Federalism.

I have felt like I were one of the seven party leaders all along. I have had the advantage of not being intrusive, not appearing so.

There was a reason I focused more on this blog than on offline stuff for the duration of the democracy movement. I was trying to make my presence felt at the leadership level in Nepal, elsewhere in the diaspora.

Turning the tripolar conflict into a bipolar one was crucial. That was the turning point. And that was not easy coming.

I spent a lot of time on the phone.

The hard part is over. But the more important part is ahead of us. A new Nepal is in the process of being born. And also for that I have done my work: Proposed Constitution.

But now I am more eager to focus more on face time than screen time. That is why I am excited about the idea of the April Convention: April Convention: Creating A Glowing Core. And I am already thinking beyond: Think Tank.

And I have played my part for the peace process and arms management.

A few people have been dismissive of my work. He is just a writer. He is just a journalist. Google News refused to index this blog. This blog is not journalism. Not all that characterization can be described as anti Madhesi prejudice. I have been inducted in the Madhesi Hall Of Fame as an "analyst." Maybe I am also that. But my work has been political. It is just that my method has been cutting edge.

But I do feel a sense of completion. I do feel like I have come full circle. I am going to maintain my involvement though. You can not give your all to the hard part, and miss the more important, more rewarding part.

Globalization and the internet are the two megatrends on the planet today. You have to understand those two terms to appreciate my involvement in the democracy movement in Nepal.

Who Will Tie The Bell Round The Cat's Neck
Language Policy
The Next Revolution Will Be At The Ballot Box
Political Synthesis Nepali Style
Federal Republic Guaranteed
Mainstream Jay Krishna Goit Also
Arms Management: Break It Down Into Smaller Pieces
Madhesi Caucus In Interim Parliament Needed
UML Thoughts On Interim Constitution
Paying For Democracy
Hindi Is At The Core Of The Madhesi Identity
Critiquing The Nepali Congress Proposed Constitution
नेपाली कांग्रेसको संविधान मस्यौदा
Critiquing The Maoist Proposed Constitution
माओवादीको संविधान मस्यौदा
Girija, Resign
Interim Monarchy, Interim Army, Interim Parliament
The Concept Of National Capital And The Maoists
Direct Elections, One Seat For Every 100,000 People, Reservations, Primaries
Federalism: Competing Maps
Moriarty Was Wrong On The 12 Point Agreement
Political Decisions, House Dissolution, Maoist Transformation
C.K. Lal: NRIs In Nepal
ANA Convention: My Hamro Nepal Speech
My Federalism Is Economic, Scientific, Not Ethnic
Interim Constitution Draft
Two Armies: What To Do
Not So Fast, Indian Communists
Madhesis, Social Justice, And The DaMaJaMa Equation In Nepal
Why Were The Women Beat Up?
June 17 Madhesi Gathering In New York City
The King Should Abdicate
Involve The UN In The Peace Process
MaMaMaMa
Frustration, Chemical Imbalance, Mental Imbalance
Exporting Revolution
Bahun, Chhetri, Sunni
Abolish The Monarchy, Abolish The Army
Monarchy, Army, Federalism
MaDaMaJa
40 Seats For Maoists, 25 For Others
Right To Property, Right To Free Speech
Nepal As A Cutting Edge Democracy
Democracy Diwali At The Nepali Mandir
Land Reform, Truth And Reconciliation
One Central Committee Member For Every Million Nepali
मधेशीसँग संख्या छ, शिक्त छैन
Internalized Racism Among Nepalis In NYC
No Short Cuts: Madhesis Will Have To March
Dismantle The Two Armies
Chitralekha Yadav: Speaker
Reciprocate The Maoist Ceasefire Immediately
Army Under Parliament, Now
Declare Constituent Assembly On First Day Of Parliament
Madhesi Rights: Total Equality
ितमीले देखाइ िदयौ
18 Days Of April Revolution: Victory

Proposed Constitution
UML Inching Towards Federalism

In The News

Govt tables new Army Act at HoR with sweeping changes NepalNews The bill also proposes that recruitments in the army be done by the Public Service Commission....... aims to democratise the Nepali Army
South Korea exploits migrant workers: AI
PM unveils NC, NC-D unification plan Koirala said a 21-member working committee would be formed immediately with members from both parties to take up the unification process.
Maoists run parallel govt., take up the role of 'culture police' While in Maoist custody, the rebels quizzed Indian nationals regarding their alleged misbehaviour towards Nepali woman. ...... Early this week, the rebels demanded up to 100,000 rupees from each shop in Dhulabari Bazar of Jhapa district in eastern region. ...... at Chisapani of Kailali district in the far-western region, the rebels have set up barriers to collect "taxes" from vehicles and consumer items entering the region. The rebels have set up seven `customs points' throughout the district while the Nepal government has only two ....... As Nepal government and local administrations turn mute spectators, Maoist rebels have been continuing abductions, extortion and torturing people by violating the 25-point code of conduct they signed with the government in May this year. ...... In eastern district of Ilam, Maoist cadres are running "kangaroo courts" and subjecting commoners to harsh physical punishment ..... Maoist leaders, on their part, insist that their party should be seen as a parallel government and its activities seen accordingly. ....... described 'abductions' as taking people under their control for interrogation and extortion as collection of taxes said that they would continue such activities unless two governments and two armies were merged in the country into one. .......
NPC irrelevant, restructure it: Experts "A centralised body like the NPC is irrelevant at a time when the country is heading for a federal system"

Discontent brewing in Nepal's terai region Hindustan Times, India While the Maoist insurgency, that unleashed a decade-old cycle of violence in Nepal and killed over 13,000 people, is heading for resolution, a new armed revolt is threatening to take its place in the terai region of Nepal. ..... southern Nepal is still plagued by violence ..... "Two months ago, when Koirala and Maoist chief Prachanda signed an agreement in the capital to consolidate the ceasefire, Goit's men were exploding bombs in Raj Biraj town in southern Nepal," says Rajendra Mahato, an MP from Nepal Sadbhavana Party, a party of the terai region that is now part of the coalition government....... "We have asked both the government and the Maoists to start talks with Goit. Peace talks shouldn't take place in a piecemeal manner. If the terai issues are not addressed, Nepal would know no peace in spite of the Maoist ceasefire." ...... Though the fertile plains are called the food bowl of Nepal, providing the lion's share of food grains, it is also the most neglected. ..... There are virtually no terai people in the army, bureaucracy or judiciary. Over 50 lakh terai residents have no citizenship, which prevents them from taking part in any decision-making process. .... "The Maoist movement has sent out an important message to the young men of the terai region," says Mahato. "Ten years ago, no one listened to the Maoists. But after they took up the gun, they are getting a red carpet treatment. .... "If the problems of the terai region- unemployment, exclusion, lack of education and healthcare - are not addressed, in another five years the terai people might follow in the footsteps of the Maoists and take up arms to wrest their rights."
Communist rebels, breakaway faction clash in Nepal Malaysia Star, Malaysia in the country's biggest clash since the insurgents signed a cease-fire with the government in April ..... "This group is involved in activities aimed at disrupting peace and bringing communal faction (violence) between people in the mountain area and the southern plain areas,'' said Dina Nath Sharma, a member of the Maoist rebels' peace talks team. .... "The activities by this group are serious in certain parts of the region, but we are discussing with the government on how to take control of the situation,'' Sharma said.
UN team arrives in Nepal within 10-12 days: PM People's Daily Online, China
Nepal PM Rules Out Parliament Dissolution without Arms Management Nepal human Rights News, Nepal

Foreign experts keen to support Nepal in new constitution Kantipur Publications
House will be adjourned during summit talks: PM Koirala “The restored House would be temporarily adjourned during the decisive round of much-awaited summit talks.” ........ “I may or may not remain alive but once the process enters a systematic phase, all the problems will be gradually sorted out,” Koirala added expressing that minor agendas discussed in the House might “caste a shadow over major ones.” ....... “Because the leaders and party cadres are weak, people are suspicious and apprehensive of the situation but now everyone can be assured of the success of peace process and return to villages to fight for complete democracy,” the prime minister said. ..... “It is the people who will decide monarchy’s fate. If the people want republic they will decide. It is not only me who is talking about ceremonial monarchy but the House passed the proposal unanimously.” .......
Much-awaited new Military Act presented at House
SEBS provides financial assistance to Janaandolan injured The Society of Ex-Budhanlkantha Students (SEBS), the Budhanilkantha School alumni, handed over an assistance of Rs. 54,00 each to 27 individuals injured during the Janandolan last April. ..... an initiation of the North American chapter of SEBS ..... Terming the government’s efforts in this regard as “inadequate”, the recipients at the function thanked SEBS for the initiative ...... SEBS president Bishan B. Wagle ..... Relief Programmes during natural calamities like floods; Nationwide Scholarship Programme for secondary students in various parts of the country; and the World Bank funded Doko Dai Mobile Library programme are among other SEBS activities.
Maoists put Siraha DDC in the red The Siraha District Development Committee (DDC) has suffered severe financial crisis after the Maoists hijacked all its revenue sources. .... after the Maoists began raising taxes from contracts, which otherwise used to generate Rs 15 million for the DDC ...... The DDC has no funds to meet even its basic utility expenses such as telephone, electricity and drinking water, monitoring, stationery and contingency bills ...... charged the government of not being serious to address the problem.
Maoists keep up abductions, extortion
Maoists, JTMM trade fire for 2 hrs
हतियार व्यवस्थापनपछि मात्रै संसद् विघटन’
जापान जानेमा नेतैनेताका छोराछोरी एमालेका तीन, कांग्रेसका दुई तथा कांग्रेस -प्रजातान्त्रिक) र जनमोर्चाका एक/एक जना परेका छन् ..... छानिएका एमालेका सचिव सोमनाथ अधिकारी 'प्यासी' का नाति निर्माण लम्साल, सोही पार्टी निकट डाक्टर विश्वकल्याण पराजुलीका छोरा मानव पराजुली, उक्त पार्टीकै जगनाथ बास्तोलाकी छोरी अस्मिता बास्तोला, कांग्रेस सभापति यज्ञबहादुर थापाकी छोरी साम्राज्ञ थापा, सोही पार्टीका युवा नेता तथा पूर्वउपप्रमुख नरेशशंकर पालिखेका छोरा योगेश पालिखे, कांग्रेस -प्रजातान्त्रिक) क्षेत्रीय सभापति वीरेन्द्रनारायाण बिजुक्छेकी छोरी सुविका बिजुक्छे र जनमोर्चाका कृष्णप्रसाद सापकोटाका छोरा मदन सापकोटा
एमालेद्वारा संघात्मक राज्यको प्रस्ताव नेपाललाई जातीय, भाषिक, सांस्कृतिक र प्रादेशिक स्वायत्ततामा आधारित अखण्ड, अभिभाज्य, स्वतन्त्र र सार्वभौमसत्ता सम्पन्न राज्यका रूपमा विकास गरिनेछ । 'यसअन्तर्गतको शासन प्रणाली केन्द्र, प्रदेश र स्थानीय निकाय बीच अधिकार र कर्तव्यको स्पष्ट बाँडफाँड गरिएको स्वशासनको ढाँचामा आधारित हुनेछ ....... 'यसअन्तर्गत एउटा बहुजातीय केन्द्रीय संरचना हुनेछ । केन्द्रभन्दा मुनि नेपाली विशेषताअनुरूपका विधायकी अधिकारसहितका बहुजातीय प्रदेशहरू रहने छन्,' प्रस्तावमा छ । त्यसभन्दा तल नगर र गाउँको वर्तमान संरचनालाई पुनः समायोजन गरिने उल्लेख छ । ........ केन्द्रसँग राष्ट्रिय सुरक्षा, वैदेशिक सम्बन्ध, केन्द्रीय बैंक, मुद्रा र वित्तीय प्रणाली, रेलवे, हवाई उडान र प्रमुख राष्ट्रिय मार्गहरू, केन्द्रीय विश्वविद्यालय, मानव अधिकार र मौलिक अधिकारको संरक्षण, सर्वोच्च अदालत, भन्सार राजस्व, जमिनमुनिको खनिज सम्पदा, ठूला जलविद्युत् आयोजना, बहुप्रादेशिक प्राकृतिक सम्पदाहरूको बाँडफाँट र प्रादेशिक विवादका समाधानजस्ता अधिकार र त्यसअन्तर्गतका नागरिकप्रतिका दायित्वहरू निहित रहने छन् । ........ प्रादेशिक तहमा विधायिकी अधिकारसहितको संसद्, सार्वजनिक सुरक्षा, व्यापार, उद्योग र श्रम व्यस्था, सडक, जंगल, जल र जमिनको व्यवस्थापन र उपयोग, शिक्षा र स्वास्थ्यको प्रबन्धजस्ता अधिकार र त्यसअन्तर्गतका नागरिक दायित्व छन् । ...... स्थानीय तहमा सडक निर्माण र संरक्षण, ग्यास, विद्युत् र जलआपूर्ति, सरसफाइ, स्थानीय योजना, कर, सार्वजनिक शिक्षा र स्वास्थ्य सेवा प्रबन्ध, ग्रामीण समुदायमा आधारित ग्रामीण यातायातका साथै प्राकृतिक स्रोत र साधनको व्यवस्थापनको अधिकार रहनेछ । ...... लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रको एजेन्डा पार्टीले तय गरिसकेको अवस्थामा जननिर्वाचित राष्ट्राध्यक्षको व्यवस्था गर्नुपर्ने प्रस्ताव छ । ...... व्यवस्थापिका दुई सदनात्मक हुनुपर्ने र राष्ट्रिय सभालाई जातीयसभाका रूपमा निर्माण गर्नुपर्ने पार्टीको धारणा छ । ....... एक लाख जनसंख्या बराबर एक प्रतिनिधि हुने गरी जनप्रतिनिधिमूलक निकायका रूपमा प्रतिनिधिसभा व्यवस्था गरिनेछ । राष्ट्रियसभा जातीयसभाका रूपमा निर्माण गरिनेछ ...... बहुमत प्रणाली र समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणालीको मिश्रति स्वरूप अवलम्बन गर्न सकिने प्रस्ताव ....... ५० प्रतिशत निर्वाचन क्षे त्रबाट निर्वाचित हुने र पचास प्रतिशत दलले प्राप्त गरेको मतका आधारमा सूची समानुपातिक हिसाबले प्रतिनिधित्व हुने व्यवस्था उपयुक्त देखिन्छ ...... 'राष्ट्रिय सभाको सदस्यको हकमा भने केन्द्र, प्रदेश र स्थानीय निकायका निर्वाचित जनप्रतिनिधिहरूले एकल संक्रमणीय मत प्रणालीका आधारमा केही निश्चित प्रतिशत समावेशीकृत हुन नसकेको वर्ग वा समुदायका बीचबाट मनोनीत गर्न सकिने व्यवस्था कायम गरिनुपर्छ ।' .......
ँ१२ कक्षासम्म मावि तह गर्न उचित’
शुक्रबार नागरिक धर्ना
माझी अधिवेशनका लागि बाटाघाटा मर्मत
सैनिकद्वारा कुटपिट
नेपालगन्ज नाका अवरुद्ध
माओवादीको विरोध
अन्तरिम विधान र विवाद
राजतन्त्रलाई कोइरालाको ँस्पेस’
आरक्षणमा दलित महिला
महिला सबैका उपनिवेश

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Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Gurung Not Katawal For Army Chief


Gurung Not Katawal For Army Chief

Katawal has been made acting Army Chief. Let him have his month. But he should not be appointed for good. There is some Gurung right up there in the ranks. Appoint him. That will be a first time. Otherwise that top slot has been a Chhetri fiefdom. Gurung is a Janajati.

Katawal is a track record royalist. We don't need him in the top job.

UML Maoist Active Coalition, Possible Unification

If the two Congress factions are to become one party all over again, the only way the left parties can provide serious competition is by either forging a coalition or going ahead and unifying the two parties.

A merger of the UML and the Maoists looks a little too imaginative at this point in time, but they could always contest elections as a coalition.

Smaller Parties

If the two Congress factions become one, and the UML and the Maoists were to forge a coalition, the smaller parties are going to come under a lot of pressure to pick sides.

Or all the smaller parties could forge a Third Front.

So there would be the Nepali Congress, there would be the Left Front, and there would be a Third Front. More likely there will be only two fronts, the Left Front, and the Congress and its allies.

But I don't think the Congress is that generous. It will try to eliminate the smaller parties rather than giving them respectful space.

Free Fall

Or you are looking at all parties competing with all the rest, and let the chips fall where they may.

US Law And Arms Management

Arlen Specter is one of the top 10 Senators in America according to Time magazine. He was in Nepal recently and compared the Maoists to Hamas and Hezbollah.

I don't agree with that comparison. Or perhaps I should study the political goals of the Hamas and the Hezbollah more closely.

US law does not apply in Nepal.

But the seven party leaders do have to say what exactly it is that they feel about the Maoists.

Some Maoists come into the news as bad guys on a daily basis. But that means the ceasefire implementation is not 100%. That does not mean the ceasefire has been bogus.

My style is to try and focus on the political agenda of the Maoists. By that count, Girija Koirala is a status quoist. He wants to retain the monarchy. He wants to keep the army as it is. That right there is proof Girija can not take credit for the April Revolution. How can you be so out of tune with the April Revolution's street slogans and take credit for it?

Nepal's Maoists have to be compared to the Irish, to the South Africans. Both those places had violence. The political agenda and the arms agenda have to go together.

You can not ask the Maoists to surrender. But you can engineer the peace process in a way that you detach soldiers from both armies from their arms. But then that would be too proactive and imaginative and creative by Koirala's standards.

In The News

Koirala’s remarks on party merger positive: Deuba NepalNews Deuba said he had “always been in favour of respectful reunification” of the two parties ......
No interim govt., house dissolution before arms management: PM the civil society and the Maoists have been demanding immediate dissolution of the parliament.....
Maoists, JTMM militants clash in Siraha A turf war seems to be intensifying between the Maoists and Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) ....... Hundreds of bullets were fired during the encounter..... The encounter occurred in ward no. 8 and 9 when a district level meeting of the JTMM was going on. Reports quoting Shyam, the Siraha coordinator of JTMM, said the clash ensued after hundreds of Maoists suddenly opened fire at JTMM cadres when the meeting was underway. ...... The armed outfit is active mainly in parts of Siraha and Saptari districts.
UML for deciding the fate of monarchy through referendum
Rights activists protest appointment of Katawal Twenty three human rights activists representing various human rights organizations have protested the government’s decision of promoting Lieutenant General Rukmangad Katawal to the post of acting Chief of the Army Staff. ..... Katawal was involved in human rights violations when he was the chief of the mid-western regional headquarters of Nepali Army. ...... Sushil Pyakurel, Dr. Gauri Shankar Lal Das and rights activists Dr. Arjun Karki, Subodh Pyakurel, Dr. Gopal Krishna Siwakoti, Mandira Sharma, Kunadan Aryal .......

Abducted Indians freed in Nepal Times of India, India
Activists reject Nepal army chief BBC News, UK Lt Gen Rukmangad Katuwal was responsible for excesses during April's crackdown against pro-democracy activists. ...... Nearly two dozen rights activists affiliated to leading groups have also alleged that Gen Katuwal was responsible for serious rights violations when he was chief of the regional headquarter of the Nepali Army in mid-western region.
Japan cancels Nepal debt
People's Daily Online, China
Japan cancels Rs 1.6 B debt Gorkhapatra
India provides 15 ambulances to Nepal People's Daily Online, China
Nepal Army Chief: Find a General With Clean Image United We Blog, Nepal This nomination comes at a time when the whole country is eagerly waiting for reforms within the army and democratization of the armed force of Nepal. ..... In addition to the allegation of violating human rights, Katwal has also been accused of decreasing his age illegally so as to lengthen his stay in the army. This issued has now reached at the court.
Indian firms in fray for Nepal power project DailyIndia.com, NY The 300 MW Upper Karnali hydropower project, once considered a risky venture because of the presence of Maoists in the region, has become an attractive proposition for Indian investors as the rebels have signed a pact with the government to allow the industrial sector to operate without hindrances. .... New Delhi's Jaypee Group, Andhra Pradesh's GVK and the Bangalore-headquartered GMR Group ..... India's National Hydroelectric Power Corp .... the understanding that NHPC would have a majority stake (80-85 percent) with the produced power being sold to India. ..... the Jaypee Group, which has interests ranging from construction, hospitality, engineering and IT and boasts of an annual turnover of over $650 million, already has the experience of running a hydropower project outside India. ...... Besides operating 12 hydropower projects in six Indian states, it is also involved in the Tala hydroelectric project in Chukha Dzongkhag in western Bhutan...... More Indian investors could turn their attention to Nepal with the Confederation of Nepalese Industries and Independent Power Producers of Nepal planning two separate hydropower marts for small and medium-size projects...... While the Hydropower Invest Mart 2006 would be held Aug 21-23 to identify small projects up to 10 MW and match them with investors, later during the year a mart would be organised to identify medium projects, ranging from 10-100 MW.
Two Indians abducted by Maoists in Nepal India Defence, India
Maoists seek India's help in abolishing monarchy Zee News
Civil Unrest: Between democracy and the deep red sea Indian Express G P Koirala was the first to voice his resentment at civil society treating political parties as Pariah. In their first public meeting under the banner of ‘Citizens for Peace and Democracy’, nearly six months after King Gyanendra took over in February 2005, civil society had kept its dais ‘sanitized’, no top leaders from political parties had found place in it........ Koirala and the international community agree that the inclusion of Maoists in the interim cabinet without effective separation of weapons from combatants would not only legitimise ‘terrorism’ as an instrument of politics, but will also make its impact beyond Nepal’s boundaries. ....... Maoists are using their political muscle and political tactic deftly. ...... another senior civil society leader has joined the Maoists’ campaign for creation of ethnic autonomous states that would restore some of the pre-1768 political geography - with right to self-determination...... All these parallel moves make Nepal’s peace process unpredictable......
Oli lauds India's contribution to modern Nepal Gorkhapatra, Nepal
Koirala appreciates India's support for democracyHindu

50 Nepalis stranded in Malaysia, demand action against manpower companies Kantipur Publications
Activists protest acting Army Chief Katuwal's appointment
Workers threaten to shut down Khimti Hydel Project
No dissolution of parliament unless management of Maoist arms: PM Koirala
53 groups default Rs 25b with banks Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) today disclosed that 53 business groups have defaulted on their banking loan amounting to Rs 25 billion and said financial sector cleansing was impossible unless the defaulters were forced to pay back loans....... top 10 defaulters ..... challenges posed by willful defaulters to the overall management of the economy and urged parliamentarians to make the issue of defaulters a national agenda to avert the "looming crisis"........ bad loans stand at 18 percent of the investment, almost four times higher than international standards....... blacklisting alone is not enough to deal with powerful defaulters because of their strong political and other connections....... "Even after being blacklisted, we have found no fundamental change in the lavish lifestyles of willful defaulters. So there is need for concrete actions, like seizing passports and cutting off state-provided services to force them to clear their financial liabilities" ...... alarming financial condition of Nepal Bank Limited (NBL) and Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB) .... "Capital worth Rs 30 billion needs to be injected in these banks to raise their capital fund as per NRB requirement." ...... at least three private banks namely Nepal Bangladesh Bank, Nepal Credit and Commerce Bank and Lumbini Bank are in serious financial problems. ...... the issue of willful defaulters has dampened the spirit of financial sector reform thereby affecting the extension of financial services to rural areas. .......banks' officials who sanctioned loans without detail study of the project should also be punished. .....

Top ten defaulters Name Net amount (Rs in million)

Amatya Group (NBL/RBB) 3,621

Mangatu Ram (NBL/RBB) 1,820

Basulinga Sugar Mills (NBL/RBB) 1,026

Bir Kirat (RBB) 852

Momento Apparels (RBB) 709

Maha Laxmi Garment (RBB) 609

Sanyam Veg & Oil (NBL/RBB) 595

Mahalaxmi Sugar & Chemical (RBB)516

Rohit (NBL) 490

Mahendra Sugar (NBL) 480

Maoists ban NGO activities in Salyan
26,000 health workers to go on strike from Thursday
Injured UML cadre in Maoist firing brought to Kathmandu
PM instructs security officials to ensure fear-free environment
५३ व्यापारिक समूहले पच्चीस अर्ब तिरेनन्
वीरेन्द्र र धीरेन्द्रका जग्गा राजाका नाममा
सुरक्षाकर्मीकै अगाडि महिलामाथि हातपात
माओवादी पीडितमाथि लाठीचार्ज
तराईका वन साझेदारी व्यवस्थापनमा
मुलुकभर स्वास्थ्य संस्था ठप्प हुने
गण्डक सम्झौता पुनरावलोकन माग
सांसदद्वारा कणर्ाली राजमार्ग अध्ययन सुर्खेत-जुम्ला सडकको ८५ किलोमिटर सडक
माओवादीद्वारा अपहरण
संविधानसभाअघि राजतन्त्र छिनोफानो’
गाविससचिव पुनः लखेटिए
माओवादीद्वारा आरोप पुष्टि गराउन निर्मम कुटपिट
कांग्रेस एकता कोइराला कुनै नयाँ विचार सार्वजनिक गर्नुपरे विराटनगर पुग्छन् ....... जहानियाँ राणाशासनविरुद्ध सशस्त्र आन्दोलन गरी ०७ सालको क्रान्तिको यश कांग्रेसले सँगाल्दै आएको छ । ०१७ सालको शाही कूविरुद्ध निरन्तर आन्दोलित कांग्रे्रसले ०४६ सालको आन्दोलनमा नेतृत्वदायी भूमिका निर्वाह गरेको हो । ...... संविधानसभा चुनावसम्म पुग्दा शासन पद्धतिको स्पष्ट खाका लिएर कांग्रेसले आफूलाई सबैभन्दा ठूलो लोकतान्त्रिक दलको रूपमा प्रस्तुत गर्न सक्छ/सक्दैन, त्यो प्रश्नसँग पनि एकीकरणको मुद्दा जोडिएको छ । ...... सभापति कोइरालाको स्वास्थ्यस्थिति ध्यान दिने हो भने उनी समय छँदै कांग्रेसलाई पुरानै अवस्थामा फर्काएर आफ्नो उत्तराधिकारी स्थापित गर्न चाहन्छन् भन्नु स्वाभाविक हुन्छ । अर्कातर्फ कांग्रेस एक भई समयअनुसार सच्चा लोकतान्त्रिक राजनीतिक दलका रूपमा उभिनसक्नु देशको माग पनि बन्दै छ ।
आरक्षणका तर्क वितर्क हैकमवादी पुरुष मानसिकताले ग्रस्त हाम्रा टेलिभिजनका हास्य शृंखलाहरूले ३३ प्रतिशत सहभागिताबारे तल्ला स्तरका व्यंग्य गरे । नेटीभीमा चर्चित मानिएका तीतो सत्य, जिरे खुर्सानी र केही अन्य टीभीका कार्यक्रमले पनि आरक्षणको भद्दा विरोध गरे । यसको प्रमुख कारण कार्यक्रम निर्देशकदेखि लगानीकर्तासमेत पुरुष हुनु हो भन्न सकिन्छ । त्यहाँ पुरुष हैकमवाद प्रकट हुनु अनौठो नहोला । ...... माओवादी नेतृ हिसिला यमीले आरक्षणको विरोध गर्दै महिलालाई 'विशेषाधिकार' दिइनुपर्ने बताइन् । नेतृ पम्फा भुसालले भने ५० प्रतिशत आरक्षण मागिन् । संसद्वादी दलका महिला भने ३३ प्रतिशतलाई कार्यान्वयन गर्दै जाने हो भने महिला मुक्तिको सुरुवात यसैबाट हुनेमा विश्वास राख्छन् । ....... जनसंख्याको आधाभन्दा बढी हिस्सा ओगटेका महिलाको सामाजिक र आर्थिक सहभागिता औसत पाँचदेखि दस प्रतिशतसम्म छ । .... गणितीय हिसाबमा मात्रै समावेशीकरणकै कुरा गर्ने हो भने त शाही सरकार सबैभन्दा बढी समावेशी थियो भन्दा हुन्छ । त्यसमा खपांगी, थकाली, शेर्पा, मण्डल, दलित र महिलासमेत थिए तर त्यसको उपार्जन कस्तो रह्यो ? .....

Alliance Working On Electoral System For CA Polls Himalayan Times the Nepali Congress (NC) is for proportional representation ..... work on the issue was "not going ahead at a desired pace." .... proporational representation in which the parties have to come up with their list of candidates prior to the actual voting. ......
Govt Collecting Data On Landless: Minister
UML for front advocating democratic republic The CPN-UML came a step closer to the CPN-Maoist as it stressed the need to forge a front of political parties, which will go for a “democratic republican order as a matter of ideology.” ..... growing disillusionment with its coalition partner the Nepali Congress (NC) and its policies. ..... the NC is moving more towards the right and hence should be shunned as an ally for a long time. ..... Nepal came down heavily on the government for pushing the Royal Succession Act ..... criticised the government for favouring the status quo ..... The party has also decided to cultivate ties with the Maoists in such a way that they prove a friendly force. “Unity, struggle, and fertile unity is the hallmark of the party’s ties with the rebels now,” senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal told The Himalayan Times. ........ a republican democratic order, restructuring of the state and progressive reforms

Visitors

7 August 2006, Monday329

8 August 2006, Tuesday179

9 August 2006, Wednesday154

10 August 2006, Thursday167

11 August 2006, Friday125

12 August 2006, Saturday155

13 August 2006, Sunday134

14 August 2006, Monday206

15 August 2006, Tuesday187
1.16 August05:44Ireland (tcd.ie)
2.16 August06:08British Broadcasting Corp., United Kingdom
3.16 August06:10The Internet Solution, South Africa
4.16 August06:22Hong Kong S.A.R. (infolink.hk)
5.16 August06:34U.N. Development Programme, Norway
6.16 August07:40Communications and communicate, Nepal
16 August08:11The Economist, London, United Kingdom

16 August08:41Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad And Tobago
16 August09:42BT Limited, Nigeria
16 August10:29Skynet Belgacom, Belgium
16 August11:05Mahanagar Telephone Nigam, India
33.16 August11:28Communications and communicate, Nepal
34.16 August11:32Communications and communicate, Nepal
35.16 August11:34Canada (attcapital.ca)
40.16 August12:13Antarix e Applications Ltd, India
41.16 August12:22NTL Internet, Winnersh, United Kingdom

16 August13:22CTX Mortgage Company, Dallas, United States
16 August14:08National Internet Backbone, India
16 August14:10National Internet Backbone, India

Maoist Cultural Program Video, Rolpa 2005
Maoist Martyrs Road Construction Project, Rolpa: Video


Maoist Mass Meeting, Kathmandu

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Bindeshwar Prasad Yadav: Is Madhes A Colony?


Is Madhes a colony?

If definition for colonism is:

A policy by which a nation maintains or extends its control over foreign dependencies.
Control by one power over a dependent area or people. The purposes of colonialism include economic exploitation of the colony's natural resources, creation of new markets for the colonizer, and extension of the colonizer's way of life beyond its national borders.

Colonialism is the extension of a nation's sovereignty over territory beyond its borders by the establishment of either settler colonies or administrative dependencies in which indigenous populations are directly ruled or displaced.

Colonizers generally dominate the resources, labor, and markets of the colonial territory and may also impose socio-cultural, religious and linguistic structures on the conquered population. The term colonialism also refers to a set of beliefs used to legitimize or promote this system, especially the ethnocentric belief that the mores of the colonizer are superior to those of the colonized. Such beliefs are often a form of racism.

On the basis for the criteria given for colonization, if we sincerely analyze what do we find? Is Mahes a colony?

In ---------- Madhes was an independent country/state with its sovereignty.
In----------- Gorkha king Prithvi Narayan Sah won several small sovereign states including Kathmandu and Madhes; and very clearly colonized won states under shadow of unification of the country Nepal. Evidences of colonization of Madhes is:

Sovereignty of Madhes is lost, and it was controlled by the policy of Prithvi Narayan Sah.
Colonizers (Pahari) have dominated over the resources of Madhes, imposed pahari socio-cultural and Nepali linguistic structure over indigenous socio- cultural structure and languages (Bhojpuri, Maithili, Hindi etc languages of Madesh) on the conquered Madhesi population.

The original name of ‘Madhes’ was changed by the ruler (colonizer) to ‘Terai’ that was totally against the conciousness of the indigenous Madhesi population.

Prevalent very serious racism provoked by concept of Pahari (colonizer) are far superior, and Madhesi (colonized) are very inferior.

Pahari (colonizers) are administrators over existing sizeable native populations (Madhesi) exercising control by use and/ threat of force. If somebody raised the voice for justice he was killed, and family was ruined.

Pahari are immigrating to Madhes land, and displacing indigenous Madhesi populations.

If it is a colony, till date under dark, deserve freedom with complete sovernigity.

FROM INTERNET

Colonialism

A policy by which a nation maintains or extends its control over foreign dependencies.

colonialism

Control by one power over a dependent area or people. The purposes of colonialism include economic exploitation of the colony's natural resources, creation of new markets for the colonizer, and extension of the colonizer's way of life beyond its national borders.

The most active practitioners were European countries; in the years 1500–1900, Europe colonized all of North and South America and Australia, most of Africa, and much of Asia by sending settlers to populate the land or by taking control of governments.

colonialism

The control of one nation by “transplanted” people of another nation — often a geographically distant nation that has a different culture and dominant racial or ethnic group. (See ethnicity.)

· Control that is economic and cultural, rather than political, is often called neocolonialism.

The noun colonialism has one meaning:

Meaning #1: exploitation by a stronger country of weaker one; the use of the weaker country's resources to strengthen and enrich the stronger country

Colonialism is the extension of a nation's sovereignty over territory beyond its borders by the establishment of either settler colonies or administrative dependencies in which indigenous populations are directly ruled or displaced. Colonizers generally dominate the resources, labor, and markets of the colonial territory and may also impose socio-cultural, religious and linguistic structures on the conquered population; this has led critics of colonialism to call it cultural imperialism. However, though colonialism is often used interchangeably with imperialism, the latter is broader as it covers control exercised informally (via influence) as well as formally. The term colonialism also refers to a set of beliefs used to legitimize or promote this system, especially the ethnocentric belief that the mores of the colonizer are superior to those of the colonized. Such beliefs are often a form of racism, and were codified as pseudo-scientific theories at the end of the 19th century. The historical phenomenon of European colonisation may be broadly divided into two large waves, the first one starting with the "Age of Exploration" and the beginning of the Columbian Exchange, and the second one beginning in the second part of the 19th century with the New Imperialism period.

Colonisation and decolonisation have overlapped themselves, since most of the New World colonies had already acquired their independence when the scramble for Africa and the New Imperialism began.

Types of colonialism

Settler colonies, dependencies, plantations colonies, trading posts

Different types of colonialism may be distinguished, according to the form of colonization and also the date. Settler colonies, such as the original thirteen states of the United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina arose from the emigration of peoples from a metropole, or mother country, and involved displacement of the indigenous peoples to their permanent detriment [1].

Settler colonies may be contrasted with dependencies, where the colonizers did not arrive as part of a mass emigration, but rather as administrators over existing sizeable native populations, exercising control by use or threat of force.

A fourth category may be considered for plantation colonies such as Barbados, Saint-Domingue and Jamaica where the white colonizers imported black slaves who rapidly began to outnumber their owners, leading to minority rule, similar to a dependency. Trading posts, such as Macau, Malacca, Deshima and Singapore constitute a fifth category, where the primary purpose of the colony was to engage in trade rather than as a staging post for further colonization of the hinterland.

The contradiction between the unity of the nation-state and imperialism: Hannah Arendt
According to Hannah Arendt's Origins of Totalitarianism (1951), there was a contradiction between the unity of the nation-state and 19th century imperialism, which was, by definition, unlimited. She thus quoted Cecil Rhodes, the colonizer of Rhodesia, declaring: "all of these stars... these vast worlds that remain out of reach. If I could, I would annex other planets" [2]. Arendt underlined this contradiction between the economic expansion upheld by the bourgeoisie, and nationalism which aimed at integrating all citizens in one unity, the nation-state.

According to Arendt, this explains the two different models of colonization: on one hand, the British Empire created the Commonwealth and used indirect rule, allowing the local elites to govern the colonies, under the supervision of the colonial administration; on the other hand, the French Third Republic (1871-1940) directly ruled over the colonies, claiming they were integrally part of the French Republic. Separation was thus opposed to the French ideal of assimilation, based on its universalist philosophy, a legacy of the 1789 French Revolution and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. Thus, the Republic tried to extend French citizenship to the colonies.

On The Web

Colonisation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Colonization
Colonization: The African-American Mosaic (Library of Congress ...
The Unofficial Microprose Colonization
ColonialLife
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American Timeline: Colonization
Cultural Readings: Colonization and Print in the Americas
Space Colonisation
Amazon.com: Aftershocks (Colonization, Book 3): Books: Harry ...
On Colonies and Colonization
Colonization - HomeworkSpot.com
TomPaine.com - Colonization of Palestine Precludes Peace
Dutch Colonization
Colonization and Settlement
About The Nineteenth Century - Books on British Colonization
Open Directory - Science: Technology: Space: Colonization: Mars
US Library of Congress - American Colonization Society: Liberia Maps
Africans in America| Part 3 | Narrative: Colonization
New England Colonies
FRENCH COLONIZATION
"Coca-Colonization" of the Third World - Global Policy Forum ...
French Colonization of Louisiana and Louisiana Purchase Map ...
Saree Makdisi: An Iron Wall of Colonization
From Revolution to Reconstruction: Essays: Anglo-American ...
Early American Colonization
Definition of colonization - Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
Sharing the Land of Canaan - Colonization
[PDF] Colonization of Venus
del.icio.us/tag/colonization
Colonization and Invasion by Bacterial Pathogens
[PDF] A View of the Art of Colonization
Teaching About Jamestown | Corporate Colonization
Government of Saskatchewan - colonization
USATODAY.com - Pennsylvania town poised for crackdown on illegal ...
Leadup to French Colonization
Did Colonization Matter for Growth? An Empirical Exploration into ...
On Colonization
Commentary: Exemplifying the Horror of European Colonization ...
Tom Crumpacker: Planning for the Re-Colonization of Cuba

Colonialism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Post-colonialism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Colonialism_Africa
African History -- Colonialism
Project MUSE - Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History
The Chronicle: 5/10/2002: Two Cheers for Colonialism
Colonialism
Political Discourse -- Theories of Colonialism and Postcolonialism ...
Statistics on the Extent of European Colonialism
The myth of Neo-colonialism
The Story of Africa| BBC World Service
Colonialism and Nationalism in Southeast Asia
Africa - Colonialsim
Colonialism
colonialism: Definition and Much More From Answers.com
African Timelines Part IV: Anti-Colonialism & Reconstruction
"Post-Colonialism or Post-Imperialism?" by Luke Strongman
Colonialism in Greenland: An Inuit Perspective
Colonialism and Africa's Technology
Amazon.com: Discourse on Colonialism: Books: Aimé Césaire,Aime ...
Colonialism and its aftermath
BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Africans on Africa: Colonialism
CIA Narco-Colonialism
Globalization and Autonomy
Colonialism
[PDF] Environmental Colonialism
Amazon.com: Colonialism and Neocolonialism: Books: J. Sartre
Colonialism and Colonies - MSN Encarta
AllRefer.com - North Korea - The Legacy Of Japanese Colonialism ...
French Colonialism in Africa
Colonialism
Ancient tomb sheds new light on Egyptian colonialism
Doctrines on Colonialism
Colonialism
Pinko Feminist Hellcat: Not stress. Colonialism, brutality and ...
Democracy and Colonialism - by Ran HaCohen
del.icio.us/rodcorp/colonialism
del.icio.us/SketchyThoughts/colonialism
Sexual politics / Third World development / Colonialism - Serge Kreutz
Bandwidth Colonialism? The Implications of Internet Infrastructure ...
British Colonialism and repression in Iraq- Global Policy Forum ...

Imperialism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
New Imperialism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Age of Imperialism
Imperialism
Internet Modern History Sourcebook: Imperialism
Modern History Sourcebook: John Hobson: Imperialism, 1902
History of Imperialism
Imperialism 101
Lenin: Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism
Imperialism
Eco-Imperialism - Green Power. Black Death. - Paul Driessen
Imperialism Resources
Imperialism: Enemy of Freedom: Supporter's Summit 2006
Amazon.com: Islamic Imperialism : A History: Books: Efraim Karsh

Nepali Community Center


Nepali Community Center

I sit on the Board of the Nepali Mandir. For the longest time the Nepalis in the city have envisioned something akin to a community center, but nothing materialized, and then Chandra Prakash Sharma came into town, and the Nepali Mandir was established in rented space.

Nepali Mandir Board Meeting
Democracy Diwali At The Nepali Mandir
Nepali Mandir

This month that Mandir has had to shift to a new location. The previous house is getting sold. The Mandir was on the spacious first floor. There was a Hindu room. There was a Buddhist room. There was a kitchen. There were two rooms for office space. There was a big hall. Two restrooms. And a small verandah. All for $2500 a month.

The new space is just one room but it is ground floor and roadside, in a better locality. $900 a month.

The idea with the first place was to find 100 Nepalis in the city who will put in $25 a month. The idea also was to gradually rent out the hall space for events and for dance classes, language classes, and to make enough money so as to be able to pay rent.

It did not quite work out that way. About $3500 got raised. Chandra Prakash put in over $9000 of his own hard earned money. That is not sustainable.

The new location also has a hall that is bigger than the last one and can be rented one event at a time for $150 per event.

I actually like the new place better. It is roadside. There are a lot of Nepalis, Desis who live close by.

Another idea that has been floated by some is why not use the Hindu temples already in existence, primarily due to Indian efforts.

Divya Dham Hindu Temple in New York - Hindu Temples in New York
Ganesh Temple in New York - Hindu Temples in New York

Not a bad idea. You don't have to worry about rent. You don't have to worry about getting priests. You jut organize events.

There also are plenty of Buddhist destinations. I am a Buddhist.

Dharma Centers: New York
List of Buddhist temples - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
19.6 New York

Perhaps it is the name that misleads. The name can not be Nepali Mandir. Mandir is a Hindu term. And there are already plenty of Hindu temples that Nepalis can visit. Short term, it's okay. But long term we have to be thinking in terms of a Nepali Community Center.

You are talking real estate. A piece of land. A building. A Hindu corner, a Buddhist corner, perhaps space also for other religions. A hall or two. Perhaps a Nepali hostel, cheap short term lodging.

There is number crunching involved. What kind of money are we talking about? How will that get raised? How long will it take?

And there will be a Board, popularly elected. Any Nepali can be a member. All members get to vote.

It is important to discuss the long term vision, because once that is clear, short term hurdles look small.

Some people have also raised the question if this is the best use of Nepali money. If you can get 50 people to put in $25 a month, is it better to spend that on rent money for Mandir space, or to fund the education of kids in Nepal? I think that is a false choice. We should do both. We should get 50 Nepalis for the Mandir. And another group of 50 or more Nepalis for the education idea.

Blacks Earned It Half A Century Ago

(sent to Nepal Khabar weekly)

Ugly anti-black stories and stereotypes are in the American air and so when immigrants come in, they breathe it in. I spent some time in Kentucky and Indiana. I know racism. But I have heard some really despicable anti-black stuff from Nepali mouths after I moved to the city last year.

Before I moved to New York City, I was not much into the Mini Nepal of America. I stayed away. It was not fun being Madhesi in Nepal. But the king's coup hurtled me back into the crowd. And New York City is great for that. This is the Kathmandu of the world.

Nepalis in America are behind the blacks in terms of political rights. Nepalis in America played a key role, in some ways a central role, for the democracy movement in Nepal. But Nepalis in America are behind the Nepalis in Nepal in terms of political rights.

Face it, you can't vote. That is a destitute status politically.

We have to organize and polish the message. The message is simple. We should start by getting the city of New York to allow us all to vote. No taxation without representation. If you pay utility bills, you should be allowed to vote in the city. You contribute to the economy, you should be able to vote.

We have to get organized and build coalitions. We have to reach out to the Desi groups, the Chinese, we have to reach out to the Arabs, the Africans, the Hispanic crowd. We have to reach out to the Russians, the East European immigrants who also have been barred from voting. If you can't even vote, you are nobody. Think in terms of basic political dignity. Let the April Revolution in Nepal be an inspiration. That will go down as the first major revolution of the 21st century. That was a world history event.

But also think money. If you can vote, you matter. You will be in a better position to break the glass walls and ceilings that hold you down. With political rights, you are looking at better economic prospects. You are looking at access to credit to start businesses. You are looking at corridors of power. You are looking at influencing public policy.

This is the era of globalization and the internet. The concept of immigration itself has to be rethought. Your Mini Nepal is all fine and dandy. But open your eyes and see. You are in America. Who stole your right to vote? Ask.

And get organized. Existing organizations should expand and should revise their charters to incorporate the idea of political empowerment of the Nepalis right here in America, right now. New organizations have to be launched. Umbrella organizations have to be set up. There should be regular events. There should be major reachout efforts to reach all members of the community using the latest in communications technology. We call it cellphones, we call it email, we call it the internet.

Blacks earned their voting rights half a century ago. Nepalis have not earned it yet. Fight your self hate. Take pride in who you are, what you are. Realize you are worth the right to vote.

Chief Guest, Chief Host, Special Guests

For the April Convention, there are slots.

I think Manisha Koirala, Upendra Mahato, Udit Narayan Jha all qualify for Special Guests. These are members of the Nepali global community who have exhibited outstanding talent in their respective fields.

Perhaps all participating organizations will vote for the Chief Guest slot.

I have proposed Kul Chandra Gautamji for Chief Host.

April Convention: Creating A Glowing Core
April Convention: Emerging Picture
April Revolution, April Convention

Video: Countdown To The April Convention 2
Video: Countdown To The April Convention 1

In The News

Over dozen MVA protesters injured in police action NepalNews
UML to pass political report of general secretary Nepal
Government indifferent to NOC losses
India stands firmly behind the Nepali people in their quest for peace: Mukherjee
No aid for government with Maoists: US US Senator Arlen Specter has said that US laws would not allow the US government to provide financial assistance to Nepal if the Maoists are included in the government with their weapons like Hamas in Palestine and Hezbollah in Lebanon...... Senator Specter said, “I believe that US is not in a position to try to determine the internal policies of Nepal. Nepal has to decide itself what Nepal wants to do. But examples of other countries make it clear that the Maoists have to give up arms.” .... “US is not giving bad advice to PM. People don’t like to be told what they should do by some other country. It is up to people of Nepal, the PM and the seven political parties, to take the decision.” ...... Specter however described the joint letter of the government and the Maoists to the UN as a positive step.
TU teachers announce fresh agitation
Accountability and Public Voice, Civil Liberties, Rule of Law declines in Nepal: Report

Anti-India protests in Nepal's border town Hindustan Times, India
Nepal names new Army Chief Hindu, India
Nepal Peace Process and DDR Buzz : Disarmament, Demobilization and ... United We Blog, Nepal
Some with AIDS arrested in Nepal: front-line worker CBC News, Canada
UN team to monitor arms in Nepal Samudaya.org, AZ
Gyanendra Guides Nepal to Victory Home of Nepali Cricket, Nepal
Nepal Telecom Launches CDMA Network Cellular-News, UK
Nepal to organize Hydropower Investment Mart in Kathmandu People's Daily Online, China
Nepal Telecom To Install GSM 1800 System; Launches Sky Phone Wireless Insight Asia (press release), Singapore

PM instructs security officials to ensure fear-free environment Kantipur Publications
State minister Shah accuses Maoists of hypocrisy
'Salaha' terror in north India, Nepal vulnerable
Maoists thrash, abduct villagers
Proposed bill allows govt to sack army chief
Disarmed Maoists can join govt: US Senator
सरकारले चाहेका बेला प्रधानसेनापति हटाउन सक्ने
जनआन्दोलनका घाइतेलाई क्षतिपूर्ति
कटवाल कामु
अमेरिकी अडान यथावत्
'राजनीतिक मुद्दा र हतियार व्यवस्थापन सँगसँगै'
माओवादीद्वारा गाउँलेलाई कुटपिट
रकम नउठाउन माओवादीलाई आह्वान
संक्रमणकालीन अन्याय
नेपाली नागरिकताको विषय नेपालमा तीन प्रकारका नागरिकताका व्यवस्था छन्- वंशज, अङ्गीकृत र सम्मानार्थ । व्यवहारमा नागरिकता पाउन बाबुको नागरिकता, परिवारको नाममा जग्गा जमिन र स्थानीय निकाय र प्रहरी कार्यालयका सिफारिस आवश्यक कागज प्रमाण मानिन्छन् । यी प्रमाण नभएका खासगरी दलित, जनजाति, गरिब र मधेसीहरू नागरिकताबाट वञ्चित छन् । गरिब, दलित, मधेसी र आफ्नो नाममा जग्गा नभएका सुकुम्बासी र बाबुको नाममा नागरिकता नभएका हजुरबुबादेखि पनातिसम्मका एकै परिवारका धेरै नेपाली नागरिकता प्रमाणपत्र पाउनबाट वञ्चित छन् । हालसम्म यो प्रमाणपत्र पाउने कुनै बाटो छैन । नागरिकता नपाएसम्म राज्यका सबै अधिकार र सुविधाबाट वञ्चित हुनुपर्नेे स्थिति छ, वञ्चित गरिएको छ पनि । अर्कोतर्फ उल्लिखित श्रेणीमा नपर्ने दार्जिलिङ, सिक्किम, आसाम मेघालयलगायत भारतका विभिन्न भागमा बस्ने नेपाली मूलका भारतीयले नेपालको नागरिकता पाएका देखिन्छन् । त्यस्ता सीमावर्ती भारतीय राज्यका हजारौं विदेशीले नेपाली नागरिकता पाएका र तिनमा मन्त्रीलगायतका ठूलाठूला पद धारणा गरिसकेका तथा विभ्ािन्न व्यवसाय गरिआएका पनि भेटिन्छन् । तरकारी बेच्नेदेखि सुन बेच्नेसम्म, पान बेच्ने पसलेदेखि अर्बपति उद्योगीसम्म, शिक्षकदेखि प्राविधिक कर्मचारीसम्मका विदेशीले धेरै पहिलेदेखि नागरिकता पाउँदै आएका छन् । यस अर्थमा नागरिकता प्रमाणपत्रको माछा-बजार खोलिएको देखिन्छ । जसले पैसा दिन्छ उसले यो पाइहाल्छ । यसरी नागरिकता लिनेले नेपाली राहदानीसमेत पाएका छन् । यिनीहरू स्वदेशमा मात्र नबसी विदेशमा पनि बसोवास गरेका छन् । नेपालमा कसरी नागरिकता र राहदानी पाइयो भन्ने कुराको यिनीहरू सविस्तार व्याख्या गर्छन् । ........ संविधानसभा अगावै नागरिकता समस्या समाधान गर्नुपर्ने माग पनि तेर्सिएका छन् र यस विषयमा संसद्ले सरकारलाई निर्देश पनि जारी गरेको छ । यसो नभए संविधानसभा चुनाव बहिष्कार गर्ने, सशस्त्र आन्दोलन गर्ने र राजमार्ग्ा ठप्प पार्ने चेतावनी दिइएका छन् । ....... भारतमा बस्ने करिब ६० लाख, भुटानमा लखेट्न बाँकी रहेका चार लाख, बर्माले धपाउन बाँकी करिब दस लाख र भारतबाट बिना रोकतोक जुनकुनै समयमा पनि पस्ने अन्य व्यक्तिहरूलाई मध्यनजर गर्दा र नेपालमा बसेर नागरिकता पाउन वञ्चित ४० लाखलाई जोड्दा करिब २ करोडलाई थप नागरिकता बाँड्नुपर्ने अवस्था आउन सक्छ । ........ १८०० किलोमिटर खुला सीमा ..... श्रीलंकाको तामिल समस्या, इन्डोनेसियाको आचेय, सुडानको डाफुर्र, बुरुन्डी, रुवान्डा, सिरियालोन, लाइबेरिया, इराकलगायत छिमेकी राष्ट्र भारतमा जातीय र धार्मिक समस्याले उब्जाएका दुर्भाग्यलाई लिन सकिन्छ ।
खुला सिमाना र मधेस

खुला सिमाना र मधेस

बृषेशचन्द्र लाल

पूर्व, पश्चिम र दक्षिणको खुला भारतीय सिमानाका कारण मधेसमा भारतीयहरूको निर्बाध प्रवेश भइरहेको हाउगुजी फैलाउने काम नयाँ होइन । यसबाट धेरै लाभ कमाउन सकिन्छ- भारत विरोधीहरूसँग आ.स. पाउन सकिन्छ, राष्ट्रवादिताको तक्मा पाउने अवसर बढ्छ, छिटै चर्चित भइन्छ आदि-आदि । यस्तो प्रचार-प्रसारबाट यस्ता कार्य गर्नेहरूको पर्दाभित्रको साम्प्रदायिकताको केही हदसम्म तुष्टि हुन्छ तथा विगत २३७ बर्से शाहवंशीय शासनमा सहभागी रहेकाहरूको वर्चस्ववादी नियत र मधेसलाई देश होइन उपनिवेश ठानेर दबाउने नीतिको पोषण हुन्छ । त्यसैले यस्तो काममा पञ्चायती शासकहरूको इसारामा डा. हर्क गुरुङजस्ता व्यक्तिहरूको पनि संलग्नता रहँदै आएको छ ।

नेपालको सम्पूर्ण जनसंख्यालाई राजनीतिक, आर्थिक र सामाजिक अवसरहरूको उपलब्धताको आधारमा तीन भागमा बाँड्न सकिन्छ - सेतामगुराली र दलित जनजाति -२९), मधेसी -३३) तथा ब्राऽमण, क्षेत्री-खत्री र नेवार -३५) सरकार चलाउने, योजना बनाउने, कर्मचारी तन्त्र सञ्चालित गर्ने, बजेटको निर्माण, निकासा र खर्च दिने, न्याय सम्पादन गर्ने, सञ्चार माध्यम, विदेशी नियोगमा कार्यआदि सबै स्थानमा दलित र जनजातिको अत्यन्त न्यून र मधेसीको नगण्य सहभागिता छ । यस्तो स्थिति २३७ बर्से बदनियत र त्यो शासनको दुष्परिणाम हो । २००७ सालको क्रान्तिपछि पनि यस कूटनीतिमा कुनै परिवर्तन आएन । अवसरका सबै क्षेत्रमाथि कब्जा गरेर बस्नेहरू मधेस र पहाडी, दलित एवं जनजाति यसकारणले न नजिकिउन्, कुनै मोर्चा नबनोस् भनेर मधेसीहरू यस भूखण्डका हुँदै होइनन् भन्ने प्रचार- प्रसार गर्दैै आएका छन् । डा.गुरुङहरूको प्रयोग यसै अभीष्टका लागि गरिएको हुनुपर्छ ।

अहिले २०६३ को अभूतपूर्व जनविद्रोहपछि मधेस र पहाडका दलित तथा जनजाति जाग्दै आएकोले नेपाली जनसंख्याका यी दुवै अंगहरूमा बढ्दै गएको निकटता तुहाउन र राज्यको संघीय पुनसर्ंरचनाको मागबाट देशको ध्यान हटाउन उही खुला सिमानाको पुरानो राग बजाउन थालिएको छ । खुला सिमानाको कारण दर्शाई मधेसमा भारतीयहरूको प्रवेशलाई अतिरञ्जित गरी प्रस्तुत गरेर मधेसको सम्पूर्ण जनसंख्यालाई भारतीय भएको भ्रम पार्ने काममा केही व्यक्तिहरू लागेका छन् । यस्ता व्यक्तिहरूले मधेसको इतिहासलाई गम्भीरतापूर्वक हेर्ने प्रयास गर्नु बढी उपयुक्त हुनेछ । मधेसको बसोबास ५०- १०० वा ५०० वर्षको होइन । मधेस अपरिचित बालिकाको रूपमा प्रकट भएर पनि जगज्जननी भएर पूजित रहेकी सीता, गार्गी, विदेह जनक, याज्ञवल्क्य, त्रेतायुगमै गीता दिने अष्टावक्रको जन्मभूमि हो । पौराणिक कालभन्दा पछाडिको कुरा गर्ने हो भने २५०० वर्ष पहिले मधेसका राजकुमार सिद्धार्थ गौतमले बुद्धको रूपमा दुनियाँलाई शान्तिको सन्देश दिएका हुन् । पुरातात्त्विक प्रमाणतर्फ जाने हो भने मधेसको बुटवलमा पाइएको प्राग् ऐतिहासिक युगको १ करोड दस लाख पुरानो मानव अवशेषलाई लिन सकिन्छ, नेपी पिथेकस भनिने बुटवल मान्छे एसिया महादेशकै सबभन्दा पुरानो मानव अवशेष हो । नवलपरासीको चुरियामा पाइएका ढुङ्गे बज्र हतियारहरू करिब ४०,००० वर्ष पुराना छन् भन्ने कुरा डोरबहादुर बिष्टले उल्लेख गर्नु भएको छ । यस्तोमा वर्तमान नेपाली भूखण्डको सन्दर्भमा भन्ने हो भने मधेसको बसोबास सबभन्दा पुरानो रहेको प्रमाणित हुन्छ । त्यस्तै पहाडमा सबभन्दा पुरानो इतिहास किराँतहरूको छ । महाभारतकालमा किराँतेश्वर महादेवको अर्जुनसँग युद्ध भएको थियो र किराँतेश्वरले अर्जुनलाई दिव्य धनुष प्रदान गर्नु भएको थियो ।

खुला सिमाना भएकोले भारतीयहरू नेपालमा आएका छन् र आउँदैछन् तर त्यसको कैयन् गुणा बढी भारतमा सरेका छन्, सर्दैछन् र काम गर्छन् । यसरी सर्ने र काम गर्नेहरूमा मधेस र पहाड दुवैतिरका नेपाली छन् । किनभने भारतको तुलनामा नेपालमा रोजगार र कामका अवसर कम छन्, स्वभावतः भारतबाट नेपाल आउनेहरूको संख्या कम छ । अपराध वा कुनै अन्य कारणवश भारतमा बस्न मुस्किल हुनेहरू अथवा नेपाललाई आवश्यक परेर सीपमूलक कार्यका लागि झिकाइनेहरू नेपालमा आएर बस्छन् । अन्यथा नेपालमा सरेर नागरिक बन्न खोज्नेहरूको संख्या कमै छ । मधेसका गाउँ एकै स्थानमा जोडिएका घरहरूले बनेको छ । रहनसहन, भेषभूषा, भाषा आदिमा एकरूप भए पनि बाहिरिया एकजना ग्रामीणहरूको नजरबाट लुकेर बस्न सक्दैनन् । वर्मा, अफगानिस्तान, कश्मीर वा भूटानको एक जना मधेसमा खप्न सक्नु असम्भवै छ । यही कारण हो जसले गर्दा खुला सिमाना भएर पनि भारत विरोधीहरू मधेसको ग्रामीण इलाकालाई प्रयोगमा ल्याउन सकेका छैन् । यिनीहरू नेपालका भित्री सहरहरूमा शरण लिन्छन् । त्यसकारण र अवसरको कमीका कारण पनि भारतबाट आउनेहरू मधेसका गाउँहरूमा बस्दैनन् । तिनी सहरमा बस्छन् र प्रशासन तथा शासक वर्गको जानकारी र घनिष्ठ सम्पर्कमा रहन्छन् । आफ्ना गतिविधिहरू त्यहीँबाट सञ्चालित गर्छन् । त्यसकारण मधेसको जनसंख्यालाई खुला सिमानासँग गाँसेर तथा नागरिकता प्रमाणपत्र विहीन पारेर आफ्नै नागरिकलाई अपमानित गर्ने, तिनलाई शिक्षा, रोेजगार, व्यवस्ाायलगायत अन्य राजनैतिक अधिकारहरूबाट वञ्चित गर्ने राज्यको अहिलेसम्मको नीतिलाई बलियो बनाउने कार्य घोर अपराध हो ।

नेपालन्युजमा केही दिन पहिले डा. उपेन्द्र गौतमले यस सम्बन्धमा लेख्नु भएको एउटा लेखमा नेपाल-भारतको खुला सिमानाबाट विदेशीहरूको प्रवेशसँग सम्बन्धित एकदम निराधार कुराहरू ठेल्दै भ्रम सृजनाको जानाजान प्रयास गर्नु भएको छ । वहाँका अनुसार कश्मीर विवादको क्रममा यस खुला सिमानाका कारण नेपालको मधेसमा मुसलमानहरूको प्रवेश भयो अरे ! त्यसपछि १९६० मा वर्माबाट, १९७०मा बाङ्गलादेशबाट, सोभियत हस्तक्षेपपछि अफगानिस्तानबाट, पञ्जाब अलगाववादीहरू पंजाबबाट, तमिल संघर्षका कारण श्रीलंकाबाट नेपालमा मधेस भएर विदेशीहरूले प्रवेश गरे भन्ने डा. गौतमको भनाइ छ । नेपालको मधेसमा कुनै कश्मीरी, वर्मेली, अफगान, तमिल वा पञ्जाबी खप्न सक्दैन भन्न्ो कुरा डा. गौतमलाई सायद थाहा छैन । एक त उल्लेख्य संख्यामा यस्तो प्रवेश नै भएको छैन किनभने नेपालभन्दा कुनै कश्मीरी, वर्मेली, अफगान, तमिल वा पञ्जाबी विशाल क्षेत्रफल र जनसंख्या भएको भारतमै लुकेर बस्न सक्छन् अथवा सजिलै त्यस समाजमा मिसिन सक्छन् । भारत विरोधी गतिविधि सञ्चालित गर्ने मनसायले अथवा अन्य कुनै कारणवश यदि थोर बहुत संख्यामा विदेशीहरूको प्रवेश पनि भएको छ भने त्यस्ता विदेशीहरू सामान्यतया काठमाडौंकै जनसंख्यामा मिसिएका छन् र तिनको संरक्षण सरकार तथा प्रशासनमा रहेकाहरूबाट भएको छ ।

यस्ा सन्दर्भमा एउटा कुरा अरू महत्त्वपूर्ण छ । नेपालको प्रजनन दरलाई एक पटक नियालेर हेरौं । १९९१ ताका नेपालको कुल प्रजनन दर ५.१६ प्रतिशत थियो र त्यतिखेर पहाडमा ५.९३, मध्य पहाडमा ५.३३ र मधेसमा ४.७२ प्रतिशत प्रजनन दर गणना गरिएको थियो । २००१ को गणना अनुसार देशको कुल प्रजनन दर ४.५७ तथा पहाड, मध्य पहाड र मधेसमा क्रमशः ३.७९, ३.७७ तथा ३.६४ प्रतिशत थियो । यो प्रवृत्ति अनुसार मधेसभन्दा पहाडको जनसंख्या वृद्धि दर बढी हुनुपर्ने हो तर १९९१-२००६ को अवधिमा देशको कुल जनसंख्या दर २.२५ तथा पहाड, मध्य पहाड र मधेसको क्रमशः १.५७, १.९७ र २.६२ रहेको देखिन्छ । मधेसको प्रजनन दर कम भएर पनि त्यहाँको जनसंख्या वृद्धि दर बढेको छ । स्पष्ट छ, मधेसमा पहाड र मध्य पहाडबाट बसाईं सर्नेहरू बढ्दैछन् । मधेसको जनसंख्या बढ्नुको कारण यो बसाइसराइ हो । किनभने पहाड र मध्य पहाडबाट बसाइँ सर्नेहरू गाउँमा होइन सहरमा बस्ने गर्छन् त्यसकारण मधेसको ग्रामीण क्षेत्र र सहरी क्षेत्रको जनसंख्याको अलग-अलग विश्लेषण गर्ने हो भने यो तथ्य अझ प्रमाणित भएर आउनेछ । १९७१ तिर लगभग आधी सहरी जनसंख्या काठमाडौंमा बसोबास गथ्र्यो तर २००१ मा यसको प्रतिशत ३०.९ प्रतिशतमा झरेको छ भने मधेसका शहरहरूमा शहरी जनसंख्याको बसोबास ४५.५ प्रतिशत भएको छ । यसबाट बसाइ सर्नेहरू महँगो काठमाडौंभन्दा मधेसतिर आकृष्ट भएको देखिन्छ । पहाडबाट मधेसतिर बसाइ सराइको यो प्रवृत्ति १९९१-२००१ को दशकमा विभिन्न कारणवश अलि कम भएको हुनाले १९९१ भन्दा २००१ मा पहाडको प्रजनन दर कम भए पनि जनसंख्या दरमा भने वृद्धि भएको थियो ।

२००७ सालदेखि नै हरेक लोकतान्त्रिक जनविद्रोह र आन्दोलनहरूमा मधेसको प्रमुख भूमिका रहने गरेको छ । प्रत्येक लोकतान्त्रिक परिवर्तनपछि मधेसीहरू आफूप्रतिको व्यवहार, धारणा र राज्यको नीतिमा अपेक्षित दृष्टिकोणको विश्वास लिएर आगाडि बढ्ने प्रयास गर्छन् । तर वर्चस्ववादी दृष्टिकोण र प्रगतिशीलताको छद्मवेशमा लुकेर काम गर्ने प्रतिक्रियावादीहरूको षड्यन्त्रले केही हुन पाउँदैन । यस्तै निराधार तर्कहरूले मधेसीहरूलाई तिनको मौलिक हक र राज्यबाट पाउनु पर्ने नैसर्गिक अवसरहरूबाट वञ्चित गराइन्छ । हाम्रा सखासन्तानहरू अमेरिका, कनाडा, अस्ट्रेलिया वा युरोपीयलगायत अन्य देशमा पुग्ने बित्तिक्कै त्यहाँको स्थायी बसोबासको प्रमाणपत्र प्राप्त गरेर पछि त्यहीँको नागरिक बन्न्ा गरिने प्रयासलाई हामी जायज र उचित ठान्छौं भने खुला सिमाना भएकै कारणले यदाकदा कुनै विदेशी नेपालमा आएर आफ्नो सीप र क्षमतामा कुनै कारोबार सञ्चालित गरेका छन् र यहाँको स्थायी बासिन्दा बन्न चाहन्छन् भने त्यसमा के को आपत्ति ?!

विदेशीहरूको नेपाल प्रवेश नियन्त्रित र व्यवस्थित हुनुपर्छ । यसका साथै यहाँको आन्तरिक बसाइसराइ पनि त्यत्तिकै नियन्त्रित र व्यवस्थित हुनु आवश्यक छ । उपयुक्त हुन्छ भने नेपालको चारैतिर तारले घेरबार र आकाशमार्गमाथि कडा निगरानीको व्यवस्था गरे हुन्छ । तर समाधानको उपाय गर्दै नगरी मधेसका नागरिकहरूलाई तँ नागरिक होइनस् भनी प्रताडित गरी राख्नु घोर अन्याय हो जसबाट उत्पन्न हुने विद्रोहले भोलि नेपालको प्रगति र स्थायित्त्वमा ठूलो अवरोध खडा गर्ने निश्चित छ ।

यस समस्यालाई समाधान गर्न विभिन्न क्षेत्रमा कार्यरत मधेसीहरूको साझा मञ्च लोकतान्त्रिक मधेसी समाज जनकपुरले एउटा प्रस्ताव राखेको छ । समाजको अवधारणा-पत्रको साझा सहमतिको मुद्दाहरूको तेश्रो बुँदामा हालका वर्षहरूमा अति द्रुत गतिले भएको बसाइसराइका कारण पहाड र मधेसमा सामाजिक असन्तुलन र अस्वस्थकर प्रतिस्पर्धा दुःखद रूपमा वृद्धि भएको चर्चा गर्दै यसलाई नियन्त्रित गर्न नागरिकता र मतदानको अधिकार निश्चित गरिएको समय सीमाभन्दा पूर्व बसोबास गरिरहेको क्षेत्रमा कायम गर्नुपर्ने सुझाव राखिएको छ । यसबाट उल्लिखित सन्तुलन कायम हुनुका साथै एकै जनाले विभिन्न स्थानबाट नागरिकता प्रमाणपत्र तथा मतदानको अधिकार पाउने गरेको समस्याको पनि समाधान हुनेछ तथा जनगणना र मतदाता नामावलीमा समेत शुद्धताको सम्भावना बढ्नेछ ।


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Project Vote Smart: Senator Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter News - The New York Times
Arlen Specter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia beginning his political life as a Democrat. He worked with the Warren Commission investigating the assassination of John F. Kennedy. As a chief counsel for the commission, he authored the controversial "single bullet theory" to attempt to explain the commission's finding that a lone assassin killed Kennedy. ........ eventually became a Republican ..... made an abortive bid for the Republican nomination in the 1996 presidential race, before withdrawing and endorsing future nominee Bob Dole. ...... a moderate Republican, reflecting his roots in Kansas and in Philadelphia. He is pro-choice on abortion and supports gay rights. However, he strongly supports the death penalty and opposes most gun control, voting against the Brady Bill, background checks at gunshows, the ban on assault weapons, and trigger locks for handguns. ...... supports affirmative action and voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1990. ..... one of only four Republicans to vote against the Private Securities Litigations Reform Act and in recent years has been less enthusiastic about lawsuit reform than many members of his party. In 1995 he was the only Republican to vote to limit tax cuts to individuals with incomes of less than one million dollars. He voted against CAFTA. Specter also supports an increase in the federal minimum wage. ....... Specter criticized his own party for its impeachment of President Bill Clinton ....... notoriously abrasive, and earned the nickname "Snarlin' Arlen" ...... often dubbed a "Republican In Name Only" (RINO) by more conservative critics ....... the longest-serving senator in Pennsylvania history. ..... a member of The Republican Main Street Partnership and supports stem cell research. He is also a member of The Republican Majority For Choice, Christine Todd Whitman's Its My Party Too, Republicans For Choice and Republicans For Environmental Protection. ..... a strong advocate of the flat tax system. ...... very critical of President Bush's alleged wiretapping of people in the United States and abroad without warrants. ..... has emerged as a nationally recognized figure ..... "The Republican Party is now principally moderate, if not liberal!" ..... In April 2006, he was selected by Time as one of "America's 10 Best Senators." ..... Specter has a higher approval rating among registered Democrats in Pennsylvania than Republicans ..... Senator John Sununu shaved his head to show solidarity with Specter when he was undergoing chemotherapy and was temporarily bald.
Senator Arlen Specter
Information on Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania
Senator Arlen Specter - A Real Creep - Let's Get Rid of this Guy
Arlen Specter | Congress votes database | washingtonpost.com

Republican Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum Santorum is well known for his conservative social and fiscal stances, and many describe him as the Senate's most outspoken Christian fundamentalist ..... running for re-election in the 2006 U.S. Senate election. Rasmussen Reports calls him the "most vulnerable congressional incumbent this election season"