Wednesday, May 31, 2006

40 Seats For Maoists, 25 For Others


It might not be a bad idea to expand the size of the House: 40 seats for the Maoists, and 25 for others, like members of the civil society, the DaMaJaMa leaders, youth leaders like Gagan Thapa. The total size would be 270.

Constituent Assembly: 300 Seats Of Roughly Equal Population

That could also be the size of the constituent assembly. One seat for every 100,000 Nepali.

The Maoists want the House dissolved. The seven party alliance is against the idea. The UML wants the local bodies revived. The Maoists are opposed to that idea. So we have to get creative and seek some middle ground.

And we have to remember, this is a short term thing. The real issue is not the interim government. The real issue is the constituent assembly. Let the eight parties prove themselves to the people, not to each other.

Right now the Maoists are missing at the center and the seven parties are missing at the local levels. All eight parties should be present at both the center and at the local levels. The concept of eight party government has to be applied also at the village, town and district levels for the interim period.

But the real challenge is to (1) fast forward the peace talks, (2) hold elections to a constituent assembly, (3) draw up a new constitution, (4) submit it to a referendum, (5) hold parliamentary elections, (6) hold local elections.

Because the all party governments at the local levels will last longer than the one at the center, it actually is more important that the Maoists do their part for the formation of all party governments at the local levels.





After April 1
After April 2
After April 3

International Crisis Group

Nepal: From People Power to Peace?, Asia Report N°115, 10 May 2006
Nepal’s Crisis: Mobilising International Influence, Asia Briefing N°49, 19 April 2006
Nepal: Electing Chaos, Asia Report N°111, 31 January 2006
Nepal’s New Alliance: The Mainstream Parties and the Maoists, Asia Report N°106, 28 November 2005
Nepal's Maoists: Their Aims, Structure and Strategy, Asia Report N°104, 27 October 2005
Nepal: Beyond Royal Rule, Asia Briefing N°41, 15 September 2005
Towards a Lasting Peace in Nepal: The Constitutional Issues, Asia Report N°99, 15 June 2005
Nepal: Dealing with a Human Rights Crisis, Asia Report N°94, 24 March 2005
Nepal: Responding to the Royal Coup, Asia Briefing N°36, 24 February 2005
Nepal's Royal Coup: Making a Bad Situation Worse, Asia Report N°91, 9 February 2005
Nepal: Dangerous Plans for Village Militias, Asia Briefing N°30, 17 February 2004
Nepal: Back to the Gun, Asia Briefing N°28, 22 October 2003
Nepal: Obstacles to Peace, Asia Report N° 57, 17 June 2003
Nepal Backgrounder: Ceasefire – Soft Landing or Strategic Pause?, Asia Report N°50, 10 April 2003

In The News

Prachanda seeks release of Maoist leaders before talks with PM Outlook (subscription), India
EXCLUSIVE-Joy for father as he meets Nepal's rebel chief Reuters AlertNet, UK an emotional reunion when the guerrilla leader made a rare public appearance ..... "My heart was filled with suffocation due to happiness when I saw him," Dahal, a peasant, told Reuters by phone ..... "I was crying with joy inside my heart but I kept smiling outside," he said....... "First, he greeted me and inquired about my condition," Dahal said. "Then he asked about the family. So it went." ..... Prachanda, 52, is the eldest. The rebel chief is married and has three daughters and a son..... Dahal briefly met Prachanda seven years ago..... Maoists have been organizing public rallies across the country ....... On Monday, Dahal sat on a straw mat with Prachanda and had lentils, boiled rice and goat meat for the dinner and spent the night with him........ "There were many guerrillas carrying arms guarding the site during the rally and through the night. ....... "I was with my son. So why should I be scared," he said, when asked if he was afraid of the rebels.
Prachanda says talks will succeed, demands release of leaders Outlook (subscription), India
Maoists set agenda for 2nd round Daily News & Analysis, India “At the next round of talks, we will discuss the formation of a broad democratic assembly that will replace parliament,” Maoist spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara said..... While hailing the code, lawmakers say the rebels are continuing extortion, attacks and recruitment in violation of the agreement.
Nepal army, rebels trade blame over peace violations Daily Times, Pakistan “The Maoists are ignoring the code of conduct and continue kidnapping civilians, (indulge in) forcible collection of funds and recruitment,” the army said in a statement........ Krishna Bahadur Mahara denied the guerrillas were forcing people to pay and said army patrols and searches continued despite the code. “The government is seriously violating the code,” Mahara said.
Nepal mulls UN peace process role BBC News, UK
Abide by Code of Conduct, Nepal Home Minister tells Maoists Hindu, India
Nepal Maoists get fresh lease of life CNN-IBN, India
Nepal lawmakers welcome truce code of conduct Daily Times, Pakistan
Nepal, Maoists fix code of conduct CNN-IBN, India
Nepal govt, rebels consider UN-monitored ceasefire Daily Times, Pakistan
Nepal govt, rebels may ask UN to monitor truce Mumbai Mirror, India
Nepal's rebel leader makes first public appearance in decade Zee News, India Prachanda told the crowd that 'we will leave no stone unturned to make the current peace talks a success ..... On Friday the rebels plan to hold a mass public meeting in the capital, but Prachanda is not expected to make an appearance ... as many as 200,000 have been displaced inside the impoverished Himalayan nation.
Nepal Maoists announce agenda for next talks round India eNews.com, India
Nepal Maoists announce agenda for next talks round NewKerala.com, India
India neither endorses nor opposes UN role in Nepal Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Rebel extortions breach Code of Conduct: MPs Kantipur Online, Nepal
Nepali, Indian Maoists to create mayhem in Bihar Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran At a recently held meeting in Rajgir, a district in the Indian state of Bihar, Nepali and Indian Maoists sat together and chalked out a blueprint to decrease mayhem in the state. After their success in dethroning the Nepalese king, the Maoists have now shifted their focus to Bihar. Elusive Nepali leader Prachanda himself attended the massive rally of ultra Left outfits from Bihar and Nepal to lay down the roadmap for violent action, including attacks on the state's political leadership and government establishments, a leading Indian English daily, the Pioneer, reported here today. They have also threatened to blow up the state's parliament buildings, the secretariat as well as the official residence of the chief minister and 15 out of 30 targeted police stations within a span of two months, beginning May 29. .... The release quoted Prachanda as criticizing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his policies. He has also appealed for an end to the present Bihar regime patterned after the ouster of the royal Nepali rule....... Inspector General of Police Anil Kumar Sinha expressed his ignorance about any such letter or release received by the police from the Maoists. Sinha also declared that the state government had made fool-proof security arrangements in the state.
Joy for father as he meets Nepal’s rebel chief Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates
Prachanda’s father urges for peace
Nepalnews.com, Nepal
Prachanda in Makawanpur Kantipur Online
Prachanda Appears To Address Public NewsLine Nepal
Prachanda seeks release of Maoist leaders before talks with PM Outlook (subscription)
Prachanda says talks will succeed, demands release of leaderOutlook (subscription)
We are not claiming leading role in interim government: Prachanda
Nepalnews.com, Nepal - May 21, 2006
Prachanda welcomes proclamation
Kantipur Online, Nepal - May 18, 2006
Prachanda asks jailed Maoists to end strike Gulf Times, Qatar - May 18, 2006
King Gyanendra should be ousted: Prachanda NewKerala.com, India - May 20, 2006
Koirala asks Prachanda to allow industries to run smoothly
NewKerala.com, India -May 21, 2006

PM Koirala quits smoking Kantipur Publications The premier's personal doctor Dr. Madhu Ghimire
HoR proclamation on secularism incomplete: Nemwang
Police foil bank robbery in capital; 3 killed in shootout
Trade grows by 24 percent
Prachanda in Makawanpur
Koirala to go to Bangkok for check-up

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Right To Property, Right To Free Speech


Nepal King’s Kin Feel The Backlash The Peninsula At least five people related to the king by marriage have had their land in eastern Nepal captured by irate local people who began distributing it among shanty dwellers ....locals in Khanal and Itahari towns in Sunsari district in eastern Nepal began forcing their way into the property of the king’s two brothers-in-law and three more relatives, asking landless shanty dwellers to come and build their homes on over 100 bighas of land....Suraj Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana and Uday Shumsher had their land occupied by the landless people who promptly began building on the encroached plot. Three other royal relatives, Padma Shah, Ravi Vikram Shah and Krishna Vikram Shah faced the same fate. A resort in Itahari belonging to the queen’s family — the Royal Resort — has also been forcibly occupied by locals ....The aunt, Princess Helen Shah, her daughter Ketaki Chester and grandson Kapil Rana left Nepal last week, reportedly for Europe.
This is a little alarming. I am not for or against confiscating land for redistribution. But if that is to be done, it has to be done through rule of law. This revolutionary parliament could pass laws to take such actions. But I'd rather wait until the country has a new constitution and a new parliament under that new constitution. Land reform has to be saved for later. To get into that now could easily mess up the rest of our agenda. Things could go seriously wrong.

This particular move though does not seem to have been engineered by the Maoists as a matter of party policy. It seems to be spontaneous action, small scale, and without violence. I am just trying to stay positive here. But we do have to watch for the trickle before it becomes a flood.

If the Maoists were to engage in acts like this one now, that could scuttle the peace process. We could be looking at civil war. And that will mean no land reform, just more bloodshed. We don't want that. I am all for land reform. I just want it done right. We don't want to do it like in Zimbabwe. We have to do it in a way that the economy does not get hurt. We have to do it in a way that the agricultural productivity goes up.

I am for a republic. And I think the king should be able to keep the property he owned before he became king. Let that be a test for our commitment to right to property, which is as fundamental a human right as the right to free speech.

A lot of people do not compare right to property to right to free speech. Especially after the morale boosting April Revolution, there might be a temptation among some to push the envelope. But we can not go against what we fought for. We fought for human rights.

Free speech is not okay only as long as someone only says things you like. Free speech is also okay when someone makes you feel uncomfortable. By extension, the right to property applies to the poor, but it also applies to the rich.

But then I am all for massive investments in education, in health, in micro credit. I am all for land reform. I am so eager, I can't wait. That is why I want us to breeze through peace talks, and the constituent assembly, and a new constitution and a new parliament fast. So we can get down to meaningful stuff like land reform.

Land Reform, Truth And Reconciliation

All Party Government Also At The Local Levels

We should end up with an eight party government at the center, and eight party governments at the local levels as well. More than anything else, it will be a great contribution to the peace process. I see this as a trust building measure second to none.

If the Maoists are to be watched - I don't think they need to be - but if there is a need to keep an eye on them, what better way than to join them to govern?
Who will prevail?: Fight over local bodies NepalNews CPN (UML)—one of the constituents of the Seven Party Alliance—has locked horns with the CPN (Maoist) over the issue of reinstatement of the local bodies that were elected nine years ago ...... the Maoists .... their parallel "people's governments" constituted by them at the local level ...... such bodies could be dissolved after the success of the peace talks between the government and the Maoists...... "Rather than reviving local bodies we can go ahead by forming political units, comprising representation of all political parties," said Sharma. “We have People’s army, People’s Government and Autonomous regions, we are ready to resolve such issues through the process of negotiations” ....... The UML—that had won elections in nearly 60 percent of the seats in the local bodies during the last elections—has also been demanding that popularly elected representatives to local bodies be reinstated through political decision. .......Shanker Pokhrel, a CPN UML lawmaker ..... Pokhrel further added that the issue of reinstatement of local bodies could be discussed during the negotiation table and provision should be made to incorporate the Maoists at the local level as well when they participate in the interim government...... differences like reinstatement of the local bodies should not be blown out of proportions...... 'unseen struggle' between the CPN (Maoist) and the CPN (UML) over the issue of strengthening their organizational bases at the local level. Thousands of local cadres of the UML defected the party after its vertical split in 1998 and joined the CPN (Maoist).
I am not too worried about this political tussle between the two left parties. There is some bargaining going on. There is some posturing involved. That is but normal. I am sure they will hash out the details during the peace talks.

Prachanda Out In The Open
Prachanda in Makawanpur Kantipur Publications Maoist party chairman Prachanda, in his first public appearance since the success of the people's movement, said his party was committed to making the current peace talks a success. The party's second-in-command, Dr Baburam Bhattarai, also appeared in public for the first time since the movement...... Addressing a mass meeting at Chakari of Handikhola VDC-1 in Makawanpur district Monday evening, the two top Maoist leaders warned of a "violent storm" of protests in case the talks fail. ...... although not scheduled, the Maoist leaders addressed the gathering in response to locals' request..... The locals said that the two Maoist leaders have been residing in the area for the last couple of days.
I am glad they are out and about. Prachanda needs to be seriously demystified. I hope he addresses many mass meetings, and gives many media interviews.

As for some of the hot talk, I think they are decompressing after having lived underground for so long. So we should take it with a grain of salt.

Prachanda wants Birendra's property nationalized. I came out saying the same before he did. So I am not alarmed. That also shows his pragmatism. He is not saying confiscate all of the king's property.

I just wish upon both Prachanda and Baburam plentiful media exposure at this point in time.

We are more eager than them to make sure the peace talks don't fail. And it won't fail.

In The News

‘National advisory body should be formed to supervise govt until CA polls’ NepalNews
HoR endorses ‘historic’ proposal on women rights
Koirala to visit Bangkok for health check-up
UN ready to extend help in Nepal peace process: Gautam
Three ex-ministers’ case presented before full court, hearing deferred

India making up its mind on U.N. role in Nepal Kantipur Publications
House approves proposal allowing citizenship under mother's name
Govt has not mobilized army: Home Minister
Defending Secularism in Nepal
Parliamentary committee to monitor truce, code of conduct
SC fails to hear case on three ex-ministers of royal cabinet
Govt to send letter inviting UN
Denmark to provide Rs 2b additional aid
धर्मनिरपेक्षको विरोधमा 'राजावादी'
अस्थिरता ल्याउन आपराधिक गतिविधि तीव्र’
प्रचण्ड र बाबुराम मकवानपुरमा
आन्दोलन दबाउन पाँच सय भिजिलान्ते नियुक्त’
निःशुल्क शिक्षा माग
मुलुक गणराज्य भइसक्यो ः पौडेल पोखरा, जेठ १६ - कांग्रेस महामन्त्री रामचन्द्र पौडेल .... पौडेलले जेठ ४ गतेको संसद्को घोषणाले मुुलक अब नेपाल अधिराज्यबाट गणराज्य घोषणा भइसकेको बताउँदै राजतन्त्र र गणतन्त्रको भ्रममा अब कोही पनि पर्न नहुुने उल्लेख गरे । 'राजा किनारा लागिसकेका छन, कति योग्यताको कति अयोग्यताको प्रदर्शन गर्नसक्छौं त्यो अब हाम्रै हातमा छ,' पौडेलले भनेे- 'कांग्रेस अब प्रतिरक्षात्मक अवस्थामा बस्नुु पर्दैन, अग्रगामी भएर जानेछ ।' माओवादीभन्दा कुुनै पनि कुुरामा कांग्रेस पछि नपर्ने दृढता व्यक्त गर्दै पौडेलले भने- 'पुुरातनपन्थी, सामन्तवादको अवशेषको चिन्ता र ठेक्का कांग्रेसले लिने होइन ।' २००७ सालमा कांग्रेसले गरेको क्रान्ति राणा शासनलाई फालेर शाह शासनलाई जन्माउन नभएको बताउँदै पौडेलले अब मुुलुुक गणराज्यमा परिणत भइसकेको दाबी गरे ।
संसद् विघटन खतरा ः मन्त्री पाण्डे
प्रतिगमनकारीसँग सचेत रहन आग्रह
महतो संसदीय दलका नेता राजविराज, जेठ १६ - सद्भावना -आनन्दीदेवी) को मंगलबार यहाँ सम्पन्न केन्द्रीय कमिटी बैठकले राजेन्द्र महतोलाई संसदीय दलका नेतामा सर्वसम्मत चयन गरेको छ । बैठकले हृदयेश त्रिपाठीलाई मन्त्रिपरिषद्मा प्रतिनिधित्व गराउने निर्णय पनि गरेको छ ।
आचारसंहिताको उल्लंघन
वार्ताका व्यवधान
बहुजातीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र