If Congress Does Not Go For Republic, Left Front Will Win

If Girija Koirala insists on staying on as Prime Minister and party president, if he keeps refusing to do the concrete homework that is required for party unification, and if he keeps uttering his commitment to a ceremonial monarchy, the Maoists are going to emerge the largest party in the constituent assembly.

The Maoists are the most likely to come up with a 50-50, 30-30-30-10 formula for the interim parliament and government, as in they will send a whole bunch of women and ethnics into power. That will give them a sure edge.

The Maoists have a clear map for federalism. The seven parties don't. That gives the Maoists a huge edge.

Unless the two Congress factions unite around the slogan of a federal republic, and somebody in the second generation takes over, the Congress will be in a sorry shape in the constituent assembly.

And they need a map. What kind of federalism are they proposing?

All the left parties put together are going to have the simple majority they need to declare the country a republic.

Right now the Congress looks like a party in decline.

Many of the seven parties come across as singularly immune to new ideas. That applies to the Congress as well to the Sadbhavana.

The Maoists right now have wind behind their backs.

Girija seems to want to take the party down with him.

वीपी र िगिरजाको कहानी
Proposed Constitution
ANONYC: Proposed Constitution
Why Prachanda Wants Girija To Lead The Interim Government
The Virus Of The April Revolution
Nepali Congress Needs A Convention
Language Policy And University Of Pennsylvania

In The News

Prachanda and the Corporate Convergence in Khatmandu Dissident Voice, CA
Nepali guerillas form taskforce to decide representation in ... People's Daily Online, China
Nepali guerillas holding central committee meeting People's Daily Online
Nepal - Why Prachanda Wants Girija To Lead The Interim Government Citizen Journalism Nepal, NY
Deuba for continuation of Koirala as PM Nepalnews.com
PM, Prachanda discuss peace agreement Gorkhapatra, Nepal
Prachanda renounces armed struggle Hindu, India
Prachanda: Our Revolution Won L'Espresso, Italy Our revolution has not been completely victorious as yet. Changing the social economic structure and empowering the masses, in this sense, we have done an enormous amount and at the moment we are the main political force in the country. I think that we have achieved almost 60 percent of our goals , the remaining 40 per cent will be achieved with the election of the Costituent Assembly ..... I think that Maoist party will be supported by more than 50 percent of the country. Overall the democratic, republican, radical and left forces will gain more than 75 per cent of the vote ....... the CIA may conspire against our movement, we are serious and we are prepared for anything ...... if we Maoists win the elections, we will naturally claim the presidency of the Republic ......... personally I'm not really interested in becoming president ..... What I want do to do is to change the entire socioeconomic system in our country, but not with myself in government or as the president ....... We want to have a federal style of government with 9 or 10 autonomous regions. In the mean time our priority will be a revolutionary land reform. ....... our understandings standpoint is different from any communist party in the world. We are trying to interpretate marxism according to the needs of 21 st century and we are debating this with the socialist, communist and leftist movements all over the world. This is important not just for South Asia, but for the masses throughout the planet ......... We are not dogmatists, we are not sectarians, we are not traditionalists. We want to be ever more dynamic, adapting to our environment, understanding modernity ......... When we are in the government, our experiment will surprise everybody. ...... We are fighting not only for Nepal but for the masses of the entire world. We need help and the contributions from everybody ......... We changed our name several times in the past, before the Peoples War. We can change name according to the situation, there is no dogmatism about it. ........ We have resorses for hydroelectric power, thanks to the large amount of water coming off the Himalayas. Tourism could also create enormous income for us, thanks to our marvellous mountains, our historical and religious sites and our astonishing natural parks. Not to mention our agriculture, the land in Terai is potentially very fertile With good government we can become one of the richest country in South Asia. But we need transport, hi tech and scientific projects, infrastructures, and a lot of courage. In ten years we'll change the whole scenario, rebuilding this country to prosperity. In 20 years we could be similar to Switzerland. ....... we will welcome foreign investors ..... I lived in the capital for more than 10 years, then I moved to the mountains, when the Peoples War began ....... in the Peoples Army there are Hindus, Buddhists and others, and we respect all the religious beliefs of the masses ...... I read Indian and American literature, and obviously I read a lot of political newspapers from all over the world ........ my favourite was "Spartacus", you know? An historical movie by Stanley Kubrik, with Kirk Douglas, about a revolution by slaves in Ancient Rome
Koirala Will Lead Nation Till CA Polls: Prachanda Himalayan Times, Nepal
People's verdict will be respected: Prachanda Maoist mass meeting ... Gorkhapatra, Nepal
Prachanda renounces armed struggle Zee News, India

Richard Boucher to visit Nepal on Wednesday Times of India, India
Nepal`s Maoists in political makeover Zee News, India Our whole party organisation will focus on peaceful political process rather than war ...... Our party has already decided to dissolve the people's governments, local-level administration and our separate autonomous regions, among others
Yechury to attend signing of Nepal peace pact Monsters and Critics.com, UK
Pro-King MPs kept out of Nepal Parliament NDTV.com, India
World Food Programme Asks Nepal Truckers To Ease Strike Playfuls.com, Romania
Thousands of Child Soldiers Still Missing in Nepal Voice of America
IMF approves 21.2 mln USD payment for Nepal People's Daily Online, China
Korean Air launches Flights to Nepal and Charter Service to ... ASIATravelTips.com, Thailand

Verdict on Khum Bahadur’s Graft Case Likely Today Himalayan Times According to the CIAA, Khadka, currently an MP of the sitting parliament, had accumulated Rs 27.5 million without justifiable sources of income.
Minister for Immediate Declaration of a Republic State Chaudhari said that though the recent peace accord was historic, it lacked any word to console the voices of the indigenous people, women, Dalits and the Madheshis. ..... Jog Mehar Shrestha, the vice-president of Rashtriya Prajatantra Party, said the party would not create any obstacle if people's voice is for republic.
Rayamajhi panel indicts King Rayamajhi has found King Gyanendra guilty of suppression and killing of people during Jana Andolan II ...... named some security personnel for ordering the shooting of demonstrators and decided to recommend prosecution of them on charge of murder
Govt briefs donors on peace plan, seeks Rs 5b sought donor assistance in four major areas including infrastructure development of Maoist cantonments, relief and rehabilitation packages for internally displaced peoples (IDPs), strengthening internal security including re-establishment of over 117 police posts and additional expenses for holding the constituent assembly elections. ...... SDC, EU, Japan International Cooperation Agency, German GTZ, World Bank, ADB, USAID

Joint team inspects proposed cantonment sites in Surkhet, Kailali NepalNews
Abandoned IDEs and Landmines: Citizens’ lives still at risk
Congress establishment delaying party unification process: Deuba
Election Commission to prepare voters' list
Nepal: Can We Ever Reconcile Our Relative Truths?

Why Prachanda Wants Girija To Lead The Interim Government CJ Nepal

Govt seeks donor assistance for rebel cantonments, CA poll Kantipur
Failure to agree could have been catastrophic: Mahara
Nepali students in US up by 25 percent
Govt-Maoist-UN team inspects Kailali, Surkhet PLA cantonment sites
3-day NC-D gathering begins in capital The party's current parliamentarians, ex-MPs, central members, ex-central members and district chairpersons of all 75 districts are attending the gathering that is taking place at the Birendra International Convention Centre in Kathmandu...... accusing the party leadership of being indifferent to the issue of Congress unification, the party members stressed the need for expediting the party unification process.
Boucher, Yechuri arriving Wednesday
Wanted’ man at TIA
Maoists threaten UML, NC men
‘No discussion on Koirala alternative’
19 still held in Maoist ‘jail’
'Hats off to people of Nepal, we must learn from you' Leaders representing Pakistan, Myanmar, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Kenya ..... Ali said, "People of Bhutan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar must learn a lesson from Nepal." ......Dr Tint Swe of Myanmar's National League for Democracy congratulated Nepal for achieving such a mammoth success. Swe, who has been fighting to instate democracy in Myanmar for the last 15 years, questioned, "Is not this possible in Myanmar as well?" ...... Nepal's success has convinced everyone around the world that if people unite, even the strongest of the oligarchy can be forced to kneel down. ...... "I salute people of Nepal on behalf of all the Kenyans and African countries," said Yahukara, adding, "The world has witnessed your (people of Nepal) victory and taught a lesson to the whole world."

वीपी र िगिरजाको कहानी

एका देशमा एउटा साधु िथयो। त्यो साधु बडो िवद्वान िथयो र प्रिसिद्ध कमाएको िथयो। उसका थुप्रै चेलाहरू िथए। त्यो साधु अरू साधुहरूभन्दा यस माएनेमा फरक िथयो िक उ एकान्तवास र आध्यात्मवादमा मात्र होइन व्यवहािरकतमा पिन रूिच राख्दथ्यो। आफ्नो आश्रमको सरसफाइ देिख िलएर हरिहसाबको पिन मतलब राख्दथ्यो। निजकका गाउँघरमा गएर आम जनमानसको अाैषिध उपचार पिन गर्दथ्यो। छरिछमेकका झैझगडा िमलाइिदने पिन गर्दथ्यो। भन्दैमा उसको आध्यात्मवाद कमजोर होइन। उसका प्रवचन सुन्न दुरदराजका मािनसहरू आउँथे। आम मािनस मात्र होइन, अरू साधुहरू पिन अाउँथे। यसरी अरू साधुहर अाएको देखेर उसका अाफ्नै अाश्रमका चेलाहरू पिन दंग पर्थे। िक हो न हो यो अाफ्नो साधु त कुनै ठुलै साधु पो हो िक? नत्र िकन अाउँथे यित दुरदराजका साधुहरु?

त्यस साधुको एउटा िशष्य अिल िभन्न िकिसमको िथयो। साधुको सबै प्रवचनमा नजाने, बरु वनजंगल घुम्न गइिदने, प्रवचनकै बेला पिन बदमाशी गरेर बिसिदने, अाफु पिन ठीक सँग नसुन्ने अरूलाई पिन सुन्न निदने। एक पटक त जंगलमा त्यो िशष्यले ढुगंा िटपेर चराचुरुंगीलाई िहर्काएको पिन देिखयो। देख्नेलाई लाज लाग्यो। नदेख्नेले थाहा पाएनन्।

तैपिन साधुले त्यो िशष्यलाई खुबै माया गर्दथ्यो। कसरी हो कसरी उसको कर्तुत जित सबै साधुलाई थाहा हुन पुग्दथ्यो र तैपिन माया गर्दथ्यो। प्रवचनको बेला उसको बदमाशी देखेर मुसुमुसु हाँस्थ्यो। िकन होला भनेर सबै दंग पर्थे। हल्ला िथयो िक त्यो िशष्यलाई हराएको नाबालकको रूपमा त्यो साधुले फेला पारेको िथयो र पालनपोषण गरेको िथयो। तर यथार्थ कसैलाई थाहा िथएन।

साधुको त्यो िशष्य प्रितको माया त सबैलाई थाहा िथयो, तर त्यो िशष्यको त्यो साधु प्रितको माया एक िदन तब मात्र थाहा भयो जब सारा आश्रम जंगलको बाटो कतै गइरहेको िथयो र अचानक जंगली जनावरको हमला भयो। सब यत्रतत्र भागे। साधु एउटा रूख मुिन ध्यानमग्न िथयो। त्यो िशष्य कतै भागेन। उसले आफु घाइते भएर पिन साधुको रक्षा गर्यो।

त्यो साधु मूर्ित पूजाको सख्त िवरोधी िथयो। तर एउटा यस्तो समय आयो, १२ वर्षसम्म पानी परेन, मािनसहरु खान नपाएर भकाभक मर्न थाले, सर्वत्र नास्ितकता बढेर गयो। अिन त्यो साधुले हार मानेर मूर्ित पूजा गर्नुपर्ने भन्नथाल्यो््। अाँखाले देख्ने कुरा पत्याउन मािनसलाई सिजलो हुन्छ िक भनेर।

फाट्टफुट्ट पानी नपरेको होइन, तर अिनकाल समाप्त नहुँदै त्यो साधुको मृत्यु भयो। आश्रम भने कायम रह्यो। वर्षाैं पिछ अिनकाल समाप्त भयो। तर मूर्ित पूजा छुटेन। त्यो िशष्य त्यही एउटा मूर्ित पूजाको प्रवचनमा चािहं पुग्या रैछ िक के हो, उ हुँदा हुँदा आश्रम प्रमुख नै हुन पुग्यो, र मूर्ित पूजाको ठुलो िहमायती भएर िनस्क्यो। मूर्ित पूजा छोड्नुपर्छ भन्ने आवाज त्यही आश्रमबाट पिन िनस्कन थाल्यो। वरपरका अरू आश्रमहरूले त मूर्ित पूजाको िवरोधमा ठुलो अिभयान नै चलाए। तर त्यो िशष्य मूर्ित पूजाको प्रवचन िदइबस्यो।

साधु वीपी, िशष्य िगिरजा, मूर्ित पूजा राजतन्त्र।

Rename The Mahendra Highway After BP Koirala

On The Web

About BP Koirala
About B. P. Koirala
B.P. KOIRALA (The story of Bisheshor Prasad Koirala) : PRESENTED ...
bp koirala institute of health sciences dharan
The Hindu : Permanent rebellion: The story of B.P. Koirala

BIOGRAPHY OF B.P. KOIRALA
Himal Books - B.P. Koirala’s Atmabrittanta
Koirala family - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Home | Asia | Nepal | BP Koirala memorial cancer hospital -IAHPC ...
Girija Prasad Koirala - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
B.P. Koirala Institute of Medical Sciences
Kiran Mishra - BP KOIRALA: Life and Times
BP Koirala - Nepali Times
Democracy For Nepal (DFN): Phone Talk With Girija Koirala: Meeting ...

Democracy For Nepal (DFN): Phone Talk With Girija Koirala: Meeting ...
Democracy For Nepal (DFN): Could Girija Be President?
Girija Prasad Koirala - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Koirala family - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NEPAL: The King makes yet another move to get the political ...
Girija Koirala - Nepali Times
Koirala’s Parliamentary Speech Postponed - The Nepali Prime ...
Xinhua - English
PM Nepal Girija Koirala dan Pemimpin Pemberontak Maoist Prachanda ...
EMM News Explorer
Headline The Telegraph - Weekly (Nepal)
Nepalnews.com Mercantile Connumications Pvt. Ltd.
Seven Party Alliance and Maoists: Nepal's Intransigent SPAM Problem
Blogdai: Sabotage!
NEPAL: Deuba’s Visit and there after Update 55
2006 November « Aftermath News
Nepalnews.com
Encounter(The Independent)
Scoop: Nepal: Exorcise Evil Spirit Before It Is Too Late
A History of Nepal - Cambridge University Press
A History of Nepal - Cambridge University Press
Comments on: India Welcomes Nepal: Koirala Greatest South Asian Leader
Scoop: Khagendra Thapa: Nepal on Fire
EMM News Explorer
Nepali Netbook: Narhari Acharya & Red Scare Candor
Global Voices Online - Paramendra
Mero Sansar » मान्छे हराएको अत्यन्त जरुरी ...
Girija-Prasad-Koirala-2 | Citizen Journalism Nepal
Nepal Home Page
Samudaya.org: Secret appointments in Nepali Student Union?
Blogdai: I Don't Even Want to Think About It
.:: PEOPLE'S REVIEW WEEKLY ::.
Nepali Cabinet Reshuffled
History
Monthly Review June 2001 | Commentary
::PeaceJournalism.com - The Peace Media Research Center's e-magazine::
Nepal Home Page
[PDF] A HISTORY OF NEPAL
Girija Prasad Koirala: Information from Answers.com
:::... Welcome to NAC
Global Voices Online » Nepal
JSTOR: Nepal in 2000: Discourse of Democratic Consolidation
United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal - We Blog For Peace And ...
Aljazeera.Net - Profile: Girija Prasad Koirala
POLITICS-ASIA: Nepal Ripe for Army Coup?
Girija Prasad Koirala News - Media Monitoring Service by EIN News
The World Organization Against Torture - humanrights.de
Mani ko blog Comments
Dipendra News - The New York Times - Narrowed by 'KOIRALA, GIRIJA ...
Girija Prasad Koirala at AllExperts


िगिरजा, माधव, प्रचण्ड सब एक जैसे हैं
Pramukh Dar
Rajendra Mahto: नागरिकता विधेयक खोतल्दा
नेपालको अन्तरिम संविधान
नेपाली कांग्रेसको संविधान मस्यौदा
माओवादीको संविधान मस्यौदा
मधेशीसँग संख्या छ, शिक्त छैन
डा. कटक मल्ल: सुन्दर, शान्त र शिष्ट नेपालको निर्माणका लागि
ितमीले देखाइ िदयौ
कर्फ्यु तोड्न आह्वान गर्नेले
जाउलो खाएर क्रान्ित गर
जनआन्दोलनको कार्यक्रम
क्रान्ितलाई नबुझ्नु, बुझ पचाउनु
ये तो क्रान्ित है
यो सडक ितम्र्ो हो
हृदयेश त्रिपाठी: मधेसी समस्या र राज्यको पुनर्संरचना
संघीय गणतन्त्र
कांग्रेसले रोज्नुपर्ने बाटो
अहिंसाका प्रश्न
डा बाबुराम भट्टराईलाई शान्तिको सन्देश
डा बाबुराम भट्टराई: आन्दोलनको उत्कर्ष र त्रस्त सत्ता
मधेशी अधिकारको कुरामा पहाडीहरुको सहभागीता
प्रवासी नेपाली: "नैतिक समर्थन कायम राख्दै भौतिक समर्थन थप्ने।"
भूपि शेरचन, गोपालप्रसाद रिमाल, प्रवर जिसी
मधेशी पहचान
देशव्यापी पम्फलेटिङ
प्रहार गरिहालौं
अइ आन्दोलनमें मधेशी अधिकारके बात
लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नै किन?
चुनाव बहिष्कार बाहेक विकल्प छैन: सात दल

Proposed Constitution

प्रस्तािवत संिवधान

Preamble

1. Nepal is a federal republic, a total, transparent democracy, with the sovereignty resting with the Nepali people.

Article 1: The Legislative Branch

1. There is to be a lower house, the Pratinidhi Sabha, with 300 members, 100 per state, and a upper house, the Rajya Sabha, with 100 members. Members of the Pratinidhi Sabha are to be directly elected through constituencies demarcated such that the largest has a population not more than 5% of the smallest, geographically in close approximation to a circle or a square, and protected from partisan gerrymandering by an autonomous Election Commission. The constituencies need not respect district boundaries. In the Rajya Sabha each party's representation will be in direct proportion to the votes earned. Any party that earns at least 1% of the vote will be represented in the Rajya Sabha. The entire Sabha is dissolved en masse when its term nears expiration.
2. Private and public sector media entities wanting to cover live the proceedings in the parliament may do so.
   
3. The Pratinidhi Sabha will have reserved seats for the four groups, Dalit, Madhesi, Janajati and Mahila, 5%, 10%, 9%, and 12% with some overlaps. Half of the seats for women will cut across that of these four groups as well. For example, of the 5% seats for Dalits, 50% of them will have to be women. And the 5% for Dalits will be half in the Terai, but that is not to cut into the Madhesi reserved seats. 5, 10, 9 and 12 are a quarter of the supposed shares of the populations of these groups, to be revised each census. When identifying the seats for the Dalit, Madhesi and the Janajati, the Election Commission will seek constituencies where the groups have their largest share of populations. No three contiguous seats may be reserved seats. The total number of reserved seats may not exceed 50% of the total. In addition to this formula, seats will be reserved so as to ensure women as a group get 33% of the total seats.
4. Other than the specified groups, the Muslims will get one seat. The Newars will get one seat in the Kathmandu valley.
5. The reservations are to exist only at the federal and state levels. And they are to be doled out according to a formula that is to be as follows: Not more than 50% of the total seats may be reserved seats. During a census, a citizen may specify upto three collective identities. One is to be gender, which will be in a category of its own. Each person also has to denote as to which he or she considers the primary identity, other than gender. If a group's representation in the Pratinidhi Sabha is less than 40% its share in the national population, that group qualifies for reservations. As soon as their share other than the reserved seats hits 40%, the reservations are discontinued.
   
6. Women get a 33% reservation at all levels of government. Within that reservation arrangement, women from all backgrounds are to be accomodated as per the said formula. At the federal and state levels, 2/3rd of the seats for women are to be reserved for Dalit, Madhesi and Janajati women.
   
7. All matters of national importance are to be decided by the national parliament through a majority vote unless otherwise stated. Parliamentary procedures are to be laid out or revised with a 60% vote margin.
8. The legislatures are to elect their Speakers and Deputy Speakers. The legislatures shall assemble at least once every four months, and as often as necessary. The Speaker does not get to vote in the parliament.
   
9. No parliamentarian may be arrested while the parliament might be in session except for felony charges. Their speech in parliament is protected from any and all oversight, legal and otherwise.
10. A simple majority of the parliament will pass the budget. All budget proposals must originate in the Pratinidhi Sabha, and can also be thus tabled by the President.
    
11. All bills must be posted online in three languages - Nepali, Hindi and English - for at least one week before they may be voted upon.
12. All regional and international treaties that Nepal might enter into will have to pass a 60% majority in the parliament.
13. Political parties may not engage in fund-raising activities. Instead each national party, described as those that garnered at least 1% of the votes in the previous nationwide parliamentary elections, will get an annual sum that will be directly proportional to the number of votes it earned. That money is to be used for party-building and electioneering activities. Details of expenses are to be posted online in the three languages to the last paisa on at least an annual basis.
    
14. Tickets for all elections are distributed by parties through democratic methods involving members at or below the said level in their respective organizations.
    
15. The Election Commission puts in place ceilings as to election expenditures. Independent candidates may not raise money, but may spend their own money that may not exceed the amount of the party candidate spending the most money. Once elected independent candidates may not join a national party for at least one year.
16. A party may not charge its members more than Rs 60 a year.
    
17. Every person on the state's payroll - elected officials, bureaucrats, judges, police, army personnel, teachers, health care workers - is to submit a Family Property Statement, to be posted online and archived and updated annually. Upon exiting the public sector, they may discontinue the practice, but the archives will remain, and the updates will resume should the individuals re-enter public service.
18. Details of all expenses incurred by the state, to the last paisa, are to be posted online in the three languages. All contracts offered by the state to the private sector are to be bid for in a similar transparent manner from beginning to the end. All job applications and promotions in the public sector are to be similarly handled in a transparent manner.
19. All formal political deliberations at all levels of government in the long run and at the state and federal levels in the short run are to be posted online in as real time as possible in the language that was used at the venue. Efforts are to be made to make the same available in Nepali, Hindi and English. All votes are to be similarly made public.
    
20. Every elected official at all levels of government is to get a decent monthly salary.
21. Anyone above the age of 18 is a legible voter. Members of the Pratinidhi Sabha will have to be at least 22 years of age, and that of the Rajya Sabha at least 25 years of age. The terms of members of the two bodies shall last four years. All elected officials are to have been citizens.
22. Acts of impeachment require a vote of 65%. This constitution can be amended by the same vote margin.
23. The parliamentarians may not increase their salaries in a way that might affect the members of the existing class. The same applies to the salaries of members of the cabinet.
24. The parliament may create, merge and dissolve ministries, agencies and commissions as necessary.
    

Article 2: The Executive Branch

1. The President is directly elected by the people. If a candidate not earn 50% of the votes, a second round is to be held within a month of the first when the two top candidates contest. The President serves a five year term.
   
2. A candidate has to be a citizen and at least 30 years of age.
   
3. The President may elect members to the Cabinet that might or might not be members of the parliament. But if a MP get into the cabinet, that parliamentary seat goes vacant.
   
4. The President makes nominations to the Supreme Court and other constitutional bodies like the Election Commission (EC) and the Commission to Control Corruption (CCC) - both of which are autonomous - to be confirmed by a 60% vote in the parliament. The commissioners serve 6-year terms.
5. The army, to be called the Nepal Army, is not to be larger than 0.1% of the national population and is to be downsized accordingly within 5 years of this constitution getting promulgated. The President is the Commander-In-Chief of the army. The army can be abolished with a 65% vote in the parliament.
   
6. The central bank is to be autonomous, and the governor, to serve a six-year term, is to be appointed by the President, subject to a 60% vote in the parliament.
7. All appointments made by the President, except for his or her personal staff, will need a majority vote in the parliament for confirmation, unless otherwise stated.
8. The President signs bills passed by the parliament. The President may also be the originator of bills to the parliament.
   
9. The President may send back a bill passed by the parliament. But if the parliament send it back to him with a 65% vote, it has to be signed.
   
10. If the President not respond to a bill within 10 days of it having been sent, it is to be assumed signed.
11. Eash state is to similarly elect a Governor.
    

Article 3: The Judiciary Branch

1. The judiciary will reflect the composition of the government, from village/town to district, to state to the national level. Towns and cities with more than 25,000 people will be served with more than one court, the number to be decided through a formula by the state government. The number of district courts is to depend on population and legal traffic and is to be for the state parliament to demarcate. There will be a layer between the district and the state levels, the Appeals Court, 10 per state. The system is to be peopled like the civil service, on merit.
2. The President makes nominations to the national Supreme Court. The Governor makes nominations to the State Supreme Court. Both are subject to their respective parliaments for 60% of the vote. Justices to the Supreme Court are to serve to the age of 65 or upto their voluntary retirement.
3. The state and national Supreme Courts interpret the constitutionality of laws passed by the parliaments when thus challenged, but such interpretations may be overturned by the parliaments through a 65% vote.
4. The parliament, federal or state, may not diminish the salary of a sitting judge.
   

Article 4: The States

1. The current "zones" and "development regions" are to be abolished, and the districts are to be reorganized into a total of 25. The country is to be divided into three states, roughly of equal population, Eastern, Central, and Western, to be called Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali, that are to include all three geographical regions, Terai, Pahad and Himal, and based on the three river basins. Each state is to have a Pratinidhi Sabha, 200 members, and a Rajya Sabha, 50 members. Each seat for the federal Pratinidhi Sabha is to be divided into two for the state Pratinidhi Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has proportional representation.
   
2. The districts will have their own governments, forming a third layer, named Zillapalika. It is for each state to design the formation and functioning of its component district and town/city governments. The village units are to be called Grampalika, the town units are to be called Nagarpalika, and the city units Mahanagarpalika, and will form the fourth layer of government. District, town/city and village elected officials are to be at least 20 years of age.
3. The voters in the districts will directly elect the District Chairperson. Mayors for towns and villages are also to be directly elected. Each directly elected official must have secured at least 50% of the votes cast.
   
4. The judicial and law enforcement services are to be operated as a meritocratic, inclusive civil services by the three states and the federal government.
   
5. The federal government will directly transfer 5% of its annual budget to the 10 poorest districts measured by per capita income. This does not prevent further federal expenditures on those districts.
6. The income tax structure is to be as follows: 50% federal, 30% state, 10% district, and 10% village/town/city. The income tax is to be collected by the federal government, and funds transferred by the same to the other levels of government as per this formula, and is to be gradually phased in where none might be getting collected now.
7. The federal revenue from all sources other than income tax is also to be similarly allocated. 50% stays at the federal level, the rest goes to the three states equally. Each state is also to send out 40% of its non income tax budget directly to the districts in direct proportion to the population of each district.
   
8. The education system shall follow a tri-lingual policy up to Class 10, beyond which it is for each individual institution to decide on their own as to the language of instruction. The first language is to be the student's first language, the second language is to be Nepali. For those for whom Nepali might be their first language, the student may choose any language spoken in Nepal. The third language is to be English, the contemporary global language of science and commerce. This policy applies to schools in both the private and the public sectors. The language of instruction for all other subjects to Class 10 will be a decision to be made by the individual school board for the public schools and by the owners of the private schools: it is to be one of the three - Nepali, Hindi, and English - or a combination. Other languages spoken in Nepal may also be added to the list after an autonomous, federal Education Commission decides that enough educational material is available in the said language.
   
9. It is for the state parliaments to decide on the use of a second, local language as the language of government at the local levels. In some cases, even a third language may be allowed.
   

Article 5: The Individual

1. The individual is the most important component of the state and is to be protected and celebrated. The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights is the bedrock of this constitution.
   
2. Every person has a birth right to freedom of speech, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of religion, a right to a speedy, public trial, and a right to privacy, a protection from unreasonable searches and seizures. No person may be tried and punished for the same crime twice. No person will be compelled to testify against themselves. No person will be deprived of life, liberty or propety without due process of law. Private property may not be taken for public use without due compensation. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended. No ex post facto law shall be passed. No warrants are to be issued, except upon probable cause, and should specifically describe the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. A person charged with a crime is to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his or her favor, and is to have the Assistance of Counsel for his or her defence.
3. Every person born in Nepal is a citizen of Nepal. But this does not prevent people not born in Nepal from seeking Nepali citizenship.
4. Every person is equal under the law. Any law that might conflict with that fundamental premise will become null and void as soon as this constitution takes effect.
5. No person shall be taxed more than 40% of their income by all levels of government put together. Those in the bottom 40% income brackets are not to pay any direct taxes.
6. No business may be taxed more than 30% of its profits, and businesses in the bottom 30% income brackets will not pay any direct taxes. All business expenses are tax write-offs.
7. The sales tax may not exceed 10% and is to be collected by the state.
8. Elections at all levels are to be organized on Saturdays.
9. No citizen of age may be barred from voting for whatever reason except when they might be serving time.
10. It is a stated goal of the state to make possible lifelong education for every person in the country through creative partnerships between the private and public sectors, and through creative uses of the internet, FM and other technology. The state shall also attempt to provide universal access to secondary education and primary health care, free of cost. The secondary education provision applies to people in all age groups.
    
11. The state shall attempt to provide universal access to micro-credit to all in the bottom 40% income brackets, not all of it by the public sector.
    
12. All persons that might enter into agreements, either in the private or the public sector, to access credit will have the option to declare bankruptcy as a last resort, but such declarations may stay on that person's credit record. Money owed by an individual, as opposed to by a business or a corporation, may not be passed on to the next generation. Indentured servitude is an illegal form of collecting money owed by an individual or family. Money owed may not be paid for through manual labor. Any person, group or organization, lending money on interest, the total of which is larger than Rs 20,000, to be indexed to inflation as calculated every five years and rounded to the nearest thousand, is to register as a small business owner, and will be subject to taxation and regulation.
13. All educational institutions, public and private, must have at least 10% of its students on need-based full scholarships. Institutions may also opt to have 5% on such full scholarships, and 10% on need-based half scholarships, or 5% on full, 6% on half, and 6% on one-third scholarships. But at no time should the proportion of full scholarships dip below 5%.
14. Employees of the state in the education and health sectors will be paid salaries that are at least 10% larger than to those with similar qualifications serving in other fields.
15. An accurate, scientific census is to be conducted every 10 years, and scientific projections are to be made for the intervening years.
    

Article 6: Capitals

1. The national capital is to be shifted from Kathmandu to the Chitwan valley within 10 years of this constitution getting promulgated.
   
2. Udaypur Valley, Chitwan Valley, and Surkhet Valley will respectively serve as the capitals for Kosi, Gandaki and Karnali.

Proposed Constitution (November 14)
Interim Constitution, Revolutionary Parliament (April 8)
Proposed Republican Constitution 2006 (January 1)
Proposed Constitution (December 19)
Proposed Constitution (November 17)
Proposed Constitution (September 3)
Proposed Democratic Republican Constitution (August 12)
Janata Dal Constitution (August 8)
Proposed Constitution (June 18)
Reorganized UN, Proposed Constitution, Methods (May 30)
Proposed Constitution (May 3)
Shortcut To A New Constitution, Shortcut To Peace (April 8)
This Inadequate, Improper, Insufficient 1990 Constitution (April 4)

Defense And Home Stay With The Congress

Mahara says he wants Defense. That is him saying he wants Defense, but if the seven parties have problems with that, he will settle for Home. These Maoists, they really relish use of force, don't they? If they can't hold the gun, they want at least to be able to smell it.

He can be Deputy Prime Minister, but he can not have Home or Defense. What he really wants is Home. He can't have it.

Instead they can be part of an eight party steering committee that will oversee the democratization and restructuring of the Nepal Army even as the country moves towards the constituent assembly elections. That same committe could also go on to restructure the police. But the committee will be beneath the interim parliament in authority. It will be a parliamentary committee.

This is to be an eight party government. There is to be eight party oversight of the two armies. The Maoists cease to be a parallel state as soon as the eight party government is formed.

I don't blame Mahara from trying to strike a hard bargain. That is in the best interests of his party. But he will have to learn to settle for less. He can not start with one army and end up with two! That is too good to be true, even for him.

Instead the eight parties should focus on sending the two armies to school. What about mandatory human rights classes to all the soldiers in both the armies.

The Maoists might also want to retain their militia. How do you win hearts and minds? You teach them.

Or you can have Defense with the Congress, and Home with the UML.

In The News

Bhattarai criticizes government for making peace accord draft public NepalNews The Peace Committee, which is headed by general secretary of the Nepali Congress (NC) Ram Chandra Poudel, includes representatives from seven parties as well as other parties represented in the House of Representatives such as Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP), and other faction of People's Front Nepal (PFN).
Appointments by this government will not be acceptable, says Mahara any appointment of ambassadors, promotion of army generals or transfer of bureaucrats without their consent would be unacceptable to them. ...... Mahara also staked his party's claim to the Defense Ministry in the forthcoming interim government. "The interim government will have to conduct the job of restructuring the army. This is not going to be an easy job. Therefore, we have staked claim to this ministry," he said.
Maoists bargained hard for 73 seats, says Oli Oli said the Maoists were able to get those seats since UML did not resort to politics of bargaining.

Mahara to lead CPN-M in interim govt Kantipur
'Hats off to people of Nepal, we must learn from you'
Govt-Maoist-UN team inspects Palpa, Rolpa cantonment sites
Sitting House to pass citizenship bill The government wants to approve the citizenship bill that is under consideration at the parliamentary State Affairs Committee (SAC) before forming a new interim legislature ...... The bill has been languishing in SAC after some MPs, especially left-wing ones, pointed fingers at its loopholes. ...... Most of them stressed the need to send special teams to all the villages to distribute citizenship to the people. ..... RPP Chairman Rana suggested that the government send teams to the doorsteps of the people. .... Lawyer Kamal Narayan Das suggested that cut off date should be the day when the new law is promulgated. .... it will take tentatively 45 days to send the teams and the teams will take 2-3 months to complete the task. ...... Following pressure from the Terai region to scrap mandatory provision of the Nepali cap in the photos of male citizens wanting to acquire citizenship papers, the Home Ministry is in the process of scrapping this mandatory provision
BHUTANESE REFUGEES SERIES IV: Refugees are boon for some Nepalis
NSP committee to expedite party unity In order to expedite party unification with Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandidevi) and form a broader Madhesi Democratic Front, Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) on Sunday constituted a five-member committee under the convenorship of party member Dr Dambar Narayan Yadav. According to a statement issued by NSP, the National Executive Committee meeting held at the party office here today adopted a decision to forge unity among Madhesis while going for constituent assembly election to ensure their fundamental rights. The NSP has become the first political party to denounce the recent historic agreement reached between seven-party alliance and Maoists saying that it was the most undemocratic and totalitarian practice as NSP was excluded from the process leading to the agreement. NSP also claimed that the eight political parties failed to address pertinent issues related to the marginalized Madhesis, indigenous nationalities and dalit communities. Citing these reasons, NSP has also decided to launch a nationwide public awareness campaign and protest programs across the country. The nationwide protest is slated for December 7.
Peace Accord draft ready The signing of the agreement will officially end the 11-year old insurgency.... the 10-point agreement ..... The 10 points in the 17-page agreement include: preamble, definitions, ceasefire, end of war, commitment to multiparty democracy, human rights principles, respect for humanitarian laws, settlement of disputes, implementation and monitoring, and miscellaneous. ..... carrying of arms will be punishable under existing law .... replacing the present Peace Committee with a Peace, Coordination and Rehabilitation Commission ...... Poudel and Prajapati, Ishwor Pokharel of CPN-UML, Tek Bahadur Chokhyal of NC (Democratic), Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani of Rastriya Janashakti Party, Khem Raj Pandit of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Shashi Shrestha and Chitra bahadur KC of the two factions of People's Front Nepal, Rajendra Mahato of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandidevi) and a representative from the United Left Front
Surya Nepal awards ad hoc increment to protesting workers
Maoists hold central committee meeting Prachanda is slated to leave for the Indian capital to attend the November 17-18 summit organised by the Indian daily The Hindustan Times. More than 20 world figures including Indian Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh, Indian Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Malaysia's ex-president Mahathir Mohhammed will participate in the programme.
Draft of comprehensive peace agreement submitted
Action sought against citizenship recommendation forgers CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kuamr Nepal, who was also present during the discussion, said that the provision mentioned in the Bill that awards citizenship to anyone born after 1989 should be replaced with the system of lineage based citizenship. .... Ratriya Prajantra Party president Pashupati Shamshere Rana said that the problem of citizenship was the single greatest problem for the disenfranchised and the madheshis and proposed "a priority based solution" to the problem. ..... Chairman of Nepal Bar Association, Shambhu Thapa said that since the present constitution is being scrapped, there would be no legal hurdle to anything the parliament proposes. ..... legal expert Harihar Dahal demanded a straightforward citizenship mechanism for those who are born in Nepal and have made permanent residence here. ..... Dahal opined that the present provision of awarding citizenship based on recommendation from three individuals should be replaced with one that allows only government officials to make such recommendations.
संसद् र सरकारमा प्रतिनिधि छान्न कार्यदल
प्रधानमन्त्री कोइराला नै ः देउवा सात दलभित्र अन्तरिम सरकारमा प्रधानमन्त्री गिरिजाप्रसाद कोइरालाको विकल्प खोज्नेबारे छलफल नभएको ..... 'हामीले प्रधानमन्त्री 'रिप्लेस' गर्नुपर्छ भनेकै छैनौं । आठ दलमध्ये कुनै एक दलले सरकारको नेतृत्वमा विरोध जनाएमात्र छलफल हुने हो । यहाँ त माओवादीले समेत गिरिजाबाबुको नेतृत्व मानिसक्यो, हामीले नमान्ने कुरै छैन,' देउवाले भने । बैठकमा पूर्वउपसभापति चिरञ्जीवी वाग्ले र पूर्वमहामन्त्री विजयकुमार गच्छदारको नेतृत्वमा रहेको असन्तुष्ट पक्षधर सदस्यहरूले सभापति देउवालाई पार्टी एकताको प्रक्रिया तत्काल सुरु गर्न दबाब दिए । प्रत्युत्तरमा देउवाले पार्टीका जिल्ला सभापतिहरूसमेतको मंगलबारदेखि हुने भेलापछि एकता पहल गर्ने आश्वासन दिए । राजधानीमा मंगलबार पार्टीको तीनदिने बृहत् भेला सुरु हुँदैछ । भेलामा पार्टीका सम्पूर्ण सांसद, पूर्वसांसद, केन्द्रीय सदस्य, पूर्वकेन्द्रीय सदस्य र ७५ वटै जिल्ला सभापति सहभागी हुनेछन् ।
थप दुई मातृभाषा पाठ्यक्रम
समावेशीका चुनौती
वामशक्तिले बिर्सन नहुने अनुभव
पालो आर्थिक एजेन्डाको
ऐतिहासिक समझदारीका चुनौती

NEPAL: Bilateral refugee talks planned Reuters AlertNet, UK
Bhutanese refugees series- III:Death of the repatriation option? Kantipur Online
Third country settlement optional: UNHCR official Gorkhapatra
Nepal govt, Maoists finalise peace accord Times of India, India
New hope in Nepal Khaleej Times the people of Nepal deserve a new dawn of hope, having suffered as they have at the hands of corrupt politicians, a reckless monarch and ruthless Maoist rebels. .... catch up with the lost time and effort.
Nepal government, rebels set to sign formal peace accord International Herald Tribune
UN begins survey of areas in Nepal where rebel fighters will be ... International Herald Tribune
Nepal gov't proposes 10 possible ambassadors for various countries People's Daily Online, China
Maoists still envy weapons: Oli Gorkhapatra
Maoists Still Envy Guns: Oli Himalayan Times
Joint team inspects guerrilla's camp sites in eastern Nepal People's Daily Online, China
Human rights must be central after Nepal pact - UN Reuters AlertNet
‘Manisha may join Nepal politics any day’ Hindustan Times, India
Nepal - Why Prachanda Wants Girija To Lead The Interim Government Citizen Journalism Nepal, NY
Now, Restructuring State of Nepal Is the Key United We Blog, Nepal We must eradicate government employees’ dominance over local government bodies with the electoral democratic procedures. .... “The most successful modern-day communist insurgency” is how Daily Telegraph, London commented on the Nepali Maoists for their openness to the multiparty electoral democracy.
Nepal signs deal to build trans-Asian railway network Gorkhapatra, Nepal
Countries sign agreement on Trans-Asian railway plan VietNamNet Bridge Transportation and railway ministers of 17 Asian countries and Russia Friday signed an agreement on trans-Asian railway network in Busan, paving the way for further connection of the 81,000-km trans-continental railway network in Asia. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, South Korea, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tajikstan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Vietnam .... starts on the Pacific seaboard of Asia and ends up on the doorstep of Europe
Nepal Maoists Release 8 from Their Captivity Nepal human Rights News, Nepal

Nepal Army to Fill 4,000 Vacant Posts Himalayan Times
UML Man Threatened of Life
Maoists Agree to Stop Disrupting Tax Collection
New code of conduct for civil servants coming aims to rid the civil service of corruption and make civil servants more efficient and accountable to the people. ..... a professional, efficient and non-corrupt civil service. ..... aims to make the civil service inclusive and give the civil servants more opportunities for personal development. ..... aims to revise the structure of ministries. ..... copies of the blueprint will be sent to all political parties to garner suggestions. The blueprint will be finally presented at the parliament. ...... Red-tapism, unclear work division and weakening morale of civil servants are major weaknesses facing the civil service ....... “Recruiting process will be simplified and made scientific, the curriculum of the Public Service Commission will be revised and salary and benefits will be fixed on a par with international standard.”
CA polls in mind, Maoists plan panel to effect a metamorphosis to re-orient the party organisation in the changed political scenario. ..... The meeting also approved a political report presented by chairman Prachanda and hailed the November 8 accord as “historic.” ...... the possibility of polarisation of the leftist forces under a democratic republic front. .... the need of massive transformation of the party’s organisations ...... pick 73 representatives the party is supposed to send in the interim legislature according to ethnicity, region, gender and socio-cultural diversity.
Sujata lambasts UML chief accused CPN (UML) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal of working overtime to hinder the implementation of the agreement between the seven-party alliance and the Maoists. ..... Nepal was creating problems by raising the issue of who should lead the interim government. Alleging that the UML leaders were slandering Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, she said, “The government has done a lot of work; the charges against the government will boost regression.” ..... Both the Congresses would unite soon, she said. “The issue of party unification has reached the final point; it’s near announcement now,” she added. ...... “The NC favours ceremonial kingship; not only the PM but the entire Nepali Congress wants this. The election to a constituent assembly is the best means to settle the dispute over this issue,” Sujata said.
EC forms panels to prepare for CA polls smooth conduct of elections to a constituent assembly by June 15. ...... the move to have the elections before the monsoon season.

Visitors

31 October 2006, Tuesday	501
	1 November 2006, Wednesday	308
	2 November 2006, Thursday	190
	3 November 2006, Friday	155
	4 November 2006, Saturday	118
	5 November 2006, Sunday	117
	6 November 2006, Monday	170
	7 November 2006, Tuesday	132
	8 November 2006, Wednesday	128
	9 November 2006, Thursday	122
	10 November 2006, Friday	90
	11 November 2006, Saturday	71
	12 November 2006, Sunday	130
	13 November 2006, Monday	514

Kul Chandra Gautam: Message From Gulmi

Message from Gulmi

Remarks by Kul C. Gautam
Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, and
Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF

At the 61st United Nations Day Celebrations
Kathmandu, 20 October 2006


As I serve at the United Nations Headquarters, I could well have brought to you a message from New York. Instead, I prefer to make this a message from Gulmi, from where I have just returned after a short visit on home leave for dasain.

The United Nations has an amazingly positive image throughout Nepal. So the message from Gulmi could very well be a message from any of the other 75 districts of Nepal.

Nepal has been an active and loyal member of the United Nations. And the United Nations has been a true friend and supporter of Nepal.

Many people think of the UN in terms of its role in peace and security. That, of course, is very important. At this very moment, all Nepalis – from the Prime Minister to the Maoist leaders, from human rights activists to ordinary villagers – all look to the UN for its help in bringing a lasting peace and a progressive democracy in Nepal.

My colleague Ian Martin will surely address this issue when he speaks next.

But the UN’s role in Nepal is much more extensive – spanning from technical assistance for science and technology, agriculture and industry, trade and commerce; to material help for health and education; policy advice on development planning; humanitarian assistance for disaster relief, victims of conflict, refugees and internally displaced; and protection of human rights and prevention of human wrongs.

In one way or the other, the work of the UN touches the life of every Nepali.

The day I was in Gulmi, we had a massive polio immunization campaign – supported by WHO and UNICEF. This week we will administer vitamin A and de-worming to a large number of children.

I visited primary schools, where unbeknownst to the teachers and students, they were benefiting from teacher training and textbooks provided with the support of UNESCO and UNICEF.

I met retired soldiers who had served in UN peace-keeping operations in the Middle East and Africa, whose remittances are of great help to the local economy.

Yet many people remarked that there were no visible UN supported projects in Gulmi even though the highest ranking Nepali serving at the UN happened to come from that district.

Indeed there is a perception that the UN and other donors neglect districts like Gulmi, which are neither among the most remote and deprived, nor the relatively easy to reach where donor and NGO activities seem to be concentrated.

Yet here is a district that has both high level of poverty and a track record of producing good development results which ought to make it attractive for government and donor support.

The only major donor supported project in Gulmi in recent years was the Gulmi-Argha Khanchi Rural Development Project - (GARDEP) - supported by the European Commission. This project was considered very successful and was beginning to produce good, visible development results.

Unfortunately, following a series of targeted Maoist attacks, including burning of several project vehicles, the project was suspended.

Local officials believe that significant amount of funds from the suspended project remain in frozen accounts in Kathmandu or Brussels.

Now that there is relative peace, many Gulmelis hope that the Government and EC will arrange for GARDEP to resume and expand its much valued activities, and that somehow the UN will help unblock the suspended project and provide additional complementary assistance.

In spite of the conflict and suspension of many development activities, I was happy to note steady progress in basic education. Parents value education enormously, and enrolment in primary and secondary schools is constantly increasing.

An encouraging trend is the growing enrolment of girls in schools.

As more children complete primary education, parents are anxious to see them continue to secondary education. Many communities have therefore applied for upgrading of their schools from primary to lower-secondary and secondary plus schools.

While awaiting government approval, communities have mobilized local resources to hire additional teachers and build more classrooms.

I sensed considerable frustration among local officials and parents that even after many years, the Government has not approved the upgrading, accreditation and funding of a large number of public schools. I understand that this is a nation-wide phenomenon going beyond Gulmi.

I would urge the Government and donors to give high priority to large-scale upgrading of local schools as one of the early peace dividends.

I was told that essentials medicines supplied by the government to health centres and sub-health posts meet less than half a year’s requirement for most communities. There is a need for doubling the annual allocation of essential medicines to primary health care centres and sub-health posts.

If Nepal is to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, a significant increase in funding for village level health, education and sanitation activities is urgently needed.

I heard people welcoming enthusiastically the announcement in the Finance Minister’s budget speech that the annual allocation of block grants for VDCs will be doubled to Rs. 1 million per year.

Based on past experience, I am confident that these additional resources will be generally well-utilized by local communities. But directives for the use of these funds have not yet been issued. It is urgent to do so.

One hopes that the CPN-Maoist cadres will not seek to take advantage of these additional resources for non-development purposes, but will join in ensuring that these funds are well utilized for the effective delivery of basic social services at the community level.

The absence of elected local bodies is obviously a major constraint in the smooth functioning of development activities. But I was impressed with the spirit of solidarity and shared objectives with which local communities continue to operate.

An especially encouraging trend I found since my last visit to the district 6 years ago, is the heightened awareness of their rights among women and dalits, and acceptance of their enhanced participation in development activities by the local communities.

This is in part thanks to the CPN-Maoists’ awareness raising campaign. Had the Maoists not resorted to extortion, violence and high handed behaviour, some of their progressive ideas and actions would have won them much genuine and lasting popular support.

It is not too late for the Maoists to change their ways, focus on their positive and progressive social agenda and abandon violence, intimidation and extortion to regain and retain genuine public support.

Although this might lead to a temporary loss of their power and influence, I would urge the Maoists to take a long-term view of what is in their best interest – and in the best interest of Nepal.

I had not been able to visit my ancestral village and district in the past 6 years because of heightened insecurity. Having heard much about the turmoil and turbulence especially during the period of the autocratic royal rule and heightened Maoist activities, I was afraid that I will find a village and a district politically polarized and divided.

To my pleasant surprise, I found the people in villages continuing to behave cordially as good neighbours and friends. I was told that it was the Maoists who came from outside the village, and the Royal Nepalese Army contingents, who also came from outside the village, who brought the fear and distrust in the community.

Left to themselves, I was told, the villagers can sort out their problems and differences amicably.

People are still afraid of the Maoists and deeply resent but tolerate their extortionist behaviour. Even a small number of unarmed Maoists seem to be able to intimidate large numbers of villagers, because of the threat of arms that lurks behind.

Minus the threat of arms, people seemed confident that they can work things out among themselves in a democratic, participatory and consultative manner.

This has some important and hopeful lessons. It is to be assumed that the Nepalese army will remain in barracks during peace time. In the case of the Maoists, if they discontinued the practice of appointing or assigning people from outside their native villages and communities, and relied on local cadres who have to live in peace and harmony with their neighbours, they will find an amicable modus vivendi.

If the CPN-Maoist formally adopt ballots rather than bullets as the only legitimate method of political change, and continue to champion their progressive socio-economic agenda peacefully, they have a good chance to emerge as a formidable political party.

Hence my advice, as a Nepali citizen and compatriot, to the CPN-Maoist to take a long-term view in their own enlightened self-interest, and the interest of our nation.

The United Nations must, and will, of course, continue to be guided by its mandate in supporting the peace process in Nepal as a neutral, honest broker and helper responding to the request of the Nepali parties.

While remaining non-partisan, the UN must, and will, of course remain faithful to the internationally agreed norms and principles that guide its work – respect for human rights, the rule of law, non-violence, peaceful settlement of disputes, and adherence to pluralistic democratic practices befitting the 21st century.

This is precisely what the people of Nepal hope and expect from the United Nations. And this was the sentiment I heard over and over again in Gulmi.

Beyond peace and democracy, and indeed as the concrete dividends of peace and democracy, people expect there to be a rapid progress in their livelihoods.

It is therefore equally urgent that Nepal begins to prepare immediately an ambitious post-conflict reconstruction and development plan that can galvanize broad national consensus and international support. As in other post-conflict situations, the United Nations ought to be ready to lend strong support to Nepal in this effort.

As many of you will have heard, this has been my constant message to everybody during this visit to Nepal. I feel passionately about it both personally, as a Nepali citizen, and professionally as a UN official.

Let us dedicate this 61st anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, to our shared hope for peace in Nepal and the world, and a renewed partnership between Nepal and the UN for the achievement of the Millennium Development goals so that the children of this country can grow up to their full human potential as productive and responsible citizens of Nepal and the world.

Thank you.



Kul Chandra Gautam: Home Trip

Re: [DFN Blog]
Kul Gautam

To:paramendra@yahoo.com
Monday, November 13, 2006 4:32:49 PM

dear parmendraji, i enjoy reading your "hamro nepal" postings on your dfn blog.

you bring fresh perspectives on many current issues.

i noted that you covered my recent home trip to gulmi/nepal based on excerpts published by nepalnews.com from a speech i gave at the u.n. day celebration in kathmandu.

fyi, i attach the full text of my statement. (See attached file: Message from Gulmi.doc)

keep up the good work to educate us all, and to stimulate fresh thinking on current nepali affairs.

with best wishes,

kul g

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Kul C. Gautam
Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF
3 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017

Re: [DFN Blog]
Paramendra Kumar Bhagat
To: Kul Gautam

Kul Chandraji.

Thanks for taking the time to write to me. Your words of encouragement mean a lot to me.

Thanks for sending the full speech. I will publish it outright.

Thanks to you, Ian wrote to me. You gave me currency, the fact that I know you.

Tapain sanga bhent bha chhaina recently. But there is going to be a large Nepali Convention in the city last weekend in May. You will be Chief Host, since you are the most prominent Nepali in the city. It is largely a ceremonial title. You don't have to worry about anything except just showing up.

Bhent hunda guff garamla.

More later.