NEPAL: A GRIM PICTURE

Bhumika Ghimire

Recently Nepal celebrated one year anniversary of the historic April revolution. Looking at the excitement in the eyes of people gathered across the nation to celebrate the day, one could say that finally Nepal is in the path towards achieving its great destiny. But it looks like the road ahead for Nepal and its people is going to be a bumpy one despite all the excitement and hope.
On May 1, Prachanda, leader of the Maoists has threatened that unless monarchy is abolished by mid May, his comrades will be holding mass protest. Whoever thought that inviting the battled hardened guerrillas to join parliament would cure them of their old ways was seriously mistaken.

Since the April 2006 revolution, the Maoists have been unable to show they understand how democracy really works and that they are willing to act accordingly. For instance take their threat of mass protest (a.k.a. making normal people's life as tough as possible), ongoing campaign of intimidation and extortion. What is it going to take for the comrades to understand that beating up people who do not agree with them or threatening violence if their demands are not met is not real democracy? I wonder why their friends in India (namely Sita Ram Yechuri), who by the way come to interfere in Nepal's internal matter as if we were their protectorate or "soon to be state", did not tell them their ways are not acceptable if they want to claim to be democratic. Listen Yechuri! The seven party alliances, your friends out of jungle are still the same violent, disrespectful and un-democratic mass.
To add to this situation, Terai is agitated with demands for equal rights and representation. The movement is a welcome sign of awakening and empowerment in the long neglected region. But like every other thing going on in Nepal this too comes with a price.

Terai is now seeing violence in scale not see before, there are people with convoluted agenda who are spearing communal hate and the close relation between MJF leader and India is looking menacing. Maoists’ inability to be truly democratic and situation in Terai will have far reaching effect in Nepal and its position as an independent nation. Both they have invited increased interference from India; economy is in shamble, social fabric is being hurt.
Talking about hurting social fabric, the decision to declare Nepal a secular state, behind all the praise from international community and rights activists seems to cutting deep into our long held traditions and beliefs. Don't get me wrong, I am all for religious freedom but it is truly sad to see the leaders under a false belief that declare a nation secular is the ultimate in ensuring religious freedom. Even before Nepal was secular, the country had been praised for its tolerance for religious other than Hinduism. So why did the nation felt so compelled to be secular? Well, there are elements within the power structure who believe more in dress-up democracy rather than working to have a real democracy.

Nepal being secular is now been seen in evangelic community as an opportunity to convert people to Christianity. Churches are mushrooming across Nepal. People in the villages who have been neglected for long by the government are now being lured into Christianity with big hopes and dreams of prosperity.
Nothing bad per se but there is something inherently wrong here. Religion is not a business and you can not trade god like some used goods, expecting to make a great deal in the trade. I mean Jesus was a great man, great teacher but trust me he would not approve of this trend where his name is being abused by people. Evangelicals are treating Christianity like a commodity and using it to get more people on their side, which is truly sad for anyone who believes in god.
Not so fast, don't call me anti-Christian yet. I will oppose to any "re-conversion" drive, similar to that championed by the BJP and VHP in India.
Now all hopes to make Nepal better is pinned up in being a Republic. Let’s see how that works out? I mean "republic" should fix Nepal in second right? After all, most rich, industrialized and free nations are republic?

Source: American Chronicle, May 15, 2007

Letter to SPA & Maoist leadership

We, the concerned citizens and supporters of Nepal placed our trust in the Seven Party Alliance just over a year ago. It was our hope that the leadership entrusted with bringing Nepal into a new era of democracy and freedom through the Jana Andolan movement would continue in the spirit of last year’s demonstrations and re-introduce effective and competent governance to Nepal. Since that time we have been saddened to observe a return to the same style of ineptitude, corruption and political bickering that marked the previous 15 years under this same leadership. Under your tenure of the past year, Nepal has begun to spiral downwards towards anarchy and the complete disregard for the rule of law; threatening not only Nepal’s sovereignty, but the very safety of its citizens. It is because of this current untenable situation that we now must withdraw our support for your leadership and express our opinion of “no confidence” towards this Prime Minister and Parliament.

We also hereby refuse to cooperate or give legitimacy to any force that uses brutality and coercion as a mean of furthering their agenda under the guise of restructuring Nepal, be it Maoism or any other movement. We strongly object to welcoming such groups into government with their violent adherence to their own sense of ideological supremacy undeterred and unchanged by our constitutionally established rules of governance.
Your failed leadership has contributed greatly to the present dire security situation in Nepal. It is to this fact that we must demand that the Prime Minister and Parliament suspend its operation and immediately refrain from further deliberations or acts of governance.

We demand that the National Army (NA), or any legitimate security force requested, begin operations that will directly lead to the restoration of law and order and peace in Nepal. These operations include establishing the active presence of NA forces wherever possible, a committment to fair adjudication of disputes and the active suppression and confiscation of all firearms displayed publicly by those not directly employed in Nepal's army or police or authorized security services.

Concerned Citizens and Supporters of Nepal

Source: Nepalnow Blog, May 14, 2007

Chewing On Koirala’s 20-Percent Kernel

The monarchy, according to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s fresh calculation in Biratnagar, has shrunk to a fifth of its pre-April Uprising size. With the Chinese ambassador having formalized the premier’s concurrent status as head of state, Koirala is perhaps being a little generous – even allowing for his hometown-induced exuberance.This reckoning is bound to enrage Prachanda further. The former (and soon to be?) rebels were already warding off the wrath of fellow Reds in the UML for having registered a proposal in the interim legislature to abolish the monarch without, so to speak, due process.Illustrating his point, Koirala explained to reporters that King Gyanendra was busy visiting temples and so on as part of a long but inexorable path to citizenry. The monarch, according to other sources, may be doing so as part of his elaborate but surreptitious coronation.Over a year after his regime collapsed, King Gyanendra reportedly maintains his executive-monarch schedule. He maintains regular office hours, voraciously reads newspapers and magazines, meets with people from different backgrounds and attends to household responsibilities.Between October 2002 and April 2006, King Gyanendra didn’t seem terribly excited about scheduling a coronation. True, a few auspicious dates were being thrown around, but little else. With the monarchy in suspension, even facing the prospect of abolition if the Maoists have their way, this could hardly seem a propitious time for a coronation.On the other hand, a king so overt with his religiosity and ritualism could not have envisaged such a seminal event without proper sanction from the planets and constellations.What about the secrecy? Hanuman Dhoka Palace, the traditional venue of coronations, hasn’t shown signs of the festivities. Is the surreptitiousness in conformity with the stars, too?Or is the old palace being readied for a new role? One report a few weeks ago said it was being set up as the secretariat of a new royal regime once the Young Communist Leaguers finally shed their civvies. Narayanhity Palace, so prompt in rebutting all manner of speculation, has been silent on this one.And rumors are flying in all directions. Now we are told that the United Nations has made contingency plans to evacuate its staff to New Delhi should things get any worse. Clearly, the organization remains seared by the August 2003 attack on its premises in Baghdad, which claimed several international civil servants, including the top UN official responsible for Iraq. The UN had refused to relocate to Amman, citing that the anti-American groups would remember that the international organization had tried to prevent the invasion until the very end.Unlike the ex-Baathists, jihadists or whoever the attackers were, our Maoists have already accused the UN of doing Uncle Sam’s bidding in Nepal. Of late, Prachanda has been warning against efforts to undermine the Maoists. His one-time mentor, Mohan Baidya, has candidly explained why a republic cannot await a constituent assembly: national and international forces are creating anarchy to sway public opinion towards the relevance of the monarchy.As for Koirala, well, he’s too consummate a politician to have blurted out that 20-percent figure for nothing. The Chinese ambassador’s bow and stretched hands may have symbolized the loss of a power the monarchy had enjoyed even under the Ranas. But Koirala knows the envoy was acting in conformity with an interim constitution reflecting the tentativeness of all things Nepali.The premier’s real message from Biratnagar this time, as far as Maila Baje is concerned, is his warning to legislators stalling house proceedings of an onset of a dictatorship. The last time we heard someone make that prophesy in the midst of political bickering and Maoist machinations, we were merely months away from February 1, 2005. And, let’s not forget, communications minister Mohammed Mohsin was just the spokesman for the government.

Source: The Nepali Netbook Blog, May 14, 2007

NEPAL: KOIRALA CRITICIZED BY COMMUNISTS

The UML (United Marxist Leninist) parliamentarians in a bid to protest Prime Minister Koirala’s role in functioning of the government, abandoned the parliamentary proceedings, Monday.
However, analysts claim that the need for fleeing from the parliamentary proceedings came as the UML parliamentary party had recently issued a whip order not to disrupt the proceedings any more. Analysts say it was more of an intra-party feud than anything else. Madhav Nepal must have felt the heat.
The UML parliamentary party nevertheless viewed the need for the rejection of the proceedings to protest against Koirala instead by claiming that he was not very serious in finding a solution to the current parliamentary deadlock.
Now Koirala should feel the heat.
The UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari criticizing the PM for his trip to his home town said that Koirala headed for Biratnagar without any agenda. Such irresponsible acts were tarnishing Nepal’s image in the world, Mr. Adhikari fumed.
Currently the Madhesi parliamentarians from the NC-D, the Sadvawana Party and the RPP (Rastriya Prajatantra Party) plus the Maoists forwarding various demands are halting the parliamentary proceedings.
Interestingly, the Madhesi Parliamentarians from the NC-Girija and the Maoists did not take part in halting the parliamentary proceedings on Monday.
The Maoist chief-whip Dina Nath Sharma maintained that his party did not felt the need to gherao the rostrum as it was already occupied by parliamentarians belonging to other parties. May 15, 2007

Source: The Telegraph Nepal, May 15, 2007

Maoists not helping my job: PM

BIRATNAGAR, May 14 - Reiterating that the country has already embarked on the path to republicanism, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala Monday said that the nation would become a republic the day the king becomes non-existent with all his powers stripped off.
PM Koirala further claimed that the king's existence has been reduced to a mere "20 percent".
Talking to journalists at his hometown Biratnagar, Koirala said that 80 per cent task to declare Nepal a republic has been finished and that Nepal would have full democracy the day the remaining 20 per cent of the task is over.
"The king is visiting temples, making sacrifices ? 20 per cent of him is still (felt) there," the PM said.
PM Koirala said that a new date for the CA polls would be decided through an eight- party meeting upon his return to the capital.
PM Koirala currently is in Biratngar, where he reached yesterday on a three-day rest-break.
PM Koirala today confided that the Maoists' lack of experience in democratic exercises was not helping his job as the Prime Minister.
Hinting at the Maoists, the premier asked the journalists gathered at his Biratnagar residence how appropriate it was for the activists of a revolutionary party to beat up women and lock in one of their own leader while inebriated.
Likewise, venting ire over remarks that the elections cannot be held even in mid-November, PM Koirala said, "The elections will take place by mid-November and as long as I am here, I will not allow the eight-party unity to break at any cost".
Flaying the accusations that the eight-party meeting was not getting off ground due to the Prime Minister, he said, "It is not because of the prime minister that the eight-party meeting has not happened? ? it is the prime minister who is keeping the eight parties alive".
Stating that he would issue whips to the Nepali Congress (NC) parliamentarians directing them not to disrupt parliamentary proceedings on his return to the capital, the PM warned of "birth of dictatorship" if the Interim Legislature-Parliament proceedings continued to be disrupted.
Amid demands for Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula's resignation from within the NC rank and file, the PM said that the minister would be relieved of his duties the day he "ceased to be of use".
PM Koirala also met with security heads of the eastern region this morning and directed them to streamline the security deployment in the region.

Source: The Kantipuronline, May 15, 2007