2005 Young Republican National Convention (US) Resolution 1 On Nepal

2005 Young Republican National Convention (US) Resolution 1 On Nepal

Between Tom Daschle and the YRNC looks to me like the Democrats and the Republicans in America are competing politically over Nepal, and that is great both for Nepal and democracy, more specifically the idea of a global spread of democracy. For the second poorest country on the planet Nepal offers a perfect example of democracy through grass roots activism but clear, unequivocal external support.

Here is the text of the resolution.

Nepal Resolution (Res. 1)
WHEREAS: there is a vibrant democratic movement in the Kingdom of Nepal; and WHEREAS: the ruler of the Kingdom of Nepal is brutally oppressing his people, cutting off outside communications over the Internet, and jailing leaders of the democratic movement; and
WHEREAS: the Kingdom of Nepal receives financial assistance from the U.S. government; and
WHEREAS: the Young Republican National Federation supports President Bush’s vision for bringing democracy to all corners of the world; therefore…
BE IT BE RESOLVED: That the Young Republican National Federation, in convention assembled in the City of Las Vegas and the State of Nevada, on this the Ninth day of July in the Year of Our Lord 2005, hereby respectfully requests that President Bush and the United States Congress request the King of Nepal to begin a dialogue with political parties and promote civil rights, human rights and peace within the Kingdom.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: a copy of this resolution be sent to the United States Department of State and the United States Embassy in the Kingdom of Nepal.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that the Young Republican National Federation resolves to actively promote the democratic movement in the Kingdom of Nepal.

(Res. 1) Submitted by Michael Harlow of the Ohio Young Republicans, and Chauyenlai
Shreshtra, honorary member of the Association of New York State Young Republican
Clubs, Inc. and Director of the Association of World Citizens – Nepal Chapter.

I think this is a major achievement. We Nepali democrats should be proud of this. These young American Republicans pushed this resolution before their resolutions on Britain, especially in light of the recent London bombings, and their own Board, on taxation, and "in support of our troops," and "in support of President Bush on Judges," and in support of a House resolution. To end up on top of their priority list is a big achievement for us.

Of course we seek bipartisan support. But it is nice to see them competing. That is how democracy delivers.

I think it is high time this clear moral support started translating into logistical support in terms of funding a major escalation of the movement for democracy inside of Nepal. This would be seed money that could see a tide of democracy in the larger South Asian region. Because all book keeping is to be kept transparent from day one, posted online in real time.

The movement is to be "televised!" More specifically "webbed!" All deliberations and developments are to be put and kept online so those oppressed in other countries may get inspired and take destiny in their own hands.

In The News

• A Cup Of Tea With Rabindra Mishra UWB He has been working in BBC for 10 years now. ... the masters level students of journalism at RR Campus .... Tanka Dhakal....then had told him that no FM radio in the world broadcast news...... after the ban the people in the remote places were left with no means of news because due to lack of roads or delay in transmission (for paper) and expensive (tv), radio was the only mean of information.... most of the times for the sake of political stories, we fail to give priority to the social issues..... how he went to Pakistan for doing masters in journalism, how he started working for Jung there and how he went to BBC
• Gagan Thapa Arrested Again UWB arrested Gagan Thapa, prominent student leader, this morning from a police station in Kathmandu where he had gone to see his detained comrades....... “We have some works with you,” the inspector of the Ward Police Station told Gagan. “So, please come to my office on the first floor.” When both Gagan and Subodh went to the office room, the Inspector told them that Gagan was under arrest. Police didn’t arrest Subodh....... Subodh told his friends that both of them were followed by a police van as they got out of the house. “We didn’t care about that then,” he said. “After all we were going to the police station.” .... hasn’t been charged as of now. He hasn’t been served with any papers..... one of the most vocal figures against the regressive royal regime.... actively involved in organizing and coordinating and operating in almost every pro-democracy rally..... we were not allowed to meet him. “Come after 3 hours,” the Sub Inspector of the station screamed from the entrance gate of the building. “We don’t have orders from higher places to allow you to meet him.”
• Deuba Downed. Really? UWB “I am not afraid of going jail,” Deuba had said in front of TV cameras. “I have already spent 9 years in jail fighting for democracy.” ..... if the Supreme Court couldn’t rescue this former Prime Minister in the next few weeks and/or if the democracy couldn’t be restored in the coming months, Deuba will spend another 2 years in jail...... An angry Sher Bahadur Deuba vowed to fight back by dragging the RCCC to the Supreme Court..... blatantly ignored the Asian Development Bank conducted investigation result..... quite against the natural principle of justice...... Political activists, and to large extent, the civil society, thinks that Deuba has been unjustly framed into a conspiracy...... King constituted this body immediately after Feb 1 and its actions were heavily targeted against those who lost power in the takeover..... I am not sure if Deuba and company is completely innocent but the way the RCCC handled the case has made them appear innocent....... It wanted other democratic forces to be frightened by treating Deuba harshly....... RCCC decision will only backfire, only escalate the mass movement.
• A Session That Was Not Really Special UWB “Only wayout of the Maoist problem is the talk,” a resolution passed by the session states..... “The king is digging a ditch for himself. When a feudal gets worried, he starts talking nonsense. King is doing the same. He is worried by the people’s will that is against his will. King is ready for backpack and leave.” ...... Nepal said if the King ignores parties, there is no need for parties to give him space. “Don’t make the country a theater,” Nepal warned, “I would like to warn the king. Even if he wants to make the country a theater, then we have to look for the villain of that drama.” ...... the blatant violation of time limit given to the lawmakers...... Dr. Mangal Siddhi Manandhar, former CPN UML lawmaker and former Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, was given 10 minutes to table a 9-point proposal. It took him more than 28 minutes to do the job. He gave senseless lecture before actually reading out the proposal. And Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, former Nepali Congress MP and finance Minister, was no better at respecting the time frame. Ram Preet Paswan, chair of the program and vice-chair of the National Assembly, the Upper House, gave Mahat 3 minutes to support the proposal. Dact Saheb took more than 20 minutes. It was different thing that Mahat entertained the crowd by reading out conflicting/ironical portions of the budget presented by the royal finance minister Madhukar Sumsher JB Rana..... Then came Hom Nath Dahal, former Nepali Congress Democratic MP and took 15 minutes, 12 minutes more than the specified time, to support the proposal...... threatened to escalate the mass movement. But I think people want action from political leadership not just words.
• Citizens On Road For Democracy UWB July 25 Political parties and their sister organizations and journalists were already doing that. The civil servants started only after the amendment of the Civil Service Act. In between everybody was asking where civil societies were. Today, the civil society was on road demanding their rights and democracy...... tried to break through police-cordon to enter the restricted area ..... The rally began at Bhotahiti..... moved forward towards Ratnapark..... arrested many including journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, human right activists Krishna Pahadi....“This proves the might of thought,” a journalist friend later quoted Pahadi as saying from inside the police van. He quoted Dixit as saying ‘the road belongs to people.’...... The rally failed to break the cordon and changed the route moving towards Indra Chowk where human right activist Subodh Pokharel and lawyer Harihar Dahal said that that was just the beginning and it would certainly grow. Immediately after the rally concluded, there was a heavy rainfall which soaked most of the participants including me....... slogans were against the King and were ‘illicit’ (Sorry! I don’t think it would be appropriate to reproduce those slogans here - the softest of them being demand for the republic)...... Until a few years ago, nobody probably had believed that such slogans would be chanted on the street...... If you only listen to those slogans then you should believe the monarch is what they don’t like most....... Student leader, Gangan Thapa, was there. He is the one who had raised the voice for need of republic when very few thought about it. Now in the time when many are considering that as an option..... the most vibrantly leading a group of youth shouting slogans against the King...... Indra Chowk, when the likes of Raghu Pant and other tried to convert the rally into a meeting, he was constantly being asked by his friends to move forward and try to break the police cordon...... ‘since they all know me, it would be inappropriate to move forward when they want us to stop.’

Gagan Thapa Arrested Again

This is sacrilegious. This borders towards blasphemy.

The polarization in the country is likely to shift from autocracy vs. democracy to republicans vs. the Giri-Bishta-Shaha alliance.

Tulsi Giri has a point, it is a choice between monarchy and democracy. A king who has made it very clear that he feels underemployed, possibly unemployed, as a constitutional monarch is the first one who offered that choice. A politician who contests elections is more involved than a "constructive" monarch. Go the full length!

Be seen and heard. Go on television and announce an end to your illegitimate regime.

The Monarchists have taken the lead. It is time the democrats started singing the same tune, that it really is a choice between the monarchy and democracy.

Suddenly the Maoist overture for a firmer alliance has gained new currency.

The democrats need to move beyond what they have been saying so far. Don't push me, or else. Or else what?

Or else what? Time to articulate.

The Giri-Bishta-Shaha alliance seems to think the names Deuba and Thapa rhyme with each other. Arrest Deuba, then go arrest Gagan Thapa.

Message: Gagan Thapa is not alone.

The countdown has begun.

Gagan Thapa Arrested, Deuba Re-Arrested (April 27)
Changing Gears (April 29)
E-Mail From Gagan Thapa (June 20)

In The News

• Gagan Thapa to face sedition charges Kantipur Online, Nepal July 27 ... former general secretary of Nepal Students Union, was arrested by plainclothes security personnel from Anamnagar this morning .... taken to the Special Court at Babarmahal in the afternoon where the police authorities demanded a seven-day detention to investigate the sedition charges .... accused Thapa of shouting slogans against the monarchy in prohibited area at Ratnapark that was organized by Citizens’ Movement for Peace and Democracy on Monday...... “This incident shows that the absolute rule is weakening day by day,” Thapa told journalists after coming out of the Special Court...... “If sedition charge is labelled against those who are fighting for democracy and people’s rights, then there is no alternative but to go for decisive people’s movement,” he said...... Thapa also called on all students and youths to go against such “absolutism” for the establishment of a “New Nepal.” .... transferred him to Hanuman Dhoka Police Station this evening after being interrogated at Ward Polic Office in Tinkune ..... This is the second time Thapa is facing the sedition charge. In December 2003, the government had labeled Thapa with the same charge for shouting anti-monarchy slogans in a student rally. The government had taken back the charge following increasing violent protest by the students.
• Student Leader Gagan Thapa Arrested Himalayan Times in custody for seven day under the Offence Against the State Act-1989..... A three member bench of judges Govinda P Parajuli, Rana B Bam, and Bhoop Dhoj Adhikari .... Police picked up Thapa from his Maitidevi residence at around 9:15 this morning. He had just returned after meeting Pradeep Poudyal, vice-chairman of Nepal Students Union who is being detained at Ward Police Office in Singh Durbar. Thapa had been taken to Ward Police Office in Tinkune for interrogation.
  
• Nepal king under fire over coup BBC News, UK Former US Senator Tom Daschle has launched a scathing attack on Nepal's king ..... called for the release of ousted former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba .... said all political prisoners must be freed and urged the king to scrap a controversial corruption body. .... As he made his statement, security forces re-arrested a prominent student leader, Gagan Thapa..... Daschle led the Democrat Party in the US Senate for 12 years ..... He stressed he was not speaking for the US administration, which has called on the king and political parties to work together ..... the parties sidelined by the king should remove what he called corrupt people from their ranks and offer a blueprint for change...... urged the Maoist guerrillas to end abduction, extortion and violence..... Daschle's most blistering criticisms were aimed at the royal palace...... the former senator said, corrupt people and convicted criminals should have no place in the royal-led government ..... Daschle said the authorities must release all political prisoners
• Youth leaders demand clear agenda Kathmandu Post, Nepal Jul 24 The new generation leaders of the country's mainstream parties, on Sunday, alleged that lack of clarity among their leaders about monarchy and democracy is further prolonging problems.... Student leader Gagan Thapa, said the root cause of the present problem was feudalistic structure of Nepali society, and claimed that it would continue until progressive forces come together against the feudals.
• Student Leaders Get 10-day Custody Himalayan Times, Nepal Jul 15

Tom Daschle

Senator Tom Daschle:

I want to acknowledge and thank the national Democratic Institute for supporting my visit to Nepal. In this past week, I have met with His Majesty King Gyanendra, political party leaders, civil society representatives, business people, and many others. My purposes in coming to Nepal were three-fold: to express the people of Nepal the strong support of the American people for the restoration of democracy and democratic institutions and the resolution of the violent Maoist insurgency; to assess the current political crisis; and to urge Nepal's political leaders to come together expeditiously to resolve Nepal's crisis, recognizing how the current impasse imperils democracy and progress.

It is clear that the Maoist conflict must be resolved through a political solution and that this will be most effectively undertaken after reconciliation is achieved between the political parties and the palace. The need for reconciliation between the king and the mainstream political parties is immediate. All personal and partisan considerations should now be put aside for the good of the Nepali people.

It is incumbent upon the King, given his stature, to call upon the political parties to become partners in a dialogue to restore democracy and peace to Nepal and make this a priority of His Government. His Majesty's Government must also respect and restore all civil and political rights, including freedom of the press, and the resumption of news broadcasts on FM radio. He must also remove any restrictions on peaceful assembly and expression. The RNA must continue to improve its performance in respecting the human rights of both civilians and combatants while fighting against the Maoist insurgency. All political prisoners should be released, including former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Prakash Man Singh, and the Royal Commission For Corruption Control (RCCC) should be dissolved and corruption cases referred to the constitutionally-created Commission for the Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA). Attempts by the palace to consolidate royal power through controls on the civil service, the education system, NGOs, the press, and other areas should be reversed and ended. Corrupt individuals and convicted criminals should have no place in His Majesty's Government. Without a resolution of the crisis and a quick return by the Palace to constitutional norms, there will be growing civil unrest and growing discontent in Nepal with the institution of the monarchy.

Political parties deserve praise for the many achievements made under the twelve years of parliamentary democracy, and for the current unity of purpose that they are now displaying. Nevertheless, they can and should do more to alleviate the political crisis, Understanding that corruption has in no way been limited to political parties, but has been present in many Nepali institutions, political parties must nonetheless demonstrate to the Nepali people a willingness to improve their performance and fight corruption where necessary. They should commit publicly to genuine party reform, internal democracy, transparency and accountability and the removal of corrupt figures from their ranks. They should also offer a clear and detailed blueprint for change, progress and peace to the people and recapture the Nepali people's faith through their actions and commitments. They should also unconditionally and unambiguously offer to begin dialogue with the king, regardless of past wrongs, real and perceived.

The Maoist threat is serious and ongoing and must be resolved. Besides the terrible human suffering caused by this violent insurgency, it is undermining economic progress in Nepal as well as the institutions of democracy. A military victory by either side in this conflict is very unlikely. The only real solution is political. While the social issues raised have legitimacy, the violent tactics the Maoists employ are universally condemned by the Nepali people. The Maoists must respect human rights and stop the abuse of civilians through abduction, extortion and violence. The underlying social issues driving the Maoist movement should be addressed by a democratic government and the Maoists themselves must renounce violence and take their ideas to the mainstream of politics where they can be judged by the Nepali people in free elections.

The people of Nepal, with the support of the international community should demand that all parties to this impasse make democracy and peace their most urgent priority. America firmly supports a restoration of democracy in Nepal. And I urge the king to return immediately to constitutional democratic principles. A return to Panchayat-style governance is unacceptable and will only lead to more difficulties for both the nation and the monarchy in the future. The restoration of democracy in Nepal is the only way to achieve progress and peace. The people of the United States and other friends in the international community stand ready and willing to help in this critical effort.

In The News

• NC-D to launch political fight against Royal Commission Kantipur ... would work together with the seven-party alliance to fight against the Royal Commission for Corruption Control..... A meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee .... Most of the leaders opined that they need to launch a political fight and move the Supreme Court against the commission. .... the decision on the issue would be made public only after the legal consultations.
• Prachanda welcomes seven-party statement Kantipur “The statement of seven political parties is a step forward in building political consensus,” Prachanda said ..... said that his party had already issued directives to its cadres at all the levels to cooperate with the local activists of agitating political parties..... his party also expected the political parties to issue directives of a same kind to their local level activists......
  
• Army requests civilians not to kill Maoists Kantipur ... the incidents of death of some Maoists at the hands of the civilians, who came out in retaliation against their excesses.... villagers in Dhading and Makwanpur districts killed seven Maoists a few days ago.... “It would be proper for the civilians to hand over such criminals to the security forces for legal action instead of taking law in one’s own hand”
• Students’ detention extended by a week Kantipur .... Kathmandu District Administration Office Monday slapped another week-long detention on the six students who were arrested on July 14 under the Public Offence Act...... the second time the authorities have extended their detention period....Pradeep Poudel, vice president of Nepal Students’ Union, Thakur Gaire, Saroj Thapa, Narayan Bharti, B.P. Regmi and Puspa Shah
• ‘Parties should be strong’ Kantipur .... Krishna Pahadi said that civil society members urged Daschle to get into the root causes of political instability and the Maoist conflict
• ‘Silence of int'l community misunderstood' Kantipur .... "What they (rulers) don't understand is this is not silence but isolation," said Dixit while speaking at a talk program in New York, Sunday. "If there is no major breakthrough soon, this isolation could be fatal.".... despite the severe pressure on the Nepali media, leading newspapers, in particular, have gone to the edge in criticizing the government.....by banning news on FMs, the government itself is forcing people to listen to clandestine radios run by Maoists since it has no control over the rebels' radio
• Speaker’s stand puts CJ appointment in limbo Kantipur Constitutional Council (CC) has hit a virtual deadlock with the Speaker of the House of Representatives refusing to attend a CC meeting to recommend a name for the next chief justice (CJ) citing the absence of a sitting prime minister, who constitutionally chairs the meeting...... Speaker Taranath Ranabhat ..... the government's suggestion that the CJ could chair the CC in the absence of a prime minister. .... the government had suggested invoking either Article 127 of the constitution or preparing working procedure of the CC under Article 117 (3) and (4).... The top judicial post becomes vacant on July 29 when the CJ Hari Prasad Sharma, retires on grounds of age..... the Speaker's stance has heightened the possibility of the king invoking Article 127 to give authority to the incumbent chief justice to call and head the CC meeting
• ‘House’ asks parties to hold talks with rebels Kantipur ..... A joint meeting of Upper House members and members of the dissolved House of Representatives, on Tuesday, asked the seven political parties to take initiatives for a dialogue with Maoists, while also urging the rebels to create a conducive atmosphere..... "Dialogue is the only way to resolve the Maoist problem and political parties have the capacity to do so" ..... a separate ten-point resolution...... condemned the Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC) for its political witch-hunt .... denounced the finance ordinance made public by the government in the form of "budget", civil service ordinance and the ordinance related to NGOs' activities...... extended support to the protest programs initiated by professional organizations, lawyers, journalists and members of civil society. They condemned the government's "harassment" of journalists...... said they were forced to stand against monarchy as the monarch was trying to project monarchy as an alternative to democracy....... "Our absolute democracy is a step close to the republic" ..... the parties would bring Maoists to the peace process come what may. .... Nepal warned that parties have arrived at a position to consider even the abolition of monarchy...... the king had failed in every front during his direct rule...... Bharat Bimal Yadav, vice-chairman of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (A) claimed he was informed about a secret plot of the palace to impose a ban on political parties by December....... Bharat Bimal Yadav, vice-chairman of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (A) claimed he was informed about a secret plot of the palace to impose a ban on political parties by December.
• Former US senator calls for Nepal democracy Reuters AlertNet, UK
• Daschle Presses Nepal King on Democracy Newsday
• Nepal king under fire over coup BBC News
• Former US senator calls for Nepal democracy Boston Globe, United States
• Daschle presses Nepal king on democracy San Jose Mercury News, United States
• Daschle Presses Nepal King on Democracy Los Angeles Times, CA
• Daschle presses Nepal king on democracy News & Observer, NC
• Daschle Presses Nepal King on Democracy The Ledger, FL
• US concerned over lack of progress in Nepal reconciliation Japan Today, Japan "Our concern is to see the process of reconciliation between the king and the political parties. We have not seen much progress at all," Moriarty said

UN Security Council Needs To Enforce Human Rights On A War Footing

For the longest time the UN Security Concil has been my least liked aspect of the UN, a body I have tremendous respect for, primarily because of the existence of this thing called veto power. It is like the UNSC is King Mahendra, and the rest in the General Assembly are the powerless but numerous civilian politicians.

But the UNSC recent work on Human Rights brings some hope.

Respect for Human Righs has to be universal. No compromise can be made on that. Confrontation and humiliation are legitimate weapons to use. And, might I add, not entirely enough.

Human Rights are not ideology: they are basic. They are fundamental, elementary. They are starting points for human discourse. Culprit regimes need to be named and shamed and more. Gradually the enforcement mechanisms have to be made stronger. People anywhere on the planet should know should their human righs be violated, either by dictatorial regimes in power, or by "entrepreneurial" armed rebel groups, or private armies, or by warlords and their thugs, regardless of the underlying social, political, ethnic, religious and economic conflicts, the global community will not sit and watch. That safety net has to be put in place.

The concept of sovereignty and "internal matters" becomes moot at that point. The global body can intervene to find facts, and to stop the excesses, with immediate and total effects.

I hope the recent found zeal is but a starting point, and not a momentary hicuup.

Human Rights violations are never "private" and "internal" issues, any more than child and spouse abuse are, any more than violent crime is.

If the people in the far flung corners of the planet can not feel the UN's presence on this fundamental issue, does the rest matter?

Finally, finally, finally looks like the bad guys are about to meet their match.

In The News

• UN Votes To Monitor Child Soldiers, Abuses In War RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, Czech Republic ..... The UN Security Council adopted a resolution today to monitor nations or rebel groups that kill, maim, or sexually abuse children in war zones or recruit them as soldiers..... The resolution reaffirms earlier commitments that the council will consider imposing targeted sanctions, such as a ban on arms exports and imports, against parties that violate international law on the rights and protection of children in armed conflict...... UN figures show that, during the last decade, 2 million children have been killed during armed conflicts and another 6 million have been disabled or injured. ...... Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire, Congo Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and Sudan. Next year, the monitoring will expand to Colombia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Uganda.
• King to lead team to UN's Sept meet Himalayan Times, Nepal September 14-16 in New York
• Session sees shrill rhetoric by 7-party front Himalayan Times, Nepal ... Koirala today said total democracy is a borderline between constitutional monarchy and a republican order .... stern warning came amid claims that efforts are underway to supersede the constitution ..... billed the action against NC (D) President Sher Bahadur Deuba as panic reaction ....... Madhav Kumar Nepal .... We need to be bold now. People are pushing us towards such a stage where the King is unwanted ..... Leelamani Pokharel said the government can declare the political parties as terrorist outfits even as he warned that people could switch over to the demand for a republican set-up if the King does not listen...... Narayan Man Bijukche of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) said talks must be held with the Maoists, NC (D) President Gopal Man Shrestha said, Things were not good for the King. He may have to pay for the misdeeds. Nepal Sadbhavana Party leader Bharat Bimal Yadav said political parties may be banned and the current constitution superseded in the near future. We will be ruined if we do not do enough
• Economic and Social Council acts on wide range of human rights ... UN News Centre .... guidelines on victims’ rights to a remedy and reparation for gross human rights violations, as well as the creation of a working group to probe the use of mercenaries to derail human rights....... some 43 texts. ..... a vote of 43 in favour and none against, with 5 abstentions ..... Among country-specific decisions, texts were adopted relating to Myanmar, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Belarus, Sudan, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Nepal, Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Afghanistan and Haiti....... sought to exert political pressure on developing countries through confrontation and humiliation
• Security Council establishes first comprehensive monitoring ... ReliefWeb (press release), Switzerland .... a major and groundbreaking development, the UN Security Council today voted unanimously for a series of measures, including the establishment of a comprehensive monitoring and reporting mechanism, to ensure the protection of children exposed to armed conflict...... monitor grave violations by all parties, both governments and insurgents, focusing particularly on: killing or maiming of children; recruiting or using child soldiers; attacks against schools or hospitals; rape or other sexual violence against children; abduction of children; and denial of humanitarian access for children....... endorsed the continued naming and listing of all offending parties, both insurgents and governments...... the Council ordered offending parties which have already been listed, to prepare and implement right away, concrete action plans and timelines...... several months of intensive negotiations on a package ...... For the first time, the UN is establishing a formal, structured and detailed compliance regime....... United Nations-led task forces will be established in phases, ultimately covering all conflict situations of concern, to monitor the conduct of all parties, and to transmit regular reports to a central task force based at United Nations Headquarters in New York. These reports will serve as triggers for action against the offending parties...... The latest report lists 54 offending parties, governments, as well as insurgents, drawn from 11 situations of conflict. These included: the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) from Sri Lanka; Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) from Colombia; Janjaweed from the Sudan; the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) from Nepal; Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) from Uganda; Karen National Liberation Army from Myanmar; and government forces from Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar and Uganda........ measures might include travel restrictions on leaders, and their exclusion from any governance structures and amnesty provisions, the imposition of arms embargoes, a ban on military assistance, and restriction on the flow of financial resources to the parties concerned....... Today, as never before, we have the necessary norms, institutions, and means ....... In the last decade, 2 million children have been killed in situations of armed conflict, while 6 million children have been disabled or injured. Over a quarter of a million child soldiers are being abused and exploited today in situations of armed conflict around the globe. Since 2003, over 11 million children have been displaced within their own countries, and 2.4 million children were forced to flee conflict and take refuge outside their home countries. Abductions are becoming more widespread, as witnessed, for example, in Darfur, northern Uganda, Nepal and Burundi. Thousands of children, particularly girls, are subjected to rape and other sexual abuses in situations of conflict. Landmines kill or maim 8,000 to 10,000 children every year...... promoting standards and measures for their protection in times of war, as well as their healing and social reintegration in the aftermath of conflict.
• The Secretary General's Report , Full Report
  
• Former PM of Nepal fights jail term for corruption Scotsman, United Kingdom "There is no basis for this case. This is political assassination. We will fight it politically," Deuba said as he was taken back to the prison after the verdict. He has been in custody since April.
• Maoists shut down tea estates in Eastern Nepal Kantipur Online, Nepal 45, 000 workers jobless .... Chief District Officer of Ilam Bijayaraj Poudel said that only three tea estates were closed in the district..... In Jhapa, Chief District Officer Prem Narayan Shah said that workers and proprietors have agreed to open the factories.
• Maoists close down eastern tea estates Kathmandu Post At a time when tea workers should be busy collecting green tea leaves, all government and private tea estates and factories in Ilam and Jhapa districts in east Nepal, have been shut down since Monday, following Maoist threats..... 15,000 workers have been rendered jobless while thousands of kilograms of green leaves, which used to be supplied to the factories daily, is on the verge of going waste..... Increase in salary, other perks and facilities of the workers, immediate release of workers who were detained on charges of being Maoists, are among the 15-point demand put forward by the ANTUF.
  
• Nepal's former Parliamentarians condemn Commission's verdict Outlook (subscription) former parliamentarians today condemned as "politically biased" and "unconstitutional" the anti-graft commission's verdict ..... The meeting of ex-Parliamentarians or the "Third Parliament" unanimously passed a resolution terming the commission's decision sentencing Deuba to two years in prison and imposing a fine of Rs 5.5 crore as "politically biased" and "unconstitutional".....
• Indian police nabs Maoist commander Kantipur arrested an injured Maoist commander at Barahi village of Madhubani district in Bihar .... Swarnim Lama, 24, hailing from Solukhumbu..... section commander of the Maoists and that he was injured during clashes in Udayapur two months ago.... at a nursing home in Darbhanga
• Maoists hurl bombs at public gathering; 16 injured Kantipur Maoists hurled socket bombs at a public gathering in Doti district ..... The Maoists themselves had forced the locals for the gathering ..... The incident occurred after locals tried to rescue a person who was being beaten by the Maoists...... The locals during confrontation nabbed four Maoists and were handed over to the security forces at the district headquarters..... at least 150 locals have reached district headquarters after fear of reprisal by the Maoists in the village

Royal Family Pictorial