Thursday, September 28, 2006
DaMaJaMa Coalition: The Morcha Concept
Three Emerging Poles
One month of work before the constituent assembly elections will be equal to five years of work after it. We not only have to work hard, but also we have to work smart.
We have to articulate our grievances to the fullest in the largest possible numbers. We have to help the masses articulate their grievances. That is step one. Step two is to work to create a political program. Then you build the vertical and horizontal organizations. The vertical is when you move from the national level to the local levels. Horizontal is when the Janajati groups come together and reach out to the Dalit and Madhesi groups to build coalitions.
We could build a grand, non political coalition hoping to pressure the political parties, or we could launch a new political parties altogether, or we could take over one of the parties that would be most willing to make way for a grand DaMaJaMa coalition in its party structure. I have the Sadbhavana in mind. But for that its two factions would have to come together, and the central committee would have to be 20% Dalit, 30% Janajati, and 30% Madhesi, and the party has to be open to the possibiliyt the party president might end up a Janajati.
But I am open to all options. I just am not content with being a pressure group. So I am for the second or third option. We have to go hard core political. Our success will be measured in how many DaMaJaMa MPs we end up with.
I think our one point agenda for now should be to have 50% of the seats for the constituent assembly to be reserved for the DaMaJaMa, all to be directly elected by the people.
Interim Parliament: 101 Members Total
40 Seats For Maoists, 25 For Others
Three Layers Or Four Layers
I was talking to Pradeep Nepal the other day. He said we should look into dividing the country into about 25 regions. So there would be the center, the region, and then you go to the village/town level. No districts. That can be looked into. As long as much power is given to the regions, this can be a viable model. I am open to the possibility.
In The News
Oct 8 talks will resolve all issues, says Sitaula NepalNews
Summit talks postponed to October 8th
CZOP opposes ANNFSU's 'Bal Akhil' plan
Oli thanks senator Leahy for his inspiring support to democracy
Germany supports peace process in Nepal
Governance and Arms and Armies Management until Constituent Assembly Elections - By Shiva Gautam Maoists seem to be inching towards checkmating the government endangering all the accomplishments achieved so far. ..... After the formation of the constituent assembly, the sticky question concerning two armies and their arms is likely to remain same. ..... Deputy Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, referring to Rukmangad Katuwal's appointment as Nepal Army chief, asked Maoists not to interfere with the government's decision because the government does not interfere with Maoists' decision to appoint their regional commanders...........
Nepal ranks 110th in Global Competitiveness Survey Switzerland at the top spot followed by Finland and Sweden .... Last year's number one country the United States has come down to sixth position this year. .... Last year's number one country the United States has come down to sixth position this year. ..... ranking is based on nine broad pillars or parameters such as infrastructure, health/education, institutions, technologies etc
Maoist leaders lament lack of seriousness among seven parties Maoist leaders have pointed out at the apparent lack of homework and absence of concrete positions on crucial issues among the government and ruling seven parties. ........ seven party leaders are becoming prisoners of indecision. We are bound to become suspicious with this lingering tactics ...... the government and the seven parties were still unable to reach to common positions on vital issues.
NEPAL: Disappearances issue remains neglected - families Reuters AlertNet, UK
Nepal peace talks postponed Hindu, India
Nepal PM meets Maoist rebel chief
Nepal expresses dissatisfaction over delay Kantipur Online, Nepal
Nepal Maoist leader writ dismissed, petititon closed Indlaw.com, India
Non-formal schooling boosts access to basic education in Nepal OneWorld.net, UK
‘Make most of UN for durable peace’ Kantipur Publications
Maoists step up extortion
Cabinet endorses foreign employment bill
Failure to reach consensus delays planned govt-Maoist talks
India frees five Nepali Maoists
Most women in rural Bhojpur suffer from prolapsed uterus
बाल अखिल गठन गरिने
एकीकरण कार्यदल बनाउन आग्रह
सामुदायिक विद्युतीकरणबाट गाउँ झलमल्ल
डोम समुदायका बालबालिका
सात दल माओवादी वार्ता निणर्ायक हुने ः नेपाल
महिलाको अभियान घरघरमा शौचालय
संगठित अपराध संक्रमणकालको चुनौती
सरकार र माओवादीको डर
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Nepali Convention Leadership Weekly Meeting
Nepali Convention: Management
Nepali Convention 2007: Venue Options: Flushing
Nepali Convention 2007 Shifted To Last Weekend In May
April Convention Venue Options 1
April Convention Market Research 1
Nepali Convention: Venue Options, Website, Core 200
April Convention: Creating A Glowing Core
April Convention: Emerging Picture
Chicago Convention September 2-4
April Revolution, April Convention
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Interim Parliament: 300 Sounds Fine
I myself have toyed with two numbers, 270 and 101. I think 300 sounds fine. This will allow the current parliament to continue, and it will allow it to expand to include the Maoists, and the civil society if deemed necessary.
Interim Parliament: 101 Members Total
40 Seats For Maoists, 25 For Others
This way we don't have to worry about kicking out the RPP and the RJP people. The RPP has actually emerged to be a republican party. And we don't have to worry about the Maoist formula where the seven parties get 101 seats, and the Maoists get 101 seats.
300 will give room for Maoists, for the civil society and for the DaMaJaMa leaders in the various NGOs.
300 is also close to the size of the constituent assembly, the size of the next parliament after the country gets a new constitution since there seems to be an emerging consensus that there should be one MP for every 100,000 Nepali.
A parliament 300 strong of which over 200 were directly elected some time in the past will have more authority than one where none were ever elected. The bigger parliament will also be a strong buffer against any possibility of a military coup, not that I see any on the horizon.
The downside is the 300 strong parliament might get too comfortable with itself and might end up taking up more time than they should to take the country through a constituent assembly. The plus of such a delay is all the top Maoists will end up in parliament, and that will be a crash course in democracy for them. Let's jaw not war.
And the work of the country need not stop while we stride towards a constituent assembly. This revived House has done so many good things, like the 33% reservations for women at all levels of government. An interim parliament that included the Maoists should continue to do good work for the country.
Actually I don't see why that interim parliament should not work to integrate the two armies, to downsize the combined army, and to democratize it to make it meritocratic at all levels, and to ensure a fair ethnic and gender composition. One year would be enough time to do all that. Only the seven parties are going to have to act magnanimous. They should not make attempts to rub the Maoist nose in the dirt just because they have the numbers in the parliament.
An attempt should also be made to restructure the police force.
If we can end up with a progressive police, and a progressive army before we end up with the constituent assembly elections, that would be great. But it does not have to be that way. All that can happen after the constituent assembly elections also. But I am thinking, why wait!
A 300 strong parliament can also include the civil society. They played an important role into the democracy movement. And the country is in transition. The civil society leaders will perhaps be more effective inside.
In the 300 strong parliament, the Maoists can not realistically expect to have more seats than the largest party, which is the Congress at around 70. The Maoists also can not expect more seats than that of the UML. If the Maoists are to emerge the largest communist party, they are going to have to do it at the ballot box. So I am looking at the size of the Maoists to be somewhere between the UML and the Deuba Congress. That would be only fair.
It would be interesting to read the names, see the faces of and learn the biographical details of all the Maoists who will end up in parliament. I think we are going to come across some names that are not in the public domain right now, or at least not in a major way.
Overall I am optimistic and positive, it is just that we have to make room for some posturing by all parties concerned at one time or the other. The democratic process is not a symphony, it is more often a cacophony of voices clamoring to be heard.
Looks like Nepal will have an all party government for about two more years. During those two years the country should end up with more than a new constitution. The country should keep moving ahead full speed. Bringing the law and order situation to normal is key.
All we have to do is get the house in order, and the economy is all ready to take off. Lucky that Nepal is sandwiched between China and India, the two sexiest economies on earth f0r some time to come.
The Revolutionary Parliament Should Bring Forth An Interim Judiciary
The KP Oli Event
Madhesi Rights
Peace Talks
Three Emerging Poles
If The Monarch Gets Restive, Dump Him Now
Anti Musharraf Rally
In The News
DPM Oli addresses UN General Assembly, urges for greater int’l support NepalNews
People’s will should be the basis of authority: Martin qualitative and comprehensive preparation for the constituent assembly (CA) is more important than holding it. ..... quoted the Maoist leaders as saying during his meeting with them that they were ready for cantonment of their armed forces once agreement on political issues are reached. ........ Martin also informed that he has been constantly holding discussions with UN officials in New York to proactively act upon the request from the government after the summit talks scheduled for Thursday. ......
US Secretary of State saddened by death of colleagues; UN mourns death of friends and colleagues in helicopter crash
OHCHR Nepal concerned over Maoist excesses
SPA discusses agenda for 'summit talks'; fails to find consensus on fate of monarchy conflicting views among the alliance partners regarding the process of deciding the fate of monarchy. ...... the Maoists would be staying in cantonment areas while Nepal Army would be limited to the barracks, and the UN would verify Maoist arms and the strength of the People’s Liberation Army. ...... three views emerged during the meeting on the future of monarchy. ...... future of the monarchy should be decided either by the constituent assembly or a referendum or it should be decided even before the constituent assembly election is held. ...... agreed on forming interim legislature, the meeting could not reach into conclusion on the issue of size and proportion of legislature. ...... A taskforce formed by the SPA to discuss the draft of the interim statute was for 300-seat interim legislature, including the Maoists. ....
Maoists collecting money from Indian vehicles; abduct a peon
British Foreign Office Minister urges Maoists to lay down arms
Nepal PM, Maoist chief to hold peace talks Hindustan Times, India
Britain stresses "one government-one army" in Nepal Kantipur Online, Nepal
Myths about Monarchy in Nepal Kantipur Publications a clear mandate from Jana Andolan-2 to abolish the monarchy ....... People are being made to believe that the monarchy is necessary for the unity of the nation or to stop the Maoists from coming to power and that a ‘ceremonial’ king can do no harm. ...... Nepal’s “Unification” is an imagined myth created by the state-sponsored historians of the Panchayat regime. ...... The Shah kings have always been cruel to the people. ..... The Shah kings have always suppressed the minority languages, cultures, and religions. King Mahendra did this in a systematic way through state nationalism, an ideology that was practised by dictators like Mussolini and Franco. Under King Mahendra, state nationalism mainly meant one language (Nepali), one religion (Hinduism), one dress (Daura-Suruwal and Topi) and glorifying the monarchy in various ways. Anyone who disagreed with this policy was an “anti-national element”......... Undoing state nationalism is the biggest challenge for democracy in Nepal. ...... the Magars who form the bulk of their army. ..... the monarchy has divided the nation rather than united it. ..... BP said his “neck was joined with the king’s” against the communist onslaught. ...... the Nepali army cannot turn fully professional if the monarchy remains in any form. Nepal could have abolished the monarchy in 1951 and 1990, but didn’t. It mustn’t repeat the mistake now. ......
Condoleezza Rice saddened by death of USAID workers in Nepal
Oli addresses General Assembly, says UN-led peace process can serve as an example
Govt-Maoist Thursday's talks to initiate arms mgmt The leaders also decided to set up an all-party mechanism for further work on the Citizenship Bill, which was tabled at the House of Representatives a couple of weeks ago. The House is yet to endorse it...... Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandi Devi) has been demanding the scrapping of any cut-off date and providing of citizenship to all those residing in Nepal at present. ...... Koirala is reported to have expressed himself in favor of restructuring the present parliament so as to ensure representation of the Maoists and civil society. ....... Koirala argued that a referendum would activate a now-passive king.
Heavy rain cripples life in eastern Nepal; Drought hits Humla
Maoists committed serious HR violations: OHCHR
Smuggling rampant, police ‘involved’ There has been a massive growth in smuggling activities in the border areas of Parsa and Bara, which according to local people is largest in volume in the last five years. ...... "Without the consent and protection of police, armed police and revenue investigation offices, such volumes of illegal trading cannot take place. ...... racketeers have now also expanded their activities to Rautahat and Sarlahi. ..... "At least five big groups are running the rackets and dozens of people have made huge investments to operate each group" ...... smuggling of food staples, while the other three are involved in illegal trading of textiles, readymade garments, stainless steel utensils, and dry food items and spices such as cashew nuts, coriander and cumin. ......... as soon as the clock strikes nine in the evening, hundreds of carts and tractors start ferrying goods to bordering villages, namely, Inarwa, Sirsiya, Nagwa, Balirampur and Alou. The goods are then loaded on trucks and brought to Birgunj, which then move on to Kathmandu and Pokhara from as early as three in the morning. ........ "Police, in civil dress, even reach the site to take account of goods that are being transported" .... the increment in customs duties is actually fuelling an increase in smuggling activities as well.
'सबै मुद्दा छिट्टै टुंगिन्छ'
शिखर वार्ता बिहीबार
ँमिडियामा बहुलवाद आवश्यक’
कम्युनिस्ट आन्दोलन उठाएको दाबी
माओवादीद्वारा जबरजस्ती अभियानमा
दल-माओवादी सुझबुझ
जारी माओवादी ज्यादती
माओवादीद्वारा गाडीबाट जबर्जस्ती चन्दा
व्यवसायीको मागप्रति सरकार लचिलो नहुने
By Bindu Chaudhary
The right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by the country's constitution as well as international human rights principles. It relates directly and indirectly to the freedom of expression, which further means that any person has the right to think, hold an opinion and express an opinion, alone, with others, informally or formally through peaceful assembly. However, the bitter truth is that Madheshis are as if 'red rag to a bull', their mere presence makes some people so angry that they quickly resort to aggressive behavior. The police, on September 11, came down heavily on the street protest called by the Madheshi community in front of Singha Durbar demanding that the issue of citizenship be sorted out before the elections to the constituent assembly is held. Similar to this one, the blunt police brutality was expressed when the Nepali police mercilessly lathicharged and injured Madheshis at the peaceful protest in Janakpur early this year.When Madheshis still have questions about whether human rights are actually protected, preserved and promoted for Madheshis, police rage against Madheshis come as a slap in the face. It cannot be a mere coincidence that whenever 'Madheshis' come up with their agenda, the first reaction is to beat them up and shut their mouth off! This is but an overt expression of prejudice against Madheshis. Another most fundamental human rights recognized in international law, as well as in many of the national constitutions is the right to non-discrimination on the basis of national or ethnic origin, religion, race, caste, color, ideological conviction or any other ground. However, the fact is, Madheshis are discriminated and they are discriminated against socially, economically, politically, culturally and linguistically for centuries. Here are some hard facts Madheshis have to live with everyday: About 90 percent of the Terai districts, where 95.5 percent of the total Madheshi people live, have a large number of educationally deprived populations (compared to only about 13 percent in hills and mountains).
Again, 50 percent of the Terai districts have 'worst ranking' for child literacy rates (compared to 29 percent in hills and mountain districts). Geographically, about 45 percent of the 20 Terai districts have the worst poverty ranking (as compared to 29 percent in hills and mountains). Also, 50 percent of Terai districts have 'worst' per capita budget allocation index (compared to about 17 percent of the hill districts). As if this was not enough, only 11.2 percent of Madheshi people are in the integrated index of governance with none in culture, academic and professional leadership. There is an undeclared ban on their recruitment in the Nepali Army, and they are in insignificant number in Nepal police.
It is such a crying shame that Madheshis, who constitute more than a third of Nepal's population are still dealing with scores of basic development issues such as land, languages, identity, citizenship certificates, and discrimination in health, education, employment and so on. One needs to get into the shoes of a Madheshi to experience what it feels to be like a 'second class' citizen, or, a 'no-citizen'. Around 6 million Madheshis do not have citizenship certificates. It is difficult to comprehend why there is so much hue and cry and all the hullabaloo about issuing citizenship certificates to the Madheshis.
Recently, there has been a historic development with the proclamation of House of Representative to issue citizenship certificate on the basis of mother's citizenship. It is definitively a welcome step for guaranteeing equal rights to women; nonetheless, it is not enough to bring any substantial change in the present state of citizenship problems in Terai. It is therefore necessary that the 'stateless' Madheshis are granted citizenship certificates before the elections of Constituent Assembly.
Citizenship is a right, not a privilege that one has to ask for it, and asking for it is not a crime for which they need to be beaten up. Such disgraceful acts of Nepali police should not restrain Madheshi men and women from voicing their demand again, until each and every Madheshi has citizenship certificate in his hand, obviously, before the Constituent Assembly.
Monday, September 25, 2006
The Revolutionary Parliament Should Bring Forth An Interim Judiciary
SC issues show cause notice on HoR proclamation; okays reinstatement of parliament NepalNews The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to the government and the House of Representatives (HoR) on why the declaration was made. Acting upon five separate writ petition filed at the apex court challenging the House declaration passed on May 18 a single bench of Justice Damodar Prasad Sharma sought written explanations within 15 days on why the declaration was made, reports said. The petitioners challenged the historic declaration saying that the same was unconstitutional and illegal. In its proclamation the parliament declared itself supreme and drastically slashed the royal privileges. Meanwhile, the bench rejected a petition filed challenging the reinstatement of the House on April 24. The apex court said that the decision was made as per the need-based theory of law. Advocate Shankar Majaiya filed the writ petition at the apex court alleging that the decision of the King to reinstate the parliament is unconstitutional. The King reinstated the parliament as per the roadmap of the seven party alliance following the 19-day long people’s movement. nepalnews.com pb Sep 22 06This challenge by the Supreme Court has to be thwarted. This revolutionary parliament as well as the interim parliament that will succeed it has the legitimate powers to impeach all the current Supreme Court justices if necessary. I hope that power does not have to be used. But it has to be used if felt necessary.
These are not ordinary times. This parliament was not born out of the 1990 constitution. It was born out of a revolution made for world history, made for the ages. These Supreme Court justices are out of touch of that fundamental reality sweeping the country today. They will have history to answer to.
There was a theory making the rounds in winter, that for the king reinstating the House was his weapon of last resort. He tried to establish an executive monarchy. But if he failed, he could always fall back to the 1990 constitution, but before that happened he will already have given himself a huge pay raise thata according to the 1990 constitution was to be irreversible.
This Supreme Court move feels awfully like that conspiracy theory. It is entirely possible the monarchy and/or monarchists have bribed some of these judges. It is their last ditch effort to undo the April Revolution.
If that be the case, those weirdos just might manage to do what the Maoists have not been able to, which is to short circuit the referendum idea on the monarchy, and instead have the monarchy ended now through the political decision of the eight party alliance.
With this move, the Supreme Court has fallen out of line.
There was no provision in the 1990 constitution that could have allowed House revival. The House was revived through a political decision born out of the April Revolution. A House revived through a revolution is revolutionary in character. It is that revolutionary House that brough forth the revolutionary House proclamation. It can not be challenged. The only legitimate place to challenge its details will be during the elections to the constituent assembly. It is quite another thing that any such challenge will fall flat on its face. Such is the new political reality.
This is not an issue in separation of powers. This is a people power issue.
This Supreme Court move challenging the House proclamation is the first major act of counter revolution. I smell foul play. We have to make a counter move. The best counter move would be to launch the interim constitution and the interim parliament immediately, without further delay.
Then the judiciary will be forced to function within the perimeter of the new, interim constitution.
A political decision has to be made to think in terms of an interim judiciary. The state is in transition. This Supreme Court has given us a clear excuse. This Supreme Court seems to exemplify the old order. We already said no to that.
The seven party alliance has to feel the power of people power and it has to move ahead with confidence. We already won in April. We don't have to fight all over again. We just have to consolidate the power won on behalf of thepeople.
We should move ahead with caution, we should move ahead with confidence, we should move ahead without fear. Feel the wind behind our back.
In The News
Preparations for 'summit talks' in final stage: Mahara NepalNews foreign investment would be welcome for Nepal ’s independent national economy, adding that the foreign policy would be made as per the agreement with the neighbouring countries after Maoists form the government. ..... He also stressed on the need for unification of all communist parties in Nepal . ..... Madhav Kumar Nepal informed that the summit talks between top leaders of the seven party alliance and the Maoists will be held on Thursday.
RPP chairman criticizes security lapses in the country; demands Home Minister's resignation
Oli continues meetings with foreign leaders in NY
Nepal poll finds population divided over keeping Monarchy Nepalis are evenly divided over whether the Himalayan nation should get rid of the King, a new poll says. ..... 49 per cent wanted an end to the monarchy while 48 per cent favoured retaining the institution. ..... Eighty-nine per cent said the country was headed in the right direction after years of Maoist violence and political upheaval. .... 76 percent of respondents favoured integrating Maoist rebel forces into the Nepal Army.
Nepal parliament formally strips king of army control
Splinter rebel group says killed Nepal legislator Washington Post, United States Jay Krishna Goit, leader of leader of breakaway faction Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha told reporters that his men had killed the legislator. ..... Authorities said one of Shrestha's aides was also killed and two of three assailants were later caught and killed by villagers. .....
Nepal Parties Discuss Peace Process Nepal human Rights News, Nepal
Prachanda Meets Deuba, Nepal; Discusses Summit Talks Agenda
Nepal lawyers wage war on parliament
