Maoists' protest rocks Nepal Parliament

Kathmandu, April 25 (PTI): Agitated Maoists lawmakers, pressing for immediate announcement of the Constituent Assembly polls, disrupted Parliament proceedings for the fourth day today, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the session for two weeks. The slogan-shouting CPN-Maoists MPs surrounded Speaker Subhash Nemwang's rostrum and demanded that the government announce the election date soon. They also asked the Home Minister to apologise for the last month's police raid on the offices of the Young Communist League, the youth wing of the Maoists, here. There are 83 Maoist MPs in the 330 member House.

The Maoists were joined by Madhesi lawmakers who demanded that the government form a high-level probe commission to inquire into the killings during the violent agitations in Terai region in January-February that killed at least 60 people. They were also demanding that the government reconstitute the constituency delineation commission to give "proper" representation of the Terai region. The stand-off has been continuing for four days. The Speaker adjourned the Parliament session for the next two week today. The Parliament will now meet on May 9, the Parliament Secretariat said in a notice today. The government could not pass a number of bills including those related to the Constituent Assembly due to the 0disruption of the Parliament proceedings.

Source: The Hindu, April 25, 2007

Maoists seizing Gyanendra's land

KATHMANDU: Blaming the government for failing to fulfill its commitment to nationalise the properties of Gyanendra, Nepal Maoists have begun seizing 'royal properties' in Kathmandu, even as four political parties led by loyalists of Gyanendra have applied for official recognition with the election commission that would allow them to take part in the constituent assembly polls. "The parliament has failed to formulate laws on capturing land belonging to the king, as such the Young Communist League (YCL) will now capture all such land and use it for the public," central committee member of the CPN-Maoist Hitman Shakya said.

Already under fire for engaging in extra-constitutional activities like holding courts, policing and abductions, the Maoist-affiliated YCL has now announced a fresh campaign of seizing 'royal properties.' The YCL cadres announced that they had "nationalised" 99 ropanis of royal land in Bhaktapur's Sallaghari area on Saturday. Shakya, Coordinator of 'New Kathmandu Valley Campaign', announced the launch of their drive by planting a tree-sapling on the land, said to be in the name of late prince Nirajan. Shakya said they were taking the initiative since the government has been unable to fulfill its commitment to nationalise the royal properties. It is the first time the Maoists have declared the seizure of a royal property in the Kathmandu valley, the Nepal News online said on Sunday.

Meanwhile the Rastriya Prajatantra Party of Nepal led by Rabindra Nath Sharma, Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Mandal) led by Badri Prasad Mandal, Samajbadi Party led by Salim Miyan Ansari and Janamukti Party led by MS Thapa submitted their applications with 10 thousand signatures that are required for registration of a new political party. Mandal and Ansari, who were ministers in the erstwhile royal cabinet, have been charged with brutal suppression of last year's mass protests against the 14-month absolute rule of the monarch by the high-level probe commission. RPP (Nepal) chairman Sharma and Kamal Thapa, who held the home portfolio in the royal cabinet, were accompanied by dozens of party supporters who chanted slogans in favour of Gyanendra. Members of Sharma's party, which advocates a constitutional monarchy, have been attacked several times by the activists of the eight parties during party meetings.

Source: The Times of India, April 22, 2007

End Impunity

THE United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has expressed satisfaction over the efforts of the government to improve the human rights situation in Nepal after the success of Jana Andolan II last year. Issuing a statement on the occasion of the first anniversary of the April Uprising that restored democracy and human rights, the OHCHR has demanded that those who were responsible in suppressing the people's rights should be punished to end the culture of impunity in Nepal. It is absolutely true that the culture of impunity must end, and all those responsible for human rights abuses must be brought to book. The tendency of impunity has continued in Nepal, which is one of the reasons for human rights violations at different times. After the 1990 political change, there had been a demand from human rights activists and civil society members to punish those who suppressed the people's movement and violated the rights of the people. The Mallik Commission, the panel formed to investigate the atrocities during the 1990 movement, had clearly pinpointed at some people responsible for violating human rights, and had recommended necessary action against them. However, the governments formed after the 1990 political change could not take any action against them. These people again became active during the king's authoritarian regime and suppressed people's rights. Had action been taken against those pinpointed by the Mallik Commission, the king would not have dared take over power.

We must now learn lessons from the past. The Rayamajhi Commission has also found some people guilty of suppressing the movement last year and violating human rights. Thus, it is necessary that action be taken against them so that the culture of impunity is ended once and for all. All previous atrocities and human rights violations must be thoroughly investigated and action taken against the culprits. Against this background, there has been a demand for the ratification of the International Criminal Court, which is popularly known as the Rome Statute that deals with investigation into the atrocities perpetrated on the people and punishment for the perpetrators. Nepal so far has not ratified the Rome Statute, as a result of which the international criminal investigation body has not been authorised to probe crimes against humanity and book the culprits as per national as well as international humanitarian and criminal laws in Nepal. Now this treaty needs to be ratified as early as possible. Although there has been marked progress in the human rights situation after the establishment of Loktantra, Nepal, as stated by the OHCHR, needs to be done to institutionalise these achievements on the human rights front.

Source: The Rising Nepal, April 26, 2007

Lethal seduction

The one week’s deadline given by the home ministry for all individuals, groups or parties in illegal possession of arms and explosives to surrender them lapsed about three weeks ago. But hardly anybody volunteered to turn in the lethal contraband. At that time, the general public, fed up with the government’s helplessness in dealing firmly with violence, had thought that at last the government sounded serious. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, too, had said shortly earlier in Biratnagar that the interim government, soon after its formation, would first set a deadline for the surrender of illegal arms and then move to crack down on the defaulters. In declaring the CA polls impossible by June, the question of security was also cited, along with the time constraint. Of particular concern is the resort to arms by several armed groups in the Tarai in pushing their agendas. Through two prime ministerial addresses to the nation, the government had addressed the principal demands raised during the Madhesi agitation, besides making an appeal to them to sit for talks to resolve other grievances peacefully.

But the talks are yet to take place, mainly because of the pre-conditions set by the Madhesi groups and partly because of the government’s apparent indifference. There are also certain agitating Janajati organisations, and currently a new organisation of the Chure-Bhavar Pradesh are enforcing a bandh in the Tarai. The Chure-Bhavar Region Unity Society says it has awakened to the need to protect the existence of the people of hill origin victimised by the agitating Madhesi groups. It is reported to insist that the government should, first of all, fulfil some of its dozen demands as a confidence-building measure for talks. In a democracy, all individuals and groups have the right to make their voice heard through peaceful protests. The government should respect this right. But when protest degenerates into violence, abductions, intimidation, arson, or soured communal relations, the government needs to get serious and respond effectively to protect the rights of the ordinary citizens and the interests of the nation as a whole.

It is here that the government has been particularly weak and unclear. The issue of which of the demands can be fulfilled immediately, which require more time, which can be decided only by the constituent assembly, and which are simply out of the question has to be dealt with. Jana Andolan II entrusted the CA to provide answers to all major disputes; nonetheless, it is imperative that the government decides what falls within the CA jurisdiction and what it can itself immediately do. But it seems to be a prisoner of indecision. Therefore, neither a peaceful settlement is visible, nor the government has mustered the courage to deal firmly with gun-toting militant groups in the Tarai. So, chaos, uncertainty and fear continue to reign supreme in that part of the country, besides affecting life elsewhere in various ways, such as the disrupted supply of essential commodities. The longer the inaction, the worse likely are the problems to become.

Source: The Himalayan Times, April 26, 2007

Martyrs Remembered

PRIME Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, addressing the special function organised at Sainik Manch, Tundikhel to mark Loktantra Day on Tuesday paid heartfelt tributes to the martyrs, reiterating that national integrity, mutual amity and consensus would help realise the dream, intent and duty assigned by the martyrs. In fact, the sacrifices made by the martyrs and the people's spontaneous participation in Jana Andolan II were the bulwarks on which success was achieved for the reestablishment of democracy and the reinstatement of the House of Representatives. That paved the way for further political developments to take place in the past one year since the successful people's uprising. Prime Minister Koirala also made it clear that the historic achievement had been possible only through the relentless struggle of the people and underlined the fact that the gains made cannot be hijacked by anyone. This commitment to safeguard and further the cause of democracy are justified as now sovereignty is vested in the Nepali people, and the supremacy of the people has been established. To celebrate the first anniversary of Jana Andolan II, various programmes were held throughout the country including processions that had the participation of people from all walks of life. In the mass meetings organised, the focus was not only on the achievements made but also on the shortcomings that have been seen, including the delay in announcing the date for holding the constituent assembly elections.

On the same occasion, a mass meeting was organised by the civil society, which had played a significant role during the April revolution, at Basantapur Square. Various political leaders stressed the fact that the movement for full-fledged democracy had continued till the goals were achieved. They also spoke of the need to face the challenges standing in front of them. In the forefront lies the holding of the CA polls that will draft the constitution, which will be all-inclusive and set a new course for realising the dream of a new Nepal. It has been a year since the new dawn began with the success of Jana Andolan II, but there is disgruntlement over the slow pace with which the government is moving forward. But there is agreement that the transitional phase is one of the most difficult times that a country has to pass through. In this the need is for unity among all the democratic forces and consensus on issues of national importance. If this exists, then a small delay cannot cause much harm. The most important thing at the moment is for unity to be maintained among the eight political parties so that the regressive forces are neutralised and cannot raise their heads against the gains of the people and the country in the past one year.

Source: The Rising Nepal, April 26, 2007