Bruised Madhes

Never before in the history of Nepal has the role of Madhesi leaders and parliamentarians been so crucial and so indispensable. Never even during the 11-year Maoist insurgency had the situation seemed so perilous. That is because the Maoist leadership took a diversion when confronted with a choice that would lead to a flare up of ethnic hatred. But the JTMM factions (Goit and Jwala Singh) are waging their armed rebellion on an ethnic plank, something which is extremely dangerous, not only for the integrity of the country, but for humanity. Comparing the situation to Rwanda, Sri Lanka or Sudan would be overstating it, but the risks cannot be ignored. If Madhesi leaders act promptly and effectively, the sporadic flare-ups in Madhes can be doused before the situation explodes into full-fledged civil war. But Madhesi leaders appear apathetic about the potential risks and seem to be scrambling to join the Madhesi band-wagon without really weighing the pros and cons.

It requires courage, honesty and goodness of heart to be a leader. Leaders should be able to take a clear line, and do so publicly. We know most of our Madhesi leaders are not in favor of ethnic cleansing of hill people from the terai, but they have been shying away from flaying sternly any move in that direction. If they keep mum now for fear of being labeled pro-hill, they will be responsible for any racial war that might engulf the country. The Madhesi people are definitely not for that. They want peace, harmony, development and prosperity. But it requires leaders to articulate the public's preferences. That is why Madhes is calling out for a conscious move in the right direction from its sons. Unfortunately Madhesi leaders of the NC, UML, the Maoists, NC(D), MPRF, and Madhesi intellectuals are refraining from speaking out in favor of national unity and flaying the wrongful goings-on in Madhes.

Why is the Madesh situation deteriorating so fast? It's mainly because Madhesi leaders are more concerned about protecting their individual turfs. As a result, members of political parties that fought so hard to reinstate parliament are now trying to undermine the importance of that very parliament by obstructing its proceedings. The government also seems quite feckless in the face of the Madhesi imbroglio. The formation of one committee after another has not borne fruit because the leaders do not really know how to address the situation. The government needs a two-prong strategy. It has to take strong action against people resorting to violence, and deal respectfully with people who have been raising the justified demands of Madhesis. The major problem confronting the country now is not the monarchy or election of a constituent assembly. It is the Madhesi movement, some factions of which are deliberately trying to push the country into civil war.

Source: The Kathmandu Post, April 28, 2007

NEPAL: LEFT UNITY, POSITIVE SIGNAL FOR SA, YECHURI

Sitaram Yechuri, the Indian Communist Party leader today met Nepal’s Prime Minister.
Mr. Yechuri had an hour long meeting with the Prime minister, reports say.
Sources close to the Prime Minister’s private secretariat talking to the telegraphnepal.com told that the two leaders discussed on timely conduct of the CA polls and the unity among the Eight Party Alliances.
Mr. Yehcuri, more so, was seen very concerned over the poor management of cantonment sites, the source said.
Mr. Yechuri got the distinction to visit one cantonment site in Chitwan together with Ian Martin, the UNMIN chief.
He is the first Indian to be honored to visit the site where Maoists militias are languishing.
He, however, beamingly said that if the left forces in Nepal unite would send positive signals in the entire south Asian region. He said this upon meeting Maoist deputy Babu Ram Bhattarai.
Analysts at the www.telegraphnepal.com conclude that Mr. Yechuri who is virtually a drop in India’s oceanic politics, however, is considered as a top-mentor for the communists in Nepal.
It appears that Yehcuri has more students in Nepal than what he has in his motherland.

· Nepalese intellectual would love to learn in what capacity he comes to Nepal? Why he so frequently visits Nepal?
· More over, whom he represents from India when he comes to Nepal?
· After all who is he to mediate in between our political leaders?
· What are his intentions?
· Is he the Indian PM’s special extra-ordinary and plenipotentiary?
· Or he is undeclared Ambassador at Large of India to Nepal?
· How large he is in Politics of mediation? And finally who invited him this time in Nepal?

The academicians need adequate and convincing answers. However, such frequent unwanted arrivals of Indian politicos in Nepal humiliate the entire Nepali population. Analysts say that the Nepalese side has always been at the losing end as and when such visits are planned, invited or uninvited.

Source: Telegraph Nepal, April 26, 2007

Bomb against Christian orphanage allegedly converting children by force

Prakash Dubey

An orphanage run by the Pentecostal Church in Birganj is attacked and one child is wounded. A Hindu extremist group claims responsibility. It says it wants to restore the country to its Hindu theocracy, accusing Christians of converting Buddhist and Hindu children to Christianity with funds from pro-Maoist groups. The establishment’s administrators reject the accusations. Kathmandu (AsiaNews) – A Hindu fundamentalist group in Nepal bombed a Christian orphanage accusing its administrators of converting its non Christian children and receiving funds from pro-Maoist organisations. The explosion occurred in Birganj, Nepal’s industrial capital, at the “Grace Children Home” and wounded one child who is now in hospital. The orphanage is run by the Pentecostal Church and is home to some 80 children from around the country who lost their parents during the Maoist insurgency.

The attack was claimed by the Nepal Defence Army (NDA), a recently-created group that wants to restore the Hindu theocracy that once ruled the country. According to a local NDA organiser, Praban, the reasons behind the attack are two-fold: “Firstly, the Christian owners of the home are obviously converting the Hindu and Buddhist children from the hills and mountains to Christianity. [. . .] The bomb was a warning against their nefarious project. Secondly, [. . .] we have evidence that they are actually children of Maoist guerrillas who were killed in army operations during the insurgency. The Maoists don't mind if their children become Christians.”
Speaking to AsiaNews, the orphanage administrators reject all the accusations saying that their work “is to help and educate poor children who have lost their families.”

Source: Asia News, April 26, 2007

Inadequate Resources

THE inadequacy of fire fighting equipment in the Kathmandu Valley was amply exhibited in trying to control the Tuesday blaze at Makhan Tole of the metropolis. It is true that there are various reasons why blazes occur, but the preparedness level ought to be optimum to fight them when they take place. With the growing population and the houses packed together so close on a tiny plot of land, a fire that occurs in one house due to whatever reason can affect the adjoining buildings. Moreover, the storing of inflammable materials and the always threatening short circuits haunt the people residing in the valley. Such unfortunate events take place mostly during the summer months when the humidity level is low, and fire can spread easily and fast. All fires cannot be prevented, but the fire brigade has to be ever ready to be able to extinguish any type of fire. However, the sad fact remains that though progress has been made in many sectors, the office responsible for meeting such emergencies are not well equipped.

The case is not of the Valley alone but towns across the country. The number of fire fighting engines is dismally low. It is stated that there are only five fire fighting engines in the capital, which is totally inadequate. Seeing the dangers that fire can pose in leading to the loss of lives and property, it is necessary that the concerned authorities think over it and take immediate steps to enhance the capacity of the fire brigades so that they can act efficiently and effectively in controlling fires when they break out. A related problem is the narrow alleys and streets of the cities, which makes it difficult for the fire brigade to reach the disaster site as quickly as possible. In all this, the courage of the existing fire brigade must be praised for doing with so little to contain fires in the valley. It is not only more manpower that is needed, modern methods must also be imported to fight fires. Training firefighters is also a must. As an incentive to the firefighters, appropriate firefighting equipment, including their personal gear, ought to be provided. Looking at the increase in the number of housing establishments and the ever-growing population, the number of firefighter, too, must be increased after a clear study of the needs of the Kathmandu Valley in this respect.

Source: The Rising Nepal, April 27, 2007

People should decide on vital issues

Kamal Raj Thapa

The government is neither sensitive nor responsive to public opinion. Although the political parties claim the sovereign right of the people, their working style is not democratic at all. To institutionalise democracy, the government must ensure public participation. Politicians in power are mere public servants and should work as dignified representatives of the people. In a democratic system, people hold the sovereign power that comprises the political, economic and social authority. The representatives are chosen through ballots and by transfer of collective will to decide on matters of state, but polls do not transfer all deciding authority or entire sovereignty to the leaders. It is the masses that formulate a constitution by insuring separation of power, constitutionalism, rule of law, fundamental rights, independent and accountable judiciary and good governance.

Sovereignty thus limits the authority of a government, including legislative and judiciary, to decide or finalise fundamental issues. The people should, therefore, be given the opportunity to decide on important issues like monarchy v republic or unitary v federal structure of the state. At present, many party leaders, particularly the Maoists, are calling for a proclamation of a republic through the interim parliament (IP). Such a move will subvert the right of the people to frame their own constitution. This directly hinders and minimises the role of the people to participate and choose a political system. Parties cannot decide on matters which lie within the scope of the popular vote.

Even the IP and interim constitution (IC) have declared the right of the people to frame the constitution by participation in constituent assembly (CA) polls. Thus the CA polls alone can determine the political system of the country. Again, IP is a political institution agreed upon by the eight-party alliance, but in a true sense, there is no public participation in it. The people recognised it to maintain peace and order and to institutionalise the derailed democratic process.The IP can only prepare laws relating to the CA elections and for maintaining order in the country. But it cannot frame a new constitution altogether.

Article 159 (3) of IC states that only the CA shall determine the question of political system. Moreover, the role of IP is limited by its very nature. In principle, it cannot exercise the constituent power because it is only a legislative body. Nor does it have a special mandate to decide on vital national issues. The proclamation of republicanism should be contingent on people’s choice and not merely a matter of party politics because the people are sovereign not the parties.Therefore, all claims by the IP to determine the constitutional issues are unconstitutional. The parties are free to carry forward their own agenda and try and influence the people to vote for them, but they cannot settle the issues or make important declarations without elections. It will be illegitimate and may create conflicts between the parties and the general public.

Source: The Himalayan Times, April 27, 2007