More Share To Women

PRIME Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has assured that women would get more shares in all sectors after the election to a constituent assembly, which would ensure a genuine inclusive democracy with due participation and representation of all sectors. Talking to representatives of Nepal Women's Association in Kathmandu the other day, Prime Minister Koirala said that women would have at least one-third representation in all sectors including parliament after the constituent assembly election. Prime Minister Koirala's remarks carry special significance and meaning as the country is preparing for the constituent assembly election to institutionalise the achievements of the Jana Andolan II. Inclusive democracy is the political agenda of all parties, in which all sections and sectors of the country have due representation. Women constitute almost half of the total population of the country. The contribution of women in the national economy is significant. However, their contribution has not been fully recognised. Although the constitutional and legal measures have ensured equal opportunities for all and prohibited any kind of discrimination on the ground of sex, women are exploited and discriminated in practice. It is more so in the rural areas.

Women have been denied opportunities on all fronts. It is because of the age-old traditional and cultural bias against women. Moreover, the lack of due representation of women in political and decision-making level has been attributed to the poor condition of women in Nepal. The discrimination against women is a violation of constitution, national and international laws. Women are equally bonafide citizens of the country and they deserve equal rights and opportunities. But things have started to change recently. The women's rights has emerged as an important political and human rights agenda, thanks to the national and iternational movement for the rights of the women. In Nepal, the Jana Andolan II has been a turning point for the rights and opportunities of women. As per the spirit of inclusive democracy, all political parties have agreed to give at least one-third seats and share to women in political and decision -making level. Representation is an important step towards empowering women. So this process has already started. It is obvious that the country cannot make progress if the half of the population is denied their rights and opportunities. Thus, the rights of women is not the issue of women alone. It is the issue of society and the country. As observed by Prime Minister, early efforts must be made to ensure more seats and share for women to empower and bring them into the national mainstream.

Source: The Rising Nepal, May 15, 2007

Prachanda warns against undermining Maoist strength

Maoist chairman Prachanda has warned 'domestic and foreign reactionaries' against undermining the strength of the Maoists and misconstruing their flexibility for weakness. Addressing a meet of All Nepal People's Health Workers in Lalitpur, on Saturday, Prachanda said his party had abandoned some of its positions for progressive march, which, he warned, should not be misread as their weakness. "There is no justification for our People's Liberation Army to suffer in cantonments if the parliament does not announce republic," he said. Prachanda added that responsibility of any consequence resulting from PLA's march out of cantonment will rest on seven parties.

At another meeting held to welcome the merger of Bhim Bahadur Kathayat-led Loktantrik Ganatantrik Morcha with the Maoists, Prachanda said that all forces were trying to push the Maoists to the wall. "We have said we will not return to war if things move ahead through the peace process. But some reactionaries are trying to suppress us by taking this as our weakness and thinking that we will not return to war," he said. "It will be a blunder on their part. We will leave no one. Wherever you go, we will be there," he threatened.

Prachanda reiterated the need to forge larger communist unity. "We have no ego. We want communist unity based on new thought. Those against the unity in the UML must be exposed," he said. Prachanda also recalled that he had two rounds of talks with late Prince Dhirendra. "Birendra (late King) and Dhirendra were liberal and nationalist," he said. Prachanda also revealed that his party used to take advantage of disputes among parliamentary parties in the past. Sitting ministers had aided Maoists in the past, he said without taking any name.

At the programme, Kathayat was welcomed by Prachanda and Dr. Bhattarai into the Maoist fold. Kathayat's outfit is the latest to merge with the Maoists. Two days ago, another Republic Front led by Dr. Ram Man Shrestha had merged with the Maoists. Likewise, Keshab Nepal-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-2006) had merged with the Maoists a few months ago. The Maoists are planning to induct another leftist outfit led by veteran communist leader Krishna Das in a few days.

Even as Prachanda has been reiterating his call for larger communist unity, Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of UML – the largest mainstream communist party – has once again scoffed at the idea. On Saturday, Nepal ruled out the possibility of unity with the Maoists in near future. "Owing to different viewpoint of looking at Marxism, international situation and domestic reasons, unity is impossible at this point," Nepal said.

Source: Nepal News, May 13, 2007

Republicanism new basis for 8-party unity: Prachanda

LALITPUR, May 12: Chairman of Nepal Communist Party-Maoist, Prachanda has warned that his party would be compelled to take harsh decision if the flexibilities that they have shown for the establishment of republican democracy were taken as their weaknesses. In an interaction programme, organised here today by All Nepal People?s Health-workers? Association on ?Nationality and Role of Health-workers in the Movement for Republican Democracy?, Chairman Prachanda said Maoist is the party that takes decision after scientific analysis of the situation and decisions to be taken would be on the side of the people. Stating that there were efforts to intentionally dillydally the election to constituent assembly, he said the base for the new unity among eight political parties would be the declaration of republic by the parliament. ?Unity among eight parties is still essential to root-out monarchy,? he said ?and the unity to be forged hereafter should be based on new foundation and thus we have forwarded the proposal to declare republic from the parliament.?

?Maoists are not easily accepting order of seven political parties being deaf and dumb,? he added ?they are impatient to make more achievement with lesser damage.? Stating that Nepali politics could not be free from foreign interference and influence, he said his party has been working to liberate the country form foreign authoritarianism. Alleging that the government could not be serious for the sensitive fields like public health, he indicated the need of national health policy for overall reform in health sector. On the occasion, representative of civil societies Dr. Sundar Mani Dixit said Nepali people had suffered from sporadic movements and stressed that such movement should be ended.Prof. Dr. Mathura Prasad Shrestha said political leadership should not ignore people?s desire for change. Dr. Sharad Wanta said healthworkers should also be engaged in the movement for establishment of republican democracy.

Meanwhile in Bhaktapur, CPN-Maoist Central Member and Kathmandu Valley Bureau In-Charge Hitman Shakya said declaration of the republicanism from the Legislative Parliament would be the only alternative if the Constituent Assembly (CA) election could not be held within the stipulated time frame. Speaking at the political training programme organised the Young Communist League-Nepal, Bhaktapur District Committee here yesterday, he said the establishment of the republicanism was the only wish of the Nepali people. Stating that regressive forces in and outside the country are hatching their conspiracies not to be the CA elections successful, he said new direction to the country should be given by ending such conspiracies. At the programme, Bhaktapur District Secretary Diwakar appealed all the people to be prepare for Jana Andolan-3 in order to fulfill their strong desire of establishing democratic republic. He said the alliance of the eight parties has been broken up due to the inability to hold CA elections within the specific duration and pointed out on the need of new political agreement to move ahead. On the occasion, various leaders of the Maoists had expressed their views.

Source: The Rising Nepal, May 13, 2007

Environment Conservation And Development

S.K. Shrestha

ENVIRONMENT and development have close relationships. In the present context, they are like the two faces of a coin. Sources of environment such as land, water, vegetation are utilized in development works. While constructing roads, natural condition such as land, forest etc are cut and leveled. The development activities bring change in environment. The environment should not be degraded by conducting unreasonable development works. Human poverty is an obstacle for environmental conservation. The development and environment conservation activities must go forward in an integrated way. Moreover, environmental degradation has an adverse impact on development process. There must be environment conservation for meaningful development work.

Classification
Infrastructures of development are classified as human resources, physical, social and economic aspects. Skilled manpower is needed to conduct development works in the different sectors such as education, health, agriculture, communication, science and technology etc. Additional development activities become easy due to the development of infrastructures such as roads, bridges, canals, drainage systems, buildings, electricity and communication facilities, etc. They help in communicating the information to accelerate the development ahead. It is quite essential to develop the social aspect as infrastructures to conduct development works effectively. The decision making power, interest to work and desire for participation are to be developed in the people of present organizations, for making them self?dependent and efficient in their works. The development activities are different according to economic investment. The investment is needed to make infrastructure for physical and social development. The formation of development infrastructures help in executing development works in the country.The most dependable media for development in countries like Nepal is industrial development. Our country being a predominantly an agricultural country, industrial development can be made using agricultural products. We must give priority to industrial development which has much role to mobilize the use of human resources and other resources of the country. It helps to raise the economic and social status of the people. Such development has a great role in Nepal with poor economic condition. There is a great importance of cottage industries along with large scale industries also in our country. Cottage industry is essential to make use of local environmental resources. The large scale industries like jute, sugar, cement, paper etc help in the economic development of the country. These industries are not running smoothly due to the prevailing situation in the country. These industries are related with the environment. So, special attention has to be paid for industrial development along with environmental conservation and protection.

The industry, people and environment are related to one another. So, the importance of industry deals with production of raw materials and use, development of human resource, employment opportunity, production of goods, improvement in standard of living, economic development and mobilization of private sectors. Both the government bodies and the private sector should be encouraged to invest and run various types of industries. It leads to competition in the private sector for the development of the industries. It stimulates the efficiency in industrial development of private sectors. The investment of private sector in Nepal for the development of the country is required to be increased in the present situation.The development works of the country are correlated with environment. The people get benefits on the one hand and on the other there are some adverse effects on the environment. Such adverse impacts can be alleviated by arranging necessary means, resources and instruments. The local people should also be involved in the development activities so that poverty can be alleviated through employment generation to them. They are also required to be provided environmental education to minimize adverse impacts on environment while carrying out development tasks in the particular sector. The effects on environment caused by development works can be found from construction works and industrial works. These effects on environment due to construction activities are degradation of the ecosystem, destruction of natural resources, degradation of agricultural land, diminution in the shelter of creatures, change in natural structure and scenery obstruction. Such effects should be minimized with proper planning and management of these activities.

Nexus
Industrial development is the backbone of the development of the country but it is lacking due to instability in the prevailing situation of our nation. Development helps the economic and social status of the people. Besides, various kind of environmentally adverse effects are also seen. Thus, environment conservation must be given attention when executing any development work. Environmental act with rules and regulation should be strictly followed while carrying out development activities in any field. The present government should pay due attention in this regard. Stable political environment is also required for development together with the conservation of the environment.

Source: The Rising Nepal, May 14, 2007

Nepal's Maoist Militia In Mufti

John Child

The Young Communist League has been called both a youth service corps and a gang of neo-Nazi thugs. It is neither. It is the Maoist militia, reorganized for the final phase of their war.In January 1921 the second convention of the Communist International passed a resolution forming the Young Communist League as an integral part of the worldwide Communist struggle, because, the resolution stated, "youth are a part - an essential party - of the revolutionary movement." The YCL still draws idealistic leftist youth to branches in the US, Canada, England, and South Africa, where they volunteer for liberal service organizations, hand out leaflets, and stage small demonstrations.

The Nepal YCL, formed in January 2007, just days before Maoists joined the interim parliament, share a few things in common with their counterparts in other countries: They have protested and issued statements, and they have put forward a public-service face, nabbing smugglers and the leakers of a national school exam paper, cleaning up garbage, clearing out the touts that plague Kathmandu airport, and directing traffic.
From there, Nepal's young Communists part company with their international comrades. In Kathmandu, company owners and managers have been beaten and abducted over "donations" and labor disputes. According to complaints from the business community, extortion has risen to new heights. From rural Nepal, new reports surface almost daily of YCL bullying reporters, trashing government offices, fighting with police and break-away Maoist factions, abducting people, and seizing land.

The pattern is familiar to Nepalis: This Maoist militia has a new name and wear civvies, but their job is the same. On April 29 Maoist supremo Prachanda said that the Maoists' republican drive would encompass, "street, parliament, and government." It's clear which part of the Maoist organization will be in the streets.
And the YCL will have some official support for their activities. On the same day that Dahal spoke, Maoist Minister of Information and Communications Krishna Mahara issued instructions to government media to report positively on the Maoists and to "shun news critical of the party or the YCL."
Less than two weeks later Mahara was forced to admit in a press conference that violent acts "committed in the name of YCL or others are always deplorable." The next day Prachanda promised that YCL cadres would not participate in "unruly or violent activities," and Prime Minister Koirala said he would come up with a stronger plan to reign them in.

If Nepal's YCL members were like their idealistic counterparts in other countries, promises and plans might work. But this YCL isn't composed of excitable youth. It's the product of the Maoist leadership, doing their bidding and following their plan. Public opinion could force the Maoists to tone down the YCL's campaign a bit, but their war isn't over yet.

Source: News Blaze, May 12, 2007