New Basis For Unity : Rescheduled Time For CA Polls

Yuba Nath Lamsal

THE cloud hovering in Nepal's political landscape has now been clear with the consensual decision among the constituents of seven-party alliance and the Maoists regarding the election to a constituent assembly. There should be no doubt from any quarters about the intention of the government in holding the constituent assembly election in a free and fair manner.

Agreement

The government, of course, failed to hold the elections in mid-June this year as it was politically agreed right from the signing of the comprehensive national peace agreement between the government and the Maoists that formally ended the decade long-Maoist armed insurgency. The basis of all political agreements and understandings between the seven-party alliance and the Maoists was the constituent assembly election. Thus, it was also mentioned in the interim constitution to hold the constituent assembly election by mid-June. Failure to hold the election by mid-June is not only a violation of the interim constitution but also a breach of the political understanding and basis of unity among the eight parties.

Delay in holding the constituent assembly has been attributed to various factors. However, it was the slow pace of the government in taking decision is the prime cause for the delay as all the political decisions were not taken on scheduled time that were necessary for the timely election. Be it the promulgation of the interim constitution, formation of the interim parliament, management of arms or formation of Maoist included interim government, all processes were delayed. Given the delay in taking political decisions in time as per the agreement reached early that set specific schedule for every decision, it appeared as though the major constituents of the seven-party alliance were not prepared and willing to hold elections. The reason is obvious as these parties were not confident of their position in the constituent assembly election.

The external factor has always played a crucial role in Nepal's political and other decisions. The international community has always been supportive for democratic movement and social and economic development. Be it the political changes in 1951, 1990 or 2006, the international support and influence was important. The 2006 April Uprising, which forced the king to bow down in 19 days, would not have been successful in such a short time without the strong support from the internationals community and friends. For this, Nepalese people are thankful to the international community and friends of Nepal.

However, the role played by some foreign powers especially after the success of the Jana Andolan II has been unfortunate for Nepal and Nepalese people. Some foreign powers do not appear content with the emerging political equation in Nepal and growing influence of the leftist forces in general and the Maoists in particular. The foreign powers want a rightist alliance to contain the leftist forces in Nepal. It has been agreed that the first meeting of the constituent assembly would decide the fate of the monarchy. Given the current mood of the people nationwide, it seems that the constituent assembly would declare the nation a republic. The rightist and feudal elements that have thrived in Nepal for over 238 years under the protection and patronage of the monarchy will have to wash off their hand from political, administrative and military power if monarchy was abolished. This force is now seeking interference from the external forces so that the rightist forces can retain their existence in Nepal. At the same time, these elements are trying to create chaos and uncertainty in order to thwart the process of constituent assembly election on the one hand and seeking foreign interference on the other with the hope that delay in constituent assembly polls would given them time to regroup and sabotage the entire process. The external forces are acting at the behest of the feudal and rightist elements to sabotage the new political and peace process in Nepal which is a main reason in the delay regarding the constituent assembly elections.

This is interference in the internal affairs of Nepal, which is unfortunate and condemnable as it is against the normal diplomatic norms and values. More unfortunate is the attitude of some of our political parties that seek foreign interference to go to power and retain it. This attitude of the political parties is an insult to the sovereign people. All political parties, irrespective of their ideology and political leaning, must be united on national issues and guard collectively against any kind of attempts from anywhere to interfere in our national affairs. Nepalese people are capable enough to decide their own affairs so that political forces need to settle their differences and take decisions on political affairs on their own for the larger interest of the nation and the people. The tendency of seeking external influence and interference in Nepal's affairs for the partisan interest would ultimately put the national sovereignty at stake, which we have seen in several countries both at our next door and beyond.

Now the eight parties have agreed to hold the constituent assembly election by November this year and it must be held within the rescheduled time. The constituent assembly election is directly linked to the political and peace process that began after the success of the Jana Andolan II. The political and peace process would not be complete until the constituent assembly election is held that would restructure the state, ensure a genuine inclusive democracy and establish sustainable peace in the country.

Basis

The Maoist chairman Prachanda has repeatedly said that the basis of the unity between the seven-party alliance and the Maoists is the decision to hold the constituent assembly election by mid-June 2007. Since the constituent assembly election is not going to be held in mid-June, the basis of unity between the seven party alliance and the Maoist has been broken. Thus, the Maoist chairman has sought a new basis for unity. In the present context, the unity of the eight parties must be kept intact in order to safeguard the achievements of the Jana Andolan II and complete the political and peace process. Thus, eight parties need to make the rescheduled dates for the constituent assembly elections a new basis of unity and work in a collective and cooperative manner to complete the political process.

Source: The Rising Nepal, June 5, 2007

Unfair deal

The promise of 10 percent free energy to Nepal from the 750-megawatt West Seti hydroelectric project, awarded to Australia's Snowy Mountain Engineering Corp (SMEC) a decade ago, has turned out to be a hoax. Clauses in the agreement between the government and SMEC, which was kept a secret from the public, deprive the country of any free energy, and even give rise to a distinct possibility of no benefit to Nepal at all. The government put West Seti project on fast track stating the project would provide 75 megawatts of free energy to Nepal. That was the original arrangement with SMEC, and that was what the government as well as the project's developer had been saying in public. However, a renegotiated deal does not require SMEC to give Nepal any free power. Instead, SMEC is required to pay the country in cash, that too only in the event it has money after paying back its debt participants, and bearing its operational cost. This is sheer treason.

SMEC took a decade to bring the storage-type project to the construction stage since signing a project agreement in 1997 to develop and operate the project for thirty years. In other words, SMEC got hold of the project without having the ability to fund it. A decade down the line, SMEC has convinced four countries and two international banks in areas of investment, construction, insurance, and transmission. It has also made an arrangement to sell all power generated from the project to India through PTC India Ltd. If Nepal is getting no free energy, and if the cash benefit is also uncertain, why is the government hell-bent on re-awarding the project to SMEC, despite the length of time it has spent without laying even the foundation stone for the project. Signing an agreement that will put at risk any benefit Nepal might get from a project is totally unacceptable. Therefore, the agreement the government has with SMEC is totally unfair.

The government, therefore, should initiate an impartial investigation to figure out officials involved in signing and renewing such suicidal agreement with SMEC. When it comes to deals on big infrastructure projects, Nepali officials have always failed in the negotiating table. This has to be ended once and for all. The least that the country demands is that our negotiators uphold national interest. A mistake that will leave Nepal regretting for thirty years is the last thing we need now. There is no question of re-awarding the project to the developer if Nepal's rightful benefit from the project is not ensured. The best way to ensure that benefit is through an arrangement for free power, and not through the tricky course of cash benefit.

Source: The Kathmandu Post, June 5, 2007

Maoist mayhem: Nepal's image takes a beating

KATHMANDU: After the Asian Development Bank washed its hands of a major development project, Nepal's image took another beating in the eyes of the world with 15 foreign governments condemning a Maoist attack on the US ambassador to Nepal and expressing concern about diplomats' safety. "The diplomatic corps of Nepal is deeply concerned by an upsurge in recent weeks of security incidents that have threatened foreign diplomats or otherwise impeded their work in the country," a statement signed by 15 embassies in Nepal said. "We condemn any and all attempts to harm, threaten, or interfere with foreign diplomats working in Nepal."

The 15 embassies include some of Nepal's biggest donors, like India, the US, Japan and European Union countries. While Pakistan, that allied itself with Gyanendra in 2005, when the monarch seized total power with the backing of the army, also joined in the condemnation, China, another supporter of the 15-month royal regime, however was conspicuous by its absence. It was an acutely embarrassing situation for the Nepal government that claims an improvement in the security situation and announced elections in November, when cadres of the youth wing of the Maoists, which is now the third largest party in the coalition government, attacked the UN vehicle carrying the American ambassador to Nepal, James Francis Moriarty.

The incident occurred on May 25 when the envoy, accompanied by the UN High Commissioner for Nepal's representative Abraham, who was returning from Jhapa district in eastern Nepal after a meeting with the Bhutanese refugees living there. Nepal's Diplomatic Corps said it was the government's role to ensure security and safety for diplomats. "Targeting or threatening diplomats on their countries' official business is unacceptable," the statement said. Besides the statement, a US official, who winded up his four-day visit to Nepal Saturday, has also expressed concerns about the attack and the activities of the Young Communist League of the Maoists.

US assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labour, Barry R Lowenkron, who conveyed Washington's misgivings about the Maoists to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, foreign minister Shahana Pradhan and speaker Subhash Chandra Nembang, said one can't have both bullets and ballots. The Maoists and their sister organisations are still banned as terrorist organisations in the US and recently, a senior Maoist leader was denied visa to travel to New York. The government has also come under attack at home for failing to protect its own citizens. Nepal's supreme court on Friday asked the state to pay an interim compensation of NRS 200,000 to the kin of people killed in the custody of security forces, and NRS100,000 to the families of those missing since their arrest. Judges Khilaraj Regmi and Kalyan Shrestha gave the collective judgement after hearing petitions about 83 people missing during the Maoist "people's war".

Source: The Times of India, June 3, 2007

US Official Calls on Maoists in Nepal to Renounce Violent Ways

Liam Cochrane

Kathmandu,

A U.S. government official has called for an end to Maoist violence in Nepal, where the country's former rebels are making a jerky transition from armed insurgents to mainstream politicians. Liam Cochrane has more from Kathmandu. 2006 was a year of hope for Nepal, but Barry Lowenkron, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for democracy, human Rights and labor, says the peace process is being undermined by the actions of some of the former Maoist rebels.
Lowenkron, who spent the past four days in Kathmandu assessing the political and human rights situation, was especially critical of actions by the Young Communist League, or YCL.

The YCL is led by former Maoist fighters, and has attacked several government offices in the countryside since the Maoist leadership signed a peace agreement and entered the government. Last week, YCL members threw stones at a United Nations vehicle carrying the U.S. ambassador to Nepal.

Lowenkron said Saturday that there is no room for violence in a democracy. "To me, their actions indicate they have yet to make the strategic decision to abandon violence, to abandon coercion, to abandon intimidation and to seek their success in a political arena that is peaceful," he said.

Lowenkron congratulated Nepal's Prime Minister, G.P. Koirala, for his leadership in securing an approximate date for constituent assembly elections. The elections are now scheduled some time in late November or early December, and the winners will write a new constitution and decide on the fate of Nepal's monarchy. But Lowenkron warned that there was still much work yet to be done before Nepal's transition, from a decade-long civil war that killed 13,000 people to a peaceful and inclusive democracy, is complete.

"The message of my government is clear: one cannot have ballots and bullets in a democratic process," he said. Lowenkron also called for full investigations into the 937 people who disappeared during Nepal's conflict and remain unaccounted for.

Source: Global Security, June 2, 2007

NEPAL:KOIRALA SAYS, MONARCHY A VITAL PART OF THE SOCIETY

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was expected any day to disseminate words for the rescue of the Monarchy in Nepal. He visited the eastern region twice within two-month period but both the time he had bitter words for Monarchy. Third time Girija said what he really had in his mind, he said “Monarchy can exist within a republican order”. He said this in Birtamod, Jhapa District in Nepal amid a party mass meet.

In our endeavor to transform the society and the country as a whole, the monarchy can take a new form too, Koirala added. “The Monarchy too is a vital part of this society”, PM Koirala said.
He said if a republican order is established, the King may not be abdicated.
He said, but to declare Nepal a republic needs a process, we all have to follow. He however, confused the mass when he said the “Monarchy will slowly transform itself into a republic”; it’s just a matter of time.

Violence may not establish monarchy, even if it is established through violent means it may not last long, PM said further.
He said in the process of taking responsibility of the country he can take any bold decisions. He almost in a threatening tone targeting other political parties said they must now remain prepared to face such decisions. “Without creating favorable atmosphere, CA polls can’t be held”, he added. Prime Minister said further, to conduct the CA polls I can go to any extent. He alleged the rest of the parties in the alliance for creating hullabaloo in the name of CA polls. Making unnecessary noise won’t transform the society, a CA poll is the only legitimate way to do it, he continued.

He said, now other leaders in the alliance are treating me like an old tree that does not give fruits, thus they are trying to cut it. I know what I am, so I am not afraid of any one, I talk what my heart says. “After I successfully conduct the CA polls my importance will be finished” PM concluded. June 3, 2007

Source: The Telegraph, June 4, 2007