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

-----------------------

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.

ANONYC: Proposed Constitution

Staten Island Ferry
World Trade Center
Times Square
Broadway
Harlem
Jackson Heights
Prospect Park

1. ANONYC, Association of Nepali Organizations in New York City, is an umbrella organization.
2. Any interested Nepali organization in the city can become a member. Membership is free.
   
3. Each will be represented by either its president or the president's representative. The organization will meet at least once every three months, but not more than once a month. The Secretary is to publicize the venue and time to all concerned. At least 60% attendance is required for a meeting to be official. At the meetings, only one person speaks at a time. You get the floor from the president and will be alloted time limits.
   
4. There will be an emphasis on consensus.
   
5. But when voting has to take place, each organization's voting weight will be the number of members it has. The organization will have to submit the names and contact info (email address, phone number) of all its members to certify its voting weight. Voting, when it happens, will be open. The voting weight of an organization will be decided at the time of election and will be locked for a year. That does not apply to new member organizations who will get to submit their lists at the time of first joining. Those organizations that are not based just in the city, but perhaps are national or even global, may only count their local members.
   
6. Money matters are to be kept online and transparent. The organization hopes to minimize the need to raise and spend money as much as possible. Meeting minutes are similarly to be kept online and transparent. All decision making is to be kept online and transparent. All votes are to be published online.
   
7. There is to be an Executive Committee. President, Vice Presidents -2, Secretary, and Treasurer. They are to be elected annually, by December at the latest.
   
8. All member organizations will stay autonomous, free to go about as they please.
   
9. ANONYC at best is a loose federation. It is not registered. It hopes to work to empower the Nepalis locally. And it hopes to help keep vibrant the connection to the motherland. It hopes to democratize the power structure in the larger Nepali diaspora based on the vertical implications of one person, one vote and the basic premise of transparency and hence will not join umbrella organizations that do not practice the same.
   
10. It will also work towards alliances with other groups in the city with the zeal to empower.

Running For President Of ANONYC


I hereby declare my candidacy for president of ANONYC.

The Virus Of The April Revolution
Democratic Vision For The 21st Century
The Matrix
Barack Obama: This Is A New Century

I am conscious of the ethnic and gender diversity stuff. This would be my dream team.

Karma Gyalden Sherpa - Vice President
Tara Niraula - Vice President
Luna Ranjit - Secretary
Chandra Prakash Sharma - Treasurer

I believe we meet on the 26th. We will decide then as to what shape it all takes.

My platform is give me a 10,000 strong matrix (The Matrix) and I will take you to the White House with me. I will likely not seek reelection in December 2007. I am a member of ANONYC as the president of Hamro Nepal, the "world's first digital democracy organization."

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)

Draft 2: Time For A New Generation
November 19, 2006

President: Paramendra Bhagat
Vice President: Tek Gurung
Vice President: Sanjaya Parajuli
Secretary: Luna Ranjit
Treasurer: Chandra Prakash Sharma

Draft 3: Time For A New Generation
November 20, 2006

President: Paramendra Bhagat
Vice President: Tek Gurung
Vice President: Sanjaya Parajuli
Secretary: Luna Ranjit
Treasurer: Anand Bist

Draft 4: Time For A New Generation
November 21, 2006

President: Paramendra Bhagat
Vice President: Tek Gurung
Vice President: Sanjaya Parajuli
Secretary: Anand Bist
Treasurer: Chandra Prakash Sharma

Letter From The Nepali Mandir

Dear Respected Brothers And Sisters.

A very humble Namaste to you.

Founded in April 2006, The Nepali Mandir Inc. is obviously in its very infanthood. Despite a troubled past and present, especially the financial hardships, it has been serving the Nepali community with its principled objectives of strengthening Nepali unity, preserving Nepali values and cultured Nepali heritage among Nepali residents in and around Sunnyside, across Queens, across New York City, the tri-state area, and across the United States of America. It is through our inspiration that efforts are now underway to establish Nepali Mandirs in Michigan and in Los Angeles.

The Mandir has been providing services in areas such as help in observing Nepali festivals, organising religious talks, conducting ritual practices like Pooja and Path, seminars and talk programs and forums.

The Mandir has become a kind of platform from which Nepalis can voice their concerns regarding community upliftment, advancement and sharing of ideas and information. As per the enshrined goals, it is committed to providing the required level of services that are deemed necessary, and those that will be in demand.

We hope to extend the level of services in the future, we are committed towards achieving our goals that will ensure that The Nepali Mandir will stand tall in its activities as to providing Nepali representation, preserving Nepali identity, helping to foster a sense of community, participation in social works and inculcate sense of unity among different individuals, thus and thereby offering a bridge beyond the like: connecting with other communities and the wider world.

However, sadly this institution is strained due to its financial shortcomings. It has no resources to fund its needs. This has stagnated the whole process of going forward. We are facing increasing lack of funds to run the Temple, and presently are in a state of uncertainty. Should this uncertainty persist and meanwhile we fail to act, the consequences are hurtful. Very few to mention: this will strain our spirit, we will lose a place to practice our faith, we will lose a virtual representative, and spiritually, religiously and psychologically we will have failed a Temple. We believe that will be a great loss to our community which is unacceptable and so we appeal to you all to do something for its survival and ensure its future. This is everyone's temple. If it survives, it serves all. There is none's personal interest attached to it....Ever it serves..entirely is its own community.

There are ways to help survive this temple and one of them is wide participation among us and a commitment to save this temple/community center. For now, this is most important, we hope this is one of our identities and in its loss, we lose one of our own identities. We are dedicated to serve its goal, and working on to save it, but that only has not been enough...without your help, we cannot do it, that is apparent...but with you and your help, we can save our temple , and give a chance for spirituality to flourish, offer peace to our faith and heart, and continue regular community services.

The long term vision is to establish a community center that will be an inter-faith alliance of all religions practiced by the Nepalis.

For now we need 200 individuals to commit $5 a month to pay for rent. And we need 100 individuals who will chip in $100 each to help pay off the debt. Please come to our meeting on November 19th, 2006 at Phipps Garden Apts.' Party Hall, 5101 39 Avenue, Sunnyside, NY-11104 near the Nepali Mandir premises at 12:00 Noon.

Chandra Prakash Sharma
On behalf of
Nepali Mandir Management Team.


September 23 Helicopter Crash Memorial Service
Kul Chandra Gautam: Home Trip
Nepali Mandir Meeting
Langhali Association: Govind Thapa Magar
Solve The Bhutani Refugee Crisis: Send Them West
March And Rally For Full Immigrant Rights
Hamro Nepal Constitution
Seven Party Delegation
ANONYC: Association of Nepali Organizations in New York City
Nepali Faces 3
Nepali Convention Leadership Weekly Meeting
The KP Oli Event
KP Oli, September 24
Anti Musharraf Rally
Sushil Koirala 2
Nepali Faces 2
October 1: Sonam Sherpa Event: Movie
Nepali Convention: Management
Neelam
Nepali Convention 2007: Venue Options: Flushing
Nepali Faces 1
Sushil Koirala In Jackson Heights
ANTA NYC Gathering In Prospect Park
Nepali Convention 2007 Shifted To Last Weekend In May
Voting Rights For Immigrants In New York City
How To Conduct A Meeting
Madhesi Mahila (MaMa) Gathering In Ridgewood, NY
Teej Photos 5
Teej Photos 4
Teej Photos 3
Teej Photos 2
Teej Photos 1
April Convention Venue Options 1
April Convention Market Research 1
1000 House Parties
Nepali Convention: Venue Options, Website, Core 200
Community Center Idea: A Few Options
Shailesh Shrestha Recognized
Nepali Community Center
Alliance, GFIPN: Audio, Video
Global Federation Of Indigenous People Of Nepal
Alliance Picnic 2
Alliance Picnic
Chandra Prakash Sharma 2
Chandra Prakash Sharma
Nepal Vista Site Of The Month
April Convention: Creating A Glowing Core
April Convention: Emerging Picture
SAJA Convention 2
SAJA Convention
MaHa Sanjh
FDI, NRN, Upendra Mahato, $100 Million Fund, Dual Citizenship
ANA Convention: Reflections
ANA Convention: My Hamro Nepal Speech
ANA Convention: Audio
ANA Convention 2006: Photos
ANA Convention Photos 15
ANA Convention Photos 14
ANA Convention Photos 13
ANA Convention Photos 12
ANA Convention Photos 11
ANA Convention Photos 10
ANA Convention Photos 9
ANA Convention Photos 8
ANA Convention Photos 7
ANA Convention Photos 6
ANA Convention Photos 5
ANA Convention Photos 4
ANA Convention Photos 3
ANA Convention Photos 2
ANA Convention Photos 1
Tara Niraula At City Hall
Tara Niraula Recognized By NYC Government
Countdown To The ANA Convention
Reform The Nepali Organizations In America
June 17 Madhesi Gathering In New York City
Madhesi Gathering Photos 2
Madhesi Gathering Photos
Nepali Mandir Board Meeting
Aitabare Mela 2
Aitabare Mela
Dr. Binay Shah
Dr. Tara Niraula
Nepal Janajati Statement From NYC
Somnath Ghimire, Family, Friends
What's Wrong With The ANA Convention
Democracy Diwali At The Nepali Mandir
Surya Bahadur Thapa
Janajati Sammelan At The New School
Dixit, Lawoti, Tamrat At Asia Society
NYC Events
Dr. Ram Krishna Shah
Top Dangi
Youth Council Victory Party
First Sunday Every Month, Aitabare Mela, Block Party Later
Internalized Racism Among Nepalis In NYC
Adhikaar 2
Adhikaar
Dinesh Wagle, Kiran Nepal In Town
Sanjaya Parajuli In Brooklyn
Solidarity Rally DC
First ANTA NYC Event, Times Square Marriott
Friday Rally
Nepali Mandir
Happy New Year 2063
BBC Calls
NYC Rally Photos: Arnico Panday
Deuba Off To DC
Deuba In Jackson Heights
Deuba At Hotel Pennsylvania
Deuba At Columbia
Sushil Pyakurel
Pin Plan
Sari Sansar At The UN
Chiran Thapa: Snafu
March 22 Event, Deuba In New York
March 8 Event At The UN
Kanak Mani Dixit, Rhoderick Chalmers
March 22 Event At Columbia
"Robin Hood Im Internet"
German Journalist Lena Brochhagen Inquires
February 1 New York Rally Photos
Not Journalism But Politics At The Speed Of Thought
Events To Mark 2/1
प्रवासी नेपाली: "नैतिक समर्थन कायम राख्दै भौतिक समर्थन थप्ने।"
Symposium At Columbia
My Proposal To The Saturday Symposium At Columbia
Anand Bist, Troublemaker
NAC Talk
Dinesh Tripathi In New York
Nepal Needs To Be Hitting The World Headlines: Write To The Media
Diaspora Dynamics
NDF Owner, Stop This Nonsense, Reinstate Immediately
December 11 Sunday 11 AM Union Square
NAC Goes Proactive
ND Dynamics
The Cloud Model, Not The Pyramid Model
ND Glasnost
To: ND Group, c/o Puru Subedi
Every Sunday 11 AM Union Square
Movement Taken To Online Video
Rajeev Goyal Talks Up Caste
Krishna Pahadi At New York University
Pahadi Says Goal Is Democratic Republic
Gagan's Talk In New York
Krishna Pahadi November 6 Sunday 5 PM
Seven Party Forum In Jackson Heights
To: NAC
A Day In The Life Of Gagan Thapa
The Man, The Myth, The Legend: Gagan Thapa
Gagan Thapa October 22 Saturday 2 PM Columbia University
A Day In The Life Of Charlie Szrom
Anil Jha, Bimal Nidhi, Jimmy Carter
Anil Jha, Bimal Nidhi US Tour Logistics
Bimalendra Nidhi US Tour
Gagan Thapa US Tour
Gagan Thapa Amerika Tour
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To: DFNYC
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Sharad Chandra Shaha Is A Dazzling Person
Bharat Mohan Adhikari Is In Town
Dear Charlie
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Somnath Ghimire: King G Is Pinochet
Messenger Chat With Purandar Ghimire
September 16: Sajha Buzz
Renaming The Blog In Honor Of Gagan's Release
Project Take Over Tundikhel: Draft 1
Alliance Gathering At Queens Bridge Park
To: ADHRN
ADHRN
Gagan Thapa Case Taken To The United Nations
2005 Young Republican National Convention (US) Resolution 1 On Nepal
Tom Daschle
UN Security Council Needs To Enforce Human Rights On A War Footing
Kunda Dixit In Jackson Heights
The Road To The White House Goes Through Nepal
From Li Onesto
Getting Interviewed By A Cornell University Student
Op-Ed Piece Sent To The New York Times
Sangram Morcha: A New Political Party (1993)
Reorganized UN, Proposed Constitution, Methods
The Lake Freezes At 32 Degrees Fahrenheit Like Magic
The Maoists Have Been Reading My Emails, Blog Entries
Dinesh Prasain Tour: Report
Email From Arzu Rana Deuba
The King Will Only Respond To Internal Pressure
"Urgent: Disappearance Of My Father" by Sarahana Shrestha
The Nepali Diaspora Contradiction: Would You Like Some Tea?
The Dinesh Prasain US Speaking Tour
To: Benazir Bhutto
Phone Marathon II
To: George Soros
Phone Marathon: Called Up Delhi
Prime Minister-Elect Prasain: "You Have The Power!"
eDemocracy, 4S Campaign, 24/7 Vigil For Democracy: Take Over Tundikhel
Dinesh Prasain, Condi Rice, and the Indian Parliament
Democracy: The Third Wave
Dinesh Prasain's Possible US Tour In April
Deputy Prime Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari's Daughter Speaks Out
Some Basic Acts Of Co-Ordination
Human Rights ----> Political Platform ----> Full-Fledged Movement
Non-Violent Militancy, Concerted Global Action
Towards a Democratic Republic of Nepal

September 23 Helicopter Crash Memorial Service

Taplejung crash victims remembered in US Kantipur




Memorial Service: September 23 Helicopter Crash: Nepal 1
Memorial Service: September 23 Helicopter Crash: Nepal 2

In Remembrance of all those who were tragically lost in the helicopter crash on
September 23, 2006 in Nepal

You are invited to attend

The Memorial Service in New York City

Theresa Lang Auditorium
55 West 13th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenue)
the New School

Sunday, November 12th
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

R.S.V.P: Indiachina@newschool.edu or tamusociety@gurungs.org
(Seats are limited)
Phone: 212 229 5600 ext. 3870

Refreshments will be served
Formal attire recommended

The Conveners

India China Institute, The New School and The Gurung (Tamu) Society, USA

In Cooperation with

Adhikar

Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights in Nepal

America Nepal Friendship Society

Association of Nepal and Himalayan Studies

Association of Nepali Teraian in America

Friends of Nepal New Jersey

Global Federation of Indigenous People of Nepal

Hamro Nepal

Kirat Yakthung Chumlung of USA

Langhali Association of USA

Nepalese Democratic Youth Council in USA

Nepal Kirat Rai Association of USA

Tamang Association of USA

Thakali Seva Samaj, USA

The Kirat Rai Association of America

Yolmo Society of America

United Nepalese Democratic Forum

United Sherpa Association, USA



Music by Steve Curtis, solo guitar

Video Recording by Moktan Digital Video Inc.


The Program for NYC Memorial Service
(@ The New School, November 12, 2006)


Seating - Offerings - Music (1:00 PM – 1:30 PM)
Music - Steve Curtis, solo guitar

Prayers & Remembrance (1:30 PM – 3:00 PM)

Welcome Remarks – Ashok Gurung, The New School
Remembrance & Moment of Silence - Navin Rai, World Bank

Reading of Names & Slide Images:
Anil Shahi & Sanjaya Parajuli

Inter-faith Prayers

Remembrance – By Family & Friends

Chris Holme
Totraman Gurung (TBC)
Jason Maskey
Milan Rai
Tsewang Sherpa or Mingma’s son (TBC)
Messages from Family Members

A Poem

Remembrance: Government & Organizational Representatives

Madhu Raman Acharya, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations
Consulate General of Canada, USA
Consulate General of Finland, USA
Office of the Mayor, New York City
United Nations
United States Agency for International Development
World Bank
World Wildlife Fund, USA

Closing Comments

Tara Niraula & Ashok Gurung

Refreshments (3:00 PM- 4:00 PM)


Dear Friends:

As we are fast approaching the memorial service on Sunday, Nov. 12th, please note the following:

(1) First and foremost, I want you to know that how deeply I am moved by and very appreciative of your very warm spirit and wonderful cooperation, as conveners and friends, in organizing this very important memorial service in NYC. With your help and support, plans for organizing the service are progressing very well.

(2) Attached, please find revised information. Sorry about any errors in previous versions as I learned that United Nepalese Democratic Forum, an active convener, was not on the list. Please note that this information will be reformatted and printed as a program handout on Sunday. Please review it carefully and let me know if there are still errors or someone is not on the e-mail list.

(3) Given the enormous swelling of interest and support from both Nepalese and others, including 20 participating organizations, I am seriously concerned about the seating capacity (maximum 200 people). While I recognize that it's both difficult to manage the RSVP system, especially in Nepali community, we need to be prepared for the overflow problem. Please send this revised information to your contacts and emphasize seating is limited and it's important to send RSVP. Please send your list of people who have confirmed by 9 PM on Friday evening. I need a volunteer who would help compile a list by Saturday morning and make sure that those who have RSVP-ed should get priority in attending the service, where as others would be allowed on first-come-first-serve basis. If we exceed 200 people then we need to be polite but strict in saying sorry because the New School Security will not allow us to go beyond 200.

(4) Several people and organization are sending us written messages. As Conveners, we would welcome any written condolences/words of remembrance for either a particular person or all, in general. Messages will be complied and copies will be made and sent to appropriate family members after the service. We will also send a video/DVD copy of the memorial service to family members and conveners.

(5) Thanks to Steve Curtis, a renowned musician and a Nepal scholar, for volunteering to sharing your music talent with us. Thanks to Moktan Digital Video for volunteering to video record the memorial service. Thanks to Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights in Nepal, especially Anil Shahi and Sanjay Parajuli for volunteering to organize the slide images and poster. Thanks to the Langhali Association for voluntarily contributing $151 for the event.

(6) While space and extra costs associated with the use of facility on Sunday will be take by the India China Institute, we woudl still need funds to cover various costs such as refreshments, posters, printing materials, mailing, and enabling a few family members to attend the service. While we recognize that some of your organization may not be in a position to make financial contributions, therefore, we suggest a voluntary contribution of $100 or more from each convener/organization. Please make check payable to The Gurung (Tamu) Society, Inc or bring cash to Narayan Gurung, President of Tamu Society. We will circulate a list indicating your contribution among the conveners only. Any un-spent funds will be used solely towards an education fund associated with those who died in Nepal.

(7) We request all the key representatives of the conveners and volunteers to arrive at the venue (the New School) by 11 am on Sunday.

(8) Last but not the least, I want to recognize and thank the hard work of Arjun Gurung, Tika Gurung, Narayan Gurung, Tek Gurung, Harkajung Gurung, Tara Niraula, Anil Shahi, and Sanjay Parajuli, who are the core organizing committee members of this memorial service. Thanks also to my research assistant, Tashi Shakya and Grace Hou for their cooperation and help.

Please do feel free to share your suggestion or/and thoughts in furtherr refining the agenda and successfully convening this important memorial service.

Ashok Gurung
November 8

In The News

Chand, Rana discuss peace process with PM NepalNews
New OHCHR-Nepal chief arrives
Maoists form taskforce to recommend names for interim govt., legislature headed by Politburo member of the party, Ram Bahadur Thapa a.k.a. Badal ...... there is possibility of sending the chief of Maoists' ethnic autonomous regions to the interim government.
Commission on RCCC excesses begins work
Peace accord must address conflict-affected children’s problems: UNICEF
Joint team continues inspection of proposed cantonment sites
Eleven MPs to be left out in the interim parliament 330-member strong interim parliament .....Narayan Singh Pun and Prakash Koirala (of NC); Prem Bahadur Singh and Nar Bahadur Budhathoki (of UML), Buddhiman Tamang and Brajesh Kumar Gupta (of RPP), Badri Mandal and Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav (of NSP) and Roop Jyoti, Yangkila Sherpa and Dev Narayan Chaudhary (royal nominees) ...... The Maoists will nominate 73 members and 48 members will be nominated from among the sister organizations and professional bodies, oppressed ethnic communities and regions and political personalities.
DPM Oli, PM Koirala discuss proposed names of Ambassadors
Koirala to lead the interim government: Maoist "The agreement that present Prime Minister Koirala would head the interim government was made while the 12-point pact was being signed," Mahara said. ..... Gurung also clarified that the changes seen lately in Koirala inspired them to accept him as an unanimous choice for leader.
Girija Prasad Koirala: Unthinkable metamorphosis the 85-year-old politician ....... Addressing his first press conference on November 8, the Maoist chairman Prachanda stated that his party would accept the leadership of Koirala even during the forthcoming interim government. “If the leadership of Koirala is changed at this period, the process (of transition) could be sabotaged. We want Koirala to lead till the election of Constituent Assembly,” he said. ..... On June 7 when he reached New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh gave a rare gesture by himself coming to receive him at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. “You are great leader in the entire South Asia. There is no one like you now,” Dr. Singh said while shaking hands with Koirala then. ..... it was under his call as the leader of SPA that the movement stopped ...... Compare this with the events of July, 2001 when Koirala was compelled to unceremoniously walk away from Baluwatar in the wake of intra-party dissensions, and strong opposition protests. That, perhaps, was the period when Koirala was at nadir of his six-decade-long political career. That was the time when Koirala was considered synonymous with corruption, instability, cronyism and all that was bad about Nepali politics. ........ Haunted by opposition (led by the same Madhav Nepal who now accepts Koirala as the leader of SPA) for corruption-related charges; hounded by dissident leaders (led by the same Sher Bahadur Deuba who now toes his line in all issues of national importance, as was seen during the negotiation with the Maoists) within his own party; beset with extraordinary situation when the bizarre massacre killed King Birendra and his family members; and troubled with increasingly menacing Maoists (led by the same Prachanda who now does not see his alternative), Koirala had lost popular support back then. ...... he has always been more successful in revolution than in governance or power ....... Whether in signing the 12-point agreement in November of 2005 or declaring the April agitation, Koirala never lost sight of his number one priority – restoration of the House. ...... A few days after he returned to Baluwatar (from the hospital), I had gone to meet him. And there he was, taking in oxygen from cylinder and looking all frail. ....... Koirala’s forte has been his organization-building zeal, easy going attitude and political acumen. ...... a typical day of Koirala used to begin at 4 am when he normally wakes up. By 5, he is fully dressed in that characteristic white daura suruwal (whose color could be the envy of detergent companies) and black coat. Fit and ready, with briefcase by his side, Koirala – in between various rounds of tea and light breakfast of yoghurt and egg (because of his ill health, he has now given up smoking) - meets with party workers, leaders, foreign visitors and everyone who wants to meet him – and this goes on till noon when he normally takes a light lunch. After around two hours of afternoon siesta, Koirala returns to his room and again meets with the unending stream of visitors. After around 7 pm, he retires to his bedroom, takes a few sips of drinks, has a light dinner and calls it a day. This routine is interspersed with official engagements, cabinet meetings and other duties when he is Prime Minister. ........ A systematic and methodical person, Koirala’s greatest strength, analysts say, is his constant interactions with his party members and workers. And, his greatest weakness? Well, the charges of corrupt practice continue to linger on ....... Even though he is not seen to have amassed personal properties, his tendency to look the other way when his family members or cronies misuse his authority may have tarnished his image. Another weakness is his penchant for power and authority. The fact that he does not have a clear successor in his party shows how much he has centralized the power. ........ Koirala is at the helms of an alliance that is dominated by communists. ...... it is the communists who are calling the shots within the country given their huge organizational network and capacity to mobilize the masses. ...... a controversial point about changing the cut off year for citizenship
Arms Management: Technical and Practical Aspects
Civil society movement not for power, says Pahadi
Legal experts criticize cut-off date of citizenship Act “Why has the government proposed such a provision to provide naturalised citizenship to create a burden for the country? It will result in population growth,” said Shambhu Thapa, president of the Nepal Bar Association. ....... Advocate Kamal Naryan Das suggested that the date of promulgation of the new Citizenship Act can be recognised as the cut-off date. ..... UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said though the conditions for citizenship should be relaxed to a certain extent, the citizenship must be issued on the basis of lineage and not on the basis of birth. ...... He also stressed on very stern legal provisions against the person recommending citizenship to non-bonafide person. ..... Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Pashupati Shumsher Rana urged the government to make provision to deliver citizenship to physically challenged, poor and landless citizens on their doorsteps.

Taplejung crash victims remembered in US

By KIRAN CHAPAGAIN

NEW YORK, Nov 13 - Nepalese living in New York City on Sunday held a memorial service in honour of the 24 people who perished in the helicopter crash in Ghunsa area of Taplejung district on September 23.

The programme was attended by Nepalese from different walks of life, representatives from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) USA, USAID, consulates of Canada and Finland and the Office of the New York City Mayor.

On the occasion, friends and relatives of the deceased extended their condolences, recited poems, and offered flowers and khada on to the pictures of the 24 people, whishing the departed souls rest in peace. Besides, inter faith prayers were recited, and one minute of silence was observed.

India China Institute, The New School and Gurung (Tamu) Society USA organized the memorial service in association with 21 US-based Nepali organizations.

Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation Gopal Rai, noted geographer Dr Harka Gurung, senior bureaucrats, top conservationists and WWF officials, diplomats, journalists and crew members were among those killed in the bad weather-induced crash in September.

On the occasion, Nepalese ambassador to the UN Madhu Raman Acharya, former ambassador Murari Raj Sharma, Navin Rai of the World Bank and other speakers acknowledged the contribution of the deceased in the field of democracy and human rights, geography and conservation.

“There is a need for establishing a foundation to carry on the works they [the deceased] had started,” Acharya said.

Similarly, Lyssia Lamb-McDoland of WWF, USA said that WWF is working hard to give continuity to the works the deceased conservationists have started. She further informed that that WWF is raising fund to support the families of the killed and working to create scholarships in their honour. She also informed that WWF, USA is going to organize a program in Washington DC on November 30 to remember the victims of the Taplejung crash.

Director of India China Institute Ashok Gurung said that some of those killed had been global figures, and deserved to be remembered and honoured right here in the global city that is New York.

Posted on: 2006-11-13 01:37:28 (Server Time)